VehicleVerdict

1997 Toyota Camry brakes problems

The 1997 Toyota Camry has 126 brakes complaints filed with NHTSA — 18% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

126

Brakes complaints

18%

Share of year

12

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Brakes complaints by year

Related recalls

97V156000BrakesSeptember 17, 1997 · 18,746 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALASKA, COLORADO, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, IOWA, KANSAS, MAINE, MICHIGAN,MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEVADA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, NOTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. A CONDITION CAN OCCUR WHERE ACCUMULATED MOISTURE CAN TEMPORARILY FREEZE IN THE BRAKE VACUUM HOSE IF THE VEHICLE IS USED IN EXTREMELY COLD CLIMATES FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.

Consequence

THIS CAN RESULT IN THE ELIMINATION OF VACUUM ASSIST TO THE BRAKES THAT CAN INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCES AND COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN BRAKE VACUUM HOSE.

What owners report

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON THE ROAD ABOUT 40-45 MPH WITH ABOUT 4 VEHICLES IN FRONT OF THE COMSUMER WHEN HE SAW THE VEHICLES STOP, AND COMSUMER TRIED TO STOP BY STEPPING ON BRAKE PEDAL, BUT COULD NOT STOP IT ON TIME AND SMASHED FRONT OF VEHICLE OR REARENDED. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · July 6, 1997 · crash

Common questions

How many brakes complaints does the 1997 Toyota Camry have?

NHTSA has 126 complaints about the 1997 Toyota Camry brakes — 18% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 1997 Toyota Camry brakes?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the brakes: 97V156000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.