Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (buckles, retractors, anchors and pretensioners).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1997 Toyota Camry owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that the latches for all of the seat belts were defective and would not hold the seat belt. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer stated that each latch needed to be replaced. The contact replaced four of the five latches in the vehicle. The failure mileage was 60,000.
2 years ago I had the drivers side rear seat belt fail. The locking mechanism failed allowing the seat belt to come out and then would not retract. It had to be replaced. This past summer I had the passenger side rear seat belt develop the same problem (it also failed) and needed replacement.
Seat belt retractor failure. Seat belt was extended to use, but once extended and secured will not retract to proper tension. Has now happened a third time to separate belts. Twice on driver's side, once on passenger's side in the front.
Drivers seat belt lock is not working properly.manufacturer was not contacted. Dealer was contacted, and has told the consumer that they will charge almost $600.00 to fix it because it was not under warranty.
Drivers side seatbelt fails to retract as it should...I noticed that there were 8 other complaints on the database. I also have 2 friends that have also experienced the same failure with their camrys.
While driving, the made a loud clanking noise which seemed to be coming from the front. When the consumer stopped and the applied the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated and jerked. The mechanic informed the consumer that the problem could not be duplicated. The driver informed the mechanic that this problem continued to happen over and over and the problem is still there and has not been resolved. Please fill in additional information. The consumers radio went out in the vehicle. The vehicle passenger seat belt sticks. Vehicle trunk light does not work. The driver side adjustable handle does not work. The rubber on the motor mount does not last and breaks. The vehicle jerks repeatedly. The consumer stated that she currently has a permanent back problem due to the adjustable handle not working.
The drivers side front seat belt froze and will not retract or release additional length. Three to four months later the passenger side front seat belt began having problems retracting and releasing. It will probably fail completely too, soon. Reported to dealer who stated it is not covered under any warranty. Reported to manufacturer (Toyota) who stated that the 5year /60000 mile warranty had expired for this component. Opened up complaint with Toyota who advised us to have it fixed and send them a copy of the bill. The supervisor stated they will "look into it, but can't make any guarantees". When questioned they admitted there have been other complaints about this problem. Since this is a primary safety component it should be investigated as a manufacturing or design safety defect.
I took the car to the dealer. They ordered a left-side back seat belt rather than the center belt. They re-ordered and told me the belt should be in today (9/13/00). I called today and am now told that it will not be here until at least next Thursday or Friday. I asked if it was coming from Japan and was told that it probably was. This is a very big safefy issue as I have three children - ages 4, 9 & 10. All are too small for the front seat. I am not sure what to do next.
This is mainly an inquiry regarding a failure in a seatbelt that has to be replaced. The dealer is saying that the seatbelt is not covered under the warranty as it is over the mileage limit. Since this is a safety item, we assumed it was covered by warranty for much longer. The rear seatbelts are rarely used. The car was rear ended by an SUV last year but it seems unlikely that was the cause of the failure as it was used a couple of times after the car was repaired.
The seat belt retractor assembly is broken. The seat belt is inoperable. This of course poses a significant safety hazard to passengers in this seat. It also presents a legal issue because a child is normally seated there who now cannot operate this seat belt. Contact was made on 8/28/02 with the dealership where the car was purchased . They will not replace the seat belt at their expense.
Seat Belt complaints in other Camry years
Frequently asked questions
How common are seat belt problems on the 1997 Toyota Camry?
NHTSA has 26 complaints about the seat belts of the 1997 Toyota Camry, 5% of the model year's 555 complaints. The component named most often is front › retractor (10 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Toyota Camry seat belt problems?
No. NHTSA lists no seat belts recall for the 1997 Toyota Camry, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1997 Toyota Camry seat belt problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 84,000 miles, and 13% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 0 fires and 4 injuries to seat belts problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.