Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Toyota Camry owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Problem: Unintended Acceleration, air conditioner operating. Incident Scenario: Approaching driveway, stopped to allow pedestrian to pass. Resumed low speed turn into driveway, Abrupt acceleration of vehicle, launching vehicle over granite curb and into nearby tree. Damage: Passenger R.Front Fender, Passenger Headlamp Assy;Lower Control Arm Assy, Front Bumper cover, Passenger wheel rim bent, tire deflated. Unintended vehicle acceleration is a serious safety defect and can occur when the Idle Air Control Valve is defective or is provided incorrect engine rpm signal from Engine Control Computer causing sudden vehicle acceleration.
The vehicle overheated and stalled, I steered it to the roadside to call for a tow. Speaking with insurance tow service the car started to smoke from the front passenger side under the hood. As I supplied information the smoke volume increased from the front passenger side under the hood. Smoke volume continued to increase and a crackling/burning sound started. I told the agent I have to go and called 911. I supplied details of the area where the increasing smoke was coming from, the car location and my status. In the car I pulled the hood lever, went outside and stopped short of opening the hood. Realizing I had no means to put out the increasing fire I had to watch my car burn until firefighters arrived. I walk a distance away and waited, while the whole engine compartment went up in smoke....updated 09/22/15 updated 11/06/2017
Tl* the contact owned a 2001 Toyota Camry. While traveling 30 MPH, the vehicle caught fire. The contact stated that flames and smoke started to emit from under the vehicle. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was destroyed. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 149,000.
A woman pulled out of a side road and was one foot in front of me and I had no where to go so I hit her in back of her truck. I had no where to go. She pulled out fast and then slowed down. When I hit the airbags did not go off and I was wondering why.
I was traveling in my Toyota Camry 2001 on I 75 s from royal oak to detroit, mi around 2:30 am on September 6th 2009 ,when suddenly I heard some cracking noise underneath the hood and fire from underneath the hood. I was traveling at around 70 miles/hr and tried to steer the vehicle to wards the shoulder and power steering failed and I saw engine light blinking, then tried to slow down and brakes failed. I quickly used hand brake and stopped the vehicle. I quickly turned off the ignition and tried to open the door and noticed that it was locked. I quickly pulled both the knobs simultaneously and got out of the car and called 911. By the time fire engine came to the scene, the car was on huge fire. My car didn't have any major issues in the past. I did change timing belt as per the company guidelines and at authorized dealer/service center. …
Petition I and my 5 year old son were on highway, when the engine burst and caught on fire of my Toyota Camry 2001 exl. We had done all the maintenance with Toyota and all changes of the oil requirements on time. The last oil change was only 4 weeks prior the accident. We went through terrifying and very dangerous experience also lost 27,000 investments in the car. Toyota's engines have the sludge problems, but they decline any responsibilities. People should know about such dangerous problem before they can lose a loved one. I petition the agency for a recall, because of seriousness of failure.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Toyota Camry. While driving approximately 20 MPH on normal road conditions, the driver suffered a heart attack and crashed into a parked vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy and the vehicle erupted into flames. The police, ambulance, and fire departments were called to the scene and reports were filed. The driver was fatally injured in the crash. The vehicle was completely destroyed and towed to a collision center. The information was provided by the insurance company report. The failure and current mileages were 30,000. Updated 12/30/08 updated 01/02/09.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Toyota Camry. While driving 25 MPH, an abnormal revving sound emitted from the vehicle without warning. The contact mentioned that the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to respond. The vehicle was able to be stopped by turning into a parking garage. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, but the failure was unable to be duplicated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 82,000.
2001 Toyota Camry went out of control when our son was driving on a ramp and rolled over several times and the car was upside down trapping our son in the car upside down. He had to break the side window to get out of the car. It is completely total damage and the insurance company compensated for the value of the car. He was saved miraculously with minor cuts and bruises. Policeman gave him ticket after he got out of the car. It was night and cold.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning as smoke emerged from the engine. The vehicle then caught on fire from under the hood. The fire was contained by the fire department and a police report was filed. There were no injuries. The manufacturer was not notified. The vehicle was not inspected for the cause of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.
NHTSA investigations
Engine compartment fire
Odi's data analysis found the fires rates to be consistently low and evenly distributed among six model years and six different engine configurations.odi examined a variety of root causes, those being detonation (resulting in oil pan puncture from connecting rod), starter fires, various fuel related fires, leaking oil filters, wiring issues, improper repairs and brake fluid leaks.none of the issues examined had…
Engine complaints in other Camry years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2001 Toyota Camry?
NHTSA has 60 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2001 Toyota Camry, 22% of the model year's 272 complaints. The component named most often is engine (12 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Toyota Camry engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2001 Toyota Camry, though it has 2 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 2001 Toyota Camry engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 79,000 miles, and 10% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 10 fires and 4 injuries and 1 death to engine & cooling 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.