1999 Toyota Camry Steering Problems

Your steering wheel locked up while driving on the expressway at 35 mph around a curve, making it impossible to steer or stop. Your car crashed into a concrete median twice, deploying both airbags and causing the vehicle to be declared a total loss. This happened just 5 days after you purchased the car.

Your steering wheel suddenly locked while you were driving on the expressway at 35 mph around a curve, causing you to lose control and hit the cement barrier twice. The car was a recent purchase and was damaged severely enough to be salvaged. This steering failure likely involved the steering column or power steering system and may require inspection of the entire steering assembly.

After getting new tires, your car pulls strongly to the left, requiring constant steering wheel pressure to stay in your lane at any speed. You've had the wheel alignment checked three times without resolving the issue. This could be caused by worn suspension components, a bent steering component, or a persistent alignment problem that needs further diagnosis.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL REMAINED STUCK AFTER BEING DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND ONLY THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE DETAILS OF THE CRASH WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

1999 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE TRAVELING, THE DRIVER CLAIMED TO HAVE HEARD A NOISE AND LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE. *BF THE DRIVER WENT OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD, STRUCK A MEDIAN BARRIER, CAME BACK ACROSS THREE LANES, WENT OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD, STRUCK A GUARDRAIL AND THEN CAME TO REST PARTIALLY IN THE RIGHT LANE. ACCORDING TO THE WRECKER THE DRIVER, THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING. HOWEVER, THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE THAT WAS NOT A RESULT OF THE CRASH AND THAT COULD HAVE POSSIBLY CAUSED A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0359-90)*JB UPDATED 08/05/10 *BF

2 YEARS AGO, MORE OR LESS, I ADJUSTED THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND THE STEERING WHEEL OF MY 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY LE. SINCE THAT TIME, ON OCCASION, I AM UNKNOWINGLY TURNING ON THE CRUISE CONTROL WHICH IS A BUTTON ON THE END OF AN ARM OFF THE STEERING COLUMN. I CANNOT RESET THE SEAT AND STEERING WHEEL POSITION TO FIT ME BUT I AM VERY WORRIED THAT HAVING THE CRUISE CONTROL OPERATING MY CAR WHEN I DON'T KNOW IT MAY BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR ME AND MY CAR. *TR

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE OUTER TIE ROD SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING SHAFT WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF STEERING. THE THREADS ARE CORRODED ON THE STEERING SHAFT AND THE TIE ROD ON THE DRIVER SIDE. *NM THE TIE ROD THREADS WERE NOT APPARENT TO VISION WHEN INSPECTED. THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM. *SC *JB

TOYOTA DOES NOT FIX THEIR CARS PROPERLY. I BROUGHT MY 1999 CAMRY IN FOR A REPAIR TO THE STEERING COLUMN, THEY "FIXED" THE PROBLEM, BUT PUT MY STEERING WHEEL BACK ON INCORRECTLY. THE DEALERSHIP IS HARD TO DEAL WITH, AND TOYOTA HOME OFFICE, WILL NOT GET INVOLVED, AS THEY STATE THAT EACH OF THEIR DEALERSHIPS ARE INDIVIDUALLY OWNED AND OPERATED.

CONSUMER STATES THE CRUISE CONTROL FAIL AT 70MPH CAUSING AND ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

CONSUMER STATES THE STEERING SQUEAKS WHEN TURNING, THE DEALER FOUND LOWER STEERING COLUMN UNIVERSAL DRY AND NOISY, THE DEALER LUBRICATED THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN JOINT.*JB

THIS IS THE SECOND POWER STEERING PUMP THAT HAS FAILED ON MY TOYOTA CAMRY WHICH WAS PURCHASED NEW.THE FIRST PUMP FAILED AT 7,800 MILES AND NOW THE FRONT SEAL IS LEAKING ON THE REPLACEMENT PUMP AT 76,243 MILES. THIS IS UNACCEPTBLE. *AK

THERE IS A SQEAK COMING FROM THE FRONT END WHEN I GO OVER SMALL BUMPS/DIPS IN THE ROAD. TOYOTA RECOMMENDED THE REPLACEMENT OF TIE RODS, WHICH DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. THE NOISE CONTINUES AND HAS INCREASED IN SEVERITY. THE AIR CONDITIONER SMELLS WHEN USING IT. IT SMELLS LIKE MOLD. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER, BUT ALL THEY DO IS SPRAY IT WITH FRIGI-FRESH, WHICH ONLY MASKS THE SMELL FOR A SHORT WHILE.*AK

WHILE PARKING VEHICLE RIGHT TIRE CAME OFF THE RIM. MECHANIC STATED TIE ROD NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK

THIS CAR IS A LEMON. I HAVE HAD FIVE INTEGRATED RELAY'S REPLACED AND NOW IT IS OUT AGAIN. THE HEADLIGHT OR THE DASH LIGHTS WILL WORK, BUT NOT BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. TOYOTA SAID IT WAS BECAUSE I HAD A NON-FACTORY ALARM INSTALLED. THEY REPLACED THE ALARM WITH A TOYOTA ALARM AND REPLACED THE RELAY AND IT BURNED OUT THE FOLLOWING DAY. THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. THE AIR CONDITIONER HAS HAD A MUSTY SMELL SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. THEY SPRAY THE VENTS WITH "FRIGI FRESH" AND IT'S FINE FOR A FEW DAYS AND THE SMELL RETURNS. THEY TOLD ME TO SPRAY SIMPLE GREEN IN THE AIR INTAKE ONCE A WEEK. THAT'S A PRETTY POOR REMEDY. THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT HOLD ON ANY INCLINE. SOMETIMES THE CAR WILL PULL INTO THE GARAGE BY IT SELF AND OTHER TIMES IT WILL ROLL INTO THE STREET. IT DEPENDS ON IT'S MOOD. THE CAR LACK POWER. SOME DAYS THE CAR IS PEPPY BUT MOST DAYS IT'S A OLD MULE. I WENT THROUGH ARBITRATION AND TOYOTA JUST KEEPS REPLACING PARTS INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE CAR. IT'S SITS IN THE GARAGE NOW BECAUSE IS NOT DEPENDABLE. I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE AN IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATION AND RECALL OF THE 1999 CAMRY.*AK

NO SUMMARY FOUND FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

MULTIPLE TIMES CAR WILL NOT START. THE ONLY TIME FIALED AT DEALER SUSPECT PART WAS THE ALARM SYSTEM. REPLACED ALARM BUT PROBLEM CAN BACK 9 MONTHS LATER.

ON FLAT ROADS,STEERING WHEEL BINDS OR LOCKS INTO A LEFT TURN REQUIRING DRIVER TO USE CLOCKWISE FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL TO RETURN IT & MAINTAIN VEHICLE ON (CENTER) STRAIGHT PATH.(STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT RETURN TO THE CENTER). IF I LET THE STEERING WHEEL GO, VEHICLE WILL TURN INTO THE LEFT LANE OR CENTER DIVIDER IN ABOUT 5 SECONDS. I AM AN OUTSIDE SALESPERSON AND ON TWO OCASSIONS I HAVE HAD TO SHARPLY STEER THE CAR AWAY FROM THE LEFT TO AVOID HITTING ONCOMING TRAFFIC,I HAD NO EXPECTATION THE CAR WOULD STEER ITSELF TO THE LEFT SO QUICKLY. I UNDERSTAND THAT SOLARA AND SIENNA SHARE SAME PLATFORM,POWERTRAIN & STEERING...SIENNAS HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM (ODI PE99-070) & OWNERS HAD NEW MODIFIED STEERING RACK GUIDES REPLACED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM & AND THAT THE SOLARA STEERING RACK HAS QUIETLY BEEN MODIFIED WITH NEW PART # 44250 06081. I TOOK MY SOLARA TO THE DEALER TO CHECK ALIGNMENT ABOUT 6 TIMES(FIRST TIME WHEN CAR HAD ABOUT 300 MILES), ROTATED, BALANCED TIRES,DEALER TOLD ME BRIDGESTONES POTENZA TIRES WERE TO BLAME,I REPLACED THEM WITH B.F.GOODRICH BUT THE STEERING WHEEL CONTINUES TO BIND OR LOCK INTO A LEFT TURN.

SERIOUS UNSAFE VIBRATION AT 60MPH AND UP. DEALER HAS REPLACED TIRES 3 TIMES, BALANCED THE TIRES 5 TIMES AND PERFORMED ALIGNMENT. STILL HAS PROBLEMS. HAD A HIGHSPEED BALNCING PERFORMED TO NO AVAIL ALSO.

VIBRATION AT SPEEDS OF 40MPH AND HIGHER. VIBRATION MOST APPARENT AT 60MPH AND HIGHER. WHEN STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES, CAR FEELS UNSAFE/UNSTABLE. VIBRATION IS VERY APPARENT THROUGHOUT THE CAR. HANDS SHAKE AND CAN FEEL IN ARMS AND LEGS. VIBRATION CAUSES MY LOWER BACK TO HURT EVERYTIME I DRIVE IT. NEVER HAD BACK PROBLEMS BEFORE. DEALER STATES THAT THEY REBLANCED THE WHEELS. CLAIMS THE VIBRATION IS THE ROAD. HOWEVER, NO OTHER CAR I'VE EVER DRIVEN HAS HAD SO MUCH VIBRATION. CAN EVEN SEE PASSENGER SEAT CONSTANTLY VIBRATING. HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES. SECOND TIME DEALER STATES THAT THEY RECHECKED THE WHEEL BALANCE AND PHASE MATCHED FRONT TIRE. LEFT CAR AT DEALER FOR THREE DAYS THEY DID NOT EVEN LOOK AT THE CAR. DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR THE CAR. HELP! HELP! HELP!

STEERING WHEEL STARTS TO VIBRATE AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 65 AND 68 MPH, AND USUALLY STOPS BEYOND THAT RANGE. IT DOES NOT SEEM TO JEOPARDISE THE SAFETY BUT IS WORRYSOME AND ANNOYING CONSIDERING A BRAND NEW CAR OF THIS MAKE.

STEERING COLUMN IS LOOSE AND VEHICLE STEERS TO THE RIGHT. *AK

ON 5/29/99, I APPLIED THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH A VEHICLE THAT CUT ME OFF ON A HIGHWAY. IMMEDIATELY, THE CAR SWERVED ACROSS THE HIGHWAY VIOLENTLY AND SPUN IN 360 TURNS TWICE BEFORE BEING HIT BY TWO CARS AND CRASHING INTO A JERSEY BARRIER. NOT ONLY DID THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAIL, BUT THE STEERING LOCKED UP AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS (FRONT OR SIDE) DEPLOYED. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. MY FIANCEE AND I SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. A DRIVER OF ANOTHER CAR HIT US AND CRASHED INTO THE JERSEY BARRIER, SUSTAINING SIGNIFICANT INJURIES.

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED CAUSING LEAKAGE WHICH RESULTED IN SMOKE. *YC

THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATE DURING ACCERALTION AT ALL SPEEDS. THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES AT NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AT ALL SPEEDS. THE VIBRATIONS ARE AT THE GREATEST AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 50 MPH. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT BACK TWICE TO THE DEALER AND EACH TIME IT WAS DISMISSED AS ROUNDING OF THE TIRES. TO THIS DAT ETHE CAR HAS APPROX 5600 MILES AND THE VIBRATION CONTINUES

STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES WHEN SPEEDS OF 65 MPH AND HIGHER,DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR 4 TIMES AND PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED.