1999 Toyota Camry: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Feb 26, 2019 · Electrical, Seat belts · 205,000 miles · CA · fire · 1 injury

I turned on rear defrost and within few seconds back seat was on fire. Window burnt seat and seat belt also burned hand. It appears to have been a possible electrical cause. I figured a fuse would blow prior to a fire inside car. Had I been on fwy I would have not been lucky gas tank is inches below fire .

Filed Nov 19, 2014 · Engine · 200,000 miles · CA · fire

Tl* the contact owned a 1999 toyota camry. After exiting the vehicle, flames engulfed the front end of the vehicle. The contact extinguished the fire. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries reported. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.

Filed Oct 14, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 220,000 miles · NC · fire

1999 toyota camry le 4cyl starter failed to disengage from flywheel causing fire. The starter kept running burning it out and also burning the positive cable to the battery. Damage to the battery is under investigation. I was sitting parked in a parking lot with the radio and the air on when I observed smoke coming from the engine then started to come into the car thru the air conditioning. I turned the car off but the smoke continued and the fire dept was called. After looking at the internet this seems to be a widely known issue with multiple postings. I have not seen a recall on this. It needs to be investigated. My insurer said that my claim will be denied due to mechanical failure. Toyota needs to he held accountable.

Filed Jan 12, 2011 · 132,500 miles · OH

I started my car, sat in the parking lot for about 2 minutes before I put it in gear & began moving. Drove approximately 100-200 yards to the exit of the parking lot when I noticed electrical problems and smoke coming out of the vents and out from under hood. I turned off the engine, turned on the emergency flashers & got out of the car. The emergency flashers died not long after I turned them on. Once I determined there wasn't a fire, I carefully opened the hood to see smoke still pouring out of the starter. I had it towed to the shop where they determined that somehow the starter had been engaged while the engine was running and didn't stop until it had drained the battery completely. I was told that I was very lucky that the heat from the starter had not melted any hoses and ignited something. The starter was replaced (it was the original starter from when the car was new), battery recharged and electrical systems checked for damage. Luckily, the only damage appears to have been to the starter itself. I subsequently went online and found references to starters in the same make, model & year overheating in the same way & some even catching the engine compartment on fire. I have to wonder how many such incidents have gone unreported, or how many engine fires were caused by starters, but the cause was never found, because the starter & everything else was destroyed.

Filed Dec 16, 2010 · Engine · 44,000 miles · FL

While driving my 1999 toyota camry onto the on ramp to the veterans expressway, the engine made a loud bang and smoke came out of the engine.the engine stopped! I had bought this car new in 1999,and it only has 44,000 miles on it. It is in super condition, except now it has a hole in the engine. If this had happened on the expressway, I would have been killed!!! A certified mechanic said that the piston rod cap bolt had broken and the rod blew a hole in the engine. The toyota dealer and toyota national said that I must pay to have this fixed. It needs a whole new engine!!I feel that it must be a defect or this would not happen at 44,000 miles.I have always had all of the maintenance requirements done. This is certainly a dangerous defect, because if your car seizes up and stops in traffic, you do not stand a chance. I've read where others have had the same problem. Why hasn't toyota recalled this? It is certainly just as dangerous as the problems that they did recall cars for.

Filed Oct 30, 2010 · Electrical · 145,000 miles · TX · fire

While driving home, the radio began skipping similar to a scratched cd when hitting a bump in the road. The radio was tuned to fm, not playing a cd. The same sound was heard four months earlier, but not since then. Suddenly the doors automatically locked and the engine cut off. The car was restarted and pulled onto a side street, where smoke was observed coming from the front of the hood on the driver side. Upon exiting the vehicle, noticed flames coming from under the hood. The fire escalated and fire department was called. They were able to put out the fire, but the front half of the car was consumed. Car was totaled.

Filed Aug 13, 2010 · Electrical · 150,000 miles · NJ · fire

Our son was driving our 1999 camry on a major highway when all of the lights came on at once-check engine, check oil, check tires. Then there was a ding sound and a loud pop. The car shut off. He was able to move to the shoulder of the highway and exited the car. As he went to open the hood he realized it was on fire. He called 911. The responding state trooper tried to extinguish the fire but couldn't. By the time the fire department arrived the car was fully engulfed. We have properly maintained our camry at our local garage, who has the records on file. Luckily only objects were lost, our son is fine.

Filed Feb 23, 2010 · Electrical · IL · crash · fire

On aug 10, 2004 my sister was driving her 1999 toyota camry when it inexplicably drove off the w. Bound lanes of il I '74' at mi marker 115. It traveled 921 ft crossing the median, I '74' e. Bound lanes, up a hill, eventually striking a tree where the car became engulfed in flames, burning my sister to death. A witness statement by a semi truck driver stated that he saw sparks coming from the undercarriage. I attended the coroner's inquest where the factual matters were presented including a toxicology report. Her death was ruled an "accident".

Filed Nov 25, 2009 · Electrical · 120,000 miles · GA · fire

1999 camry battery kept dying. Then one day, the car stopped working during driving, and smoke was coming out of the hood. When the hood was opened, I saw that the cables and battery had caught on fire. The battery cables and battery had to be replaced. Old parts were discarded.

Filed May 16, 2007 · Engine · 42,000 miles · NY · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 1999 toyota camry. The contact stated that her vehicle caught fire without warning. She parked the vehicle and one half hour later, the police arrived to find that the fire department had extinguished the fire. The dealer stated that they have never heard of this before. A police report was filed. The engine size and powertrain were unavailable. The current and failure mileages were 42,000. Updated 06/08/07.

Filed May 6, 2006 · Electrical, Fuel system · 75,000 miles · PA · fire

As I was driving my 1999 toyota camry to work, the vehicle caught fire, and was totally destroyed. The fire was preceded by a loud popping sound, which was followed by the loss of brakes/power steering, etc. I struggled to steer the vehicle off the road, coasting to a stop. Meanwhile, immediately following the firecracker-like "pop," smoke began to pour into the vehicle from under the dashboard, as well as through the vents on the top of the dash. Heavy smoke also began to pour out from under the hood of the car. As I finally brought the vehicle to a stop onto the shoulder of the road, a motorist stopped and hollered to me to get out of the car immediately as, he said, there were flames visible underneath the car. I exited the vehicle immediately, and within 3-5 minutes it was totally engulfed in flames. I dialed 911 immediately, and even though the incident occurred within 1.5 miles of the local fire station, the vehicle was totally engulfed in flames by the time the fire truck arrived. A pennsylvania state trooper arrived within 10 minutes of the onset of the episode, moments after the fire department arrived. A traffic report was filed with the state trooper.

Filed Dec 8, 2005 · Electrical · 90,000 miles · VA

Dt: the contact's daughter parked vehicle and pulled the key out of the ignition. The engine continued to run and later stopped on its own. A small amount of smoke came from under the hood. Afterwards, she inspected under the hood and discovered the battery cables melted between the battery and engine compartment area. The vehicle has not been seen by a dealer. There was no obvious evidence of a fire.