2000 Toyota Camry electrical problems

Filed Feb 5, 2026 · Electrical · OH

@45,679 miles, the (plastic) driver door handle popped of the car when lifted without thumb just enough to begin to open the door. This was during the beginning of a big snowstorm. Luckily I was not idling the engine while cleaning the windshields or I could have been locked out of the car with the engine running. Now I must drive with 2 keys. The original owner of the vehicle, my mother was XXX when she bought it on 10/31/1999 for $23, 470 with 8 miles on the odometer; salespeople never mentioned the door handles were plastic. The failure was complete fracture all at once, not progressive; I suspect the plastic strain hardened from repetitive stress, making this a design defect rather than material quality. The driver's door latch is a safety issue; now I must struggle to enter the car, and you never know where you might be when you need quick entry, like in a rain. Paid cash w/ trade in for car. Door handle not yet repaired, but claim filed with Toyota Customer Experience Center (ref. # XXX). Request Toyota replace or repair door handle at their expense, preferably with aluminum handle on driver door lest problem recur. Also the car needs an OE solar panel to keep the battery charged for low mileage use. I replaced previous battery with new 7 yr warranty one on 1/22/25 and despite idling to recharge for 1 hr at a time, the battery now remains recurrently low. The vehicle was not sold for a given yearly mileage use, and my mom, now deceased, bought it for reliable safety during retirement & old age as my father died; the vehicle now belongs to our family trust, of which I am trustee. I request Toyota pay for a solar panel to be installed above rear window deck, on rubber tubed bolts spaced above the speakers, to keep battery recharged. Battery charge is obviously a safety issue, and idling is a pollutive, unforeseen expense. Both these issues should likely be recall issues because of the vehicle purchase price involved, as design negligence.

Filed Feb 28, 2022 · Acceleration, Electrical · LA

My car has recalls on it and I want to get this fixed

Filed Mar 16, 2020 · Electrical · 204,950 miles · MI · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 toyota camry. The contact stated when he parked the vehicle he noticed smoke was coming from under the dash on the passenger side behind the blower motor. The contact stated that the resister that control the heater burned. The contact powered off the engine to stop the smoke. The contact stated that the vehicle had no power due to the burning plug. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed that the resister sensor plug and blower motor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact called bergaron toyota (1600 n stephenson ave, iron mountain, mi 4980) and was informed to schedule an appointment. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 204,950.

Filed Nov 22, 2018 · Electrical, Engine · 95,000 miles · PA · fire

2000 toyota camry caught on fire august 7th, 2018. I was driving on a city street and my radio kept going on and off while driving, I noticed the check engine light came on so I pulled into a parking lot and parked the car. I turned off the car and started to smell smoke. I opened the hood and the engine compartment was on fire on the right side near the battery. I was able to get a fire extinguisher and put the fire out but I have significant damage. I have not seen a recall on this issue but my car should not start on fire. I submitted a claim to toyota (claim# 180808-000043) asking if there is a technical bulletin. Toyota sent their inspector and he noted the starter failed to disengage from flywheel causing fire. The starter kept running burning it out and also burning the positive cable to the battery. Toyota did not share a copy of the report with me. The damage was severe enough to write off the car with only 95,000 miles on it. This needs to be investigated. Why would my car starter catch on fire like this?

Filed Nov 4, 2016 · Electrical · CA · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 toyota camry. The contact purchased an aftermarket everstart plus 36r (na) battery, upc code: 681131441896. While driving approximately 30 MPH, smoke emerged from the engine compartment. The contact had to pull over to the side of the road. The fire and police departments were present. The fire was extinguished. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer of the battery was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

Filed Nov 13, 2015 · Electrical · 54,000 miles · FL · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 toyota camry. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to shut off and there was a smell of smoke. The contact also stated that the vehicle was unable to start. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and it was diagnosed that the started was burned to the battery. The battery, the starter, and the wires were replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 54,000.

Filed Jun 24, 2014 · Electrical, Seats · OH · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 toyota camry. The contact stated that she secured the vehicle in park and was able to remove the key from the ignition with the engine continuing to operate. The dealer was contacted and advised that either the ignition switch or the key was defective. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact also stated that she opened the window while the dealer was on the phone with her, and it exhibited an abnormal squealing noise. The contact was then advised by the dealer to bring the vehicle in for inspection. Additionally, the contact stated that when sitting in the driver's seat, it would feel as though the springs were protruding into her back and causing pain. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where she was advised that the vehicle was not included in any recalls. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the air bag warning light sporadically illuminated over a two year span. The contact was concenred that in teh case of air bag deployment, the chemicals in the air bag would affect her asthma. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Jun 21, 2012 · Electrical · 172,000 miles · CO

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 toyota camry. The contact stated that a loud noise was coming from the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the dealer stated they had to replace the trends in the instrument panel. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure and current mileage was 172,000.

Filed Nov 29, 2011 · Electrical, Engine · MD

My check engine light has been on and off for over 2 years. I have had both catalytic converters replaced, a new gas cap and every other issue the garages have told me are causing the problem. With each fix the light goes off for about a week and then comes back on. Toyota dealerships always tell me it is because I do not tighten my gas cap, but I tighten it until it clicks. I am not losing any mileage with the light on or having any other difficulties with car, but I can not pass the emission test with the light on. I feel that the light is on because of a glitch in the system or a defect, because I am not experiencing any of the normal problems that come with a check engine light on for long periods of time.

Filed Sep 18, 2011 · Electrical · 51,650 miles · TN

My camry has an added spoiler, not sure weather it was factory or dealer installed. The brake light that is normally in the rear window was left hanging in the trunk as it was superseded by the one in the spoiler. The bulb was left installed as it caused a brake light fault on the dash when disconnected. Last week when I had a full trunk we started to smell smoke and could not figure where it was coming from. We found that a cardboard box in the trunk had come in contact with the unused bulb which had burned a hole through the box when braking ,but fortunately it did not ignite. I will contact the dealer tomorrow to see if they can relocate the bulb to a safe location.