19th Oct 2007, 06:45
Wow, thanks for this page! Our Camry just started to make that loud rattle at 97,000 miles, a 2001 Camry (made in USA, while my other two Toyota's were made in Japan Camry's). My wife says it sounds like an airplane. I too hear it especially at 45 mph and faster. One shop said it sounds normal to them. I will try to get help armed with the help of previous comments. Thanks.
19th Oct 2007, 14:18
I have a 97 Avalon with the same problem. My front end is making the knocking noise under the passenger side. I've searched the internet and spoke to several mechanics and they tell me to first start with the sway bar bushings. Then if that doesn't work, then try strut mounts.
I'm going to change the bar bushings this weekend and will let you know how it goes.
Thanks for all the info and help!!
8th Nov 2007, 21:58
I purchased a 1997 Avalon XLS with approximately 35,000 miles. My wife complained about the noise in the front end. My mechanic replaced the strut mounts and struts. That appears to fix the problem. Now, at 92,000 miles, my wife is complaining about noise in the rear. I have noticed it for quite a while. I talked to my mechanic and he said that strut mount problems on the rear is fairly common. Appreciate all of the comments and solutions.
Second problem, had noise up front that followed road speed. I diagnosed the source as the differential. Noise got worse over 9 month period. My mechanic just installed a rebuilt transmission for $4000.00.
11th Nov 2007, 22:22
We have a 97 and a 99 Camry- you can tell we loved Toyota. NOT any more. We cannot get rid of the rattling noise from the front end passenger side. I have replaced struts, mounts, ball joint, rubber bushings on the 99, but only to hear the rattles again. The last thing our mechanic could think of was that may be the tires have become dry and rigid and replaced them. It still rattles. worse in the morning even on slightly bumpy road. TOYOTA, please, please, please, listen to all these people on this webpage and have mercy on us. Save us from this notorious rattle that has taken away our otherwise peaceful rides.
18th Nov 2007, 13:23
SUCCESS! and many thanks to the party that gave the input on tightening the nuts at top of strut towers. The rattle in my 98 Camry front end now completely gone thanks to your valuable input. I will copy this input below in hopes others will benefit. Again thanks... here goes.
23rd Nov 2007, 20:46
I have a '97 Camry V6 XLE. I purchased it new, but it now has over 80,000 miles on it. I have been relatively happy with its reliability; however, when something goes wrong, it's always very costly! My experiences with the Toyota Dealerships have been frustrating because of the ridiculous price quotes and poor customer service.
Because of the cold weather, my rattling in the front passenger side has been getting even louder. It makes me feel like my car is going to fall apart so I couldn't ignore it any longer. Today, after about 5 hours and $440, I have 2 new struts and (drum roll)...the same rattling!!
This message board has many great ideas that I may eventually try. I just hope that this rattling does not foreshadow (or cause) greater problems in the future!
19th Dec 2007, 18:40
I have a 1999 Toyota Avalon. I had the rear struts and mounts replaced. Also the rear sway bar bushing. When you drive over bumps you can still hear a knocking and rattling noise from the rear, Very annoying. The mechanic cannot find anything else loose. It's just amazing that Toyota has more or less ignored this common complaint. Would never buy another Camry or Avalon again. I talked to a Toyota service manager and he says there is no problem with the rear struts!
19th Dec 2007, 19:37
While studying about the bad suspension on my 99 avalon
I found this quote from the "Consumer Guide Report for Avalon under reliability "trouble spots, suspension" for 97-99 Avalon.
"Suspension noise: The front suspension is noisy when driving over speed bumps or washboard roads due to a bad rubber bushing in the upper strut mount. Countermeasure bushings have been released. (1997-99)
21st Dec 2007, 16:51
When studying about this car, I read the Consumer Guide report on 1997 to 1999 Avalons, and it is listed under "reliability" that the suspension is noisy due to bad rubber bushings. They state that new bushings have been produced to counteract the problem.
This should have been a recall issue and resolved on Toyota's account. We are supposed to pay hundreds of dollars to correct for something they knew was wrong?
I called a dealer last week and he said due to the rubber bushing, the whole strut can go bad.
28th Dec 2007, 14:28
I have a 1997 Toyota Avalon. In the past year I have replaced the struts and strut mounts 3 times! I continue to hear a plastic crunching sound from the strut area on the driver's side, but only when I turn right. Its more noticeable when it is cold. I have also had my rack and pinon steering replaced in the past year. Any thoughts what causes this phantom noise that NO ONE can figure out? Helpless in Norcross!
1st Apr 2008, 11:46
Dateline Saddle Brook NJ... World Class Auto/The "Toy Shop"
Ditto most comments hear regarding Toy Avalon/Camry '97-'00 models with front and rear suspension problems... a mess...many complaints and no dealer solution... current Avalon on rack has $1500 worth of struts, stabilizer links and bushings all around and just installed new rear control arms... the new ones... right from a Toy dealer @$122 each... New ones are bad...rattle..metal to metal contact inside... not enuf rubber?...would love to find new ones that are good...perhaps, I have to fashion an old style rubber bushing... shop made... to fix this stupid prob that should have been recalled by Toyota long ago... cheap @#$!@#$...still hard to believe that Toyota's legendary quality has disappeared... its all I have driven for last quarter century... no more WCToyShop@aol.com.
18th Jul 2008, 14:18
Problem - '97 Avalon front strut noise - fix - put small amount of syntec (used) oil into top of strut tower used duct tape to seal the oil. It will stop the noise in a few days and last quite some time. I fought this problem for years finally fixed it.
25th Jun 2011, 22:24
This problem has been on going since 1999 on our Avalon. It was taken to the dealer when new, and they said there was nothing they could do. We lived with the rattle in the right strut, and then we replaced the struts, and now both rattle when going over rough pavement. What do you do?
6th Oct 2007, 10:49
I had terrible rattling in front and rear with my 97 Camry XLE with 120K miles on it. I changed all 4 struts/mounts, springs, brakes, tires, and engine mounts with no luck. Finally, someone with the same problem told me to change the 4 sway bar bushings (2 in front and 2 in rear). This $60 repair finally fixed the rattling that was driving me insane. For those of you with rattling, I would start with the sway bar bushing first! Hope this helps.
-Vishal.