2001 Toyota Camry XV20

Overview

Engines

2.2L four-cylinder, 3.0L V6

Walk away if you find

Engine oil sludge

On record

2 warnings, 2 recalls

What changed for 2001

• Value Packages for each trim, daytime running lights standard on the LE V6, and the immobilizer standard only on the XLE V6. Edmunds

Compare 2001 with 2000

Colors

• Diamond White Pearl on Lunar Mist Metallic An owners' registry (unofficial)2GF, 2001
• Cashmere Beige Metallic on Lunar Mist Metallic An owners' registry (unofficial)2HV, 2001
• Antique Sage Pearl on Lunar Mist Metallic An owners' registry (unofficial)2HG, 2001
• Mineral Green Opalescent on Lunar Mist Metallic An owners' registry (unofficial)2HH, 2001
• Lunar Mist Metallic An owners' registry (unofficial)1C8, 2000–2001

Sources: Toyota, Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)

Interiors in the generation, years not known: Gray (Cloth) Toyota, Oak (Cloth) Toyota, Sage (Cloth) Toyota, Gray, Oak or Sage (Leather) Toyota

Specs

Engines

• 2.2L four-cylinder 5S-FE engine page Edmunds, a published reference

  133 hp, 3 hp more from 2000

• 3.0L V6 1MZ-FE engine page Edmunds, a published reference

  192 hp

Transmissions

• 5-speed manual A published reference
• Automatic Edmunds

Drivetrains

• Front-wheel drive A published reference

Trims

• CE Toyota, Edmunds, a published reference
• LE Toyota, Edmunds
• XLE Toyota, Edmunds

Packages

• Leather seats Toyota, Edmunds
• Theft-deterrent package (1998–2001) Edmunds
• Value Package (2001) Edmunds

Figures for the whole 4th gen

• Model codes: SXV20 (four) and MCV20 (V6) A published reference
• Introduced: September 3, 1996 A published reference
• Sales: The best-selling passenger car in the US from 1997 to 2000 A published reference

Watch out

Faults owners and the press report, and how to spot each one. Walk-away faults come first.

• Engine oil sludge All years

  Walk away if found

  Check: With the engine off, look under the oil filler cap for sludge, and watch the exhaust at start-up for blue smoke. Ask for the oil change records.

  In 2002 Toyota offered cover for sludge damage on 1997–2002 Toyota and Lexus models with the 3.0L V6 or 2.2L four, for eight years from first sale. A 2007 settlement covered Camry fours of 1997–2001 and V6s of 1997–2002, among about 3.5 million vehicles, for eight years and 120 days from purchase, ConsumerAffairs reports. Both have long run out. Samarins, an unofficial source, says to pass on a car that shows any blue smoke, and CarComplaints.com, another, lists a seized engine as the 1999's worst problem. Work Truck Online, ConsumerAffairs, Samarins.com, owners' reports (unofficial)

• Knocking from the front struts All years

  Check: Drive over bumps and listen for knocks from the front, and look at the strut mounts and the anti-roll bar links and bushings.

  Samarins, an unofficial source, says worn front strut mounts were common. An owner commenting under Curbside Classic's 1983 article reports a 1997 whose struts knocked against the body at about 100,000 miles, cured with new struts. Samarins.com, owners' reports (unofficial)

Recalls

Newest first. Ask the seller for proof the work was done, or check the VIN with NHTSA.

• 2001 Recall 01V072000

  The front subframe may not have been welded properly. NHTSA

• 1998–2001 Recall 01V012000

  The accelerator cable housing can deform at the cruise control actuator, and the cable can wear through and break. NHTSA

Checked against NHTSA records on November 2, 2026.

Owning

What owners and buyers say

• Sought after

  2001

  One source so far

  SlashGear lists the 2001 among the five best used Camry years, as a safe, dependable family sedan with a good ride, and tells buyers to check for rust, electrical faults and overheated engines. SlashGear

• Avoid

  Cheaper made than the 3rd gen All years

  Less sought after

  SlashGear finds this one of the least troubled Camrys, with few complaints, investigations and recalls, but says owners don't praise it much and does not recommend one used. To Curbside Classic, an unofficial source, Toyota's savings left it plainer than the 3rd gen in both looks and build. SlashGear, Curbside Classic

Maintenance

No service schedule is added yet.

Warranty when new