# 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:SOLENOID
> NHTSA complaint `548362` · 2005-08-08 · Toyota Motor Corporation
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** TOYOTA
- **Model:** CAMRY
- **Year:** 1997
- **Manufacturer:** Toyota Motor Corporation
- **Component:** ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:SOLENOID
- **Miles at failure:** 194,000
## Narrative
I OWN A 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH 194,000 MILES. LAST WEEK IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. I PULLED INTO THE OFFICE PARKING LOT AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND REMOVED THE KEY.  THE STARTER CONTINUED TO TRY TO START THE CAR.  I TRIED TO STALL IT OUT BY LETTING OUT THE CLUTCH, BUT IT JUST CONTINUED TO TRY TO START.  I THEN PUT THE KEY BACK IN TURNED ON THE IGNITION AND PUT IT IN NEUTRAL.  I THEN RAN INTO THE OFFICE TO GET A TOOL TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY.  WHEN THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED THE STARTER QUIT, BUT BY THEN THE SOLENOID WAS SO OVERHEATED IT STARTED TO SMOKE AND BURN.  LUCKILY WE HAD A FIRE EXTINGUISHER ON HAND.  THE DEALER HAS ONLY SAID THAT THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE STARTER.  I THOUGHT VEHICLES HAD A FAIL SAFE MEASURE THAT WOULD TERMINATE THE POWER SUPPLY TO THE STARTER ONCE THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED.  *NM
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*