IllustrationWHILE INSURED WAS DRIVING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE STATED CAUSE OF FIRE WAS A LOOSE OIL FILTER CLAIM # 30-V068-383. *YD
1998 Toyota Camry
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Camry years
Owner complaints for the 1998 Toyota Camry are substantially higher than the model-year median of 295.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Camry years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
90–25K
2125–50K
3050–75K
4475–100K
35100–150K
25150K+
164 reports with mileage · 436 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 112 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 92 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 83 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
64 crash reports31 fire reports35 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
92 reports(35-W173-913) INSURED HAD JUST STARTED VEHICLE WHEN IT BEGAN SMOKING AND THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE, CLAIM STATES SUBROGATION RECOVERY AGAINST FIRESTONE FOR A BAD OIL FILTER THAT CAUSED AN ENGINE FIRE. *JG
CLAIM NUMBER - 25-5305-204 - WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 60 MPH, VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE, CONSUMER PULLED TO RIGHT SHOULDER, EXITED VEHICLE AND SMOKE GOT INTENSE, TWO MINUTES LATER, VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES, VEHICLE WAS TOWED. *TT
(04-1215-119) INSURED'S VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *JG
INSURED WAS DRIVING AND PULLED INTO DRIVE WAY, THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING, WHEN SHE OPENED THE HOOD AND TOWARD THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. CLAIM NUMBER 13-7008-586. *YH
CLAIM NUMBER 32-V073-594 - AS CONSUMER WAS LEAVING MOBILE STATION TO HAVE VEHICLE SERVICE FOR AN OIL CHANGE, VEHICLE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE; THE OIL FILTER WAS MISSING AND IT WAS NOT ATTACHED TO ENGINE PRIOR TO THE FIRE, EXAMINATION OF THE FLAME PATTERNS REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE OIL FROM THE MISSING OIL FILTER SPRAYED ONTO THE EN…
Read full complaint
CLAIM NUMBER 32-V073-594 - AS CONSUMER WAS LEAVING MOBILE STATION TO HAVE VEHICLE SERVICE FOR AN OIL CHANGE, VEHICLE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE; THE OIL FILTER WAS MISSING AND IT WAS NOT ATTACHED TO ENGINE PRIOR TO THE FIRE, EXAMINATION OF THE FLAME PATTERNS REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE OIL FROM THE MISSING OIL FILTER SPRAYED ONTO THE ENGINE PIPE AND IGNITED CAUSING A FIRE. *TT
INSURED TRIED TO START VEHICLE BUT IT WOULDN'T START, LIFTED HOOD AND THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE, 01-6209-199. *JG
INSURED STATED THAT WHILE TOW TRUCK WAS PUTTING THE VEHICLE ON THE FLAT BED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED THE TOW TRUCK, THE CAUSE OF FIRE WAS A SJORT CIRCUIT. CLAIM NUMBER 75-A137-314. *YH
WHILE DRIVING, THE INSURED NOTICED HEAT BEING GENERATED FROM THE BRAKES, THE INSURED THEN PARKED THE VEHICLE IN THE DRIVEWAY AND THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. CLAIM #05-4482-577.*YD
VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A CLICKING SOUND, THEN A BANG SOUND, THE INSURED STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED, HOWEVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING AND THEN BURST INTO FLAMES.*JB(CLAIM#38-J786-430)
Official recalls
201V012000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Jan 16, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL AND V6 ENGINES, AND BUILT AT ONE OF TWO LINES AT THE KENTUCKY PLANT. THE ACCELERATOR CABLE HOUSING COULD BE DEFORMED AT THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTUATOR-TO-THROTTLE BODY CONNECTION. THE ACCELERATOR INNER-CABLE COULD WEAR AWAY AND EVENTUALLY BREAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD ALLOW THE THROTTLE TO RETURN TO IDLE OR REMAIN IN ITS MOST RECENT POSITION REGARDLESS OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL OPERATION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR CABLE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 23, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
99V307000 · Steering: Steering Wheel/handle Bar
Nov 1, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE STEERING WHEEL SET NUT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED CAUSING STEERING VIBRATION AND LOOSENESS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE STEERING WHEEL SET NUT.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2PE02079 · Engine Compartment Fire
Opened Oct 22, 2002 · Closed Mar 18, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
ODI'S DATA ANALYSIS FOUND THE FIRES RATES TO BE CONSISTENTLY LOW AND EVENLY DISTRIBUTED AMONG SIX MODEL YEARS AND SIX DIFFERENT ENGINE CONFIGURATIONS.ODI EXAMINED A VARIETY OF ROOT CAUSES, THOSE BEING DETONATION (RESULTING IN OIL PAN PUNCTURE FROM CONNECTING ROD), STARTER FIRES, VARIOUS FUEL RELATED FIRES, LEAKING OIL FILTERS, WIRING ISSUES, IMPROPER REPAIRS AND BRAKE FLUID LEAKS.NONE OF THE ISSUES EXAMINED HAD REPORTS THAT INDICATED A TREND WHEN NORMALIZED FOR POPULATON AND EXPOSURE.SEE ATTACHED REPORT FOR FULL DETAILS.
DP02004 · Engine Seizure
Opened Apr 30, 2002 · Closed Jun 20, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
No summary supplied.