IllustrationTHE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURE KEY FAILS TO UNLOCK THE TRUNK OF THE CAR AND DOOR LOCKS INTERMITTENTLY. I ALSO HAVE DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEY. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT WEATHER OR ACCIDENT RELATED. *TR
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
Latches/locks/linkages complaints
8 reportsON MAY 13, 2010 APPROX 9:15 PM WHILE DRIVING A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY LE V6, CAR STALLED/MALFUNCTIONED WHILE BEING PULLED OVER BY CHP WHICH CAUSED REAR END COLLISION SPIN OUT AND 2 OTHER CAR ACCIDENTS, I HAVE PROOF (VIDEO, PHOTOS, RECEIPTS, AND SERVICE HISTORY) THE CAR'S THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE AND OR OTHER…
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ON MAY 13, 2010 APPROX 9:15 PM WHILE DRIVING A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY LE V6, CAR STALLED/MALFUNCTIONED WHILE BEING PULLED OVER BY CHP WHICH CAUSED REAR END COLLISION SPIN OUT AND 2 OTHER CAR ACCIDENTS, I HAVE PROOF (VIDEO, PHOTOS, RECEIPTS, AND SERVICE HISTORY) THE CAR'S THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE AND OR OTHER SYSTEMS CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. UPDATED IVOQ 08/17/10 *TR UPDATED IVOQ 10/06/10 UPDATED IVOQ 11/17/10 IT WAS DETERMINED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE OUTER DOOR HANDLE WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 01/12/11
KEY FAILS TO UNLOCK EITHER TRUNK OR DOORS ON VEHICLE. PROBLEM IS NOT WEATHER RELATED. IT IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM.*AK THE MANUFACTURER INSTALLED A NEW LOCK SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE AND THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. *YH
I WAS SITTING IN THE CAR READING, WHEN I PRESSED THE DOOR UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE ARMREST THE DOOR WOULDN'T UNLOCK. THE ONLY WAY THE DOOR COULD BE UNLOCKED WAS TO USE THE REMOTE KEY. IF A CHILD WERE LOCKED IN THE CAR ON A HOT DAY THE CHILD WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR.THIS CAR WAS MANUFACTURED IN KENTUCKY. *AK
IF VEHICLE IS LOCKED FROM OUTSIDE AND SOMEONE IS STILL INSIDE, THE LOCKS WILL NOT LET THE PERSON ON THE INSIDE TO GET OUT. DOOR HAS TO BE OPENED WITH KEY FROM THE OUTSIDE. DEALER SAYS THAT'S NORMAL. *AK
THE DOOR FAIL TO CLOSE OR LATCH TIGHTLY. YH
DOOR LOCK RELEASE SWITCH FAILED. *YC
DOOR LATCH FAILED.
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.