IllustrationBACK SEAT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. OCCURRED JUST AFTER 60,000 MILES AND DEALER SAID NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. NOW 109,672. *JB
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
Seat Belts complaints
35 reportsTHE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELTS BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM
SEAT BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE DOES NOT RETRACT PROPERLY WHEN VEHICLE IS EXITED. IT GETS CAUGHT IN DOOR AND IS DAMAGED AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME BY THE DOOR BEING SLAMMED AGAINST IT.
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE TRAVELING THE CONSUMER HAD NO WAY OF BELTING IN THE CHILDERN DUE TO THE LATCHES IN THE REAR SEAT NOT WORKING. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. NLM
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND SEATBELT RETRACTOR FAILED. SEAT BELT CAME APART AND WON'T GO BACK IN PLACE. *AK
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT OR EXTEND FROM THE RETRACTING MECHANISM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
REAR SEAT BELTS ARE TOO SHORT TO FIT AROUND SELF OR ANYONE ELSE THE SAME SIZE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
THE BRAKES ARE MAKING GRINDING NOISE. THEY HAVE BEEN CHANGED ONCE BY THE DEALERSHIP AT 13000 MILES, AND THEN AT 27000 MILES THEY WERE AGAIN CHANGED BY SEARS. BUT THE BRAKES ARE GETTING WORN OUT EASILY AND THE GRINDING SOUND WILL NOT STOP. THE LEFT AND RIGHT SEAT BELTS HAVE BOTH FAILED AT 20000 AND 27000. THEY GET STUCK AND WONT …
Read full complaint
THE BRAKES ARE MAKING GRINDING NOISE. THEY HAVE BEEN CHANGED ONCE BY THE DEALERSHIP AT 13000 MILES, AND THEN AT 27000 MILES THEY WERE AGAIN CHANGED BY SEARS. BUT THE BRAKES ARE GETTING WORN OUT EASILY AND THE GRINDING SOUND WILL NOT STOP. THE LEFT AND RIGHT SEAT BELTS HAVE BOTH FAILED AT 20000 AND 27000. THEY GET STUCK AND WONT COME IN OR OUT. THEY HAVE BEEN CHANGED BY THE DEALER *AK
WHILE DRIVING DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGERS SIDE SEATBELTS BECAME LOCKED INTERMITTENTLY. THIS ALSO HAPPENED UPON ENTERING THE CAR.DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK
BACK SEAT BELTS.
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.