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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.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

112 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WITH 11,000 MILES ON VEHICLE THERE WAS A RUBBING NOISE COMING FROM VEHICLE WHEN BRAKE SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED. DEALERSHIP SERVICED VEHICLE UNDER A SERVICE BULLETIN. THEN, AT APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES ON AUGUST 23, 2001 FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP DUE TO A RUBBING NOISE DURING BRAKE APPLIC…

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WITH 11,000 MILES ON VEHICLE THERE WAS A RUBBING NOISE COMING FROM VEHICLE WHEN BRAKE SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED. DEALERSHIP SERVICED VEHICLE UNDER A SERVICE BULLETIN. THEN, AT APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES ON AUGUST 23, 2001 FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP DUE TO A RUBBING NOISE DURING BRAKE APPLICATION. ALSO AT 54,000 MILES ON JANUARY 22, 2002 REAR BRAKE DRUMS FAILED,AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8003040

Mileage unknown · Dec 13, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

UPON TURNING IGNITION VEHICLE MAKES LOUD NOISE. WHILE DRIVING BRAKES MAKE A GRINDING NOISE, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. WHEN TRYING TO STOP VEHICLE HAS TO PRESS PEDAL COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8000689

Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ROTORS /PADS OVERHEATED, HAS TO CHANGE THEM EVERY 8000 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #898176

Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN BRAKING THE CAR MAKE'S A LOUD PLANE NOISE AND A CLICKING NOISE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #751641

Mileage unknown · May 10, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

SINCE BUYING MY TOYOTA IN APRIL OF 1998, I HAVE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE BRAKES AND ROTORS 3 TIMES. I STILL CONTINUE TO HAVE SCREECHING AND GRINDING NOISES. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS THAT THIS NOISE HAS BEEN A NOTED PROBLEM. I FIND THIS TO BE UNACCEPTABLE FOR A "NEW" CAR, I BOUGHT A NEW CAR TO AVOID MAKING REPAIRS A…

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SINCE BUYING MY TOYOTA IN APRIL OF 1998, I HAVE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE BRAKES AND ROTORS 3 TIMES. I STILL CONTINUE TO HAVE SCREECHING AND GRINDING NOISES. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS THAT THIS NOISE HAS BEEN A NOTED PROBLEM. I FIND THIS TO BE UNACCEPTABLE FOR A "NEW" CAR, I BOUGHT A NEW CAR TO AVOID MAKING REPAIRS AND I HAVE MADE MORE ON THIS TOYOTA AND ITS BAD BREAKS THAN I WOULD HAVE SPENT ON KEEPING MY USED RODEO. I MEAN WITH REGULAR MAINANTENCE CHECK, OIL CHANGE, CAR PAYMENTS, $200 BRAKE JOBS EVERY 8 TO 12 MONTHS, THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH CLUNKING NOISES COMING FROM MY FRONT SUSPENSION, ESPECIALLY IF I GO OVER A ROUGH ROAD. FOR A COMPANY THAT HAS A REPUTATION FOR SUPERIOR CARS, THIS HAS BEEN A DISAPPOINTING FIRST BUY AS I FIND THE CAR TO HAVE A VERY, VERY POOR BRAKING SYSTEM AND SUSPENSION. FROM READING YOUR TECHNICAL BULLETINS, THERE HAS BEEN 90 REPORTED COMPLAINTS ON THE BRAKES AND 31 REPORTED COMPLAINTS ON THE SUSPENSION. HOW MANY MORE COMPLAINTS NEED TO BE FILED BEFORE A RECALL ON THESE BRAKES ARE DONE?*AK

NHTSA ODI #745143

Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSTANT BRAKE WEAR AND TEAR; MANUFACTURER PROVIDED BRAKE KIT TO NO AVAIL.*AK

NHTSA ODI #743266

Mileage unknown · Mar 21, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THERE IS A NOISE COMING FROM BRAKING SYSTEM. DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED BRAKE PADS AND SHOES AND ROTATED ROTORS TWO TIMES. NOISE IS STILL PRESENT, AND CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT OPERATION OF BRAKES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #883632

Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH VEHICLE ACCELERATED. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES BUT DID NOT SLOW VEHICLE DOWN. CONSUMER THEN SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL, RPMS FINALLY WENT DOWN AND ENGINE STOPPED REVVING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #882841

Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

POOR BRAKING SYSTEM AND SUSPENSION; DISAPPOINTING FIRST TOYOTA BUY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #742230

Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TRAVELLING THE FREEWAY, I NEEDED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE BUT WHEN I STARTED TO MOVE MY RIGHT FOOT, SOMETHING HELD IT IN PLACE. I LIFTED MY RIGHT FOOT AND PROCEEDED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE PEDAL WOULD NOT MOVE. I TWO-FOOTED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND HEARD SOMETHING CRACK AFTERWHICH THE PEDAL STARTED TO MOVE AND I RGAINED THE USE…

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TRAVELLING THE FREEWAY, I NEEDED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE BUT WHEN I STARTED TO MOVE MY RIGHT FOOT, SOMETHING HELD IT IN PLACE. I LIFTED MY RIGHT FOOT AND PROCEEDED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE PEDAL WOULD NOT MOVE. I TWO-FOOTED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND HEARD SOMETHING CRACK AFTERWHICH THE PEDAL STARTED TO MOVE AND I RGAINED THE USE OF MY BRAKES. AN EXAMINATION REVEALED A PLASTIC DUCT WEDGED BETWEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE FLOOR BOARD. THE DUCT WAS PART OF THE VENTILATION SYSTEM WHICH HAD FALLEN OFF AND WEDGED BETWEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE FLOOR BOARD.*AK

NHTSA ODI #741900

Official recalls

2

01V012000 · 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

2

PE02079 · 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.

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