IllustrationFRONT BRAKES MAKE RUMBLING NOISE AFTER BEING FIXED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM DUE TO EXCESSIVE PRESSURE. YH
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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
112 reportsWHILE DRIVING CAR WENT DEAD AND BRAKES STARTED TO FAIL, THIS WAS A VERY BUSY ROAD. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC. HE SAID IT WAS THE BATTERY, REPLACED BATTERY. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE MILEAGE DISAPPEARED, AND CAR WENT DEAD AGAIN. CONSUMER TOOK CAR BACK TO TOYOTA. *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
BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER COULD STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP OR TO SLOWDOWN VEHICLE, BUT THE BRAKES WON'T WORK, AND MAKE NOISE L GRINDING METAL TO METAL NOISE. *AK
BRAKES DO NOT HAVE THE CORRECT STOPPING DISTANCE EFFECTIVENES .WHEN THE PEDAL IS APPLIED IT GOES STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. THEY FEEL MUSHY THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
STEERING COLUNM PULLS TO RIGHT AND VIBRATES AT 70MPH FUMES FROM ENGINE GO THROUGH VENTS INTO CAR CAUSE HEADACHES AND UPSET STOMACH. BRAKES SQUEAK WHEN STOPPING LOUND NOISE. *AK
REPEATED BRAKE NOISE - METAL ON METAL - TOYOTA HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *AK
FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW MALFUNCTIONS. YH
WHILE PARKING VEHICLE TOOK OFF ABOUT A MILE PER HOUR, CRASHING INTO A WALL. CONSUMER STEPPED ON THE BRAKES, BUT THEY DID NOT WORK, ALSO AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.
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.