IllustrationALARM--SILENCER SECURITY.
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
Steering complaints
33 reportsNO SUMMARY
CAR DRIFTS TO LEFT AT ALL SPEEDS. REPORTED TO DEALER TWICE. 1ST TIME, ON 7/20/98 AT 3,300 MILES. DEALER CLAIMED STEERING WHEEL WAS OFF CENTER AND THEY REALIGNED IT. ALSO, DEALER STATED THAT AIR PRESSURE WAS UNEVEN IN ALL TIRES AND THEY CORRECTED THIS. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR, THEY HAD PUT 32 LBS IN THE LEFT FRONT TIRE, 30 LBS I…
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CAR DRIFTS TO LEFT AT ALL SPEEDS. REPORTED TO DEALER TWICE. 1ST TIME, ON 7/20/98 AT 3,300 MILES. DEALER CLAIMED STEERING WHEEL WAS OFF CENTER AND THEY REALIGNED IT. ALSO, DEALER STATED THAT AIR PRESSURE WAS UNEVEN IN ALL TIRES AND THEY CORRECTED THIS. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR, THEY HAD PUT 32 LBS IN THE LEFT FRONT TIRE, 30 LBS IN THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE, AND 34 LBS IN THE TWO REAR TIRES. COMPLAINED IMMEDIATELY THAT THE CAR STILL DRIFTED TO THE LEFT. DEALER RESCHEDULED FOR 8/10/98 AND CAR WAS THEN SERVICED WITH 3,955 MILES. DEALER CLAIMED THEY CHECKED FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND THEN ROTATED TIRES TO CORRECT FOR A RADIAL PULL. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE THE TIRES AND STATED THEY WOULD CORRECT THEMSELVES AFTER A FEW HUNDRED MILES WERE PUT ON WITH THE NEW ROTATION. TIRES WERE THEN ROTATED BY THE SAME DEALER AT 9,824 MILES ON 3/10/99, AND THE DRIFT TO THE LEFT IS AS BAD AS EVER. I BELIEVE SOMETHING OTHER THAN A RADIAL PULL IS WRONG.
STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED WHEN DRIVING IN CLEAR, DRY, MIDDAY WEATHER ON I-695 IN BALTIMORE. CAR WOBBLED RIGHT THEN LEFT. DRIVER TRIED TO COMPENSATE, BUT CAR RADICALLY OVERSTEERED AT FIRST. THEN, ON ITS OWN, THE CAR SHARPLY VEERED LEFT ACROSS HIGHWAY INTO CONCRETE WALL. SKID MARKS SHOWED CAR TRAVELING IN DIRECTION OF WHEELS,…
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STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED WHEN DRIVING IN CLEAR, DRY, MIDDAY WEATHER ON I-695 IN BALTIMORE. CAR WOBBLED RIGHT THEN LEFT. DRIVER TRIED TO COMPENSATE, BUT CAR RADICALLY OVERSTEERED AT FIRST. THEN, ON ITS OWN, THE CAR SHARPLY VEERED LEFT ACROSS HIGHWAY INTO CONCRETE WALL. SKID MARKS SHOWED CAR TRAVELING IN DIRECTION OF WHEELS, I.E. NO LATERAL SKID MARKS, SO WHEELS WERE TURNED TO LEFT IN SPITE OF ATTEMPTS TO TURN RIGHT. WE ARE TEMPORARILY HOLDING THE CAR FOR YOUR POSSIBLE INVESTIGATION. PLEASE NOTIFY ASAP. *AK
POWER DOOR LOCKS ARE DESIGNED TO ONLY LOCK WHEN ALL FOUR DOORS ARE SLAMMED SHUT, FAILURE OF LOCK SYSTEM WHEN ONE DOOR NOT CLOSED WITH EXCESSIVE FORCE. MJS
THE BRAKES ON MY 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY WORE OUT AT 15000 MILES. THE SERVICE WRITER AT THE SERVICE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE 1997 AND 1998 CAMRY HAVE A DESIGN DEFECT THAT CAUSES MORE PRESSURE TO BE APPLIED TO THE FRONT BRAKES THAN TO THE BACK BRAKES, CAUSING THE FRONT BRAKES TO WEAR OUT PREMATURELY. MY POWER STEERING PUMP DEVELOPED A L…
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THE BRAKES ON MY 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY WORE OUT AT 15000 MILES. THE SERVICE WRITER AT THE SERVICE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE 1997 AND 1998 CAMRY HAVE A DESIGN DEFECT THAT CAUSES MORE PRESSURE TO BE APPLIED TO THE FRONT BRAKES THAN TO THE BACK BRAKES, CAUSING THE FRONT BRAKES TO WEAR OUT PREMATURELY. MY POWER STEERING PUMP DEVELOPED A LEAK BEFORE IT WAS REPLACED BY THE SERVICING DEALER AT 19000 MILES, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE STEERING AND CONTROL PROBLEMS. *AK
ANTI THEFT ALARM FAILED. YH
POWER STEERING PUMP LEAK. YH
DESIGN OF POWER STEERING FLUID RESERVIOR FAILED, CAUSING LEAKAGE, DUE TO SPLIT SEAM. *YC
ALARM SYSTEM IS INCONSISTENT. YH
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.