IllustrationDRIVER SIDE FRONT INTERIOR PLASTIC DOOR HANDLE BROKE. *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
Structure complaints
35 reportsDEAR SIR OR MADAM, I HAVE 1998 CAMRY LE AND THE FRONT SUSPENSION MAKES CLUNKING AND BANGING NOISE WHEN I DRIVE OVER ANY UNEVEN SURFACE OR SMALL HOLE, BUT NOISE GETS MUCH WORSE WHEN I DRIVE OVER BUMPS OR HUMPS. I HOPE YOU WILL TAKE ACTION TO MY COMPLAINT AND THANK YOU ADVANCE FOR TAKING CARE FOR US AS A CONSUMER SAFETY. *TR
1998 TOYOTA CAMRY (139K MILES) REAR DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD BREAK WHILE DRIVING. PURCHASED TWO REAR TIRES AND CAR ALIGNMENT MID OCTOBER. TWO WEEKS LATER WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY ROAD, FELT A PROBLEM WITH WHEELS, PULLED OFF ROAD, CALLED TOW TRUCK. TIE ROD HAD BROKEN INTO TWO EQUAL SIZED PIECES. TIE ROD WAS VERY RUSTED AND CORRODE…
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1998 TOYOTA CAMRY (139K MILES) REAR DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD BREAK WHILE DRIVING. PURCHASED TWO REAR TIRES AND CAR ALIGNMENT MID OCTOBER. TWO WEEKS LATER WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY ROAD, FELT A PROBLEM WITH WHEELS, PULLED OFF ROAD, CALLED TOW TRUCK. TIE ROD HAD BROKEN INTO TWO EQUAL SIZED PIECES. TIE ROD WAS VERY RUSTED AND CORRODED AND MISSING THE SLEEVE THAT COVERS OVER BOTH ENDS. PART WAS EITHER DEFECTIVE FROM THE BEGINNING OR SOMEHOW LOST THE SLEEVE. IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO ALIGN THE CAR. HOWEVER THE TIRE PLACE CHARGED ME FOR AN ALIGNMENT WHEN I BOUGHT THE TIRES. MORE ANNOYING WAS THE FACT THAT THEY NEVER INFORMED ME THE TIE ROD WAS DAMAGED/RUSTED AND LIABLE TO BREAK. I HAD NO INDICATION THE TIE ROD WAS DEFECTIVE AND HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT A BREAK LIKE THAT IS RARE. FORTUNATELY I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY AND NO DAMAGE TO THE CAR OR INJURY. LASTLY I HAVE TIRES ROTATED TWICE A YEAR AT LOCAL TOYOTA PLACE AND WAS NEVER INFORMED THE TIE ROD WAS DEFECTIVE/ RUSTED AND MISSING THE SLEEVE
TL* - THE CONTACT STATES THAT IN DECEMBER OF 2001 3 OUT OF HER 4 DOOR HANDLES FAILED. THE ONLY ONE THAT DIDN'T FAIL WAS THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLE, SINCE IT WAS RARELY USED. THEN ON DECEMBER 11 OF 2006 THE PASSENGER REAR DOOR HANDLE FAILED. THE CONTACT IS CONCERN BECAUSE ON 12/06/06 THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE THAT SH…
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TL* - THE CONTACT STATES THAT IN DECEMBER OF 2001 3 OUT OF HER 4 DOOR HANDLES FAILED. THE ONLY ONE THAT DIDN'T FAIL WAS THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLE, SINCE IT WAS RARELY USED. THEN ON DECEMBER 11 OF 2006 THE PASSENGER REAR DOOR HANDLE FAILED. THE CONTACT IS CONCERN BECAUSE ON 12/06/06 THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE THAT SHE GOT REPAIRED IN DECEMBER OF 2001 FAILED, AS WELL AS THE REAR LEFT HANDLE DOOR SEEMS TO BE ON THE VERGE OF BREAKING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATES THAT ONCE THE DOOR HANDLE FAILS THERE ISN'T A WAY TO GET OUT THE VEHICLE AND THAT IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY CONCERN FOR HER. THE CONTACT CAN PROVIDE PICTURES, THE FAILED DOOR HANDLE AND OR, INVOICES IF NEEDED.
DT: THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE. UPON PULLING OPEN THE DOOR HANDLE IT BROKE OFF. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO AN AUTO SHOP FOR REPAIR. THE HANDLE WAS MADE OF POOR QUALITY PLASTIC THAT WAS VERY FRAGILE. THIS WAS THE FIRST AND ONLY INCIDENT WITH THE DOOR HANDLE. NO REPAIRS OR …
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DT: THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE. UPON PULLING OPEN THE DOOR HANDLE IT BROKE OFF. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO AN AUTO SHOP FOR REPAIR. THE HANDLE WAS MADE OF POOR QUALITY PLASTIC THAT WAS VERY FRAGILE. THIS WAS THE FIRST AND ONLY INCIDENT WITH THE DOOR HANDLE. NO REPAIRS OR CORRECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK
THE PAINT ON THE HOOD OF MY CAR IS PEELING OFF. IT FIRST BEGAN TO BUBBLE AND THEN PEEL. THE AREAS ARE VERY LARGE AND IT LOOKS TERRIBLE. I BELIEVE IT HAS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE PAINT JOB BECAUSE THE REST OF THE PAINT IS FINT. *AK
DOOR HANDLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE OFF (IN COLD WEATHER) WHEN I TIRED TO OPEN THE DOOR. *AK
APPARENTLY SOME PART OR PARTS HAVE FAILED WITHIN THE DOOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY, RESULTING IN THE INABILITY TO OPEN DOORS. OFTEN THIS FAILURE RESULTS IN NOT BEING ABLE TO OPEN A DOOR FROM EITHER THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SIMULTANEOUS FAILURES COULD RESULT IN BEING TRAPPED INSIDE THE CAR.*AK
DEALER WANTS 80$ TO TELL US IF GAS TANK PURGE VALVE IS UNDER WARRENTY OR NOT. ALSO DEALER STATES THAT DOOR HANDLE CLIP BREAKING IS A COMMON PROBLEM.
EITHER THE FRAME IS OUT OF LINE OR SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE FRONT END ALIGNMENT PARTS AS THE FRONT END CANNOT BE ALIGNED ACCORDING TO SPECS. THEY REPLACED BOLTS IN THE FRONT END FOR ALIGNMENT & THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM OF FRONT END SHIMMY AND TIRE WEAR.
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.