IllustrationTHE PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO OPEN OR CLOSE THE SIDE PASSENGER WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BOLTS NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED. *AK NO PARTS WERE REPLACED, THE BOLTS WERE TIGHTENED. *SC *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
What owners actually said
600 reports2 OF MY 3 REAR SEAT BELTS WOULDN'T RETRACT. THEY BROKE WITHIN 2 WEEKS OF EACH OTHER. HAD TO HAVE THE WHOLE SYSTEM REPLACED. *J B
WITHOUT WARNING ENGINE DIED AT NIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON A DUAL LANE HIGHWAY. PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY BEFORE CAR MOMENTUM DIED. WOULD NOT RESTART AND THE "ENGINE CHECK" LIGHT WAS LIT.*AK CAR WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE REPAIR STATION THAT EVENING. SERVICE STATION FOUND THE WATER PUMP FAILED RESULTING IN THE TIMING BEL…
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WITHOUT WARNING ENGINE DIED AT NIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON A DUAL LANE HIGHWAY. PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY BEFORE CAR MOMENTUM DIED. WOULD NOT RESTART AND THE "ENGINE CHECK" LIGHT WAS LIT.*AK CAR WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE REPAIR STATION THAT EVENING. SERVICE STATION FOUND THE WATER PUMP FAILED RESULTING IN THE TIMING BELT FAILURE. BELT AND WATER PUMP REPLACED, TIMING RESET, BUT FAILED TO START. INVESTIGATION REVEALED TIMING HAD SLIPPED AND CAUSE WAS THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY KEY HAD SHEARED. THAT WAS REPLACED, TIMED AGAIN, AND ENGINE WAS BACK TO NORMAL. OLDMOBILE PARTS NOT AVAILIABLE.*AK
WHEN THE CONSUMER UNLATCHED THE SEAT BELT, IT DID NOT RETRACT. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS ISSUE. *AK BOTH THE FRONT SEAT BELTS DID NOT RETRACT AND THERE WAS A VIBRATION WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND WAS FELT MORE WHEN BRAKING. *SC *JB
WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PRESSED TO DISENGAGE IT THERE WAS NO THROTTLE RESPONSE. WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED AND THE PEDAL WAS PRESSED TO ACCELERATE THERE WAS NO THROTTLE RESPONSE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PUSH THE GAS PEDAL FORWARD AND BACK TO OBTAIN ACCELERATION. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED A THROTTLE …
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WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PRESSED TO DISENGAGE IT THERE WAS NO THROTTLE RESPONSE. WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED AND THE PEDAL WAS PRESSED TO ACCELERATE THERE WAS NO THROTTLE RESPONSE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PUSH THE GAS PEDAL FORWARD AND BACK TO OBTAIN ACCELERATION. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED A THROTTLE BODY CLEANING AND IDLE SPEED CONTROL REPLACEMENT. *AK *NM
ENGINE SLUDGE. NOT YET FAILED BUT INEVITABLE IF NOT REPAIRED.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING AT 40 TO 55 MPH CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A TREE. UPON IMPACT NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK THE DRIVER SUFFERED A FRACTURED LEFT SHOULDER, MINOR INJURIES ON THE LEFT SIDE OF HIS HEAD AND BRUISING TO HIS LEFT HIP. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT AN ANTILOCK BRAKE FAILURE MAY HAVE ALSO CONT…
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WHILE TRAVELING AT 40 TO 55 MPH CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A TREE. UPON IMPACT NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK THE DRIVER SUFFERED A FRACTURED LEFT SHOULDER, MINOR INJURIES ON THE LEFT SIDE OF HIS HEAD AND BRUISING TO HIS LEFT HIP. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT AN ANTILOCK BRAKE FAILURE MAY HAVE ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT. *NM
RECALL 01V012000 CONCERNING ACCELERATOR CABLE FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING IN CRUISE CONTROLLED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE PRESSED THE CRUISE CONTROL CRUISE WOULD BE SUSPENDED. AFTER THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STOPPED, THE CRUISE COULD BE USED AGAIN. *AK VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. *SC *JB
THE DEFROSTER MALFUNCTIONED, AS A RESULT, THE WINDSHIELD AND WINDOWS PRODUCED A WHITE FILM WHICH IMPAIRED THE VISIBILITY OF THE DRIVER. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
WHILE DRIVING, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED WITHOUT WARNING, AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION FOR FIVE HOURS. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
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.