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 reports

Mileage unknown · Jan 12, 2004

Air Bags

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WHEN 98 CAMRY WAS FIRST BOUGHT IN SEPT 2000, I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY AIR BAG LIGHT GOING OFF EVER SINCE IT WAS DRIVEN OFF LOT. DEALERSHIP FIXED AND I DID NOT HAVE A PROBLEM EVER SINCE. IN JUNE 2003 I HAD FLOOR WIRING HARNESS REPLACED. THE END OF OCT, BEGINNING OF SEPT I NEEDED MY ALARM SYSTEM SWITCHED OUT WITH NEW KEY SYSTEM (THE ALARM SYSTEM IS SOMETHING I NEEDED TO HAVE DONE). SINCE THE ALARM SYSTEM WAS CHANGED OUT, MY AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN GOING OFF SINCE AND THEY TELL ME THERE IS A SENSOR PROBLEM AGAIN BUT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM TO FIX. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM I HAD WHEN I DROVE THE CAR OFF THE LOT. NOW THAT THE WARRANTY IS UP THEY DO NOT WANT TO FIX. THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR A PROBLEM THAT I FEEL IS THEIRS. ITS ONLY BEEN 3 YEARS THAT I HAVE HAD THIS CAR AND I FILL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. WHY WOULD I KEEP HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY AIRBAG INDICATOR? THIS AIRBAG CAN GO OFF ANYTIME OR MAY NOT GO OFF WHEN IT IS REALLY NEEDED. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10052934

Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT VEHICLE NEEDED AN AIR FUEL RESERVOIR SENSOR TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. POTENTIAL OF PROBLEM NOT YET IDENTIFIED. ALSO, DEALERSHIP INDICATED " THIS IS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10053683

67,000 miles · Jan 5, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

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THE ENGINE IN MY 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY THREW A ROD (#4) THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS, LIKE ABNORMAL ENGINE NOISE OR LOSS OF POWER, BEFORE THIS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS 67000 MILES AND HAS HAD THE OIL CHANGED WITHIN THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES. ALSO, THE 45000 MILE MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THE LOCAL TOYOTA MANAGEMENT SAID THAT I DID NOT POSSES SUFFICIENT MAINTENANCE RECORDS TO SUPPORT THEM PAYING FOR THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE. I HAD THE RECEIPTS FROM THE OIL CHANGES. TOYOTA CORPORATION TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR CARS OVER 60000 MILES. MY COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER IS PENDING REVIEW.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10052384

Mileage unknown · Dec 30, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD NOISE WHICH CAME FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND SMOKE BEGAN TO COME INSIDE THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE VENTS. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER BEFORE THE VEHICLE EXPLODED. THE DRIVER DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES DURING THIS INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10052158

81,000 miles · Nov 27, 2003

Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment

WHILE EXITING INTERSTATE 75S, 5-YEAR-OLD TOYOTA CAMRY MADE STRANGE ENGINE NOISES AND LATER BEGAN SMOKING HEAVILY. AFTER SMOKE CLEARED, THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE ENGINE. MECHANIC SAID THAT COULD BE ENGINE OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM AND/OR "THROWN ROD." DEALER COMPLETED 5-YEAR-MAINTENANCE CHECK ON 8/28/03. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10047684

Mileage unknown · Nov 25, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT TURNS ON AND OFF RANDOMLY. I REPLACED GAS CAP AND NO HELP. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10047554

60,000 miles · Oct 22, 2003

Suspension

FRONT NOISE IF PASSING OVER BUMPS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS VERY COMMON TO TOYOTA CAMRYS FOR THIS YEAR THE DEALER STATES THE ONLY WAY TO GET RID OF THE NOISE IS TO REPLACE THE FRONT STRUTS AT COST TO ME. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10043360

Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 2003

Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicSteering

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION. *MR TOYOTA OVER FILLED THE TRANSMISSION BY 1 1/2 QUARTS. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS OKAY. TRANSMISSION FLUID STARTED TO DRAIN. THE VEHICLE STARTED HAVING TROUBLES CLIMBING ON INCLINES. THERE WERE VIBRATIONS WHEN DRIVING 50 MPH AND OVER, AND CONSTANT FLATS AND BLOW OUTS OCCURR…

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NHTSA ODI #10044376

90,000 miles · Oct 15, 2003

Seat Belts

REAR SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RETRACT. THE DEALER SAID IT'S NOT COVERED BECAUSE OF MILEAGE OVER 60,000. SEAT BELTS TOO LARGE NOW TO PROVIDE PROTECTION TO KIDS. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10042941

Mileage unknown · Oct 10, 2003

Air BagsCrash

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN HEAD ON COLLISION, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10042760

Official recalls

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

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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