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 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2003
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteeringSuspension
I BOUGHT MY CAR NEW IN MAY 1998. I HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED AT LEAST 3 TIMES THE FIRST TIME BEING 11/8/99. I HAVE COMPLAINED SEVERAL TIMES OF FRONT END NOISE, CAR DRIFTING, AND STEERING VIBRATIONS. EACH TIME I WAS TOLD IT WAS EITHER INCORRECT TIRE PRESSURE, OUT OF BALANCE OR ALIGNMENT. MOST OF THE TIME I WAS TOLD THE NOISE IS NOR…
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I BOUGHT MY CAR NEW IN MAY 1998. I HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED AT LEAST 3 TIMES THE FIRST TIME BEING 11/8/99. I HAVE COMPLAINED SEVERAL TIMES OF FRONT END NOISE, CAR DRIFTING, AND STEERING VIBRATIONS. EACH TIME I WAS TOLD IT WAS EITHER INCORRECT TIRE PRESSURE, OUT OF BALANCE OR ALIGNMENT. MOST OF THE TIME I WAS TOLD THE NOISE IS NORMAL ROAD NOISE AND THE DRIFTING IS NORMAL DRIFTING. I THINK SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. MY CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I BOUGHT A NEW CAR TO AVOID HAVING TO PAY FOR ALL THESE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS AND BECAUSE I HAD A 7 MONTH OLD BABY. I NOW HAVE TWO CHILDREN AND SOMETIMES I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THEM IN MY CAR. MY CAR STILL MAKES THE NOISE, DRIFTS, STEERING WHEEL VIBRATIONS. I HAVE EVEN REPORTED CLUNKING NOISES FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR AND WAS TOLD IT NEEDED TO BE GREASED OR THE BOLTS TIGHTENED. IT SEEMS TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ALL ALONG AND DECIDED TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. TOYOTA SHOULD BE FORCED TO FIX ALL THE VEHICLES WITH THIS CONDITION. IT SHOULDN'T TAKE SOMEONE'S DEATH BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE. I AM A FIRST TOYOTA BUYER AND VERY DISAPPOINTED. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO FIX A SUSPENSION SYSTEM THAT WAS DEFECTIVE AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, NOR SHOULD I HAVE TO FOR A $20,000 CAR THAT IS BARELY 5 YEARS OLD WITH ONLY 53,000 MILES ON IT. I THOUGHT THE MECHANICS WERE RIGHT ABOUT NORMAL NOISE UNTIL I SAW ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU. JB
NHTSA ODI #10039141
Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2003
Tires
I WAS DRIVING DOWN I-15 AND THE TREAD OF THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE TORE OFF ,WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FENDER,SIGNAL LIGHT & BUMPER.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10037354
123,000 miles · Aug 14, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE ENGINE BLEW IN MY 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. IT HAD 12300 MILEAGE AND WAS WELL MAINTAINED WITH NO PREWARNINGS THAT THERE WAS ANY ENGINE TROUBLE. I HAD RECEIVED A LETTER FROM TOYOTA CORPORATION MONTHS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, WARNING OF OIL SLUDGING/GELLING PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR MODEL. THE LETTER STATED THAT ALL REPAIR COSTS WOULD …
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THE ENGINE BLEW IN MY 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. IT HAD 12300 MILEAGE AND WAS WELL MAINTAINED WITH NO PREWARNINGS THAT THERE WAS ANY ENGINE TROUBLE. I HAD RECEIVED A LETTER FROM TOYOTA CORPORATION MONTHS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, WARNING OF OIL SLUDGING/GELLING PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR MODEL. THE LETTER STATED THAT ALL REPAIR COSTS WOULD BE COVERED FOR DAMAGES CAUSED BY OIL SLUDGING/GELLING. THE TOYOTA MECHANICS INFORMED ME THAT THE ENGINE APPEARED CLEAN - NO OIL SLUDGING. BUT, THEY DID NOT KNOW WHY THE ENGINE BLEW. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE OIL MIGHT HAVE BEEN LOW. HOWEVER, I HAD JUST HAD AN OIL CHANGE PERFORMED TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT AND WAS NOT INFORMED OF AN OIL LEAK, NOR DID MY OIL INDICATOR LIGHT EVER COME ON. EVEN THOUGH THEY COULDN'T EXPLAIN WHAT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO BLOW, THEY WOULD NOT COVER ANY COSTS OF REPAIR. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10032806
Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 2003
Air BagsCrash
CONSUMER STATES THAT HE RAN INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING 15 MPH. THE FRONT AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *PH
NHTSA ODI #10032361
Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THERE IS A SQUEAKING NOISE, BUT VEHICLE WILL STOP. DEALER REPLACED BRFAKE ROTORS AND PADS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10031446
Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 2003
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
CONSUMER HAD TWO ACCIDENTS IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS DUE TO SUDDEN ACCELERATION. DEALER NOT NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10029546
Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2003
Fuel System, Other
IN 65,000 MILES THE FUEL SENSOR HAS FAILED REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. CHECKED ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND REMAINS ON.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10025813
Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 2003
Suspension
THE SUSPENSION OF MY 1998 CAMRY LE HAS BEEN HAVING NOISES WHEN PASS THE SPEED HUMPS FOR TWO YEARS. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE HEARD SOME COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT THERE IS NO RECALL YET. IT MAKE ME VERY CONCERNED. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10023562
Mileage unknown · Jun 4, 2003
Vehicle Speed Control
THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHEN STARTED AND WAS DIFFICULT TO STOP. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10022272
98,000 miles · May 29, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
1998 TOYOTA CAMRY EMISSION RELATED REPAIRS. *MR ENGINE LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE NEAREST DEALER WHO STATED THE EMISSIONS VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM TOYOTA IN REFERENCE TO REIMBURSEMENT OF EMISSION RELATED PROBLEMS AND WAS DENIED. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED BE…
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1998 TOYOTA CAMRY EMISSION RELATED REPAIRS. *MR ENGINE LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE NEAREST DEALER WHO STATED THE EMISSIONS VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM TOYOTA IN REFERENCE TO REIMBURSEMENT OF EMISSION RELATED PROBLEMS AND WAS DENIED. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE THE PART WAS LOCATED NEAR THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. *SCC *JB
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.
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
2
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
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