IllustrationAIR BAG SYSTEM REPLACEMENT. *MR PH
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 reportsEXPERIENCED A TEXT BOOK CASE OF WHAT HAS BECOME KNOWN AS THE "TOYOTA SLUDGE ENGINE" PROBLEM. CONTACTED TOYOTA ABOUT SPA PROGRAM WHO REFERRED ME TO THE LOCAL DEALER. HE SAID UNLESS I HAVE DOCUMENTATION FOR AN OIL CHANGE EVERY 3000 MILES (MANUAL SAYS 7500) THAT TOYOTA WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. SAID THAT I DID NOT…
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EXPERIENCED A TEXT BOOK CASE OF WHAT HAS BECOME KNOWN AS THE "TOYOTA SLUDGE ENGINE" PROBLEM. CONTACTED TOYOTA ABOUT SPA PROGRAM WHO REFERRED ME TO THE LOCAL DEALER. HE SAID UNLESS I HAVE DOCUMENTATION FOR AN OIL CHANGE EVERY 3000 MILES (MANUAL SAYS 7500) THAT TOYOTA WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. SAID THAT I DID NOT "HAVE A LEG TO STAND ON" AND I WAS "SCREWED." ONCE REPAIRS ARE DONE AND PAID FOR I PLAN TO SUBMIT A CLAIM WITH ALL PAPERS TO TOYOTA.
BACK SEAT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. OCCURRED JUST AFTER 60,000 MILES AND DEALER SAID NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. NOW 109,672. *JB
JUST BEFORE 30,000 MILES MY RIGHT FONT SUSPENSION BEGAN TO RATTLE OCCASIONALLY. THE CAR NOW HAS 93,000 MILES AND THE RATTLE IS STILL HEARD NOW AND THEN. NUMEROUS TRIPS TO THE SHOP HAVE NOT TURNED UP ANY CAUSE. *JB
THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELTS BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM
THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. *JB
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH THE ROTORS. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ROTORS WERE WARPED AND THE PADS DID NOT FIT CORRECTLY. *NLM
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENT, AND THE EMISSION VALVE(S) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MR SCC *JB
INQUIRY ON RECALLS FOR 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. MR RECALL #99V307000/STEERING WHEEL & HANDLE BAR, AND RECALL#01V012000/VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. SCC *JB
SIMPLY PUT. THE GAS PEDAL STICKS. MY WIFE HAS FOUND THE GAS PEDAL TO STICK WHILE SHE IS DRIVING. IN THE PAST, THE GAS PEDAL WOULD COME UP IN A SECOND OR SO. SHE DID NOT REALIZE WHAT WAS HAPPENING. SHE THOUGHT HER SHOE WAS GETTING IN THE WAY OR SOMETHING. BUT ON THE EVENING OF MARCH 12TH THE PEDAL WAS STICKING DOWN FOR ABOU…
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SIMPLY PUT. THE GAS PEDAL STICKS. MY WIFE HAS FOUND THE GAS PEDAL TO STICK WHILE SHE IS DRIVING. IN THE PAST, THE GAS PEDAL WOULD COME UP IN A SECOND OR SO. SHE DID NOT REALIZE WHAT WAS HAPPENING. SHE THOUGHT HER SHOE WAS GETTING IN THE WAY OR SOMETHING. BUT ON THE EVENING OF MARCH 12TH THE PEDAL WAS STICKING DOWN FOR ABOUT 5-10 SECONDS AS SHE WAS TRYING TO SLOW DOWN FOR AN INTERSECTION. IT FINALLY CAME UP AND SHE COULD COME TO A STOP. SHE CALLED ME IMMEDIATELY AND I INDICATED THAT THE CAR NEEDS TO GO IN IMMEDIATELY. THE EARLIEST THE DEALER WOULD TAKE THE CAR WAS THE MORNING OF MARCH 14TH. WHEN I EXPLAINED IT TO THE SERVICE GUY, HE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG. HE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE AIR INTAKE FOR THE ENGINE IS CONNECTED TO THE THROTTLE BODY. THE AIR INTAKE FLAP HAS A BUILD UP AROUND 15,000 AND IT WILL NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. THIS WILL CAUSE THE GAS PEDAL TO STICK. HE TOLD ME THAT I NEED TO HAVE THIS SERVICED EVERY 15,000 MILES FROM HERE ON IN. HE WROTE ON THE SERVICE SLIP "ENGINE MINOR". I CALLED TOYOTA CONSUMER SERVICE AND THEY INDICATED THAT THIS IS AN USUAL INCIDENT. HOWEVER, HE SAID IN THE SAME CONVERSATION THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED WITH THE SAME YEAR MODEL ON OTHER CARS. THE GENERAL EMPHASIS ON HIS PART WAS I WAS OVER REACTING AND INDICATED THIS PROBLEM WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. THIS CAR HAS ONLY 50,000 MILES. TOYOTA'S STANCE WAS THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED ON OTHER CARS BESIDES TOYOTA. I AM PLEADING WITH THIS ORGANIZATION TO INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER. I FEEL MY WIFE'S CAR IS NOT COMPLETELY SAFE UNLESS TOYOTA REPLACES THE PART IN A SPECIFIED AMOUNT OF TIME OR REDESIGNS THE ASSEMBLY AND DOES A RECALL. *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.