IllustrationVEHICLE SHAKES AND VIBRATES WHILE DRIVING THE AND ALIGNMENT IS OFF. DEALERSHIP WILL BE AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK *YH
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 reportsWHILE MAKING A SHARP RIGHT TURN RIGHT FRONT TIRE SUDDENLY DEFLATED. RUBBER IS TORN FROM 1 INCH INTO SIDEWALL TO 2 INCHES INTO TREAD. HOLE WHICH CAUSED FLAT IS IN THE SIDEWALL. *AK (TIRESIZE: P205/70R14)
ROTORS /PADS OVERHEATED, HAS TO CHANGE THEM EVERY 8000 MILES. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS THERE WAS VIBRATION IN VEHICLE, AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND COULD NOT DETERMINE A CAUSE TO THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS. *AK
ALL THREE OF THE REAR SEATBELTS WILL NOT RETRACT. I TRIED TO PUT A CHILD RESRAINT SEAT IN THE LEFT REAR SEAT, I PULLED THE BELT ALL THE WAY OUT AS MY TOYOTA MANUEL SAYS TO DO IN ORDER TO LOCK THE CHILD SEAT INTO PLACE AND THE BELT WOULD NOT FEED BACK INTO THE RETRACTER. I THEN TOOK THE SEAT OUT AND PUT IT IN THE RIGHT SIDE AND…
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ALL THREE OF THE REAR SEATBELTS WILL NOT RETRACT. I TRIED TO PUT A CHILD RESRAINT SEAT IN THE LEFT REAR SEAT, I PULLED THE BELT ALL THE WAY OUT AS MY TOYOTA MANUEL SAYS TO DO IN ORDER TO LOCK THE CHILD SEAT INTO PLACE AND THE BELT WOULD NOT FEED BACK INTO THE RETRACTER. I THEN TOOK THE SEAT OUT AND PUT IT IN THE RIGHT SIDE AND THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENED. THAT WAS IN MAY 2001. A FEW DAYS AGO THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT DID THE SAME THING, LEAVING MY CHILD WITH NO SEAT BELT IN THE BACK AND MY ONLY OPTION IS TO PUT HIM IN THE FRONT SEAT WHICH IS NOT SAFE EITHER. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFATURER OF TOYOTA AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT MY CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND IT WILL COST ABOUT $190.00 PER SEAT BELT TO GET THEM REPLACED. I DO NOT HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY AND FEEL THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE SEAT BELT PROBLEMS IN A CAR THAT IS ONLY THREE YEARS OLD. I HAVE A HIGH AMOUNT OF MILES ON MY VEHICLE BUT MOST OF THOSE MILES DID NOT EVEN HAVE ANYONE USING THE REAR SEAT OR SEATBELTS SO THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE MALFUNCTIONED. I HAVE HAD MANY CARS SOME OF WHICH I HAD FOR 10 YEARS AND LONGER. NEVER HAVE I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT BELTS.*AK
INTERMITTENT AIR BAG LIGHT, EVENTUALLY FAILED CONTINUOUSLY ON, DEALER REPAIRED/REPLACED CABLE ASSEMBLY, FAILED AGAIN IN SAME MANNER WITHIN 12 MONTHS. *AK
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN STABLIZER BAR SPLIT, DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK AS A RESULT OF THE STABILIZER BAR BREAKING THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ENDED UP IN A DITCH. *NLM
ACCELERATOR PEDAL WILL STICK AT FIRST START, NOT AFTER VEHICLE WAS WARMED UP. HAS TO PRESS HARD TO GET PEDAL TO UNSTICK. DEALER WAS NOT CONCERNED WHEN TOLD ABOUT IT.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH A VEHICLE IN THE OTHER LANE TRAVELING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION CROSSED IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, CAUSING A FRONT END COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, AND NO DETERMINATION HAS BEEN MADE FOR THE REASON THEY FAILED. CONSUMER RECEIVED NECK INJURIES, AND 2 …
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WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH A VEHICLE IN THE OTHER LANE TRAVELING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION CROSSED IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, CAUSING A FRONT END COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, AND NO DETERMINATION HAS BEEN MADE FOR THE REASON THEY FAILED. CONSUMER RECEIVED NECK INJURIES, AND 2 INDIVIDUALS IN OTHER VEHICLE WERE TAKEN TO HOSPITAL WITH UNKNOWN INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK
WHEN BRAKING THE CAR MAKE'S A LOUD PLANE NOISE AND A CLICKING NOISE. *AK
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.