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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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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 · Apr 4, 2000
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

TIRES WOBBLE/VIBRATE 70-75MPH BEING THE WORST. MULTIPLE TRIPS TO DEALER. 6 TIRES REPLACED. MULTIPLE TIME BALANCING TIRES. LATEST RESULT - PER DEALER "WE CAN'T FIX BECAUSE IT HAPPENS WITH SPEEDS OVER 65MPH AND TOYOTA WILL NOT AUTHORIZE REPAIRS ON ISSUES OCCURING OVER 65 MPH. ALSO, BRAKES MAKE BAD GRINDING NOISE AND SQUEEKS FORW…

Read full complaint

TIRES WOBBLE/VIBRATE 70-75MPH BEING THE WORST. MULTIPLE TRIPS TO DEALER. 6 TIRES REPLACED. MULTIPLE TIME BALANCING TIRES. LATEST RESULT - PER DEALER "WE CAN'T FIX BECAUSE IT HAPPENS WITH SPEEDS OVER 65MPH AND TOYOTA WILL NOT AUTHORIZE REPAIRS ON ISSUES OCCURING OVER 65 MPH. ALSO, BRAKES MAKE BAD GRINDING NOISE AND SQUEEKS FORWARD/REVERSE - ADVISED IT IS BECUASE OF THE MATERIAL OF THE PADS. PADS CHANGED ONCE AND HAVE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, BUT HAVE LEFT LONG SKID MARK WITH ONE TIRE AND CAR PULL TO THE SIDE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #721021

Mileage unknown · Mar 31, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED BRAKES BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE, AND VIBRATE. BRAKES ARE ALWAYS VERY LOW. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #859538

Mileage unknown · Mar 23, 2000
Electrical System

ENGINE CUTS OFF, BAD ECU

NHTSA ODI #9000534

Mileage unknown · Mar 22, 2000
Seat Belts

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT OR EXTEND FROM THE RETRACTING MECHANISM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #858983

Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2000
Structure

A CLIP WITHIN THE DOOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY BROKE, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR DRIVER AND PASSENGER TO OPEN DOORS. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #858501

Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2000
Air BagsCrashInjury

VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION OF 35 MPH DURING WHICH BOTH AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOYED. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. FRACTURE OF STERNUM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #858425

Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 2000
Air BagsCrash

WHILE TRAVELING 30-35 MPH AND AS A RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WITHOUT INDICATION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #858130

Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2000
Electrical SystemStructure

BATTERY WAS REPLACED BY TOYOTA (NO COST TO ME ) BECAUSE IT WAS DEFECTIVE. BUT THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM STILL EXISTS SINCE DAY ONE: ELECTRIC SHOCK WHEN TOUCHING DOOR ON THE WAY OUT AFTER TURNING ENGINE OFF. WHEN TURNING ENGINE OFF.

NHTSA ODI #719764

Mileage unknown · Feb 29, 2000
Suspension

CAR VEERS TO THE LEFT FOR NO REASON. DEALER FOUND NOTHING WRONG, BUT SAID VEHICLE NEEDS NEW TIRES. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS UNDER SNOWY AND FREEZING CONDITIONS WHILE TRAVELING 20 MPH. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #857657

Mileage unknown · Feb 29, 2000
Steering

STEERING COLUMN VIBRATES AFTER BEING REPAIRED IN RECALL. DEALER WILL NOT INSPECT IT AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #857655

Official recalls

2

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

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

No summary supplied.

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