IllustrationFRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW MALFUNCTIONS. 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 reportsNO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS WHEN VEHICLE WAS HIT HEAD ON, ON THE FRONT LEFT SIDE CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY TO THE DRIVER. NLM
WHILE PARKING VEHICLE TOOK OFF ABOUT A MILE PER HOUR, CRASHING INTO A WALL. CONSUMER STEPPED ON THE BRAKES, BUT THEY DID NOT WORK, ALSO AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.
LOW BEAM (LEFT) ONLY ILLUMINATES ABOUT 3 CAR LENGTHS AHEAD OF CAR ,WHEREAS THE RIGHT LOW BEAM ILLUMINATES WAY OUT AND A LITTLE TO THE RIGHT. TWICE TOOK VEHICLE TO SERVICE DEPT. ,DON'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND PROBLEM.MADE SLIGHT ADJUSTMENT ON RIGHT BEAM. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFINITE PROBLEM WITH THE LEFT BEAM AND LIVING IN DEER COUNT…
Read full complaint
LOW BEAM (LEFT) ONLY ILLUMINATES ABOUT 3 CAR LENGTHS AHEAD OF CAR ,WHEREAS THE RIGHT LOW BEAM ILLUMINATES WAY OUT AND A LITTLE TO THE RIGHT. TWICE TOOK VEHICLE TO SERVICE DEPT. ,DON'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND PROBLEM.MADE SLIGHT ADJUSTMENT ON RIGHT BEAM. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFINITE PROBLEM WITH THE LEFT BEAM AND LIVING IN DEER COUNTRY THIS REPRESENTS A SAFETY PROBLEM! PLASE HELP. *AK
VEHICLE EX.PERIENCING PROBLEM WITH COLUMN SHIFT;WHENEVER SHIFTING INTO DRIVE A CLICK SOUNDS CAME FROM THE COLUMN. ALSO WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, AND PEDAL RETURNED TO POSITION, A POPPING SOUND COULD BE HEARD, AND PEDAL WOULD BE LOOSE. CONDITION APPEARED TO GET WORSE AFTER VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING STILL FOUR FIVE DAYS OR MORE. MANUF…
Read full complaint
VEHICLE EX.PERIENCING PROBLEM WITH COLUMN SHIFT;WHENEVER SHIFTING INTO DRIVE A CLICK SOUNDS CAME FROM THE COLUMN. ALSO WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, AND PEDAL RETURNED TO POSITION, A POPPING SOUND COULD BE HEARD, AND PEDAL WOULD BE LOOSE. CONDITION APPEARED TO GET WORSE AFTER VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING STILL FOUR FIVE DAYS OR MORE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT SOMEONE WOULD CONTACT HIM BACK,BUT NO WORDS ( MFR. COMPLAINT #199909280711). ASKING NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER.*AK
IN A PARKING LOT GETTING READY TO PULL ONTO A MAJOR HIGHWAY BRAKES FAILED, AND VEHICLE SLID INTO THE HIGHWAY. CONTACTED DEALER WHO COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. LET SISTER DRIVE IT, AND SHE HEARD GRINDING NOISE. ALSO COULD FEEL IT UNDER THE PEDAL. HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED, AND THEY REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS, BUT PROBLEM …
Read full complaint
IN A PARKING LOT GETTING READY TO PULL ONTO A MAJOR HIGHWAY BRAKES FAILED, AND VEHICLE SLID INTO THE HIGHWAY. CONTACTED DEALER WHO COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. LET SISTER DRIVE IT, AND SHE HEARD GRINDING NOISE. ALSO COULD FEEL IT UNDER THE PEDAL. HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED, AND THEY REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS, BUT PROBLEM CONTINUED. *AK
WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES A THUMPING AND CLUNKING NOISE WAS COMING THE FROM BRAKES. *AK
NOISY SUSPENSION FRONT & REAR. ROADWAY BUMPS CAUSE THE FRONT SUSPENSION SYSTEM TO MAKE A BANGING AND BUMPING NOISE. THE FRONT STRUTS HAD REPLACEMENT MOUNTS INSTALLED BUT DID NOT ELIMINATE THE BANGING AND BUMPING NOISE FROM THE FRONT STRUTS. THE REAR STRUTS BOTTOM OUT WITH MINOR BUMPS IN A ROADWAY. THE CASE IS IN ARBITRATION WITH…
Read full complaint
NOISY SUSPENSION FRONT & REAR. ROADWAY BUMPS CAUSE THE FRONT SUSPENSION SYSTEM TO MAKE A BANGING AND BUMPING NOISE. THE FRONT STRUTS HAD REPLACEMENT MOUNTS INSTALLED BUT DID NOT ELIMINATE THE BANGING AND BUMPING NOISE FROM THE FRONT STRUTS. THE REAR STRUTS BOTTOM OUT WITH MINOR BUMPS IN A ROADWAY. THE CASE IS IN ARBITRATION WITH TOYOTA AND TOYOTA IS AGAIN TO REPLACE THE FRONT STRUT MOUNTS WITH A NEWER 2ND GENERATION REPLACEMENT STRUT MOUNT. TOYOTA IS GOING TO REPLACE BOTH REAR STRUTS WITH REPLACMENT STRUTS. AT THIS TIME THE WORK HAS NOT BEEN CONDUCTED SO I DO NOT KNOW WHETHER THE 2ND GENERATION STRUT MOUNTS AND REPLACEMENT STRUTS FOR THE REAR WILL ELINIMATE THE SUSPENSION NOISE. I'VE TOLD TOYOTA I BELIEVE THE STRUT SYSTEM IS BADLY DESIGNED AND THAT THE ENTIRE SUSPENSION SYSTEM IS WEAK. IF TOYOTA'S ADDITIONAL ACTIONS DON'T STOP THE BUMPING NOISE, THE CASE GOES BACK TO ARBITRATION WITH TOYOTA.
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START VEHICLE, AND WHEN PLACING THE KEY IN IGNITION, IGNITION WILL NOT TURN OVER/START. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER STATED THAT STEERING FRONT WHEEL MUST BE FACED IN A CERTAIN DIRECTION WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START TURNING IGNITION KEY. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES ARE WHINNING..THE DEALER INSERTED A BRAKE KIT FOR STOPPING POWER, AND THE BRAKES STILL DON'T WORK. *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.