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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 · Sep 6, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

STEERING WHEEL SHOOK ABOUT 2-3 TIME VIOLENTLY FOR A FEW SECONDS IN THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. HAD TIRES BALANCED AND ROTATED AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT. WHILE DRIVING HEARD THUMPING NOISES AND SMOKE FROM FRONT LEFT TIRE. TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. DEALER'S CONCLUSION OF BRAKE FLUID CONTAMINATION AND REPAIRS TO THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM …

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STEERING WHEEL SHOOK ABOUT 2-3 TIME VIOLENTLY FOR A FEW SECONDS IN THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. HAD TIRES BALANCED AND ROTATED AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT. WHILE DRIVING HEARD THUMPING NOISES AND SMOKE FROM FRONT LEFT TIRE. TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. DEALER'S CONCLUSION OF BRAKE FLUID CONTAMINATION AND REPAIRS TO THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM COSTING APPROX. $3,200. CONTACTED INSURANCE COMPANY, WHO SUPPOSEDLY ANALYZED THE BRAKE FLUID FOR CONTAMINATION, BUT DIDN'T FIND ANY. INSURANCE COMPANY BLAMES THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE ON MANUFACTURING DEFECT. HELP!!!

NHTSA ODI #710960

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 1999
Suspension

A YEAR AFTER I PURCHASED TO TOYOTA CAMRY, THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBANTS GOT EXTREMELY NOISY AND IT FEELS LIKE IT WILL BREAK ANY TIME I HAVE TO DRIVE OVER A SMALL BUMP. I HAVE CONTACTED JIM COLEMAN'S TOYOTA IN BETHESDA MARYLAND WHEN I TOOK THE CAR FOR SERVICE AROUND 19000 MILES. I WAS TOLD THAT ALL CAMRY'S HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND TOYOT…

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A YEAR AFTER I PURCHASED TO TOYOTA CAMRY, THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBANTS GOT EXTREMELY NOISY AND IT FEELS LIKE IT WILL BREAK ANY TIME I HAVE TO DRIVE OVER A SMALL BUMP. I HAVE CONTACTED JIM COLEMAN'S TOYOTA IN BETHESDA MARYLAND WHEN I TOOK THE CAR FOR SERVICE AROUND 19000 MILES. I WAS TOLD THAT ALL CAMRY'S HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND TOYOTA IS GOING TO MAKE A RECALL AND FIX IT. UP UNTIL TODAY THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED. MY WARRENTY RANS OUT AT 36000 MILES. I CURRENTLY HAVE AROUND 25000. SO I LIKE EITHER TOYOTA OR THE DEALER TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND FIX THE PROBLEM. THANK YOU

NHTSA ODI #710597

Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 1999
StructureCrash

PULLING VERY SLOWLY INTO A PARKING SPACE, I SCRAPED THE METAL AROUND THE WHEEL OPENING OF THE CAR NEXT TO ME. HE HAD PAINT MARKS BUT THE SIDE FRONT DRIVER'S BUMPER WAS COMPLETELY SMASHED.

NHTSA ODI #710347

Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 1999
Suspension

A DEFECTIVE AXLE CAUSED THE WHEEL BEARING TO FAIL, & VIBRATION AT 60 MPH, IN STEERING COLUMN AND NOISE IN FRONT END. YH

NHTSA ODI #548037

Mileage unknown · Aug 18, 1999
Structure

WHEN CONSUMER ATTEMPTS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THERE IS A SHARP CORNER OF THE DOOR THAT WHEN CLOSING HITS AND INJURES HER LEG. *AK *YC

NHTSA ODI #845331

Mileage unknown · Aug 18, 1999
Structure

ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS FAIL AT RANDOM. IF YOU ENTER THE CAR, CLOSE THE DOOR, AND LOCK THE CAR USING THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, YOU CANNOT UNLOCK THE CAR DOORS UNLESS THE KEY IS IN THE IGNITION AND TURNED TO THE "ON" POSITION. THIS IS CLEARLY

NHTSA ODI #710161

Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 1999
Tires

GOODYEAR INTERGRITY P195/70 R 14 WORN OUT. YH

NHTSA ODI #609956

Mileage unknown · Aug 10, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, SOUNDS LIKE METAL TO METAL GRINDING. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER. AFTER REPAIR WORK WAS PERFORMED, ABS LIGHT CAME ON & VEHICLE WOULD SKID WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. BRAKES HAD BEEN MODIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #844792

Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 1999
Seat Belts

WHEN PARKED OR DRIVING ON AN UPWARD SLOPE, OR IF FRONT OF VEHICLE IS HIGHER THAN REAR, SEAT BELTS CANNOT BE PULLED. VEHICLE MUST BE ON LEVEL GROUND. DEALER CONTACTED AND AWARE OF PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #844624

Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 1999
Steering

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ODI #709449

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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