IllustrationWHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THEN THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
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 reportsLEFT REAR ABS BRAKES FAILED.
CAR STALLED AND OVERHEATED DURING TRAFFIC. WHEN THEY TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE COOLANT LEAKED OUT OF THE OVERFLOW BOTTLE. THE CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THE BOTTLE TWICE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH FUMES ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD THAT FOG UP THECONSUMER'S VIEW WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK
THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION DUE TO A FAILURE IN THE BRAKES. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WAS PRESSD DOWN TO THE FLOORBOARD. AS A RESULT, THE CONSUMER RAN INTO A CEMENT WALL AND WAS INJURED. A HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICER WAS PRESENT AND NOTED IN THE REPORT THAT THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN …
Read full complaint
THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION DUE TO A FAILURE IN THE BRAKES. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WAS PRESSD DOWN TO THE FLOORBOARD. AS A RESULT, THE CONSUMER RAN INTO A CEMENT WALL AND WAS INJURED. A HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICER WAS PRESENT AND NOTED IN THE REPORT THAT THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BECAUSE THE THROTTLE WAS STUCK. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AND STOPPING TO TURN A CORNER THERE IS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. THE PEDAL IS SOFT, AND IF THE BRAKES DON'T STOP THE VEHICLE DRIVER HAS TO PRESS THE BRAKES AGAIN UNTIL CAN GET THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A STOP. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. *AK
CONCERNED THAT SIDE DOOR AIR BAG WILL CAUSE SEVERE DAMAGE TO ARM, THAT IS RESTING ON DOOR, WHEN DEPLOYED.
CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE WANDERING WHILE DRIVING. STEERING WOULD SHIMMY AND VIBRATE WHEN CONSUMER TURNS STEERING WHEEL BACK WHEN VEHICLE STARTS TO WANDER. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND CONDITION CANNOT BE RESOLVED. *AK
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 40 MPH FRONTAL COLLISON IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ON A WET ROAD, VEHICLE HYDROPLANED, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL AND STRUCK A GUARDRAIL. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *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.