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1999 Toyota Camry

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1999 Toyota Camry do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 295.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

174 reports with mileage · 327 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 110 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 76 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 74 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

99 crash reports42 fire reports62 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

110 reports
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139,212 miles · Mar 19, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY CAMRY SHOWED THE EXACT 3 SIGNS OF OIL GEL LIST IN SETTLED CLASS ACTION SUIT: EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, BLUE SMOKE, & ENGINE LIGHT ON. SETTLED CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT SAYS TOYOTA SHOULD FIX/PAY. TOYOTA INC. DENIED CLAIM. CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT CLEARLY INCLUDES MY 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY 4CYL. TOYOTA SHOULD AUTHORIZE THE $3000 …

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MY CAMRY SHOWED THE EXACT 3 SIGNS OF OIL GEL LIST IN SETTLED CLASS ACTION SUIT: EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, BLUE SMOKE, & ENGINE LIGHT ON. SETTLED CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT SAYS TOYOTA SHOULD FIX/PAY. TOYOTA INC. DENIED CLAIM. CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT CLEARLY INCLUDES MY 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY 4CYL. TOYOTA SHOULD AUTHORIZE THE $3000 OF REPAIRS NEEDED ON MY CAMRY AND SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AS THEY WERE DIRECTED TO BY A COURT OF LAW. I'M JUST GLAD I NOTICED THE 3 SIGNS OF OIL GET & BROUGHT IT TO A NEARBY DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT BEFORE SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAPPENED TO MY FAMILY. IN MINNESOTA LAST WEEK, ONE CAMRY-OWNING FAMILY WAS NOT AS FORTUNATE: DURING RUSH-HOUR ON ONE OF MINNESOTA'S BUSIEST HIGHWAYS, A TOYOTA CAMRY CAME TO A FULL STOP AND WAS REAR-ENDED BY A SEMI. AS A RESULT OF INJURIES SUSTAINED WHEN THE FAMILY'S CAMRY WAS REAR-ENDED, A 4 YEAR OLD GIRL DIED. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT CAMRY WAS ONE OF THE CAMRYS COVERED IN THE OIL GEL LAWSUIT. I DO KNOW THAT IF IT'S ONE OF THE TOYOTA CAMRYS THAT HAS ENGINE DAMAGE THAT, IF UNDETECTED BY OWNER, WILL CAUSE THE ENGINE TO SEIZE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THESE CAMRYS DO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP ON FREEWAYS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10221635

Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

1999 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH ENGINE FAILURE. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE AND OIL AND GASOLINE ODOR WAS PRESENT. CONSUMER THEN PULLED OVER AND ENGINE FAILED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10215026

95,875 miles · Jan 7, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

RE: TOYOTA CAMRY ENGINE FAILURE ON 12/21/07 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY LE DECEMBER 31, 2007 DEAR SIR, ON DECEMBER 21, 2007 AT 11:30AM PT, MY WIFE KIM LY NGUYEN DROVE OUR 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY LE ON THE 405 SOUTH FREEWAY. AS SHE WAS ABOUT TO PASS THE BRISTOL ST. EXIT IN COSTA MESA, MY WIFE SUDDENLY HEARD AN UNUSUAL NOISY SOUN…

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RE: TOYOTA CAMRY ENGINE FAILURE ON 12/21/07 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY LE DECEMBER 31, 2007 DEAR SIR, ON DECEMBER 21, 2007 AT 11:30AM PT, MY WIFE KIM LY NGUYEN DROVE OUR 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY LE ON THE 405 SOUTH FREEWAY. AS SHE WAS ABOUT TO PASS THE BRISTOL ST. EXIT IN COSTA MESA, MY WIFE SUDDENLY HEARD AN UNUSUAL NOISY SOUND AND DETECTED THE STRONG SCENT OF OIL AND GASOLINE LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE. IMMEDIATELY, MY WIFE MANEUVERED OUR CAR TO THE RIGHT-HAND SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY. ONCE MY WIFE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE CAR ENGINE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED COMPLETE FAILURE AND WOULD NOT RE-START. OUR CAR WAS TOWED BY 21ST CENTURY INSURANCE TO ACCU AUTO SERVICE (23253 MADERO #A-104, MISSION VIEJO, CA 92691) FOR REPAIR. SINCE WE ARE HEAVILY DEPENDENT ON OUR CAR TO COMMUTE TO WORK EVERY DAY, IT WAS CRUCIAL THAT WE RECEIVED IMMEDIATE SERVICE ON OUR CAR. AFTER A DIAGNOSTIC EXAM, ACCU AUTO SERVICE DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN AND TOTAL FAILURE (PLEASE SEE ATTACHED PICTURES) AND WAS COMPLETELY REPLACED AND SERVICED. SINCE WE BOUGHT OUR TOYOTA CAMRY LE ON 4/10/99, IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY THROUGH THE ?GOLD SEAL MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN SERVICES CONTRACT LIMITED, AND WE ARE HOPING THAT YOU CAN HELP US WITH A REIMBURSEMENT OF OUR REPAIR COSTS. DUE TO THE DEPENDENCY ON OUR CAR FOR SURVIVAL, WE HAD TO AUTHORIZE AN IMMEDIATE REPAIR. THROUGH THE LIFE OF OUR TOYOTA CAMRY LE, WE HAVE MAINTAINED A GOOD MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE AND UPKEEP, WHICH CAN BE VERIFIED THROUGH LEW WEBB'S IRVINE TOYOTA, INC. (30 AUTO CENTER DR., IRVINE, CA 92618) AT 949-768-0688 OR ACCU AUTO SERVICES AT 949-859-9637. WE HOPE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND OUR SITUATION AND ARE ABLE TO HONOR OUR WARRANTY BY GRANTING US A REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR OF THE DEFECTIVE CAR ENGINE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP AND TIME. SINCERELY, LIEM NGO & KIM LY NGUYEN *TR

NHTSA ODI #10214103

55,000 miles · Oct 28, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

PROBLEM WITH 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY: IN TRYING TO PASS A VEHICLE ON A COUNTRY ROAD, THE ENGINE LITERALLY BLEW A HOLE. THE RPM WAS JUST A LITTLE OVER 4,000. THANKFULLY, THERE WAS NO VEHICLE COMING FROM THE OTHER SIDE AND THE OTHER DRIVERS ON MY SIDE QUICKLY SLOWED DOWN TO LET ME COME BACK TO MY SIDE OF THE ROAD. OTHERWISE THERE …

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PROBLEM WITH 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY: IN TRYING TO PASS A VEHICLE ON A COUNTRY ROAD, THE ENGINE LITERALLY BLEW A HOLE. THE RPM WAS JUST A LITTLE OVER 4,000. THANKFULLY, THERE WAS NO VEHICLE COMING FROM THE OTHER SIDE AND THE OTHER DRIVERS ON MY SIDE QUICKLY SLOWED DOWN TO LET ME COME BACK TO MY SIDE OF THE ROAD. OTHERWISE THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10207100

42,000 miles · May 16, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. SHE PARKED THE VEHICLE AND ONE HALF HOUR LATER, THE POLICE ARRIVED TO FIND THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. SHE PARKED THE VEHICLE AND ONE HALF HOUR LATER, THE POLICE ARRIVED TO FIND THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE ENGINE SIZE AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 42,000. UPDATED 06/08/07. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10190944

94,100 miles · Apr 7, 2007
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipmentFire

ON MARCH 9, 2007 THE TOYOTA CAMRY ERUPTED INTO A FIRE DURING MY NORMAL DRIVING. ON NOV 28, 2006, I REPAIRED MY VEHICLE AT TOYOTA AUTHORIZED SERVICE STATIN, FITZGERALD TOYOTA, M FOR CHANGING WATER PUMP AND TIMING BELT. *AK MY ODO METER READING WAS AROUND 93.213 MILES AND WITHIN 800 MILES (CLOSE TO 94100) THE VEHICLE MET WIT…

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ON MARCH 9, 2007 THE TOYOTA CAMRY ERUPTED INTO A FIRE DURING MY NORMAL DRIVING. ON NOV 28, 2006, I REPAIRED MY VEHICLE AT TOYOTA AUTHORIZED SERVICE STATIN, FITZGERALD TOYOTA, M FOR CHANGING WATER PUMP AND TIMING BELT. *AK MY ODO METER READING WAS AROUND 93.213 MILES AND WITHIN 800 MILES (CLOSE TO 94100) THE VEHICLE MET WITH FIRE ACCIDENT. REPEATED LETTER TOYOTA CORPORATION IS BEING IGNORED AND TOYOTA SERVICE STATION IS YET TO REPLY BACK MY LETTER.

NHTSA ODI #10187253

Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE A 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY. I CHANGED MY OIL CONSISTENTLY BEFORE EVERY 2500 MILES OR 3 MONTHS, HOWEVER THE OIL IN MY ENGINE STILL "SLUGGED" OR "GELLED". I VISITED MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT FIXED AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS COMMON AMONGST TOYOTA CAMRY'S AND THAT THEY COULD NOT COVER THE ENGINE DAMAGE FOR…

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I HAVE A 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY. I CHANGED MY OIL CONSISTENTLY BEFORE EVERY 2500 MILES OR 3 MONTHS, HOWEVER THE OIL IN MY ENGINE STILL "SLUGGED" OR "GELLED". I VISITED MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT FIXED AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS COMMON AMONGST TOYOTA CAMRY'S AND THAT THEY COULD NOT COVER THE ENGINE DAMAGE FOR ME UNLESS I PROVIDED RECEIPTS AS PROOF THAT I CHANGED MY OIL EVERY 2500 MILES OR 3 MONTHS SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED THE CAR. I HAD NOT BEEN KEEPING MY RECEIPTS AS MY FIANCE WOULD OFTEN CHANGE MY OIL FOR US. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I HAD TO SPEND OVER $2,000 REPLACING MY ENGINE ONLY TO LATER FIND OUT THAT THE PROBLEM WAS MUCH MORE COMMON AND SEVERE THAN I HAD BEEN TOLD AND THAT TOYOTA DOES IN FACT RECOGNIZE THE DEFECT AND OFFERS TO FIX IT COMPLIMENTARY. I LEARNED THIS WHILE I WAS OUT CAR SHOPPING (AT A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP) SINCE I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE ON THE ROAD IN MY UNSUITABLE TOYOTA CAMRY. MY OLD ENGINE HAS BEEN REPLACED BUT THE NEW ONE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME IT'S BECAUSE THE DEFECTIVE PART THAT CAUSED THE ENGINES TO GEL UP HAS NOW BEEN REMOVED FROM REPLACEMENT ENGINES. THERE IS NOW A NOTICEABLE BANGING NOISE COMING FROM MY ENGINE. I AM COMPLETELY DISGUSTED WITH THE WAY I WAS TREATED BY MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. I WAS SOLD A CAR WITH A KNOWN HISTORY OF DEFECTIVE ENGINES AND THE CAR MANUFACTURERS REFUSES TO FIX IT FOR ME. WHAT TYPE OF SCAM IS THIS? *JB

NHTSA ODI #10177687

17,938 miles · Jan 19, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

1999 TOYOTA CAMRY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CONSUMER HAD THE OIL CHANGED, AIR FUEL RATIO SENSOR REPLACED, FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED BUT NONE OF THOSE REPAIRS SOLVED THE PROBLEM. *TS THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT SINCE THE CONSUMER 'S VEHICLE WASN'T DRIVEN MUCH THAT CARBON MAY HAVE BEEN BUILDING UP IN THE VALVE ARE…

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1999 TOYOTA CAMRY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CONSUMER HAD THE OIL CHANGED, AIR FUEL RATIO SENSOR REPLACED, FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED BUT NONE OF THOSE REPAIRS SOLVED THE PROBLEM. *TS THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT SINCE THE CONSUMER 'S VEHICLE WASN'T DRIVEN MUCH THAT CARBON MAY HAVE BEEN BUILDING UP IN THE VALVE AREA. THE DEALER CLEANED THE VALVE AREA AND CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY AND FUEL INJECTION BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. *NM ***NO ANS REQUIRED***

NHTSA ODI #10149756

124,000 miles · Oct 18, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

DT: WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THREW A ROD. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2005. THERE WAS A REPORT TAKEN BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, BUT THE CONSUMER WAS UNSURE IF A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS WARNING BEFORE THIS OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THEY DID NOT TELL HE…

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DT: WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THREW A ROD. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2005. THERE WAS A REPORT TAKEN BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, BUT THE CONSUMER WAS UNSURE IF A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS WARNING BEFORE THIS OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THEY DID NOT TELL HER WHAT THEY THOUGHT CAUSED IT, ONLY THAT IT WAS NOT DUE TO SLUDGE BUILD UP IN ENGINE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK *NM

NHTSA ODI #10137594

27,000 miles · Aug 26, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

DT: THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE BRAKE PROBLEM THE PROBLEM CONCERNED ABS PUMP. WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES FAILED. EVERY TWO-THREE MONTHS THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED, AT LEAST TWENTY TIMES. THIS PROBLEM FIRST STARTED IN SEPTEMBER 2001. THE FIRST DOCUMENTATION WAS FOR MAY OF 2002. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS, BUT NONE A…

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DT: THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE BRAKE PROBLEM THE PROBLEM CONCERNED ABS PUMP. WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES FAILED. EVERY TWO-THREE MONTHS THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED, AT LEAST TWENTY TIMES. THIS PROBLEM FIRST STARTED IN SEPTEMBER 2001. THE FIRST DOCUMENTATION WAS FOR MAY OF 2002. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS, BUT NONE AS OF YET. THE DEALER WAS UNSURE OF THE EXACT PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND IT. THEY HAVE TOLD THE CONSUMER NUMBERS POSSIBILITIES, BUT STILL HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. ALSO, THERE WAS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. THEY CHANGED THE TIMING BELT BECAUSE OF ENGINE NOISE. THEY TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE WATER PUMP AND IT WAS CHANGED. THE CONSUMER HAD A REPORT FROM THE DEALERSHIP. BUT, NOT ALL OF THE TIMES THAT VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WAS INCLUDED IN THE REPORT. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT ENGINE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE VALVE AND THE LIFTERS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10134350

Official recalls

1

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.

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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