IllustrationWHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HWY WATER PUMP FAILED CAUSING TIMING BELT AND IDLER TO ALSO FAIL AND DAMAGE TO OIL PUMP.
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.
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
120–25K
2625–50K
3850–75K
3475–100K
41100–150K
23150K+
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 reports1999 TOYOTA CAMRY (VIN # [XXX]).JULY 7TH ,2002 , THE WATER PUMP FAILED AND CAUSED THE CAMSHAFT BELT (TIMING BELT) AND OTHER BELTS AND PULLEYS TO BE DAMAGED. THE STANDARD TOYOTA WATER PUMP IS WARRANTED FOR 60 MONTHS OR 60,000 MILES. SINCE MY CAR IS ONLY 40 MONTHS OLD AND HAS ONLY 41,562 MILES, IT FALLS WELL WITHIN THE COVERAGE …
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1999 TOYOTA CAMRY (VIN # [XXX]).JULY 7TH ,2002 , THE WATER PUMP FAILED AND CAUSED THE CAMSHAFT BELT (TIMING BELT) AND OTHER BELTS AND PULLEYS TO BE DAMAGED. THE STANDARD TOYOTA WATER PUMP IS WARRANTED FOR 60 MONTHS OR 60,000 MILES. SINCE MY CAR IS ONLY 40 MONTHS OLD AND HAS ONLY 41,562 MILES, IT FALLS WELL WITHIN THE COVERAGE I HAVE CHECKED THE INTERNET PAGE FOR THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION WEB PAGE( WWW.NHTSA.DOT.GOV) AND FOR THIS YEAR AND MODEL. THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF THIS SAME EVENT OCCURRING. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA CASE # 200208090013. I HAVE CONTACTED THE CUSTOMER CENTER ABOUT 15 TIMES TO SUPPLY ALL THE NECESSARY PAPERWORK AND SUPPORT DOCUMENTS THEY REQUESTED , BUT THEY REFUSE TO DOCUMENT WHY THE CASE WAS DENIED. THIS CASE ALSO CONNECTS TO ODI NUMBER 765034. DT INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH AND WITH NO WARNING CONSUMER COULD HEAR A LOUD NOISES COMING FROM ENGINE. THEN VEHICLE SHUT OFF, CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
CONSUMER STATED BRAKES WOULD MAKE A GRINDING SOUND AND PULSATE AFTER DRIVING FOR AWHILE, VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS CONCERNING THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM, THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE FRONT ROTORS, AS WELL AS FRONT AND REAR BRAKES, DUE TO THEM BEING WORN.*JB
ADDITIONAL INFO TO ODI NUMBER 765034 - SHOP MENTIONED THAT THE WATER PUMP DAMAGED CAUSED SCRAPPING ON THE ENGINE BLOCK. SINCE THE ENGINE BLOCK IS MADE OF AN ALUMINUM BASE HIS CONCERN WAS THAT THE MARKS MIGHT CAUSE A CRACK TO OCCUR. HE SAID NO LEAKING WAS SEEN AT THIS TIME BUT I WANT TO PUT ON RECORD THAT DAMAGE WAS MADE TO THE…
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ADDITIONAL INFO TO ODI NUMBER 765034 - SHOP MENTIONED THAT THE WATER PUMP DAMAGED CAUSED SCRAPPING ON THE ENGINE BLOCK. SINCE THE ENGINE BLOCK IS MADE OF AN ALUMINUM BASE HIS CONCERN WAS THAT THE MARKS MIGHT CAUSE A CRACK TO OCCUR. HE SAID NO LEAKING WAS SEEN AT THIS TIME BUT I WANT TO PUT ON RECORD THAT DAMAGE WAS MADE TO THE ENGINE THAT MIGHT CAUSE PROBLEMS IN THE FURTURE. THIS SCRAPING WAS DUE TO THE WATER PUMP FAILURE THAT WAS NOTED IN THE ODI NUMBER 765034 QUESTIONNAIRE. THIS INFO WAS ALSO MENTIONED TO TOYOTA IN A CERTIFIED LETTER BUT I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RESPONSE YET FROM TOYOTA.
ON 9/8/2001 I HAD THE 30,000 MILE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON MY 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY. ON JULY 7,2002, THE WATER PUMP FAILED AND DAMAGED THE TIMING BELT. I HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP, TIMING(CAMSHAFT BELT) , SEVERAL ADDITIONAL BELTS, IDLER , TENSIONER AND ANTI-FREEZE. LABOR AND PARTS TOTALED $710.44. THIS IS THE 5TH OCCURANCE O…
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ON 9/8/2001 I HAD THE 30,000 MILE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON MY 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY. ON JULY 7,2002, THE WATER PUMP FAILED AND DAMAGED THE TIMING BELT. I HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP, TIMING(CAMSHAFT BELT) , SEVERAL ADDITIONAL BELTS, IDLER , TENSIONER AND ANTI-FREEZE. LABOR AND PARTS TOTALED $710.44. THIS IS THE 5TH OCCURANCE OF A WATER PUMP FAILING ON A 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH UNDER 45,000 MILES THAT WAS REPORTED ON THIS WEB SITE ALONE. THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY COVERS THE WATER PUMP FOR 60 MONTHS OR 60,000 MILES. I HAVE SENT A CERTIFIED LETTER TO TOYOTA , WHICH THEY HAVE RECEIVED BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM THEM. THE WATER PUMP SHOULD LAST MORE THAT 45,000 MILE AND WITH THE NUMBER OF FAILURES THAT HAVE OCCURED, THERE IS A TREND THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS PART.*AKI
ABOUT EVERY 6 MONTHS, THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATES. *JG
ENGINE SLUDGE ISSUE CONTINUES EVEN AFTER REPAIR AND PROPER MAINTENANCE. *AK
THE INSURED STATED THAT SMOKE WAS COMING OUT FROM THE ENGINE AREA. CLAIM NUMBER 18-0283-122. *YH
CLAIM NUMBER 13-7035-944 - ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO LEAVES AND STICKS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN PUT THERE BY AN ANIMAL. *TT
Official recalls
101V012000 · 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
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.