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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

Power Train complaints

18 reports
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180,000 miles · Dec 10, 2014
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHIFT LEVER FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFTER CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA ODI #10663407

190,000 miles · Feb 23, 2010
Power Train

THE GAS PEDAL STICKS, AS IF IT IS RUBBING AGAINST SOMETHING ABOUT 1/3 THE WAY DOWN PRESSED. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENT AND CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHEN OR WHY AND IT IS NOT THE FLOORMAT. THE VEHICLE HAS OVER 100,000 MILES ON IT. IF YOU TAP IT, WHEN IT STICKS, IT WILL COME UNSTUCK. I BELIEVED THE CAR WAS GETTING OLD, MY CAR, BUT NOW …

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THE GAS PEDAL STICKS, AS IF IT IS RUBBING AGAINST SOMETHING ABOUT 1/3 THE WAY DOWN PRESSED. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENT AND CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHEN OR WHY AND IT IS NOT THE FLOORMAT. THE VEHICLE HAS OVER 100,000 MILES ON IT. IF YOU TAP IT, WHEN IT STICKS, IT WILL COME UNSTUCK. I BELIEVED THE CAR WAS GETTING OLD, MY CAR, BUT NOW MY WIFE COMPLAINS IT HAPPENS TO HER WHEN SHE DRIVES IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10313079

83,500 miles · Mar 23, 2009
Power Train

1999 TOYOTA CAMRY 4 CYLINDER WITH 83,500 MILES (ONE OWNER) BLEW A PISTON THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK AS A RESULT OF ACCELERATING FROM ABOUT 69 TO 73 MPH ON A BUSY TURNPIKE, COMPLETELY DESTROYING THE ENGINE AND SENDING BLACK SMOKE AND OIL ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR HAD BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED AND THERE HAD NEVER BEEN ANY MECH…

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1999 TOYOTA CAMRY 4 CYLINDER WITH 83,500 MILES (ONE OWNER) BLEW A PISTON THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK AS A RESULT OF ACCELERATING FROM ABOUT 69 TO 73 MPH ON A BUSY TURNPIKE, COMPLETELY DESTROYING THE ENGINE AND SENDING BLACK SMOKE AND OIL ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR HAD BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED AND THERE HAD NEVER BEEN ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS NOR WAS OIL GEL/SLUDGE EVER NOTICED AS AN ISSUE BY THE MECHANICS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10262833

80,465 miles · May 6, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

THIS COMPLAINT INVOLVES TWO VEHICLES; THE FIRST WAS WITH A 1992 TOYOTA CAMRY VIN#[XXX] PURCHASE DATE: 7/16/1992 MILEAGE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT: 125394 IN WHICH THE VEHICLE WAS IDLED IN THE CONSUMERS DRIVEWAY AND AFTER TWO MINUTES A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD ALONG WITH SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD; THERE WAS MOTOR OIL AND M…

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THIS COMPLAINT INVOLVES TWO VEHICLES; THE FIRST WAS WITH A 1992 TOYOTA CAMRY VIN#[XXX] PURCHASE DATE: 7/16/1992 MILEAGE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT: 125394 IN WHICH THE VEHICLE WAS IDLED IN THE CONSUMERS DRIVEWAY AND AFTER TWO MINUTES A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD ALONG WITH SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD; THERE WAS MOTOR OIL AND METAL PIECES FROM THE ENGINE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND AT 91386K MILES THE TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED; THE SECOND VEHICLE WAS A 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY; THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE BEING DRIVEN ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE WATER PUMP HAD FROZEN. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS BUT THE REQUEST WAS DENIED. A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEMS (VEHICLE UNSPECIFIED) : CONNECTING RODS#1 AND #4 BROKE AND PUNCHED HOLES IN THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE BLOCK, ONE OF THE CONNECTING RODS BROKE OFF AT THE PISTON AS WELL AS THE CRANKSHAFT, THE OTHER CONNECTING ROD BROKE OFF OF THE CRANKSHAFT, BUT REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE PISTON, PISTON #1 AND #4 IMPACTED INTO THE CYLINDER HEAD, WHEN THE CONNECTING RODS BROKE, PARTS OF THE ENGINE PUNCHED A HOLE IN THE OIL PAN, ALLOWING OIL TO LEAK OUT, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE LEFT CV BOOTS WERE TORN, THE BROKEN CONNECTING ROD #1 CAUSED THE A/C COMPRESSOR TO BE BROKEN AWAY FROM THE ENGINE AND THE A/C BELT TO BE THROWN FREE, AND THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE ENGINE TURNING AT MODERATE OR HIGH SPEED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. *AK *SC INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10118957

66,000 miles · Apr 12, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

ON MARCH 2, THE ENGINE ON MY TOYOTA CAMRY THREW A ROD, AND RESULTED IN A TERMINAL FAILURE OF THE ENGINE. I HAVE MAINTAINED THIS CAR SINCE I BOUGHT IT, SUPPOSEDLY "CERTIFIED USED" FROM ROSEVILLE TOYOTA, IN AUGUST 2002. I PLEADED WITH TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION FOR ASSISTANCE BUT THEY SAID THAT MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED 2 MONTHS PRI…

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ON MARCH 2, THE ENGINE ON MY TOYOTA CAMRY THREW A ROD, AND RESULTED IN A TERMINAL FAILURE OF THE ENGINE. I HAVE MAINTAINED THIS CAR SINCE I BOUGHT IT, SUPPOSEDLY "CERTIFIED USED" FROM ROSEVILLE TOYOTA, IN AUGUST 2002. I PLEADED WITH TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION FOR ASSISTANCE BUT THEY SAID THAT MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED 2 MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. DUE TO EXTREME STRAINS ON MY TIME, I HAD THE ENGINE REBUILT FOR NEARLY $3700. UPON DRIVING THE CAR FOR LESS THAN 200 MILES AFTER HAVING THE ENGINE REBUILT, THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT AN ESTIMATED $1500. I DO NOT HAVE TIME OR MONEY TO CONTINUALLY REPAIR THIS CAR AND HAVE ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE FROM BOTH ROSEVILLE TOYOTA AND TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION BOTH. IT WAS RECENTLY BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE TOYOTA THAT I PURCHASED FROM ROSEVILLE TOYOTA WAS NEVER CERTIFIED TO BEGIN WITH. THEY MISLEADINGLY SOLD ME A CAR UNDER THE FALSE IMPRESSION THAT IT WAS CERTIFIED WHEN IT WAS NOT. I PLACE THE BLAME FOR THE RECENT FAILURES AND RESULTANT REPAIR FEES ON ROSEVILLE TOYOTA. IF I HAD KNOWN THAT THIS PARTICULAR CAR WAS NOT A CERTIFIED TOYOTA VEHICLE, I WOULD NEVER HAVE TAKEN IT OFF THE LOT AND CONSEQUENTIALLY EXPERIENCED ANY OF THE PROBLEMS DESCRIBED ABOVE. HOWEVER, I WAS FALSELY MISLEAD TO BELIEVE THAT I WAS GETTING A CERTIFIED VEHICLE AND DROVE OFF HAPPILY. NONE OF THE PARTS REPAIRED OR REPLACED ARE AVAILABLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10116823

33,000 miles · Jul 13, 2003
Power Train

MY 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY NEEDED IT'S SECOND CLUTCH REPLACEMENT. THE FIRST WAS AT ABOUT 33K AND NOW ANOTHER AT 78K. WHY ARE THE CLUTCH GOING SO FAST. WE HAVE ANOTHER VECHICLE 1993 ACCLAIM WITH 170K. WE HAVE DRIVEN MANUAL ALL OUR LIFE WITH NO PROBLEMS UNTILL THIS TOYOTA. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10026004

50,000 miles · Mar 11, 2003
Power TrainCrash

AFTER PARKING MY CAR AND PLACING IT IN PARK, IT SUDDENLY LAUNCHED FORWARD CRASHING INTO A RESTAURANT. I AM CERTAIN THAT IT WAS IN PARK. ARE THERE SIMILAR REPORTED INCIDENTS? COULD THIS BE RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 01V012000.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10010281

Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingPower Train

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

NHTSA ODI #567147

Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentFuel System, Gasoline

THIS CAR IS A LEMON. I HAVE HAD FIVE INTEGRATED RELAY'S REPLACED AND NOW IT IS OUT AGAIN. THE HEADLIGHT OR THE DASH LIGHTS WILL WORK, BUT NOT BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. TOYOTA SAID IT WAS BECAUSE I HAD A NON-FACTORY ALARM INSTALLED. THEY REPLACED THE ALARM WITH A TOYOTA ALARM AND REPLACED THE RELAY AND IT BURNED OUT THE FOLLOWIN…

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THIS CAR IS A LEMON. I HAVE HAD FIVE INTEGRATED RELAY'S REPLACED AND NOW IT IS OUT AGAIN. THE HEADLIGHT OR THE DASH LIGHTS WILL WORK, BUT NOT BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. TOYOTA SAID IT WAS BECAUSE I HAD A NON-FACTORY ALARM INSTALLED. THEY REPLACED THE ALARM WITH A TOYOTA ALARM AND REPLACED THE RELAY AND IT BURNED OUT THE FOLLOWING DAY. THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. THE AIR CONDITIONER HAS HAD A MUSTY SMELL SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. THEY SPRAY THE VENTS WITH "FRIGI FRESH" AND IT'S FINE FOR A FEW DAYS AND THE SMELL RETURNS. THEY TOLD ME TO SPRAY SIMPLE GREEN IN THE AIR INTAKE ONCE A WEEK. THAT'S A PRETTY POOR REMEDY. THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT HOLD ON ANY INCLINE. SOMETIMES THE CAR WILL PULL INTO THE GARAGE BY IT SELF AND OTHER TIMES IT WILL ROLL INTO THE STREET. IT DEPENDS ON IT'S MOOD. THE CAR LACK POWER. SOME DAYS THE CAR IS PEPPY BUT MOST DAYS IT'S A OLD MULE. I WENT THROUGH ARBITRATION AND TOYOTA JUST KEEPS REPLACING PARTS INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE CAR. IT'S SITS IN THE GARAGE NOW BECAUSE IS NOT DEPENDABLE. I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE AN IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATION AND RECALL OF THE 1999 CAMRY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #751321

Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2001
Power Train

VEHICLE WILL JUMP OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT CABLE RUNNING FROM GEAR SHIFT TO TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY IS EXPOSED TO ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENTS, CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO JUMP OUT OF GEAR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #894168

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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