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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

Steering complaints

24 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 2002
Steering

THIS IS THE SECOND POWER STEERING PUMP THAT HAS FAILED ON MY TOYOTA CAMRY WHICH WAS PURCHASED NEW.THE FIRST PUMP FAILED AT 7,800 MILES AND NOW THE FRONT SEAL IS LEAKING ON THE REPLACEMENT PUMP AT 76,243 MILES. THIS IS UNACCEPTBLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #764591

Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2002
EquipmentSteeringSuspension

THERE IS A SQEAK COMING FROM THE FRONT END WHEN I GO OVER SMALL BUMPS/DIPS IN THE ROAD. TOYOTA RECOMMENDED THE REPLACEMENT OF TIE RODS, WHICH DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. THE NOISE CONTINUES AND HAS INCREASED IN SEVERITY. THE AIR CONDITIONER SMELLS WHEN USING IT. IT SMELLS LIKE MOLD. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER, BUT ALL THEY D…

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THERE IS A SQEAK COMING FROM THE FRONT END WHEN I GO OVER SMALL BUMPS/DIPS IN THE ROAD. TOYOTA RECOMMENDED THE REPLACEMENT OF TIE RODS, WHICH DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. THE NOISE CONTINUES AND HAS INCREASED IN SEVERITY. THE AIR CONDITIONER SMELLS WHEN USING IT. IT SMELLS LIKE MOLD. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER, BUT ALL THEY DO IS SPRAY IT WITH FRIGI-FRESH, WHICH ONLY MASKS THE SMELL FOR A SHORT WHILE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #763519

Mileage unknown · Jan 23, 2002
Steering

WHILE PARKING VEHICLE RIGHT TIRE CAME OFF THE RIM. MECHANIC STATED TIE ROD NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8002740

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 · Mar 20, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering

NO SUMMARY FOUND FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #742758

Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 2000
Electrical SystemSteering

MULTIPLE TIMES CAR WILL NOT START. THE ONLY TIME FIALED AT DEALER SUSPECT PART WAS THE ALARM SYSTEM. REPLACED ALARM BUT PROBLEM CAN BACK 9 MONTHS LATER.

NHTSA ODI #734428

Mileage unknown · Aug 31, 2000
Steering

SERIOUS UNSAFE VIBRATION AT 60MPH AND UP. DEALER HAS REPLACED TIRES 3 TIMES, BALANCED THE TIRES 5 TIMES AND PERFORMED ALIGNMENT. STILL HAS PROBLEMS. HAD A HIGHSPEED BALNCING PERFORMED TO NO AVAIL ALSO.

NHTSA ODI #729766

Mileage unknown · Oct 13, 1999
SteeringSuspension

VIBRATION AT SPEEDS OF 40MPH AND HIGHER. VIBRATION MOST APPARENT AT 60MPH AND HIGHER. WHEN STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES, CAR FEELS UNSAFE/UNSTABLE. VIBRATION IS VERY APPARENT THROUGHOUT THE CAR. HANDS SHAKE AND CAN FEEL IN ARMS AND LEGS. VIBRATION CAUSES MY LOWER BACK TO HURT EVERYTIME I DRIVE IT. NEVER HAD BACK PROBLEMS BEFORE. …

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VIBRATION AT SPEEDS OF 40MPH AND HIGHER. VIBRATION MOST APPARENT AT 60MPH AND HIGHER. WHEN STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES, CAR FEELS UNSAFE/UNSTABLE. VIBRATION IS VERY APPARENT THROUGHOUT THE CAR. HANDS SHAKE AND CAN FEEL IN ARMS AND LEGS. VIBRATION CAUSES MY LOWER BACK TO HURT EVERYTIME I DRIVE IT. NEVER HAD BACK PROBLEMS BEFORE. DEALER STATES THAT THEY REBLANCED THE WHEELS. CLAIMS THE VIBRATION IS THE ROAD. HOWEVER, NO OTHER CAR I'VE EVER DRIVEN HAS HAD SO MUCH VIBRATION. CAN EVEN SEE PASSENGER SEAT CONSTANTLY VIBRATING. HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES. SECOND TIME DEALER STATES THAT THEY RECHECKED THE WHEEL BALANCE AND PHASE MATCHED FRONT TIRE. LEFT CAR AT DEALER FOR THREE DAYS THEY DID NOT EVEN LOOK AT THE CAR. DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR THE CAR. HELP! HELP! HELP!

NHTSA ODI #713265

Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 1999
Steering

STEERING WHEEL STARTS TO VIBRATE AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 65 AND 68 MPH, AND USUALLY STOPS BEYOND THAT RANGE. IT DOES NOT SEEM TO JEOPARDISE THE SAFETY BUT IS WORRYSOME AND ANNOYING CONSIDERING A BRAND NEW CAR OF THIS MAKE.

NHTSA ODI #712647

Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 1999
Steering

STEERING COLUMN IS LOOSE AND VEHICLE STEERS TO THE RIGHT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #848908

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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