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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.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Air Bags complaints

50 reports
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90,000 miles · Apr 20, 2004
Air BagsService Brakes, HydraulicSteeringCrashInjury

WHILE TRAVELING AT 40 TO 55 MPH CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A TREE. UPON IMPACT NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK THE DRIVER SUFFERED A FRACTURED LEFT SHOULDER, MINOR INJURIES ON THE LEFT SIDE OF HIS HEAD AND BRUISING TO HIS LEFT HIP. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT AN ANTILOCK BRAKE FAILURE MAY HAVE ALSO CONT…

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WHILE TRAVELING AT 40 TO 55 MPH CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A TREE. UPON IMPACT NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK THE DRIVER SUFFERED A FRACTURED LEFT SHOULDER, MINOR INJURIES ON THE LEFT SIDE OF HIS HEAD AND BRUISING TO HIS LEFT HIP. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT AN ANTILOCK BRAKE FAILURE MAY HAVE ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10064741

Mileage unknown · Jan 12, 2004
Air Bags

WHEN 98 CAMRY WAS FIRST BOUGHT IN SEPT 2000, I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY AIR BAG LIGHT GOING OFF EVER SINCE IT WAS DRIVEN OFF LOT. DEALERSHIP FIXED AND I DID NOT HAVE A PROBLEM EVER SINCE. IN JUNE 2003 I HAD FLOOR WIRING HARNESS REPLACED. THE END OF OCT, BEGINNING OF SEPT I NEEDED MY ALARM SYSTEM SWITCHED OUT WITH NEW KEY SYSTEM …

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WHEN 98 CAMRY WAS FIRST BOUGHT IN SEPT 2000, I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY AIR BAG LIGHT GOING OFF EVER SINCE IT WAS DRIVEN OFF LOT. DEALERSHIP FIXED AND I DID NOT HAVE A PROBLEM EVER SINCE. IN JUNE 2003 I HAD FLOOR WIRING HARNESS REPLACED. THE END OF OCT, BEGINNING OF SEPT I NEEDED MY ALARM SYSTEM SWITCHED OUT WITH NEW KEY SYSTEM (THE ALARM SYSTEM IS SOMETHING I NEEDED TO HAVE DONE). SINCE THE ALARM SYSTEM WAS CHANGED OUT, MY AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN GOING OFF SINCE AND THEY TELL ME THERE IS A SENSOR PROBLEM AGAIN BUT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM TO FIX. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM I HAD WHEN I DROVE THE CAR OFF THE LOT. NOW THAT THE WARRANTY IS UP THEY DO NOT WANT TO FIX. THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR A PROBLEM THAT I FEEL IS THEIRS. ITS ONLY BEEN 3 YEARS THAT I HAVE HAD THIS CAR AND I FILL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. WHY WOULD I KEEP HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY AIRBAG INDICATOR? THIS AIRBAG CAN GO OFF ANYTIME OR MAY NOT GO OFF WHEN IT IS REALLY NEEDED. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10052934

Mileage unknown · Oct 10, 2003
Air BagsCrash

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN HEAD ON COLLISION, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10042760

Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 2003
Air BagsCrash

CONSUMER STATES THAT HE RAN INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING 15 MPH. THE FRONT AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *PH

NHTSA ODI #10032361

73,033 miles · May 27, 2003
Air Bags

AIR BAG SYSTEM REPLACEMENT. *MR PH

NHTSA ODI #10022255

Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 2002
Air BagsCrashInjury

IN A FRONTAL COLLISION NONE OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED ON IMPACT, CAUSING CHEST INJURIES TO DRIVER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8015065

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2002
Air Bags

AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES AT ALL TIMES. ALSO, HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL ARE INOPERABLE. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK *YD

NHTSA ODI #8005987

Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2001
Air Bags

INTERMITTENT AIR BAG LIGHT, EVENTUALLY FAILED CONTINUOUSLY ON, DEALER REPAIRED/REPLACED CABLE ASSEMBLY, FAILED AGAIN IN SAME MANNER WITHIN 12 MONTHS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #753135

Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2001
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH A VEHICLE IN THE OTHER LANE TRAVELING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION CROSSED IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, CAUSING A FRONT END COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, AND NO DETERMINATION HAS BEEN MADE FOR THE REASON THEY FAILED. CONSUMER RECEIVED NECK INJURIES, AND 2 …

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WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH A VEHICLE IN THE OTHER LANE TRAVELING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION CROSSED IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, CAUSING A FRONT END COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, AND NO DETERMINATION HAS BEEN MADE FOR THE REASON THEY FAILED. CONSUMER RECEIVED NECK INJURIES, AND 2 INDIVIDUALS IN OTHER VEHICLE WERE TAKEN TO HOSPITAL WITH UNKNOWN INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #896331

Mileage unknown · May 29, 2001
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH DRY PAVEMENT, ANOTHER DRIVER MADE A QUICK TURN RIGHT IN FRONT OF CONSUMER, CONSUMER WAS HIT ON DRIVER'S SIDE AND KNOCKED OFF THE ROAD, AND HIT A TREE HEAD-ON. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD AND KNEE INJURIES, AND PASSENGER BROKE LEFT FOOT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #889307

Official recalls

2

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.

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

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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