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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

Child Seat complaints

2 reports
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Mileage unknown · Dec 2, 2009
Child Seat

I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO INSTALL THE EDDIE BAUER EB ADJ BOOSTER CAR SEAT (MODEL 22880-MTTA) IN 3 DIFFERENT CARS AND IT SIMPLY WILL NOT TIGHTEN INTO PLACE. IT'S AS IF THE SHAPE OF THE CAR SEAT IS AT A 90 DEGREE ANGLE AND THUS WILL NOT FIT INTO THE SEAT OF THE CAR. IF THE BASE SITS FLAT ON THE SEAT OF THE CAR, THE HEAD SITS STRAIGHT UP…

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I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO INSTALL THE EDDIE BAUER EB ADJ BOOSTER CAR SEAT (MODEL 22880-MTTA) IN 3 DIFFERENT CARS AND IT SIMPLY WILL NOT TIGHTEN INTO PLACE. IT'S AS IF THE SHAPE OF THE CAR SEAT IS AT A 90 DEGREE ANGLE AND THUS WILL NOT FIT INTO THE SEAT OF THE CAR. IF THE BASE SITS FLAT ON THE SEAT OF THE CAR, THE HEAD SITS STRAIGHT UP, LEANING FORWARD FROM THE SEAT OF THE CAR ABOUT 6 INCHES. TIGHTENING IT WITH A BELT DOES NO GOOD BECAUSE IT CONTINUES TO WOBBLE BACK AND FORTH SEVERAL INCHES FROM FRONT TO BACK OR EVEN FROM SIDE TO SIDE. EVEN THE LATCH SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK BECAUSE IT ONLY PULLS THE CARSEAT BACKWARDS, LEAVING A GAP OF SEVERAL INCHES BETWEEN THE BASE AND SEAT OF THE CAR. THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS DESIGN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10294300

Mileage unknown · Dec 27, 2001
Child Seat

I HAVE BEEN TRING TO HAVE A TETHER STRAP ANCHOR INSTALLED IN MY CAMRY FOR MY CHILD'S RESTRAINT WHICH REQUIRES SUCH TETHER. INITIALLY, I CONTACTED THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE PERSON ON THE PHONE SAID HE WOULDN'T INSTALL IT, BECAUSE THE LOCAL HOSPITAL, SHANDS, HAD YELLED AT HIM FOR IMPROPER INSTALLATIONS ON PRIOR …

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I HAVE BEEN TRING TO HAVE A TETHER STRAP ANCHOR INSTALLED IN MY CAMRY FOR MY CHILD'S RESTRAINT WHICH REQUIRES SUCH TETHER. INITIALLY, I CONTACTED THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE PERSON ON THE PHONE SAID HE WOULDN'T INSTALL IT, BECAUSE THE LOCAL HOSPITAL, SHANDS, HAD YELLED AT HIM FOR IMPROPER INSTALLATIONS ON PRIOR CAR RESTRAINTS. WHEN I ASKED THE SAME SERVICE MAN IF HE COULD READ THE CAR MANUAL TO DETERMINE WHICH PARTS WOULD BE NECESSARY, HE SAID IT MADE NO SENSE TO HIM. I THEN CALLED THE NATIONAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND WAS GIVEN THE PHONE NUMBER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. I THEN SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR A TOYOTA PARTS DEPARTMENT IN RICHARDSON TEXAS AND ORDERED THE PARTS LISTED IN THE MANUAL AS NECESSARY. I THEN CALLED BACK THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE PARTS INSTALLED. AFTER TAKING THE PARTS TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE MISSING PARTS. THE MISSING PARTS WERE NOT SENT TO ME BY THE TOYOTA RICHARDSON PARTS DEPARTMENT. I SEARCHED AGAIN THE TOYOTA WEB SITE TO FIND THE MISSING PART, WHICH WAS THE ANCHOR FOR THE TETHER. ONLY THE BOLTS AND THE SPACERS WERE SENT BY TOYOTA RICHARDSON. I CALLED THE NATIONAL TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO ASK IF THEY COULD IDENTIFY THE PART THAT I NEEDED SINCE, THE OWNER'S MANUAL DOES NOT CLEARLY LABEL THE PART OTHER THAN CALLING IT THE TETHER ANCHOR. I FEEL THAT THE CAR DEALERSHIP NEEDS TO HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF HOW TO PROPERLY INSTALL TETHER STRAPS INTO THEIR CARS, BUT I CAN'T EVEN FIND SOME ONE AT THE DEALERSHIP WHO KNOWS WHICH PARTS I NEED TO ORDER AS LISTED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL.*AK

NHTSA ODI #756104

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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