IllustrationIGNITION SYSTEM, CABORATOR AND STARTER FAILED IN THE 1998-99 MODEL CAMRY'S. NLM
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.
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
90–25K
2125–50K
3050–75K
4475–100K
35100–150K
25150K+
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
Electrical System complaints
33 reportsWHEN ATTEMPTING TO START VEHICLE, AND WHEN PLACING THE KEY IN IGNITION, IGNITION WILL NOT TURN OVER/START. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER STATED THAT STEERING FRONT WHEEL MUST BE FACED IN A CERTAIN DIRECTION WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START TURNING IGNITION KEY. *AK
IGNITION SWITCH.
IGNITION LOCK ASSEMBLY FAILED CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN TURNING. MJS
BATTERY FAILURE CAUSED FIRE. YH
ANTI-THEFT DEVICE STARTER DISABLER FAILED. *YC
IGNITION FAILED, KEY STICKS AND WILL NOT TURN. YH
CAR STALLED ON HIGHWAY AT 45 MPH, STEERING AND LIGHTS WORKED, STALL CAUSED COLLISION-3 PEOPLE HURT. THE DEALER DOES NOT KNOW WHY CAR STALLED. CAR COULD NOT START UNTIL AFTER A COMPUTER CHIP WAS REPLACED. BUT WHEN CAR WAS RUNNING AND WE PULLED THE CHIP THE CAR CONTINUED TO RUN. NO ONE KNOWS WHY CAR STALLED. THE CONVERTABLE TO…
Read full complaint
CAR STALLED ON HIGHWAY AT 45 MPH, STEERING AND LIGHTS WORKED, STALL CAUSED COLLISION-3 PEOPLE HURT. THE DEALER DOES NOT KNOW WHY CAR STALLED. CAR COULD NOT START UNTIL AFTER A COMPUTER CHIP WAS REPLACED. BUT WHEN CAR WAS RUNNING AND WE PULLED THE CHIP THE CAR CONTINUED TO RUN. NO ONE KNOWS WHY CAR STALLED. THE CONVERTABLE TOP LEAKED WATER, BROUGHT TO DEALER BACK THREE TIMES. BUT NOW THE CONVERTIBLE TOP DOES NOT COME UP ON WINDSHIELD FLUSH-BROUGHT BACK TO DEALER FIVE TIMES STILL WORKING ON IT. THE FRONT BRAKES BEGAN SQUEAKING AND PULLING AT 5000 MILES. THIS IS MY 4TH NEW CAR NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED, RUNNING LIGHTS WILL NOT SHUT OFF. *AK
AFTER MINOR VEHICLE COLLISION THE VEHICLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE.
Official recalls
201V012000 · 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
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.