IllustrationWHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS ON THERE IS A BLIND SPOT IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR CONSUMER TO SEE THE ROAD. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
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
Exterior Lighting complaints
18 reportsRIGHT BEAM ON THE HEADLIGHTS IS FOCUSED HIGHER THAN THE LEFT. CAUSE UNKNOWN . DEALER ADJUSTED THE BEAM WHICH DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH HEADLIGHTS. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS ONLY ILLUMINATE FOR A SHORT DISTANCE. ALSO ONCOMING PEDESTRIANS COULDN'T BE SEEN UNLESS THE VEHICLE GETS VERY CLOSE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
INADEQUATE HEADLIGHTS, UNSAFE FOR NIGHT VISIBILITY.
ON COUNTRY ROAD WHEN GOING UP AND DOWN HILLS, THE LOW BEAM LIGHT SHINES ONLY ONE OR TWO CAR LENGHTS AND IS NOT A BEAM OF LIGHT BUT A BLOCK OF LIGHT WHICH STOPS ABRUPTLY. THERE IS TOTAL DARKNESS BEYOND THE BLOCK OF LIGHT. THESE LIGHTS ARE A SAFETY HAZARD. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE LIGHTS AND SAYS ARE TO SPECIFICATIONS. TOYOTA R…
Read full complaint
ON COUNTRY ROAD WHEN GOING UP AND DOWN HILLS, THE LOW BEAM LIGHT SHINES ONLY ONE OR TWO CAR LENGHTS AND IS NOT A BEAM OF LIGHT BUT A BLOCK OF LIGHT WHICH STOPS ABRUPTLY. THERE IS TOTAL DARKNESS BEYOND THE BLOCK OF LIGHT. THESE LIGHTS ARE A SAFETY HAZARD. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE LIGHTS AND SAYS ARE TO SPECIFICATIONS. TOYOTA REGIONAL AND NATIONAL OFFICES ADVISED TO SUBMIT THIS ISSUE TO BBB AUTO LINE, WHICH I DID. BBB AUTO LINE ADVISES THIS IS A DESIGN ISSUE AND HOT SUBJECT TO THEIR PROGRAM. I AM NOW LOOKING TO THE DOT FOR HELP. THE HEADLAMS ON LOW BEAM ARE NOT SUFFICIENT TO SEE A SATE DISTANCE. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A DOT SAFETY ENGINEER DRIVE THIS MODEL CAR AT NIGHT ON A TWO LANE COUNTY ROAD AND RENDER AN OPINION. I WOULD BE WILLING TO OFFER MY VEHICLE AND PARTICIPATE IN THE TEST DRIVE.
DARK SPOT CAST FROM LEFT HEADLAMP, RESULTING IN POOR VISIBILITY.
THE METAL DEFLACTOR INSIDE THE CONCEALED HEADLIGHTS BLOCKS OUT ALL LIGHT BEYOND 30 FEET. *AK
LOW BEAM HALOGEN HEADLIGHTS DO NOT CARRY TOO FAR. *AK
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.