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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

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

12 reports
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172,637 miles · Jun 29, 2014
Fuel System, Gasoline

I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SHOP AND FOUND OUT THE CAR HAS RECALL. EVAP SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS: P0441/P0446 ON ALL MODELS. WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHILE GIVING THE CAR GAS YOU CAN FEEL IT JERKING LIKE ITS NOT GETTING GAS AND WHEN THE CAR STOPS IT CUTS OFF. SO WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP THEY SAY ITS A RECALL NOW I AM WONDERING IF TOYOTA…

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I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SHOP AND FOUND OUT THE CAR HAS RECALL. EVAP SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS: P0441/P0446 ON ALL MODELS. WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHILE GIVING THE CAR GAS YOU CAN FEEL IT JERKING LIKE ITS NOT GETTING GAS AND WHEN THE CAR STOPS IT CUTS OFF. SO WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP THEY SAY ITS A RECALL NOW I AM WONDERING IF TOYOTA IS GOING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THE PIECE IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND I NEED MY VEHICLE TO RUN PROPERLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10606848

96,562 miles · Oct 24, 2013
Fuel System, GasolineService BrakesVehicle Speed Control

WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMING TO A STOP SIGHT TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. ALL THE SUDDEN, THE CAR SPED UP AND THE BRAKE WAS FAILING. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO CAR IN THE OPPOSITE SIDE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR TO THE CURB. I CHECKED THE BRAKE AND WAS FUNCTIONING. LATER, I HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO PIERCEY TOYOTA…

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WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMING TO A STOP SIGHT TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. ALL THE SUDDEN, THE CAR SPED UP AND THE BRAKE WAS FAILING. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO CAR IN THE OPPOSITE SIDE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR TO THE CURB. I CHECKED THE BRAKE AND WAS FUNCTIONING. LATER, I HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO PIERCEY TOYOTA TO DIAGNOSIS AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10549441

45,000 miles · Feb 3, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

CAMRY GAS PEDAL SELF-ACCELERATING. WE HAD A TOYOTA CAMRY 1998 (BOUGHT IN TOYOTA, MORRISTOWN, NJ IN FEB, 1998). BY ABOUT 2003, THE GAS PEDAL BEHAVED A LITTLE FUNNY. WHEN THE CAR WAS STANDING STILL, THE GAS PEDAL WOULD NOT RESPOND WHEN YOU PRESS ON IT. BUT IT WOULD JERK AND SUDDENLY SPEED UP WHEN YOU KEEP PRESSING ON IT. THE PROBL…

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CAMRY GAS PEDAL SELF-ACCELERATING. WE HAD A TOYOTA CAMRY 1998 (BOUGHT IN TOYOTA, MORRISTOWN, NJ IN FEB, 1998). BY ABOUT 2003, THE GAS PEDAL BEHAVED A LITTLE FUNNY. WHEN THE CAR WAS STANDING STILL, THE GAS PEDAL WOULD NOT RESPOND WHEN YOU PRESS ON IT. BUT IT WOULD JERK AND SUDDENLY SPEED UP WHEN YOU KEEP PRESSING ON IT. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT LIKE THE 'POPULAR GAS PEDAL STUCK' THING DESCRIBED. WE LIVED WITH THE PROBLEM FOR A FEW YEARS BEFORE THE CAR GET CRASHED AND TOTALED (NOT FOR THE PEDAL REASON). IT WAS MY HUSBAND'S CAR, WHEN I OCCASIONALLY DROVE IT, IT'S UNSAFE WHEN I STOP FOR TRAFFIC LIGHTS, SINCE IT SUDDENLY SPED UP. BUT MY HUSBAND WAS USED TO IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10304292

Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

GAS PEDAL IN MY 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY BECOMES HARDER TO PRESS. I HAVE TO TAP MY FOOT ON THE PEDAL TO MAKE IT WORKS. IT WORKS FINE FOR FEW TIMES AND AGAIN IT BECOMES HARD. THIS HAPPENS EVERYDAY. I DON'T REMEMBER EXACT DATE WHEN I HAD NOTICED THIS BUT IT HAS BEEN LIKE THAT FOR PAST THREE YEARS. I HAD NOT REGISTER COMPLAINT THINKING IT…

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GAS PEDAL IN MY 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY BECOMES HARDER TO PRESS. I HAVE TO TAP MY FOOT ON THE PEDAL TO MAKE IT WORKS. IT WORKS FINE FOR FEW TIMES AND AGAIN IT BECOMES HARD. THIS HAPPENS EVERYDAY. I DON'T REMEMBER EXACT DATE WHEN I HAD NOTICED THIS BUT IT HAS BEEN LIKE THAT FOR PAST THREE YEARS. I HAD NOT REGISTER COMPLAINT THINKING IT IS JUST MY MODEL BUT SINCE THIS HAS BEEN WIDE SPREAD IN MANY TOYOTAS I THOUGHT I SHOULD REGISTER MY INCIDENT TOO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10304222

83,000 miles · Oct 17, 2006
Fuel System, Gasoline

I STARTED SMELLING GAS ODORS INSIDE OF THE CAR AFTER FILLING THE TANK. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER IN JULY 2006 AND TOLD THEM THAT I ALSO SAW GAS DRIPPING ON THE GROUND. THEY FOUND NOTHING. I CONTINUED TO HAVE THE SMELL. TWO WEEKS AGO I SMELLED THE FUMES INSIDE AND SAW LEAK. DEALER REPLACED GAS TANK, SAYING THERE WAS RUST NEAR…

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I STARTED SMELLING GAS ODORS INSIDE OF THE CAR AFTER FILLING THE TANK. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER IN JULY 2006 AND TOLD THEM THAT I ALSO SAW GAS DRIPPING ON THE GROUND. THEY FOUND NOTHING. I CONTINUED TO HAVE THE SMELL. TWO WEEKS AGO I SMELLED THE FUMES INSIDE AND SAW LEAK. DEALER REPLACED GAS TANK, SAYING THERE WAS RUST NEAR THE TOP OF THE TANK. MY CAR IS GARAGED, SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10171098

Mileage unknown · Nov 24, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

DEALER CLAIMS THAT I DAMAGED THE CHARCOAL CANISTER BY 'TOPPING OFF" THE GAS TANK. HIS DEFINITION OF "TOPPING OFF" IS TO FILL UNTIL THE PUMP SHUTS OFF, THEN ADD A LITTLE MORE TO GET A ROUND NUMBER TOTAL COST. SINCE MOST PEOPLE "TOP OFF" THE TANK USING THIS DEFINITION, IT WOULD SEEM THAT THIS MUST BE A DESIGN DEFECT. THE DEALER…

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DEALER CLAIMS THAT I DAMAGED THE CHARCOAL CANISTER BY 'TOPPING OFF" THE GAS TANK. HIS DEFINITION OF "TOPPING OFF" IS TO FILL UNTIL THE PUMP SHUTS OFF, THEN ADD A LITTLE MORE TO GET A ROUND NUMBER TOTAL COST. SINCE MOST PEOPLE "TOP OFF" THE TANK USING THIS DEFINITION, IT WOULD SEEM THAT THIS MUST BE A DESIGN DEFECT. THE DEALER SAYS THAT IF IT IS NOT FIXED THE CAR WILL FAIL REQUIRED EMISSIONS TESTS, BUT THAT IF IT IS FIXED AND I "TOP OFF" THE TANK IT WILL FAIL AGAIN. THERE IS NO WARNING AGAINST "TOPPING OFF" THE TANK IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. THEREFORE NORMAL REFUELING RESULTS IS PERMANANT DAMAGE TO THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM. THIS MEANS THAT THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM CAN NOT BE MAINTAINED IN WORKING CONDITION. DT

NHTSA ODI #770080

Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

IDLE AIR CONTROL (IAC) VALVE HAS FAILED 2 TIMES AND HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES AT TOYOTA OF HUNTINGTON BEACH. FIRST TIME ON 3/23/2001 AND SECOND TIME ON 1/17/2002. IDENTICAL SYMPTOMS OF PAST FAILURES STARTING TO APPEAR AGAIN, AS OF ABOUT 10/1/2002. DT

NHTSA ODI #768775

Mileage unknown · May 19, 2002
Fuel System, GasolineSuspension

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #762072

Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 2000
Fuel System, GasolineStructure

DEALER WANTS 80$ TO TELL US IF GAS TANK PURGE VALVE IS UNDER WARRENTY OR NOT. ALSO DEALER STATES THAT DOOR HANDLE CLIP BREAKING IS A COMMON PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #730111

Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM SURGED CAR INTO WALL WITH DRIVERS FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #718604

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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