IllustrationTIRE SIDEWALL BLEW OUT. TIRE TREAD STILL IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. *AK (TIRESIZE: 205 65 R15)
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
Tires complaints
41 reportsFAULTY TIRES ARE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE HAD AN ALIGNMENT AND THE TIRES WERE CROSS ROTATED BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO PULL (GOODYEAR 205/65HR15 EAGLE GA). NLM
WHILE MAKING A SHARP RIGHT TURN RIGHT FRONT TIRE SUDDENLY DEFLATED. RUBBER IS TORN FROM 1 INCH INTO SIDEWALL TO 2 INCHES INTO TREAD. HOLE WHICH CAUSED FLAT IS IN THE SIDEWALL. *AK (TIRESIZE: P205/70R14)
ON BOTH CAMRY'S I HAVE OWNED I NOTICED THAT WHEN THE STREETS ARE WET THE TIRES TEND TO SPIN WHEN I FIRST BEGIN TO ACCELERATE AND THEY HAVE DIFFICULTY GETTING TRACTION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED COULD HEAR A NOISE COMING FROM LEFT FRONT TIRE. THEN, UPON STOPPING DISCOVERED A TREAD SEPARATION. TOYOTA, CAMRY, 1998, P-195/70R14. *AK CONSUMER STATESLEFT WHEEL SEPARATED FROM RIM, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. *JB
SIDEWALL COMPLETELY DISENTERGRATED AT 60 MPH ON INTERSTATE. ROTATED/BALANCED/GOOD TREAD REMAINING. NO CUT / PUNCTURE. DID NOT RUN OVER ANYTHING.*AK (DOT NUMBER: ACRW2W5377 TIRESIZE: P195/70R14)
FLAT TIRE DUE TO OLD, CUT, SLOW LEAKING VALVE STEM. *CJ
BOTH FRONT TIRES EXPERIENCED ABNORMAL TREAD WEAR ON THE INSIDE, THE WORST OF THE TWO FRONT TIRES WAS WORN TO THE CASING AND WAS DISCARDED WHEN IT DEVELOPED A LEAK, POSSIBLY RELATED TO THE TIRES OR THE FRONT END SUSPENSION SYSTEM. NLM
GENERAL NATION GENERAL TIRES (P195 70 R14) ARE TREADLESS AND BACK TIRE ON RIGHT SIDE IS CRACKING. *SLC
FIRST INCIDENT, ENTERING HIGHWAY ON RAMP AND TIRE BLEW UP. SECOND INCIDENT, DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY NOTICED AN UNEVEN RIDE AND REAR NOISE. TOOK TO TOYOTA, SENT TO TIRE KINGDOM AND CHARGED $46 FOR REPLACEMENT.GOT OFF AND CHECKED, FOUND BUBBLE, TOOK TO TOYOTA, SENT TO PAN AMERICAN TIRE CHARGED $60 FOR REPLACEMENT. THIRD TIME UNE…
Read full complaint
FIRST INCIDENT, ENTERING HIGHWAY ON RAMP AND TIRE BLEW UP. SECOND INCIDENT, DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY NOTICED AN UNEVEN RIDE AND REAR NOISE. TOOK TO TOYOTA, SENT TO TIRE KINGDOM AND CHARGED $46 FOR REPLACEMENT.GOT OFF AND CHECKED, FOUND BUBBLE, TOOK TO TOYOTA, SENT TO PAN AMERICAN TIRE CHARGED $60 FOR REPLACEMENT. THIRD TIME UNEVEN RIDE, LOUD ROAD NOISE ON HIGHWAY, FOUND BUBBLE.WILL TAKE TO TOYOTA. ALL THREE TIRES WERE ORIGINAL TIRES THAT CAME WITH CAR, SAME BATCH. CONCERNED FOR SAFETY AND DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO BE CHARGED FOR MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. WOULD LIKE REFUND AND REPLACEMENT OF ALL FOUR TIRES. THANK YOU.( DOT NUMBER: ACRW2W5297 TIRE SIZE: 195X70R14 )
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.