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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.

About this comparison →
600Owner complaints

Model-year median: 295

2Recall campaigns

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2Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
303
1995417
1996555
1997600
1998501
1999454
2000272
2001
Compare all Camry years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
112Engine And Engine Cooling
92Vehicle Speed Control
83Suspension
70Air Bags
50
All reported categories
Tires
41Seat Belts
35Structure
35Electrical System
33Steering
33Exterior Lighting
18Power Train
16Unknown Or Other
13Fuel System, Gasoline
12Equipment
11Visibility
10Latches/locks/linkages
8Service Brakes, Air
5Wheels
5Service Brakes
4Engine
3Fuel System, Other
3Child Seat
2Seats
2Equipment Adaptive/mobility
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

83 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 22, 2006
Vehicle Speed Control

GAS PEDAL STICKS. ONE DAY DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD COMING FROM A COMPLETE STOP FROM A RED TO GREEN LIGHT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, SO I HAD TO PUSH DOWN HARD ON THE GAS PEDAL TO MAKE THE CAR GO. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR 98 CAMRY'S. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS COMING FROM 0 MPH GOING TO AN UNKNOWN SPEED TRYING TO GET THE VEHICLE…

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GAS PEDAL STICKS. ONE DAY DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD COMING FROM A COMPLETE STOP FROM A RED TO GREEN LIGHT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, SO I HAD TO PUSH DOWN HARD ON THE GAS PEDAL TO MAKE THE CAR GO. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR 98 CAMRY'S. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS COMING FROM 0 MPH GOING TO AN UNKNOWN SPEED TRYING TO GET THE VEHICLE TO MOVE AND CONSUMES A LOT OF GAS WHEN THIS HAPPENS. TOYOTA NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS FOR A RECALL. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10168928

108,000 miles · Aug 12, 2006
Air BagsPower TrainService Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

PULLING 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY INTO PARKING SPACE. FOOT ON BRAKE. PUT INTO PARK. CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN ACCELERATING. TRIED REVERSE, DIDN'T STOP. TRIED PARK AGAIN STANDING ON BRAKES. DIDN'T STOP. WENT OVER CURB DOWN HILL INTO CREEK. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN FRONT OF CAR HIT BANK OF CREEK. SAW PUFF OF SMOKE AFTER HITTING BANK…

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PULLING 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY INTO PARKING SPACE. FOOT ON BRAKE. PUT INTO PARK. CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN ACCELERATING. TRIED REVERSE, DIDN'T STOP. TRIED PARK AGAIN STANDING ON BRAKES. DIDN'T STOP. WENT OVER CURB DOWN HILL INTO CREEK. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN FRONT OF CAR HIT BANK OF CREEK. SAW PUFF OF SMOKE AFTER HITTING BANK COME FROM UNDER CAR. TURNED CAR OFF IMMEDIATELY. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10165336

Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 2006
Vehicle Speed Control

ENGINE STARTS AND STALLS. RPM'S WON'T STAY UP. HAVE TO USE GAS AND BRAKE TOGETHER UNTIL IDLE STAYS UP ENOUGH TO KEEP CAR RUNNING. IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE REPLACED @ 38,315 MI ON 6/20/02. REPLACED AGAIN @ 45,703 MI ON 8/22/03. SERVICE MGR SAID THEY HAVE "CHANGED MANUFACTURERS, SO SHOULD BE OK NOW". PROBLEM RECURRED @ 56,000 MIL…

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ENGINE STARTS AND STALLS. RPM'S WON'T STAY UP. HAVE TO USE GAS AND BRAKE TOGETHER UNTIL IDLE STAYS UP ENOUGH TO KEEP CAR RUNNING. IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE REPLACED @ 38,315 MI ON 6/20/02. REPLACED AGAIN @ 45,703 MI ON 8/22/03. SERVICE MGR SAID THEY HAVE "CHANGED MANUFACTURERS, SO SHOULD BE OK NOW". PROBLEM RECURRED @ 56,000 MILES IN MID-JUNE. IT'S A PROGRESSIVE FAILURE, SO WILL RETURN TO DEALER IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. THIS AMOUNTS TO 3 REPLACED IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVES IN 20,000 MILES. SERVICE WILL REPLACE PART, BUT I MUST PAY LABOR. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10162537

37,000 miles · Feb 11, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control

ACCELERATOR PEDAL FREQUENTLY STICKS CAUSING CAR TO SURGE WHEN DRIVER DEPRESSES PEDAL. REAR SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACK. TOYOTA ADVISED THAT THEY DO NOT WARRANTY THEIR SEAT BELTS AFTER 36,00 MILES. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM WAS CONTRIBUTED BY FREQUENTLY USING CHILD SEATS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10110350

80,631 miles · Nov 20, 2004
EquipmentVehicle Speed ControlCrash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: OPENED GARAGE DOOR WITH REMOTE. STEPPED LIGHTLY ON GAS PEDAL TO ENTER GARAGE. CAR UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED RAPIDLY. STEPPED ON BRAKES BUT CAR DID NOT STOP. CAR CRASHED THROUGH INTERIOR GARAGE WALL AND THROUGH CLOSET IN ADJOINING BEDROOM. COUSE OF PROBLEM IS BEING INVESTIGATED. REPAIR NOT COMPLETED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10100255

83,000 miles · May 20, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control

WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PRESSED TO DISENGAGE IT THERE WAS NO THROTTLE RESPONSE. WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED AND THE PEDAL WAS PRESSED TO ACCELERATE THERE WAS NO THROTTLE RESPONSE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PUSH THE GAS PEDAL FORWARD AND BACK TO OBTAIN ACCELERATION. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED A THROTTLE …

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WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PRESSED TO DISENGAGE IT THERE WAS NO THROTTLE RESPONSE. WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED AND THE PEDAL WAS PRESSED TO ACCELERATE THERE WAS NO THROTTLE RESPONSE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PUSH THE GAS PEDAL FORWARD AND BACK TO OBTAIN ACCELERATION. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED A THROTTLE BODY CLEANING AND IDLE SPEED CONTROL REPLACEMENT. *AK *NM

NHTSA ODI #10067529

65,000 miles · Apr 20, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control

RECALL 01V012000 CONCERNING ACCELERATOR CABLE FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING IN CRUISE CONTROLLED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE PRESSED THE CRUISE CONTROL CRUISE WOULD BE SUSPENDED. AFTER THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STOPPED, THE CRUISE COULD BE USED AGAIN. *AK VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10063050

Mileage unknown · Feb 24, 2004
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

CONSUMER WAS PULLING IN A PARKING SPACE WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, HITTING A CURB. IT CONTINUED TO SPEED, AND HIT A TREE, AND VEHICLE STOPPED BY HITTING A WALL. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE NOT HURT. INSURANCE COMPANY HAD VEHICLE TOWED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10059726

Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 2003
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

CONSUMER HAD TWO ACCIDENTS IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS DUE TO SUDDEN ACCELERATION. DEALER NOT NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10029546

Mileage unknown · Jun 4, 2003
Vehicle Speed Control

THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHEN STARTED AND WAS DIFFICULT TO STOP. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10022272

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.

Go deeper into Toyota Camry problems

Toyota Camry electrical problems →Toyota Camry transmission problems →