← New search

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 →

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
Clear category filter
50,097 miles · Mar 24, 2003
Vehicle Speed Control

SIMPLY PUT. THE GAS PEDAL STICKS. MY WIFE HAS FOUND THE GAS PEDAL TO STICK WHILE SHE IS DRIVING. IN THE PAST, THE GAS PEDAL WOULD COME UP IN A SECOND OR SO. SHE DID NOT REALIZE WHAT WAS HAPPENING. SHE THOUGHT HER SHOE WAS GETTING IN THE WAY OR SOMETHING. BUT ON THE EVENING OF MARCH 12TH THE PEDAL WAS STICKING DOWN FOR ABOU…

Read full complaint

SIMPLY PUT. THE GAS PEDAL STICKS. MY WIFE HAS FOUND THE GAS PEDAL TO STICK WHILE SHE IS DRIVING. IN THE PAST, THE GAS PEDAL WOULD COME UP IN A SECOND OR SO. SHE DID NOT REALIZE WHAT WAS HAPPENING. SHE THOUGHT HER SHOE WAS GETTING IN THE WAY OR SOMETHING. BUT ON THE EVENING OF MARCH 12TH THE PEDAL WAS STICKING DOWN FOR ABOUT 5-10 SECONDS AS SHE WAS TRYING TO SLOW DOWN FOR AN INTERSECTION. IT FINALLY CAME UP AND SHE COULD COME TO A STOP. SHE CALLED ME IMMEDIATELY AND I INDICATED THAT THE CAR NEEDS TO GO IN IMMEDIATELY. THE EARLIEST THE DEALER WOULD TAKE THE CAR WAS THE MORNING OF MARCH 14TH. WHEN I EXPLAINED IT TO THE SERVICE GUY, HE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG. HE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE AIR INTAKE FOR THE ENGINE IS CONNECTED TO THE THROTTLE BODY. THE AIR INTAKE FLAP HAS A BUILD UP AROUND 15,000 AND IT WILL NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. THIS WILL CAUSE THE GAS PEDAL TO STICK. HE TOLD ME THAT I NEED TO HAVE THIS SERVICED EVERY 15,000 MILES FROM HERE ON IN. HE WROTE ON THE SERVICE SLIP "ENGINE MINOR". I CALLED TOYOTA CONSUMER SERVICE AND THEY INDICATED THAT THIS IS AN USUAL INCIDENT. HOWEVER, HE SAID IN THE SAME CONVERSATION THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED WITH THE SAME YEAR MODEL ON OTHER CARS. THE GENERAL EMPHASIS ON HIS PART WAS I WAS OVER REACTING AND INDICATED THIS PROBLEM WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. THIS CAR HAS ONLY 50,000 MILES. TOYOTA'S STANCE WAS THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED ON OTHER CARS BESIDES TOYOTA. I AM PLEADING WITH THIS ORGANIZATION TO INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER. I FEEL MY WIFE'S CAR IS NOT COMPLETELY SAFE UNLESS TOYOTA REPLACES THE PART IN A SPECIFIED AMOUNT OF TIME OR REDESIGNS THE ASSEMBLY AND DOES A RECALL. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10010966

Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 2002
Vehicle Speed Control

ACCELERATOR CABLE BROKE WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE CAR AT ALL. RECALL 01V0120000 DID NOT APPLY TO THIS VEHICLE DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8018357

Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2002
Vehicle Speed Control

CONSUMERS 23 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN AN INCIDENT ALONG WITH HER FRIEND. WHERE THEY WERE ATTEMPTING TO TAKE AN EXIT, WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ALLOW HER TO SLOW DOWN. VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, CAUSING THEM A LIFE THREATENING EXPERIENCE. THE TWO RAN OF OF THE ROAD IN ORDER TO BLOCK FROM HITTING 0THER VEHICLES, A…

Read full complaint

CONSUMERS 23 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN AN INCIDENT ALONG WITH HER FRIEND. WHERE THEY WERE ATTEMPTING TO TAKE AN EXIT, WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ALLOW HER TO SLOW DOWN. VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, CAUSING THEM A LIFE THREATENING EXPERIENCE. THE TWO RAN OF OF THE ROAD IN ORDER TO BLOCK FROM HITTING 0THER VEHICLES, AND IN ORDER TO NOT HIT A TREE WHEN THEY RAN OF THE ROAD, THEY HAD GOTTEN BACK ONTO THE ROAD AFTER THE PASSENGER HAD INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE ROAD WAS CLEAR ENOUGH TO GET BACK ON. THEY DID SO, LUCKILY NOT HITTING ANYONE, THEY ENDED UP IN A VACANT PARKING LOT WHERE THE DRIVER HAD TAKING THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION. DURING THE ACCIDENT THE DRIVER TRIED TO BRAKE AND EVEN PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE REJECTED THAT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE SERVICE CENTER, WHERE THREE WEEKS PRIOR, THE CONSUMER HAD AN OIL CHANGE, LUBRICATIONS, AND THE TIRES ROTATED. THEY TESTED THE VEHICLE, AND REPORTED THAT THEY FOUND NOTHING. THE SERVICE CENTER SUGGESTED THAT THEY COULD CLEAN THE THROTTLE LINKAGE AND LUBRICATE A SPECIFIC CABLE (NAME NOT AVAILABLE). VEHICLE WAS THEN INSPECTED AT A TOYOTA DEALER WHO DID NOT SEE A PROBLEM EITHER AND EVEN ALLOWED ONE OF THE EMPLOYEES TO TAKE THE VEHICLE HOME FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND HE FOUND NO PROBLEM AS WELL. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALER HAD BEEN ABLE TO CLEAR THE AIRBAG SIGN THAT WAS DISPLAYED ON THE DASHBOARD.*SCC

NHTSA ODI #567233

Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 2002
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

WHILE SLIGHTLY APPLYING ACCELERATOR PEDAL IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE, RESULTING IN VEHICLE ACCELERATING INTO A BUILDING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8015724

Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 2002
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

ACCELERATER PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND CONSUMER HIT A BUILDING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8014981

Mileage unknown · Jul 11, 2002
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

SUDDEN ACCELLERATION OF CAR. BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP VEHICLE. HAD TO PUT CAR IN "PARK" TO STOP VEHICLE. ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV AS IF GAS PEDAL PUSHED TO FLOOR. DEALER CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG.*AK

NHTSA ODI #764083

Mileage unknown · Apr 2, 2002
Vehicle Speed Control

CONSUMER STATED ON 2 OCCASIONS THE THROTTLE ENGAGED BY ITSELF, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LURCH FOWARD AND CRASH.*JB

NHTSA ODI #564847

Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 2002
Vehicle Speed Control

WHEN CONSUMER MADE A TURN THE VEHICLE ASSUMED NORMAL ACCELERATION IN "DRIVE", WHEN SUDDENLY THE ACCELRATOR PEDAL BECAME LOOSE, DEALER SAID THE ACCELERATOR CABLE WAS BROKEN. *JG *AK

NHTSA ODI #8002981

Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2001
Vehicle Speed Control

ACCELERATOR PEDAL WILL STICK AT FIRST START, NOT AFTER VEHICLE WAS WARMED UP. HAS TO PRESS HARD TO GET PEDAL TO UNSTICK. DEALER WAS NOT CONCERNED WHEN TOLD ABOUT IT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #896435

Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2001
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

WHILE IN REVERSE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INTO A GAS STATION. TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT CONSUMER COMPLAINED TO DEALER THAT ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STICKING. DEALER STATED THERE COULD BE A CARBON BUILD UP IN FUEL INJECTION, BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. RECALL 01-V-012-000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 1…

Read full complaint

WHILE IN REVERSE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INTO A GAS STATION. TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT CONSUMER COMPLAINED TO DEALER THAT ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STICKING. DEALER STATED THERE COULD BE A CARBON BUILD UP IN FUEL INJECTION, BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. RECALL 01-V-012-000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 10A HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE'S MAKE/MODEL. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #895399

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