NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
600 reports122,000 miles · Feb 24, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
I BROUGHT MY 98 CAMRY INTO TOYOTA CITY IN MAMARONECK, NY ON 11/6/03 BECAUSE OF BLUE SMOKE THAT WAS COMING OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. SEALS WERE REPLACED BUT THERE WAS STILL LEAKING OF OIL. ON 6/2/04 THE CAMRY HAS MORE REPAIRS DONE WITH GASKETS AND SEALS REPLACED BUT STILL THERE WAS OIL LEAKING . I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO HAVE THE LE…
Read full complaint
I BROUGHT MY 98 CAMRY INTO TOYOTA CITY IN MAMARONECK, NY ON 11/6/03 BECAUSE OF BLUE SMOKE THAT WAS COMING OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. SEALS WERE REPLACED BUT THERE WAS STILL LEAKING OF OIL. ON 6/2/04 THE CAMRY HAS MORE REPAIRS DONE WITH GASKETS AND SEALS REPLACED BUT STILL THERE WAS OIL LEAKING . I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO HAVE THE LEAK CHECKED AND I AM ALWAYS TOLD THERE IS NO LEAK. I HAVE SMOKE COMING INTO THE CAR FROM THE ENGINE AREA AND PUT A QUART OF OIL IN EVERY WEEK. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10112094
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
Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2005
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic
ABS, TRACTION LIGHTS WENT ON AND OFF. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10106389
108,000 miles · Dec 25, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
MY 1998 TOYOTA CAMERY ALWAYS BURNED SOME OIL.THEN AT ABOUT 108000 MILES IT STARTED BURNING OIL AT A RAPID PACE. I BROUGHT IT IN TO TOYOTA TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT FOR THE OIL SLUDGING PROBLEM ,WHICH THEY KNOW OF.THEY SAID MY ENGINE IS SHOT AND I DID NOT HAVE THE OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM, SO THEY WOULD NOT COVER REPAIRS.THEY SAID ONE REASO…
Read full complaint
MY 1998 TOYOTA CAMERY ALWAYS BURNED SOME OIL.THEN AT ABOUT 108000 MILES IT STARTED BURNING OIL AT A RAPID PACE. I BROUGHT IT IN TO TOYOTA TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT FOR THE OIL SLUDGING PROBLEM ,WHICH THEY KNOW OF.THEY SAID MY ENGINE IS SHOT AND I DID NOT HAVE THE OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM, SO THEY WOULD NOT COVER REPAIRS.THEY SAID ONE REASON I DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM IS BECAUSE I CHANGED OIL EVERY 3000 MILES.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10104472
78,012 miles · Dec 21, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
WE OWN A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY VIN [XXX], AND WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THIS CAR. ABOUT A ONE AND A HALF YEARS AGO, WE REPLACED THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL UNIT FOR APPROXIMATELY $400.00. THE CAMRY HAD PROBLEMS STARTING WHEN IT IS COLD, AND THE HAYWARD CALIFORNIA TOYOTA DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE US ANOTHER $400.00 TO REPLACE THE SAME P…
Read full complaint
WE OWN A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY VIN [XXX], AND WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THIS CAR. ABOUT A ONE AND A HALF YEARS AGO, WE REPLACED THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL UNIT FOR APPROXIMATELY $400.00. THE CAMRY HAD PROBLEMS STARTING WHEN IT IS COLD, AND THE HAYWARD CALIFORNIA TOYOTA DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE US ANOTHER $400.00 TO REPLACE THE SAME PART THAT THEY REPLACED ABOUT 18 MONTHS AGO. THE PART IS A TOYOTA MANUFACTURING PART, AND IT COST ABOUT $250.00. TOYOTA HAS NOT RECALLED THIS PART, AND IT SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 18 MONTHS. I HAVE TALKED WITH A NUMBER OF AUTO REPAIR SHOPS, AND THEY KNOW THAT THIS PART FAILS ON THE TOYOTA CAMRY. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA CORPORATION REFERENCE NUMBER [XXX], BUT I DO NOT FEEL TOYOTA WILL ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THEM, AND I FILED THE COMPLAINT ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO. I AM HOPING THAT YOU WILL INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU DISCOVER. YOUR ASSISTANCE IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.*AK UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA ODI #10104280
Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 2004
Suspension
ALL 4 STRUTS WORN-OUT AND LEAKING ON A VEHICLE LESS THAN 60,000 MILES . DRIVING WITH BAD STRUTS WAS HORRIBLE! VERY LOUD RATTLING NOISE. WAS TOLD BY AUTO SHOP THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE 1998 CAMRY. THE RESULT WAS A REPAIR BILL OF $800.00. I COULD NOT AFFORD TO REPLACE ALL 4 STRUTS SO REPLACED ONLY 2 AT A COST OF $500.0…
Read full complaint
ALL 4 STRUTS WORN-OUT AND LEAKING ON A VEHICLE LESS THAN 60,000 MILES . DRIVING WITH BAD STRUTS WAS HORRIBLE! VERY LOUD RATTLING NOISE. WAS TOLD BY AUTO SHOP THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE 1998 CAMRY. THE RESULT WAS A REPAIR BILL OF $800.00. I COULD NOT AFFORD TO REPLACE ALL 4 STRUTS SO REPLACED ONLY 2 AT A COST OF $500.00!!*AK
NHTSA ODI #10100866
93,600 miles · Nov 20, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
OWNER DRIVING VEHICLE, CAME TO A STOP, BEGAN TO ACCELERATE, ENGINE BLEW A ROD THROUGH THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNT BEYOND RECOGNITION WITHIN 15 MINUTES. VEHICLE INVESTIGATION FOLLOWED BECAUSE THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY, BUILD UP OF SLUDGE FROM ENGINE OIL. COMPANY DECLINED TO FULFILL WARRANTY OB…
Read full complaint
OWNER DRIVING VEHICLE, CAME TO A STOP, BEGAN TO ACCELERATE, ENGINE BLEW A ROD THROUGH THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNT BEYOND RECOGNITION WITHIN 15 MINUTES. VEHICLE INVESTIGATION FOLLOWED BECAUSE THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY, BUILD UP OF SLUDGE FROM ENGINE OIL. COMPANY DECLINED TO FULFILL WARRANTY OBLIGATION BECAUSE OF THE AGE AND MILEAGE ON THE CAR.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10100256
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
Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 2004
Seat Belts
THE CHILD WAS FASTENED IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT. THE CHILD LEANED OVER TO LAY IN THE SEAT AND SLIPPED HER HEAD AND SHOULDER IN THE CENTER RETRACTABLE SEAT BELT. WHEN THE CHILD MOVED SUDDENLY TO LOOK OUT THE WINDOW THE SEAT BELT TIGHTENED AROUND HER NECK, STRANGLING HER. THE MORE THE CHILD MOVED TO FREE HERSELF THE…
Read full complaint
THE CHILD WAS FASTENED IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT. THE CHILD LEANED OVER TO LAY IN THE SEAT AND SLIPPED HER HEAD AND SHOULDER IN THE CENTER RETRACTABLE SEAT BELT. WHEN THE CHILD MOVED SUDDENLY TO LOOK OUT THE WINDOW THE SEAT BELT TIGHTENED AROUND HER NECK, STRANGLING HER. THE MORE THE CHILD MOVED TO FREE HERSELF THE TIGHTER THE BELT BECAME. THE CONSUMER HAD TO USE SCISSORS TO CUT THE BELT OFF THE CHILD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BODY SHOP WHO REPLACED THE BELT AND RETRACTOR. THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR THIS REPAIR. *AK UPDATED 11/29/2005. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10099302
74,900 miles · Nov 3, 2004
Tires
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. AFTER REVIEWING THE TIRE, THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE CENTER HAD SEPARATED. *JB *TC
NHTSA ODI #10097036
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.