IllustrationWHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT A HIGH SPEED THERE IS A DRUM NOISE, AND A DELAY IN BRAKING. *AK
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
What owners actually said
600 reportsCONSUMER 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
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR, IT TURNED OFF WITH NO WARNING. I COULD NOT TURN THE CAR BACK ON AS I TRIED, THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. I NOTIFIED THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT MY ENGINE HAD SEIZED. MY CAR IS A 98 CAMARY WITH 75000 MILES WHICH WAS PURCHASED FROM THE DEALER AND HAS HAD ALL SERVICE CHECKUPS FROM THE DEALER. THE DEAL…
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WHILE DRIVING MY CAR, IT TURNED OFF WITH NO WARNING. I COULD NOT TURN THE CAR BACK ON AS I TRIED, THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. I NOTIFIED THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT MY ENGINE HAD SEIZED. MY CAR IS A 98 CAMARY WITH 75000 MILES WHICH WAS PURCHASED FROM THE DEALER AND HAS HAD ALL SERVICE CHECKUPS FROM THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT IT WOULD COST ME 4700 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AND MY WARRANTY WAS UP IN JULY OF 2003. I AM WONDERING WHAT IS GOING ON WITH TOYOTA. MY FAMILY HAS HAD SIX TOYOTAS SINCE 1988. THIS CAR AND OUR LAST TOYOTA CAMARY HAVE BEEN HORRIBLE. THE 2000 NEEDED A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION AND NOW THIS. IN ADDITION TO THIS WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER THEY TOLD ME TO PURCHASE ANOTHER CAR AS IF IT WAS JUST THAT EASY. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER WHO BROUGHT A TOYOTA BECAUSE OF THE SUPPOSED DEPENDABLITY. I GUESS I WAS WRONG. *JB
DOOR HANDLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE OFF (IN COLD WEATHER) WHEN I TIRED TO OPEN THE DOOR. *AK
CONSUMER INQUIRED AS TO WHAT SHE NEEDED TO DO TO MAKE HER VEHICLE SAFE. *PH *SC *JB
FRONT SUSPENSION MAKES EXCESSIVE NOISE OVER BUMPS. THE MECHANICS I SENT IT TO DON'T KNOW WHAT'S CAUSING THE NOISE. I HAD ALL THE STRUTS AND SPRINGS CHANGED BUT THE NOISE PERSISTS. ALL THE PARTS WERE FROM THE DEALER. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT I CAN DO AND IF THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. *LA
IN DECEMBER STARTING ON THE 5TH MY REAR SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT. A FEW WEEKS LATER A SECOND SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT. *CB
HAVE NOTICED FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS THAT A LOT OF BLUE-BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHUAUST UPON STARTUP. I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT A LOT OF TOYOTAS HAVE HAD ENGINE FAILURE CAUSED BY OIL SLUDGE BUILD-UP. NOW I'M CONCERNED THAT THE ENGINE MAY FAIL SOON. I HAVE HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES (SOME DONE BY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND SOME…
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HAVE NOTICED FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS THAT A LOT OF BLUE-BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHUAUST UPON STARTUP. I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT A LOT OF TOYOTAS HAVE HAD ENGINE FAILURE CAUSED BY OIL SLUDGE BUILD-UP. NOW I'M CONCERNED THAT THE ENGINE MAY FAIL SOON. I HAVE HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES (SOME DONE BY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND SOME BY MYSELF). THE TOYOTA DEALER IN COOS BAY ASSURED ME THAT THIS WAS NOT A PROBLEM AND ONLY HAPPENS ONCE IN ABOUT 25,000 CARS. THE FACTS SEEM TO BE QUITE DIFFERENT.
THE ENGINE IN MY CAMRY BLEW. THE CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND RUNNING FINE. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY OIL SLUDGING/GELLING. HOWEVER, THEY COULDN'T EXPLAIN WHY THE ENGINE BLEW. ALL THEY COULD TELL ME IS THAT A PISTON BLEW THROUGH THE ENGINE. SINCE THEY CLAIMED THERE WAS NO OIL SLUDGING/GE…
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THE ENGINE IN MY CAMRY BLEW. THE CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND RUNNING FINE. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY OIL SLUDGING/GELLING. HOWEVER, THEY COULDN'T EXPLAIN WHY THE ENGINE BLEW. ALL THEY COULD TELL ME IS THAT A PISTON BLEW THROUGH THE ENGINE. SINCE THEY CLAIMED THERE WAS NO OIL SLUDGING/GELLING THEY REFUSED TO COVER COSTS OF REPAIR.
I CHANGED MY OIL AND THE ATTENDENT SAID THE OIL WAS GELLING UP. SINCE THAT DAY FOWARD MY CAR BURNS 4QUARTS OF OIL IN LESS THAN 200 MILES I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM THE DEALER LESS THAN A YEAR IN A HALF AGO.(DEC 22,2002). NOT ONE GARAGE WANTS TO REPAIR MY VECHILE THEY TOLD ME IT WAS OIL RINGS OR VALVES BUT ITS DUE TO THE OIL SLUDGE. …
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I CHANGED MY OIL AND THE ATTENDENT SAID THE OIL WAS GELLING UP. SINCE THAT DAY FOWARD MY CAR BURNS 4QUARTS OF OIL IN LESS THAN 200 MILES I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM THE DEALER LESS THAN A YEAR IN A HALF AGO.(DEC 22,2002). NOT ONE GARAGE WANTS TO REPAIR MY VECHILE THEY TOLD ME IT WAS OIL RINGS OR VALVES BUT ITS DUE TO THE OIL SLUDGE. I CALLED TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME TOO BAD THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR THE DEALER TO TAKE THE HEAD OFF AND THAN LET THEM DETERMINE IF IT INDEED IT IS OIL GELLING. THAN TOYOTA USA WOULD LOOK OVER MY FILE TO SEE IF IT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM VERY RUDE AND UNIVITING.
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.