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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 →

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

What owners actually said

600 reports
192,000 miles · Jul 31, 2015
Air BagsService BrakesCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE MEDIAN. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED COLLAR BONE I…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE MEDIAN. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED COLLAR BONE INJURIES AND ABRASIONS THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 192,000.

NHTSA ODI #10745214

254,400 miles · Jan 26, 2015
Vehicle Speed Control

I HAD USED THE COAST ON MY CRUISE CONTROL TO REDUCE MY SET SPEED FROM 78MPH TO 71MPH, AFTER ABOUT 50 YARDS, MY CRUISE CONTROL SPED UP ON ITS OWN TO ABOUT 76MPH BEFORE I TAPPED THE BRAKES AND CUT THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF. AFTER ABOUT 3 MINUTES, I CUT THE CRUISE CONTROL BACK ON AND WENT TO USE THE SET BUTTON TO SET MY SPEED AT 71MPH…

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I HAD USED THE COAST ON MY CRUISE CONTROL TO REDUCE MY SET SPEED FROM 78MPH TO 71MPH, AFTER ABOUT 50 YARDS, MY CRUISE CONTROL SPED UP ON ITS OWN TO ABOUT 76MPH BEFORE I TAPPED THE BRAKES AND CUT THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF. AFTER ABOUT 3 MINUTES, I CUT THE CRUISE CONTROL BACK ON AND WENT TO USE THE SET BUTTON TO SET MY SPEED AT 71MPH. WHEN I PUSHED THE SET BUTTON, THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT 'LOCK IN' TO THE 71MPH BUT INSTEAD STARTED TO SPEED UP BEYOND 71MPH AND AT 75MPH I TAPPED THE BRAKE AND CUT OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE NEXT DAY, THE NEXT THREE TIME I WENT TO CUT THE CRUISE CONTROL ON AND WENT TO PUSH THE SET BUTTON TO SET IT AT THE SPEED I WAS GOING, THE CAR ALWAYS TOOK OFF BEYOND WHAT I WAS WANTING TO SET IT AT AND CAUSING ME TO TAP THE BRAKES AND I WAS FORCED TO CUT IT OFF BECAUSE AFTER I HAD TAPPED THE BRAKE AND LET OFF THE BRAKE IT WOULD START TO INCREASE SPEED AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10679033

200,750 miles · Dec 14, 2014
Seat Belts

BACK SEAT CENTER SEAT BELT WON'T RETRACT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10664156

245,000 miles · Oct 3, 2014
Structure

DRIVER SIDE FRONT INTERIOR PLASTIC DOOR HANDLE BROKE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10641070

172,637 miles · Jun 29, 2014
Fuel System, Gasoline

I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SHOP AND FOUND OUT THE CAR HAS RECALL. EVAP SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS: P0441/P0446 ON ALL MODELS. WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHILE GIVING THE CAR GAS YOU CAN FEEL IT JERKING LIKE ITS NOT GETTING GAS AND WHEN THE CAR STOPS IT CUTS OFF. SO WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP THEY SAY ITS A RECALL NOW I AM WONDERING IF TOYOTA…

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I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SHOP AND FOUND OUT THE CAR HAS RECALL. EVAP SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS: P0441/P0446 ON ALL MODELS. WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHILE GIVING THE CAR GAS YOU CAN FEEL IT JERKING LIKE ITS NOT GETTING GAS AND WHEN THE CAR STOPS IT CUTS OFF. SO WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP THEY SAY ITS A RECALL NOW I AM WONDERING IF TOYOTA IS GOING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THE PIECE IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND I NEED MY VEHICLE TO RUN PROPERLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10606848

Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 2014
Air BagsSteeringCrashFire

CAR BEGAN "GOING OUT OF CONTROL" UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. AS IF I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR. CAR CONTINUED STRAIGHT INSTEAD OF TURNING WITH THE ROAD, INTO A FENCE/TREE AND CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED UP. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PASSENGER RECEIVED FACIAL TRAUMA, CHEST TRAUMA, AND MULTIPLE LACERATIONS AND CONTUSIONS, REQUI…

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CAR BEGAN "GOING OUT OF CONTROL" UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. AS IF I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR. CAR CONTINUED STRAIGHT INSTEAD OF TURNING WITH THE ROAD, INTO A FENCE/TREE AND CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED UP. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PASSENGER RECEIVED FACIAL TRAUMA, CHEST TRAUMA, AND MULTIPLE LACERATIONS AND CONTUSIONS, REQUIRING SURGERY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10567944

153,000 miles · Feb 5, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO DEPRESS THE PEDAL A FEW TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE FINALLY BEGAN TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO DEPRESS THE PEDAL A FEW TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE FINALLY BEGAN TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.

NHTSA ODI #10563006

96,562 miles · Oct 24, 2013
Fuel System, GasolineService BrakesVehicle Speed Control

WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMING TO A STOP SIGHT TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. ALL THE SUDDEN, THE CAR SPED UP AND THE BRAKE WAS FAILING. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO CAR IN THE OPPOSITE SIDE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR TO THE CURB. I CHECKED THE BRAKE AND WAS FUNCTIONING. LATER, I HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO PIERCEY TOYOTA…

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WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMING TO A STOP SIGHT TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. ALL THE SUDDEN, THE CAR SPED UP AND THE BRAKE WAS FAILING. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO CAR IN THE OPPOSITE SIDE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR TO THE CURB. I CHECKED THE BRAKE AND WAS FUNCTIONING. LATER, I HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO PIERCEY TOYOTA TO DIAGNOSIS AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10549441

199,000 miles · May 18, 2013
EngineFire

JUST GOT HOME DID NOT SMELL OR SEE ANYTHING UNUSUAL, WENT INSIDE AND MAYBE FIVE MINUTES LATER I SEEN LOTS OF SMOKE WENT OUTSIDE AND THE CAR WAS SMOKING AND FLAMING UNDER THE HOOD. FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO COME TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10512617

150,000 miles · Mar 3, 2013
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURE KEY FAILS TO UNLOCK THE TRUNK OF THE CAR AND DOOR LOCKS INTERMITTENTLY. I ALSO HAVE DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEY. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT WEATHER OR ACCIDENT RELATED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10501135

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.

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