IllustrationCONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 01V012000. DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT COOPERATE IN SERVICING VEHICLE. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT ANOTHER DEALER. *YH
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 reportsWHILE DRIVING 30 MPH VEHICLE ACCELERATED. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES BUT DID NOT SLOW VEHICLE DOWN. CONSUMER THEN SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL, RPMS FINALLY WENT DOWN AND ENGINE STOPPED REVVING. *AK
ACCELERATOR PEDAL GETS STUCK. *AK
POOR BRAKING SYSTEM AND SUSPENSION; DISAPPOINTING FIRST TOYOTA BUY.*AK
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 01V012000/ THROTTLE CABLE, AND TRIED TO HAVE SERVICE PERFORMED BY DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP INFORMED HER THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF SAID RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK
KEY FAILS TO UNLOCK EITHER TRUNK OR DOORS ON VEHICLE. PROBLEM IS NOT WEATHER RELATED. IT IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM.*AK THE MANUFACTURER INSTALLED A NEW LOCK SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE AND THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. *YH
TRAVELLING THE FREEWAY, I NEEDED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE BUT WHEN I STARTED TO MOVE MY RIGHT FOOT, SOMETHING HELD IT IN PLACE. I LIFTED MY RIGHT FOOT AND PROCEEDED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE PEDAL WOULD NOT MOVE. I TWO-FOOTED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND HEARD SOMETHING CRACK AFTERWHICH THE PEDAL STARTED TO MOVE AND I RGAINED THE USE…
Read full complaint
TRAVELLING THE FREEWAY, I NEEDED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE BUT WHEN I STARTED TO MOVE MY RIGHT FOOT, SOMETHING HELD IT IN PLACE. I LIFTED MY RIGHT FOOT AND PROCEEDED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE PEDAL WOULD NOT MOVE. I TWO-FOOTED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND HEARD SOMETHING CRACK AFTERWHICH THE PEDAL STARTED TO MOVE AND I RGAINED THE USE OF MY BRAKES. AN EXAMINATION REVEALED A PLASTIC DUCT WEDGED BETWEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE FLOOR BOARD. THE DUCT WAS PART OF THE VENTILATION SYSTEM WHICH HAD FALLEN OFF AND WEDGED BETWEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE FLOOR BOARD.*AK
WHILE DRIVING STEPPED ON BRAKE PEDAL WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AND BRAKES MADE NOISE, LIKE GRINDING METAL TO METAL. DEALER HAD SAID THAT PROBLEM WAS FROM MANUFACTURER WHERE ROTORS WERE BUILT TOO CLOSELY TO VEHICLE BODY.*AK
ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED "T" BONED TOYOTA ON DRIVER'S SIDE. UPON IMPACT, SIDE DOOR AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. JAWS OF LIFE HAD TO BE USED TO EXTRACT DRIVER OUT OF VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING COULD SMELL SMOKE, AND REAR SPEAKERS DID TURN OFF. THEN, COULD SEE SMOKE COMING FROM RADIO, A SHORT CIRCUIT OCCURRED. *AK
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.