IllustrationCONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER ON A STEERING PROBLEM. DEALER SAID THEY WERE GOING TO LOOK AT IT.*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 reportsBOTH FRONT BRAKE ROTORS ARE CORRODED/PITTED. REPAIRS BEING MADE AT INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. *AK THE VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO THE PROBLEM ( BRAKE ROTORS CORRODING). *YH
FIRST INCIDENT, ENTERING HIGHWAY ON RAMP AND TIRE BLEW UP. SECOND INCIDENT, DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY NOTICED AN UNEVEN RIDE AND REAR NOISE. TOOK TO TOYOTA, SENT TO TIRE KINGDOM AND CHARGED $46 FOR REPLACEMENT.GOT OFF AND CHECKED, FOUND BUBBLE, TOOK TO TOYOTA, SENT TO PAN AMERICAN TIRE CHARGED $60 FOR REPLACEMENT. THIRD TIME UNE…
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FIRST INCIDENT, ENTERING HIGHWAY ON RAMP AND TIRE BLEW UP. SECOND INCIDENT, DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY NOTICED AN UNEVEN RIDE AND REAR NOISE. TOOK TO TOYOTA, SENT TO TIRE KINGDOM AND CHARGED $46 FOR REPLACEMENT.GOT OFF AND CHECKED, FOUND BUBBLE, TOOK TO TOYOTA, SENT TO PAN AMERICAN TIRE CHARGED $60 FOR REPLACEMENT. THIRD TIME UNEVEN RIDE, LOUD ROAD NOISE ON HIGHWAY, FOUND BUBBLE.WILL TAKE TO TOYOTA. ALL THREE TIRES WERE ORIGINAL TIRES THAT CAME WITH CAR, SAME BATCH. CONCERNED FOR SAFETY AND DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO BE CHARGED FOR MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. WOULD LIKE REFUND AND REPLACEMENT OF ALL FOUR TIRES. THANK YOU.( DOT NUMBER: ACRW2W5297 TIRE SIZE: 195X70R14 )
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING IN RAINY CONDITION WHEN WINDOWS STARTED TO FOG, CONSUMER NOTICED THE AIR CONDITIONER LIGHT BLINKING AND IT WAS NOT WORKING, CONSUMER HAD POOR VISION DUE TO THE RAIN AND FOGGED WINDOWS. *SLC
BRAKES CONTINUE TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY EVEN THOUGH A BRAKE KIT WAS INSTALLED AT 4,000 MILES. NEW MASTER CYLINDER WAS INSTALLED AS WELL. AT TIMES BRAKES GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND CAR DOES NOT STOP. SUDDENLY LOUD NOISE HAPPENS AND CAR JERKS AND STOPS. ALL STRUTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND SOLVED CRUNCHING NOISES. RELAY SWITCH IN…
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BRAKES CONTINUE TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY EVEN THOUGH A BRAKE KIT WAS INSTALLED AT 4,000 MILES. NEW MASTER CYLINDER WAS INSTALLED AS WELL. AT TIMES BRAKES GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND CAR DOES NOT STOP. SUDDENLY LOUD NOISE HAPPENS AND CAR JERKS AND STOPS. ALL STRUTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND SOLVED CRUNCHING NOISES. RELAY SWITCH INSTALLED TO SOLVE LOCK PROBLEM. CAR IS FALLING APART BEFORE MY EYES!!
DEALER WANTS 80$ TO TELL US IF GAS TANK PURGE VALVE IS UNDER WARRENTY OR NOT. ALSO DEALER STATES THAT DOOR HANDLE CLIP BREAKING IS A COMMON PROBLEM.
EITHER THE FRAME IS OUT OF LINE OR SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE FRONT END ALIGNMENT PARTS AS THE FRONT END CANNOT BE ALIGNED ACCORDING TO SPECS. THEY REPLACED BOLTS IN THE FRONT END FOR ALIGNMENT & THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM OF FRONT END SHIMMY AND TIRE WEAR.
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE PARKING WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKES . WHEN CONSUMER EASED OFF THE BRAKES VEHICLE TOOK OFF. *AK
CONSUMER EXPERIENCING A/C PROBLEMS. NLM
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.