IllustrationNO DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DURING COLLISION. *MJS
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 reportsWHEN MAKING A SUDDEN STOP BRAKES WILL EXPERIENCE A LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE DEFECT. *AK DEALER WOULD MAKE SO CALLED ADJUSTMENTS, HOWEVER WOULD NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM, A BRAKE SPECIALIST DETECTED BRAKE PROBLEM, BUT COULD NOT FIND THE EXACT PROBLEM, CONSUMER FEELS BRAKES ARE UNMATCHING P…
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WHEN MAKING A SUDDEN STOP BRAKES WILL EXPERIENCE A LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE DEFECT. *AK DEALER WOULD MAKE SO CALLED ADJUSTMENTS, HOWEVER WOULD NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM, A BRAKE SPECIALIST DETECTED BRAKE PROBLEM, BUT COULD NOT FIND THE EXACT PROBLEM, CONSUMER FEELS BRAKES ARE UNMATCHING PARTS OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES THAT DOES NOT ALLOW FOR REPAIR, THE DEALER HAS ADJUSTED REAR BRAKES, REPLACED BRAKE PADS, MACHINED ROTORS, REPLACED REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS TOO LOW TO THE GROUND, VEHICLE WOULD SCRAPE THE GROUND WHILE ENTERING AND EXITING DRIVEWAY THAT HAD A VERY SMALL PEAK, DEALER STATED STRUSTS WERE FINE, CONSUMER FEELS STRUTS ARE DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE HAS A LOUD ENGINE NOISE AND IDLES HIGH ON A COLD START, DEALER ADJUSTED THE TIMING BELT. LEFT SUN VISOR IS LOOSE, DEALER TIGHTENED, VISOR MIRRORS WERE CRACKEDM DEALER REPLACED. AIR CONDITIONER HAS AN ODOR WHEN IN USE. TIRES KEEP LOSING AIR, FOUND TIRES WERE MISSING A VALVE STEM. ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, DEALER REPLACED AIR FUEL SENSOR, ENGINE STALLS AT TIMES WHEN STARTING, DEALE REPLACED THE IAC VALVE. RIGHT HEADLAMP IS DIM, DEALER ORDERED NEW BULB ASSEMBLY, BULB SHORTED. CONSUMER CONTACTED PREVIOUS OWNER OF VEHICLE WHO STATED THAT THERE WERE MANY BRAKE PROBLEM THAT THE DEALER COULD NOT FIX, MANUFACTURER TOLD HER THAT SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE MADE WITH AN ILL FITTING PART THAT WOULD EVENTUALLY BE RECALLED, PREVIOUS OWNER HAD RETURNED VEHICLE DUE TO THESE BRAKE PROBLEMS, WHEN CURRENT OWNER BOUGHT VEHICLE TOYOTA HID THE FACT THAT VEHICLE WAS LEASED AND THAT IT HAD EXPERIENCED THESE BRAKE PROBLEMS. *SLC
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND SEATBELT RETRACTOR FAILED. SEAT BELT CAME APART AND WON'T GO BACK IN PLACE. *AK
DEFECTIVE FRONT & REAR STRUTS. DEALER HAS ADDED STRUT PLATES & REPLACED ALL 4 STRUTS. CAUSED FRONT TIRES TO FAIL @ 12,000 MI. STRUTS ARE LOOSE & RATTLE. I WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT THIS IS A "DESIGN DEFECT" OF THE 1998-1999 CAMRY. MULTIPLE TSB'S AND COMPLAINTS EXIST FOR THIS PROBLEM. DEALER SAID HE HAS A ONE MONTH LEAD TIME ON …
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DEFECTIVE FRONT & REAR STRUTS. DEALER HAS ADDED STRUT PLATES & REPLACED ALL 4 STRUTS. CAUSED FRONT TIRES TO FAIL @ 12,000 MI. STRUTS ARE LOOSE & RATTLE. I WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT THIS IS A "DESIGN DEFECT" OF THE 1998-1999 CAMRY. MULTIPLE TSB'S AND COMPLAINTS EXIST FOR THIS PROBLEM. DEALER SAID HE HAS A ONE MONTH LEAD TIME ON ORDERING FRONT STRUT PLATES SINCE SO MANY VEHICLES ARE AFFECTED BY THIS POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS PROBLEM. TOYOTA USES THE STRUT PLATES AS A QUICK FIX INSTEAD OF REDESIGNING THE SUSPENSION. NO REAL SOLUTION EXISTS FOR PROBLEM DUE TO DESIGN LIMITATIONS. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205/65R15 )
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
REAR PASSENGER'S WHEEL CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. *AK
IN 18 MONTHS 8 ALIGNMENTS AND 3 SETS OF TIRES AND THE CAR STILL VIBRATES. *AK
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL/REAR END COLLISION AT 60 MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. INSPECTOR FROM TOYOTA SAID THAT AIG BAGS WORKED AS THEY WERE DESIGNED TO. *AK *ML
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES DURING AN EMERGENCY STOPPING SITUATION/ ON WET OR UNEVEN PAVEMENT, BRAKES DO NOT HOLD, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO DEALERSHP, BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK *ML
THE TOP PLATE ON THE STRUT FAILED AND THE DEALER HAS NO PARTS TO REPAIR, THIS PROBLEM CAUSES TIRES TO WEAR ON THE OUTSIDE. 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.