IllustrationMOON ROOF IN THE VEHICLE LEAKS CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH SEAT BELT MECHANISMS.
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 SAYS THAT THE SUSPENSION OF THIS VEHICLE IS SOFT. WHEN A BUMP IS HIT, THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE SCRAPES THE GROUND. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH HEADLIGHTS. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS ONLY ILLUMINATE FOR A SHORT DISTANCE. ALSO ONCOMING PEDESTRIANS COULDN'T BE SEEN UNLESS THE VEHICLE GETS VERY CLOSE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
THE TIRES ARE CONSTANTLY GOING OUT OFF BALANCE - CAR AND/OR TIRE DEALERS STATE THE THE DEFECT IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 2056516 HR )
ODOMETER INFORMATION IS SHOWN AS BLACK FIGURES ON A DARK TAN FIELD.UNDER CERTAIN LIGHTING CONDITIONS,BECAUSE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS SHROUDED IN ITS WELL. THE FIGURES CANNOT BE READ. TO GET A READING, THE DRIVER HAS TO TAKE HIS EYES OFF ROAD FOR SEVERAL SECONDS,& AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THIS BECOMES A SAFETY HAZARD. THE SOLUTION …
Read full complaint
ODOMETER INFORMATION IS SHOWN AS BLACK FIGURES ON A DARK TAN FIELD.UNDER CERTAIN LIGHTING CONDITIONS,BECAUSE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS SHROUDED IN ITS WELL. THE FIGURES CANNOT BE READ. TO GET A READING, THE DRIVER HAS TO TAKE HIS EYES OFF ROAD FOR SEVERAL SECONDS,& AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THIS BECOMES A SAFETY HAZARD. THE SOLUTION IS SIMPLE. FIRST USE BLACK ON WHITE AS WAS ALWAYS DONE & CHANGE THE CONFIGUARATION OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SO ALL INSTRUMENTS WILL BE VISIBLE UNDER ALL LIGHTING CONDITIONS.
WHILE DRIVING IF A BUMP IS HIT THE WHOLE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE SCRAPES THE STREET. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *ML
DOORS WILL NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY UNLESS THEY ARE SLAMMED SHUT. DEALER CONTACTED AND IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, STATES THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE, CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
WHEN BRAKING AND COMING TO A STOP THE BRAKES GRIND/SQUEAK, METAL ON METAL. DEALER CONTACTED MULTIPLE TIMES, TOYOTA CONTACTED AND NO RESPONSE. LOCATED A TSB, REPAIRS BEING MADE PER #BR002-98. *AK *ML
THE VEHICLE SUN ROOF LEAKS, CAUSING THE RAIN TO COME INTO THE VEHICLE AND MAY CAUSE ELECTRICAL DAMAGE IN THE VEHICLE. DEALER CLAIMS "IT DESIGNED TO LEAK". WATER CREATES PROBLEMS WITH SEAT BELT OPERATION. DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR. *AK *ML
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE BRAKES MAKES A LOUD NOISE, AND AFTER A COUPLE OF SECONDS THE BRAKE PEDAL DROPS TO THE FLOOR. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN. *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.