Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
120–25K
2625–50K
3850–75K
3475–100K
41100–150K
23150K+
174 reports with mileage · 327 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.
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 110 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 76 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 74 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
99 crash reports42 fire reports62 injury reports
What owners actually said
501 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 2, 2002
Exterior Lighting
TURN SIGNAL BLINKS VERY RAPIDLY WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON. SPEED RETURNS TO NORMAL WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURN. SIGNALS OPERATE NORMALLY WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE OFF. I'VE NOTICED THIS ON MY FATHER'S 1998 CAMRY AND ON ANOTHER DRIVER'S CAMRY (1998-2001 MODEL?- SAME BODY STYLE AS MINE). I'M AFRAID THE SIGNALS WILL STOP W…
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TURN SIGNAL BLINKS VERY RAPIDLY WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON. SPEED RETURNS TO NORMAL WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURN. SIGNALS OPERATE NORMALLY WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE OFF. I'VE NOTICED THIS ON MY FATHER'S 1998 CAMRY AND ON ANOTHER DRIVER'S CAMRY (1998-2001 MODEL?- SAME BODY STYLE AS MINE). I'M AFRAID THE SIGNALS WILL STOP WORKING, WHICH IS ESPECIALLY WORRISOME IN TRAFFIC OR AT NIGHT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #762559
Mileage unknown · May 21, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE SLUDGE ISSUE CONTINUES EVEN AFTER REPAIR AND PROPER MAINTENANCE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #762123
Mileage unknown · May 6, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE INSURED STATED THAT SMOKE WAS COMING OUT FROM THE ENGINE AREA. CLAIM NUMBER 18-0283-122. *YH
NHTSA ODI #6901153
Mileage unknown · May 6, 2002
Electrical SystemFire
CLAIM NUMBER 52-2382-276 - WHILE TRAVELING NORTHBOUND, CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD, THE WIRING HARNESS WAS CAUSE OF FIRE. *TT
NHTSA ODI #6901152
Mileage unknown · May 6, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
CLAIM NUMBER 13-7035-944 - ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO LEAVES AND STICKS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN PUT THERE BY AN ANIMAL. *TT
NHTSA ODI #6901151
Mileage unknown · May 6, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicFire
(18-0457-786) INSURED WAS DRIVING AND ATTEMPTED TO STOP BUT BRAKES FAILED, TRYING AGAIN, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP. *JG
NHTSA ODI #6901150
Mileage unknown · May 6, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
WHEN THE INSURED PULLED THE VEHICLE INTO THE ROAD, ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF INSURED'S VEHICLE, AFTER THE IMPACT, A FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE AND STARTED TO SMOKE THEN IGNITED. CLAIM NUMBER 52-2323-385. *YH
NHTSA ODI #6901149
Mileage unknown · May 2, 2002
Air BagsCrashInjury
DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WHEN CAMRY HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE AT AN APPROXIMATELY 30 DEGREE ANGLE AT AN ESTIMATED 35 MILES PER HOUR. THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT FENDER HIT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT FENDER OF THE OTHER CAR.*JB
NHTSA ODI #761469
Mileage unknown · Apr 29, 2002
Fuel System, GasolineFire
CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A GRAVEL ROAD. THE INSIDE OF THE CAR FILLED WITH SMOKE RAPIDLY AND WITHOUT ANY PREVIOUS INDICATION OF PROBLEM OR WARNING. ALL GAUGES REGISTERED NORMAL. DRIVER EXITED THE CAR AND SAW FIREBALLS FALLING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CAR WAS TOTALLY BURNED AND WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE MAIN POINT IS THAT THERE WAS NO…
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CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A GRAVEL ROAD. THE INSIDE OF THE CAR FILLED WITH SMOKE RAPIDLY AND WITHOUT ANY PREVIOUS INDICATION OF PROBLEM OR WARNING. ALL GAUGES REGISTERED NORMAL. DRIVER EXITED THE CAR AND SAW FIREBALLS FALLING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CAR WAS TOTALLY BURNED AND WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE MAIN POINT IS THAT THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR AND IT HAD BEEN MAINTAINED PER THE MANUFACTURERS SPECS. WE ARE NOT SURE OF WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE, BUT HAD TO BE RELATED TO FUEL SINCE IT BURNED SO FAST. *AK
NHTSA ODI #761340
Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 2002
Air BagsCrashInjury
DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY FOLLOWING FRONTAL COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH TOTALLED OUR VEHICLE. *AK
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.
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
Illustration