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1999 Toyota Camry

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1999 Toyota Camry do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 295.

About this comparison →
501Owner complaints

Model-year median: 295

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
417
1996555
1997600
1998501
1999454
2000272
2001953
2002
Compare all Camry years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
110Service Brakes, Hydraulic
76Air Bags
74Vehicle Speed Control
65Electrical System
41
All reported categories
Suspension
34Tires
29Visibility
26Steering
24Power Train
18Structure
18Unknown Or Other
17Exterior Lighting
16Seat Belts
14Equipment
13Fuel System, Gasoline
11Seats
9Latches/locks/linkages
7Service Brakes, Air
7Engine
5Fuel System, Other
2Parking Brake
2Fuel/propulsion System
1Interior Lighting
1Service Brakes
1Service Brakes, Electric
1Wheels
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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 · Apr 22, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMERS VEHICLE STARTED MAKING NOISES, SO CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION. IT WAS SAID TO CONSUMER THERE MAY BE A GEL SUBSTANCE IN THE FUEL SYSTEM OCCURING FROM LACK OF MAINTENANCE. THERE WAS NOT ANY GEL BUT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT REFUSES TO COMPLETE ANY ENGINE WORK UNTILL CONSUMER SHOWS PROOF OF MAINTENANCE FOR THIS…

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CONSUMERS VEHICLE STARTED MAKING NOISES, SO CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION. IT WAS SAID TO CONSUMER THERE MAY BE A GEL SUBSTANCE IN THE FUEL SYSTEM OCCURING FROM LACK OF MAINTENANCE. THERE WAS NOT ANY GEL BUT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT REFUSES TO COMPLETE ANY ENGINE WORK UNTILL CONSUMER SHOWS PROOF OF MAINTENANCE FOR THIS VEHICLE. *JG

NHTSA ODI #565308

Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE MAKES LOUD CLICKING NOISE; DEALERSHIP SAID IT MAY BE OIL GEL PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #760559

Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

WHILE DRIVING, THE INSURED SMELL SMOKE, THE INSURED THEN PULLED OVER TO INVESTIGATE THE SMOKE SMELL AND DISCOVERED THAT FLAMES WERE COMING UP TO THE WINDSHIELD.*JB(CLAIM#11-3646-015)

NHTSA ODI #6901060

Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE TO THE VEHICLE.*JB(CLAIM#20-5411-606)

NHTSA ODI #6901059

Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS A LOUD SOUND AND VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER, SMOKE BEGAN TO COME THROUGH THE VENTS, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER EXITED THE VEHICLE, THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE AND BURNED TO THE BACK SEAT AREA.*JB(CLAIM#48-5188-694)

NHTSA ODI #6901058

Mileage unknown · Apr 2, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingInjury

THE ENGINE HAS BEEN EMITTING A STRONG BURNING SMELL FOR ALMOST A MONTH. AFTER DRIVING, A HAVE A HEADACHE AND FEEL DIZZY FOR SEVERAL HOURS. MY WIFE REFUSES TO DRIVE THE CAR. TWO WEEKS AGO, THE DEALER CLAIMS HE REMOVED A PLASTIC BAG FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, BUT THE SMELL CONTINUES WITH THE SAME INTENSITY. THE SMELL EXISTS IN THE P…

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THE ENGINE HAS BEEN EMITTING A STRONG BURNING SMELL FOR ALMOST A MONTH. AFTER DRIVING, A HAVE A HEADACHE AND FEEL DIZZY FOR SEVERAL HOURS. MY WIFE REFUSES TO DRIVE THE CAR. TWO WEEKS AGO, THE DEALER CLAIMS HE REMOVED A PLASTIC BAG FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, BUT THE SMELL CONTINUES WITH THE SAME INTENSITY. THE SMELL EXISTS IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHILE DRIVING AND STANDING IN SEVERAL PLACES AT THE FRONT HOOD WITH THE IGNITION TURNED OFF. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AGAIN YESTERDAY; THEY CLAIM PLASTIC IS STILL BURNING ITS WAY THROUGH THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. NOT ACCEPTABLE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #760163

Mileage unknown · Apr 2, 2002
Air BagsCrashInjury

DURING AN ACCIDENT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY RESULTING IN HEAD AND FACIAL INJURIES TO THE DRIVER, THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. NLM

NHTSA ODI #564889

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THERE IS NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8006057

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2002
Air BagsCrash

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE RAN INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT HEAD-ON. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ODI #8006055

Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2002
Unknown Or Other

CONSUMER STATED THAT ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON SPORADICALLY WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER ON FOURTEEN OCCASIONS, AND IS STILL AT THE DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8005656

Official recalls

1

01V012000 · 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.

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

No summary supplied.

Go deeper into Toyota Camry problems

Toyota Camry electrical problems →Toyota Camry transmission problems →