1998 Toyota CAMRY problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
370 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
85,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 164 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 52 of 370 complaints (14.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 69 | 18.6% |
| Steering behavior | 22 | 5.9% |
| Engine operation | 12 | 3.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 2.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 2.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 0.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 52 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 27 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 25 |
| Suspension:Front | 25 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 19 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 17 |
| Air Bags | 16 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 16 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 52; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 27; Engine And Engine Cooling: 25; Suspension:Front: 25; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 19; Air Bags:Frontal: 17; Air Bags: 16; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 16
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 21 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 30 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 44 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 35 |
| 150,000 and above | 25 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 21; 50,000 to 74,999: 30; 75,000 to 99,999: 44; 100,000 to 149,999: 35; 150,000 and above: 25
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (44). 206 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 46 |
| 2001 | 47 |
| 2002 | 56 |
| 2003 | 38 |
| 2004 | 50 |
| 2005 | 17 |
| 2006 | 14 |
| 2007 | 10 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 9 |
| 2010 | 40 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2000: 46; 2001: 47; 2002: 56; 2003: 38; 2004: 50; 2005: 17; 2006: 14; 2007: 10; 2008: 8; 2009: 9; 2010: 40; 2011: 7; 2012: 8; 2013: 3; 2014: 5; 2015: 3; 2016: 4; 2017: 3; 2018: 1; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 69 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 22 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 12 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10008031 · 2003-02-24 (February 24, 2003)
THER MASTER BRAKE CYCLINDER INTERMITTENT.
Owner-reported narrative. 23,317 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008031 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031446 · 2003-07-29 (July 29, 2003)
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THERE IS A SQUEAKING NOISE, BUT VEHICLE WILL STOP. DEALER REPLACED BRFAKE ROTORS AND PADS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031446 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015242 · 2003-04-15 (April 15, 2003)
INQUIRY ON RECALLS FOR 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. MR RECALL #99V307000/STEERING WHEEL & HANDLE BAR, AND RECALL#01V012000/VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015242 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039141 · 2003-09-18 (September 18, 2003)
I BOUGHT MY CAR NEW IN MAY 1998. I HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED AT LEAST 3 TIMES THE FIRST TIME BEING 11/8/99. I HAVE COMPLAINED SEVERAL TIMES OF FRONT END NOISE, CAR DRIFTING, AND STEERING VIBRATIONS. EACH TIME I WAS TOLD IT WAS EITHER INCORRECT TIRE PRESSURE, OUT OF BALANCE OR ALIGNMENT. MOST OF THE TIME I WAS TOLD THE NOISE IS NORMAL ROAD NOISE AND THE DRIFTING IS NORMAL DRIFTING. I THINK SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. MY CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I BOUGHT A NEW CAR TO AVOID HAVING TO PAY FOR ALL THESE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS AND BECAUSE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10039141 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019447 · 2003-05-08 (May 8, 2003)
THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019447 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10052384 · 2004-01-05 (January 5, 2004)
THE ENGINE IN MY 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY THREW A ROD (#4) THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS, LIKE ABNORMAL ENGINE NOISE OR LOSS OF POWER, BEFORE THIS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS 67000 MILES AND HAS HAD THE OIL CHANGED WITHIN THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES. ALSO, THE 45000 MILE MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THE LOCAL TOYOTA MANAGEMENT SAID THAT I DID NOT POSSES SUFFICIENT MAINTENANCE RECORDS TO SUPPORT THEM PAYING FOR THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE. I HAD THE RECEIPTS FROM THE OIL CHANGES. T…
Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10052384 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10052934 · 2004-01-12 (January 12, 2004)
WHEN 98 CAMRY WAS FIRST BOUGHT IN SEPT 2000, I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY AIR BAG LIGHT GOING OFF EVER SINCE IT WAS DRIVEN OFF LOT. DEALERSHIP FIXED AND I DID NOT HAVE A PROBLEM EVER SINCE. IN JUNE 2003 I HAD FLOOR WIRING HARNESS REPLACED. THE END OF OCT, BEGINNING OF SEPT I NEEDED MY ALARM SYSTEM SWITCHED OUT WITH NEW KEY SYSTEM (THE ALARM SYSTEM IS SOMETHING I NEEDED TO HAVE DONE). SINCE THE ALARM SYSTEM WAS CHANGED OUT, MY AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN GOING OFF SINCE AND THEY TELL ME THERE IS A SENSOR PROBLEM AGAIN BUT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10052934 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10318205 · 2010-03-09 (March 9, 2010)
TOYOTA CUSTOMER AND OWNER WITH UNFORTUNATE PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR DRIVEN NORMALLY IN THE ORDINARY COURSE OF THE DAY AS AN ELDER. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS FAILED, THE OIL LEAKS, THE FLOORMAT INTERFERES WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND STICKS, INTERFERING WITH BRAKING EXPERIENCED RECENTLY ON THE NY-CT HIGHWAY. I PAID TO REPAIR THE ELECTRICAL FAILURE AND OIL LEAKS AND STILL THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AS INDICATED FOR EXAMPLE BY THE DASHBOARD WHICH IS CONTINUOUSLY LIT UP, I.E. IS STILL NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I WROTE TO TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, U.S.A., INC. 1…
Owner-reported narrative. 89,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10318205 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044376 · 2003-10-21 (October 21, 2003)
PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION. *MR TOYOTA OVER FILLED THE TRANSMISSION BY 1 1/2 QUARTS. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS OKAY. TRANSMISSION FLUID STARTED TO DRAIN. THE VEHICLE STARTED HAVING TROUBLES CLIMBING ON INCLINES. THERE WERE VIBRATIONS WHEN DRIVING 50 MPH AND OVER, AND CONSTANT FLATS AND BLOW OUTS OCCURRED. (DESTINY MICHELIN) THERE WERE ALSO PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING, STRUTS, AND THE ROTORS. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10044376 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10058367 · 2004-02-17 (February 17, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR, IT TURNED OFF WITH NO WARNING. I COULD NOT TURN THE CAR BACK ON AS I TRIED, THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. I NOTIFIED THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT MY ENGINE HAD SEIZED. MY CAR IS A 98 CAMARY WITH 75000 MILES WHICH WAS PURCHASED FROM THE DEALER AND HAS HAD ALL SERVICE CHECKUPS FROM THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT IT WOULD COST ME 4700 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AND MY WARRANTY WAS UP IN JULY OF 2003. I AM WONDERING WHAT IS GOING ON WITH TOYOTA. MY FAMILY HAS HAD SIX TOYOTAS SINCE 1988. THIS CAR AND OUR LAST…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10058367 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10171098 · 2006-10-17 (October 17, 2006)
I STARTED SMELLING GAS ODORS INSIDE OF THE CAR AFTER FILLING THE TANK. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER IN JULY 2006 AND TOLD THEM THAT I ALSO SAW GAS DRIPPING ON THE GROUND. THEY FOUND NOTHING. I CONTINUED TO HAVE THE SMELL. TWO WEEKS AGO I SMELLED THE FUMES INSIDE AND SAW LEAK. DEALER REPLACED GAS TANK, SAYING THERE WAS RUST NEAR THE TOP OF THE TANK. MY CAR IS GARAGED, SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 83,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10171098 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 730111 · 2000-09-04 (September 4, 2000)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 730111 at NHTSA ↗