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U.S. public vehicle records

1998 Toyota CAMRY: complaints, problems and recalls

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.

Owner-reported patterns

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.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior6918.6%
Steering behavior225.9%
Engine operation123.2%
Electrical and battery issues102.7%
Transmission and shifting82.2%
Fuel system concerns30.8%

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.

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
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Vehicle Speed Control52
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine27
Engine And Engine Cooling25
Suspension:Front25
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline19
Air Bags:Frontal17
Air Bags16
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip16

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.

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
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0009
25,000 to 49,99921
50,000 to 74,99930
75,000 to 99,99944
100,000 to 149,99935
150,000 and above25

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.

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
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
200046
200147
200256
200338
200450
200517
200614
200710
20088
20099
201040
20117
20128
20133
20145
20153
20164
20173
20181
20201

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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10000394 · 2002-12-27 (December 27, 2002)

WHEN RELEASING FOOT FROM THE GAS, THE GAS PEDAL WILL SOMETIMES LOCK IN THE IDLE POSITION REQUIRING EXTRA FORCE TO RELEASE IT RESULTING IN A SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IN SLIPPERY CONDITIONS. TS

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000394 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10001686 · 2002-12-30 (December 30, 2002)

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEM WITH INTERMITTENTLY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. (MODULE SENSOR) DEALER HAS INSPECTED SINCE 1998 AND PROBLEM COULD NO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001686 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10001791 · 2003-01-02 (January 2, 2003)

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE FRONT RIGHT STRUTS SNAPPED CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

Owner-reported narrative. 41,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001791 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10002945 · 2003-01-19 (January 19, 2003)

FRONT SUPENSION MAKES CLUNKING AND BANGING NOISE WHEN DRIVING OVER EVEN SMALL POT HOLES. NOISE GETS MUCH WORSE WITH LARGER POT HOLES. NOISE STARTED AROUND 25K MILES.SUSPECT FRONT STRUTS AND STRUT MOUNTS.

Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002945 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10004951 · 2003-01-30 (January 30, 2003)

SEAT BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE DOES NOT RETRACT PROPERLY WHEN VEHICLE IS EXITED. IT GETS CAUGHT IN DOOR AND IS DAMAGED AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME BY THE DOOR BEING SLAMMED AGAINST IT.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004951 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10005412 · 2003-02-06 (February 6, 2003)

FRONT SUSPENTION SOUNDS LOOSE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS IN RAPID CONCESSION. GETTING LOUDER EVERY DAY AND CAN'T PINPOINT THE PROBLEM

Owner-reported narrative. 31 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005412 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10005504 · 2003-02-08 (February 8, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING, SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AFTER PULLING OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNING OFF THE ENGINE, WITHIN 5-8 MINUTES THE ENGINE BURST INTO FLAMES. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DID NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT, ALTHOUGH OBVIOUS POTENTIAL CAUSES, SUCH AS RECENT SERVICE TO THE ENGINE, WERE RULED OUT (THERE HAD BEEN NO RECENT SERVICE).

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005504 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10007589 · 2003-02-16 (February 16, 2003)

THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL FELL OFF GOING 10MPH. THE SPINDLE BROKE OFF COMPLETELY.

Owner-reported narrative. 79,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007589 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

01V012000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Reported: 2001-01-16 (January 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: 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
99V307000 · Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar

Reported: 1999-11-01 (November 1, 1999)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE STEERING WHEEL SET NUT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED CAUSING STEERING VIBRATION AND LOOSENESS.

Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE STEERING WHEEL SET NUT.

NHTSA campaign record ↗