1998 Toyota Camry Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Camry years
- More complaints than other years 11th of 30 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 600 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Toyota Camry. That ranks 11th out of 30 Camry model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (112 complaints, 19%), typically at around 42,000 miles. Complaints mention 64 crashes, 31 fires, 45 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 600owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 64complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1998 Toyota Camry problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 112 | 19% | 42,000 | “brake pads” (12%) | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 92 | 15% | 93,613 | “caught fire” (11%) | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control problems | 83 | 14% | 96,390 | “suddenly accelerated” (13%) | — |
| Suspension problems | 70 | 12% | 56,000 | “front suspension” (16%) | $770 |
| Air Bags problems | 50 | 8% | 119,700 | “air bag” (36%) | — |
| Tires | 41 | 7% | 68,888 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 35 | 6% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 35 | 6% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 33 | 6% | 82,250 | — | — |
| Steering | 33 | 6% | 107,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 18 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 16 | 3% | 79,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 13 | 2% | 57,399 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 12 | 2% | 89,781 | — | — |
| Equipment | 11 | 2% | 68,316 | — | — |
| Visibility | 10 | 2% | 32,096 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 8 | 1% | 155,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 5 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 5 | 1% | 79,800 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 4 | 1% | 144,281 | — | — |
| Engine | 3 | 1% | 174,500 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 3 | 1% | 84,750 | — | — |
| Child Seat | 2 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 0% | 89,500 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1998 Toyota Camry recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Vehicle speed control
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The steering wheel set nut may not have been sufficiently tightened causing steering vibration and looseness.
Risk: This can result in a loss of vehicle control.
Fix: Dealers will tighten the steering wheel set nut.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Engine compartment fire (PE02079) — opened Oct 22, 2002, closed Mar 18, 2003.
- Engine seizure (DP02004) — opened Apr 30, 2002, closed Jun 20, 2002.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Tl* the contact owned a 1998 toyota camry. The contact stated while driving 60 mph, the driver loss control when vehicle was hydroplaning. The contact depressed the brake, causing the vehicle to flip twice. The contact stated that no air bags deployed. The contact stated no warning light was…
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 toyota camry. While driving, the vehicle stalled and all the warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure…
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 toyota camry. While the vehicle was stationary, it stalled without warning. The vehicle was diagnosed as needing a new engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Exiting a parking place when car surged and accelerated. Collided with four vehicles.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 toyota camry. While driving 5 mph and making left or right turns, the steering wheel shook and felt loose. The contact was able to pull the steering wheel up towards her while the vehicle was being driven or while parked. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The…
Other Toyota Camry years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 Camry | 51 | 1 |
| 2023 Camry | 65 | 2 |
| 2022 Camry | 62 | 1 |
| 2021 Camry | 157 | 1 |
| 2020 Camry | 275 | 3 |
| 2019 Camry | 398 | 6 |
| 2018 Camry | 748 | 8 |
| 2017 Camry | 148 | 3 |
| 2016 Camry | 184 | 2 |
| 2015 Camry | 271 | 1 |
| 2014 Camry | 455 | 3 |
| 2013 Camry | 274 | 2 |
| 2012 Camry | 590 | 2 |
| 2011 Camry | 601 | 5 |
| 2010 Camry | 604 | 9 |
| 2009 Camry | 1,293 | 10 |
| 2008 Camry | 933 | 7 |
| 2007 Camry | 2,887 | 9 |
| 2006 Camry | 317 | 5 |
| 2005 Camry | 721 | 5 |
| 2004 Camry | 638 | 3 |
| 2003 Camry | 781 | 1 |
| 2002 Camry | 953 | 4 |
| 2001 Camry | 272 | 2 |
| 2000 Camry | 454 | 2 |
| 1999 Camry | 501 | 1 |
| 1998 | 600 | 2 |
| 1997 Camry | 555 | 3 |
| 1996 Camry | 417 | 2 |
| 1995 Camry | 303 | 1 |
See all Toyota Camry problems by year, every Toyota model, or the Toyota VIN decoder.
Similar Toyota models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Toyota Camry?
Owners most often report service brakes, hydraulic, engine and engine cooling, vehicle speed control problems. The top one, service brakes, hydraulic, accounts for 112 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Toyota Camry?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1998 Toyota Camry a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Camry model years, the 1998 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.