1998 Toyota Camry problems
Owners have filed 751 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Toyota Camry. Brakes is the most reported problem area, at 19% of complaints. Next are engine (13%) and cruise control (11%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 751 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Brakes 19% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 87 and 39
- Injuries and deaths
- 65 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 90,000 miles 193 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 5 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 11 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 27 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 33 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 46 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 17 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 20 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 14 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 9 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 4 |
| 200k+ miles | 7 |
What the data shows
Of the 193 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 90,000 miles. For brakes specifically, the median reported mileage is about 80,000 miles (13 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 87 complaints mention a crash; 39 complaints mention a fire; 65 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1998 ranks 15th most-complained-about out of 35 model years of the Toyota Camry with enough data (387 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Camry traveling e/b on 4 lane divided highway. Late model buick skylark traveling w/b turned left at crossover into path of camry. Impact at 45 MPH. Moderate to severe damage to both doors of buick. Buick was pushed into concrete filled steel post doing moderate to severe damage to left side of car and bending post about 20-30 degrees. There was no braking by camry driver. My question is simple-- should camry airbag have employed?
While traveling approximately 35 MPH a vehicle in the other lane traveling in opposite direction crossed in front of consumer's vehicle, causing a front end collision. Upon impact, both frontal air bags failed to deploy, and no determination has been made for the reason they failed. Consumer received neck injuries, and 2 individuals in other vehicle were taken to hospital with unknown injuries. Please provide any additional information / attachments.
Tl* the contact owned a 1998 toyota camry. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle suddenly accelerated without warning. The contact stated that he was unable to stop the vehicle when the brakes were applied. As a result, the vehicle crashed into a fence and dropped into a ditch. A police report was filed and the driver was suffering from back pain. The passenger sustained bruises, a contusion, chest pain, a broken rib, and skin damage. The vehicle was destroyed.
The balance shaft hit the oil pan and made a hole in the engine and the oil spread all over the engine that LED to lot of smoke from the engine.