Vehicle Data Hub

1999 Toyota Camry engine problems

115 complaints about engine have been filed for the 1999 Toyota Camry, which is 17% of all its NHTSA complaints. It is the most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
115 17% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
66,000 miles 58 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
4 and 26
Injuries and deaths
3 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When engine problems show up

Engine complaints by mileage, 1999 Toyota Camry Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 66,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 3 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 3 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 10 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 16 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 8 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 8 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 3 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 3 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 0 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 0 complaints 200k+ miles: 4 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 66,000 miles
Based on 58 complaints that include mileage. 28% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles3
20k to 40k miles3
40k to 60k miles10
60k to 80k miles16
80k to 100k miles8
100k to 120k miles8
120k to 140k miles3
140k to 160k miles3
160k to 180k miles0
180k to 200k miles0
200k+ miles4

What the data shows

Of the 58 engine complaints that report mileage, the median is about 66,000 miles, and 28% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 4 crashes, 26 fires, 3 injuries.

What owners wrote

Engine blew out on freeway. Engine failure diagnosed as sludge build up leading to thrown rod and crankshaft. Rod busted through crankcase. My 1999 toyota camry was one of toyota's flawed engine designs suffering from a known oil gel build up problem - *5s-fe four cylinder and 1mz-fe v-6 engines.

Reported at 61,244 miles, July 2008 FireInjury

My engine seized. I've received 2 letters from toyota dated 2/2002 and 6/2002 regarding oil gel. Car was towed to dealership- dealership had car "inspected by a no name toyota district rep" dealership said not oil gel rep agrees contacted corporate they agreed with dealership. Sight unseen by customer. Napervile toyota 1st goodwill repair included 50% of parts and service. After persuing they agreed to labor cost. Toyota mass produced an engine with small valve and learned it was a problem.

Reported at 65,000 miles, February 2003

Other problems reported for the 1999 Toyota Camry

Engine problems in other years

Engine problems across all Toyota models