1999 Toyota Camry problems
Owners have filed 661 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Toyota Camry. Engine is the most reported problem area, at 17% of complaints. Next are brakes (16%) and air bags (11%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 661 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 17% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 134 and 55
- Injuries and deaths
- 117 and 2
- Typical mileage
- 82,000 miles 220 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 | 10 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 24 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 25 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 43 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 37 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 24 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 13 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 22 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 9 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 3 |
| 200k+ miles | 10 |
What the data shows
Of the 220 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 82,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 66,000 miles (58 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 134 complaints mention a crash; 55 complaints mention a fire; 117 injuries reported; 2 deaths reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 96% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1999 ranks 14th most-complained-about out of 35 model years of the Toyota Camry with enough data (405 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 1 safety recall campaign.
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.
On aug 10, 2004 my sister was driving her 1999 toyota camry when it inexplicably drove off the w. Bound lanes of il I '74' at mi marker 115. It traveled 921 ft crossing the median, I '74' e. Bound lanes, up a hill, eventually striking a tree where the car became engulfed in flames, burning my sister to death. A witness statement by a semi truck driver stated that he saw sparks coming from the undercarriage. I attended the coroner's inquest where the factual matters were presented including a toxicology report.
Tl*the contact owned a 1999 toyota camry. While driving at approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle suddenly accelerated out of the control and crashed into guide wires. The driver was killed and a police report was filed. The vehicle was totaled. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.
While driving west bound on 84 50MPH in the middle lane, a 1989 honda impacted consumer's vehicle on front wheel on passenger's side, dragged vehicle into a concrete wall. Upon impact, neither airbag deployed. Contacted dealer .
As I was driving my 1999 toyota camry to work, the vehicle caught fire, and was totally destroyed. The fire was preceded by a loud popping sound, which was followed by the loss of brakes/power steering, etc. I struggled to steer the vehicle off the road, coasting to a stop. Meanwhile, immediately following the firecracker-like "pop," smoke began to pour into the vehicle from under the dashboard, as well as through the vents on the top of the dash. Heavy smoke also began to pour out from under the hood of the car.
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.