The 1998 Toyota Camry has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 593,098 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 751 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the vehicle speed control. Last updated July 5, 2026.
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.
STEERING99V3070001999-11-01540,037 affected
Defect
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.
Complaints by component
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
61
19crashes1fires10injuries
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
49
2crashes1injuries
SUSPENSION:FRONT
33
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
32
1crashes7fires3injuries
TIRES
30
1crashes
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
29
24crashes1fires22injuries
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
29
1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
25
4fires1injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
25
11fires
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
20
1injuries
Total complaints751
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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…”
“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…”
“The automatic transmission shift cable broke. The end that attaches to the transmission is plastic. This leaves the vehicle unable to shift.”
“Tl* the contact owned a 1998 toyota camry. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration. The brakes did not function even when the brake pedal was depressed. As a result, the vehicle crashed between the contact's tree and a neighboring house. The vehicle was towed to a…”
“Tl* the contact owned a 1998 toyota camry. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration. The brakes did not function even when the brake pedal was depressed. As a result, the vehicle crashed between the contact's tree and a neighboring house. The vehicle was towed to a…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationDP02004 Opened 2002-04-30 · closed 2002-06-20
ENGINE SEIZURE
InvestigationPE02079 Opened 2002-10-22 · closed 2003-03-18
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE
ODI'S DATA ANALYSIS FOUND THE FIRES RATES TO BE CONSISTENTLY LOW AND EVENLY DISTRIBUTED AMONG SIX MODEL YEARS AND SIX DIFFERENT ENGINE CONFIGURATIONS.ODI EXAMINED A VARIETY OF ROOT CAUSES, THOSE BEING DETONATION (RESULTING IN OIL PAN PUNCTURE FROM CONNECTING ROD), STARTER FIRES, VARIOUS FUEL RELATED FIRES, LEAKING…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1998 Toyota Camry as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.