1998 Toyota Camry Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe a gas pedal that sticks or hesitates, especially after sitting at a stop, along with front-end noises over bumps and engine failures tied to oil gelling or sludge. Complaints come in at widely varied mileages, from near-new to well past 150,000 miles, so condition and service history matter more than odometer alone. Many reports are several years old, reflecting a car that has been on the road a long time.

1. 1
   Vehicle speed control

   Sticking or unresponsive accelerator pedal

   Mentioned in 19 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the gas pedal sticking down, often after the car has been stopped at a light or sign, so the driver has to press hard or tap repeatedly to release it, which can produce a lurch. Others report the opposite: pressing the pedal with no response until it is worked back and forth. Several owners say dealers cleaned the throttle body, replaced the idle speed control unit, or could not duplicate the problem, and some note their vehicle was not covered by the accelerator cable recall. Reported across a wide mileage range, from near-new to over 150,000 miles, most often after the car has been stopped and the driver tries to pull away.

   Recall 01V012000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 01V012000 was performed and whether the accelerator cable, throttle body or idle speed control has been serviced. With the engine off, work the pedal by hand and check that it returns freely and does not bind.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When I was driving in a residential neighborhood and coming to a stop sight to make a right turn. All the sudden, the car sped up and the brake was failing. Luckily there was no car in the opposite side. I was able to pull the car to the curb. I checked the brake and was functioning. Later, I have the car towed to piercey Toyota to diagnosis and they could not find anything wrong.”

   NHTSA complaint #10549441, filed 2013-10, 96,562 miles

   “Over the last year or so, I have encountered an intermittent issue where the accelerator on my 98 Camry becomes hard to depress after sitting at a stop light/sign. Tapping the pedal multiple times finally allows the pedal to release. Have not been able to determine what circumstances cause the problem, but it is only after coming to a stop. I have not experienced issues with uncontrolled acceleration, but suspect that may be next.”

   NHTSA complaint #10315753, filed 2010-03, 110,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine cooling

   Engine failure and oil gelling or sludge

   • 90 complaints (15%)
   • median 95,000 mi at 6.7 yrs old (42 state mileage)
   • 31 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2017

   Owners describe the engine knocking or seizing suddenly, in some cases with a rod through the block; a few reports mention fire under the hood afterward. Complaints say dealers sometimes found no sludge and sometimes attributed the failure to oil gelling, and that repair costs were not covered despite regular oil changes. Others mention smoke on startup and worry about sludge buildup. Typically reported between roughly 75,000 and 130,000 miles, with some lower-mileage failures and a few reports past 150,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check the oil level and condition and ask for oil change records; look for sludge under the oil filler cap. Ask whether the engine has been replaced or rebuilt and whether any oil-consumption or smoke complaints have come up.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The engine in my Camry blew. The car was well maintained and running fine. The Toyota dealership informed me that they couldn't find any oil sludging/gelling. However, they couldn't explain why the engine blew. All they could tell me is that a piston blew through the engine. Since they claimed there was no oil sludging/gelling they refused to cover costs of repair.”

   NHTSA complaint #10070653, filed 2004-01, 123,000 miles

   “On 10/19/10 my 1998 Toyota Camry was on file under the hood. When I park the car at stater bros and went inside to buy groceries . I head the cashier say someone car is on fire. I ran out from the parking lots and I saw my car in smoke under the hood. Fire department came and try to save my car. Now my car is total gone. Everything burn under the hood. I would never buy Toyota Camry again. Due to complaint about this car.”

   NHTSA complaint #10361467, filed 2010-10, 150,000 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Airbags not deploying in a collision

   • 44 complaints (7%)
   • median 123,661 mi at 11.9 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • 37 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2020

   Complaints describe airbags that did not deploy in impacts owners considered significant, with no warning light beforehand in some cases. A separate report describes deployment with enough force to injure the driver's hands; owners say dealers and the manufacturer were not involved or did not respond. Reported mostly on higher-mileage vehicles, often above 100,000 miles, including very old vehicles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have the airbag warning light checked and confirm it comes on and goes out at startup. Ask whether any recall or service campaign related to the airbag system applies to the vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving a 1998 Toyota Camry. I had an accident as I moved to curb and hit a tree. I was moving at 20-25 miles per hour. The airbags got deployed and with a huge force. The airbag in the steering caused severe damage to my fingers causing multiple fractures and multiple stitches.”

   NHTSA complaint #10336103, filed 2010-06, 130,000 miles

   “My wife started up her 1998 Toyota Camry, slowly made a right turn when suddenly the automobile accelerated at a high speed, jumped the curb, knocked over a parking meter and hit the side of an apartment house. She was not hurt and the air bag did not deploy, despite the impact. Toyota, which had just serviced the car two weeks before, repaired the car (with my insurance). We insisted on a full investigation by Toyota, who determined that the floor mat jammed the accelerator. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10291207, filed 2009-11, 40,000 miles
4. 4
   Suspension

   Front suspension noise over bumps

   • 41 complaints (7%)
   • median 74,000 mi at 5.8 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $418 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 1998–2016

   Complaints describe a knocking or squeaking from the front end when driving over bumps and uneven pavement, sounding as if something is loose and getting louder over time. Owners say struts, springs and other parts were replaced without curing the noise, and that dealers could not pinpoint the cause. Mostly reported between about 40,000 and 80,000 miles, sometimes earlier.

   What to check: Drive over uneven pavement and speed bumps during the test drive and listen for knocking or squeaking. Ask what suspension work has been done and whether the noise returned afterward.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Front suspension makes excessive noise over bumps. The mechanics I sent it to don't know what's causing the noise. I had all the struts and springs changed but the noise persists. All the parts were from the dealer. I would like to know what I can do and if this is a safety hazard. Thank you for your help.”

   NHTSA complaint #10054843, filed 2004-01, 80,000 miles

   “Front suspension, noise when driving over bumps, uneven pavement. Sounds like something is loose. Dealer suggests trying different parts but none seems to correct the problem. Its getting expensive and the problem is still there. The service tech stated his wife has the same car and it has the same problems and was not sure how to correct it. He also stated the Toyota solara was having the same problems.”

   NHTSA complaint #10010712, filed 2003-03, 68,000 miles

Buying note. This model year draws repeated reports of a sticking accelerator and of engine damage linked to oil condition, so a pre-purchase inspection covering the throttle linkage, pedal return and engine oil history is worthwhile. Confirm which recalls have been completed and treat service records and rust and suspension condition as more telling than mileage alone.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.