1998 Toyota Camry Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 50about this part
- Share
- 8%of 600 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 119,700miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 50 complaints about the air bags of the 1998 Toyota Camry, 8% of the 600 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 119,700 miles. 35 of these say a crash was involved and 2 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Crash. My daughter driving my car attempted to execute a left turn against traffic on residential street. Oncoming large SUV. Lost in shadow of large tree SUV dark gray going 30 MPH approx. Hit head on with my Toyota Camry le 1998. The steering wheel airbag did not deploy in a head on collision. No previous accidents or airbag deployments.”
NHTSA complaint #10279709, filed 2009-08, 156,000 miles“Today my wife was stopped in a parking lot driveway waiting for traffic to clear when 2 cars crashed into the front end of the our Camry. It broke the front bumper open and the styrofoam support inside. The impact did not set off the airbag and it is within the front end range of impact.”
NHTSA complaint #10413663, filed 2011-07, 127,623 miles“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. We do not buy that story in light of recent events and what happened to us. …”
NHTSA complaint #10291207, filed 2009-11, 40,000 miles“Pulling 1998 Toyota Camry into parking space. Foot on brake. Put into park. Car suddenly began accelerating. Tried reverse, didn't stop. Tried park again standing on brakes. Didn't stop. Went over curb down hill into creek. Air bags did not deploy when front of car hit bank of creek. Saw puff of smoke after hitting bank come from under car. Turned car off immediately.”
NHTSA complaint #10165336, filed 2006-08, 108,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10244113Aug 17, 2023TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most…
- 10190460Mar 17, 2021Toyota Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements
- 10132410Jul 20, 2017TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 20, 2017 Rev1: Applicability has been updated to exclude 2007 ? 2017 model year Avanza vehicles. Some hazardous material treatment and handling…
- 10131961Jan 14, 2014Toyota vehicles are equipped with Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS), including various airbags and in some models, seat belt pre-tensioners, to help reduce the risk of injury…
- 10132055Nov 4, 2013Beginning in 1998, Toyota introduced side airbags as optional equipment. Toyota does NOT recommend replacement of original seat covers with non-Toyota leather or other seat cover…
- 10133915Jan 3, 2013Toyota vehicles are equipped with SRS, including various airbags and in some models, seat belt pre-tensioners, to help reduce the risk of injury in a collision. If a customer…
- 10042555Sep 6, 2011Toyota: information provided for replacing the seat covers for vehicles equipped with side airbags.
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 | 12% |
| 2023 | 5 | 8% |
| 2022 | 11 | 17% |
| 2021 | 78 | 49% |
| 2020 | 49 | 18% |
| 2019 | 24 | 6% |
| 2018 | 22 | 3% |
| 2017 | 24 | 16% |
| 2016 | 31 | 17% |
| 2015 | 21 | 8% |
| 2014 | 42 | 9% |
| 2013 | 36 | 13% |
| 2012 | 75 | 13% |
| 2011 | 72 | 12% |
| 2010 | 49 | 8% |
| 2009 | 66 | 5% |
| 2008 | 46 | 5% |
| 2007 | 138 | 5% |
| 2006 | 59 | 19% |
| 2005 | 65 | 9% |
| 2004 | 79 | 12% |
| 2003 | 73 | 9% |
| 2002 | 89 | 9% |
| 2001 | 38 | 14% |
| 2000 | 58 | 13% |
| 1999 | 74 | 15% |
| 1998 | 50 | 8% |
| 1997 | 55 | 10% |
| 1996 | 47 | 11% |
| 1995 | 41 | 14% |
| 1994 | 43 | 15% |
| 1993 | 45 | 17% |
| 1992 | 33 | 6% |
| 1991 | 1 | 1% |
| 1989 | 2 | 2% |
Other parts of the 1998 Toyota Camry
121 complaintsEngine cooling
92 complaintsVehicle speed control
83 complaintsSuspension
70 complaintsTires
41 complaintsSeat belts
35 complaintsBody and structure
35 complaintsElectrical system
33 complaintsSteering
33 complaintsExterior lighting
18 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
16 complaintsFuel system
15 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Toyota Camry
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology