1998 Toyota Camry Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 16about this part
- Share
- 3%of 600 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 79,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 16 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 1998 Toyota Camry, 3% of the 600 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 79,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I shifted from park to drive , the transmission assembly cable broke. The vehicle had to be towed. A dealership claimed to have part in stock, upon arrival I was told part was not available to me for purchase. I special ordered & paid for the part & was told it would be in 8/11/04. On that date I was told there were none of these cables in the u.s., the earliest eta was 8/16/04. This was revised by sandy, Toyota parts delay team, to eta 8/18/04.”
NHTSA complaint #10086691, filed 2004-08, 50,000 miles“This is the 2nd transmission that has been replaced in my 2012 hyundai genesis coup due to a manufacturing defect. The first one was grinding going into 5th gear. The second one is grinding going into 2nd and 3rd gear and leaking fluid from the main seals. The car only has 3200 miles on it purchased april 27, 2012.”
NHTSA complaint #10476952, filed 2012-09, 3,200 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 miles“While on a trip, a grinding sound came from the transmission. I put the car in neutural and moved to the side of the road. There I observed transmission oil pouring out of the transmission.”
NHTSA complaint #745307, filed 2001-05“All three of the rear seatbelts will not retract. I tried to put a child resraint seat in the left rear seat, I pulled the belt all the way out as my Toyota manuel says to do in order to lock the child seat into place and the belt would not feed back into the retracter. I then took the seat out and put it in the right side and the same exact thing happened. That was in may 2001. A few days ago the middle seat belt did the same thing, leaving my child with no seat belt in the back and my only option is to put him in the front seat which is not safe either. …”
NHTSA complaint #753571, filed 2001-10Related service bulletins
- 10109404Oct 16, 2014TSB: The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide information regarding the installation of the correct torque converter bolts during automatic transmission/transaxle…
- 10109492Sep 30, 2014TSB: The purpose of this bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly to avoid MIL "ON" shifting issues and/or…
- 10132084Oct 1, 2013The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly to avoid MIL ?ON,? shifting issues, and/or…
- 10061578Jun 13, 2011Summary to be provided on a future date.
- 10016637Aug 1, 2005A541e transmission solenoid identification.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3 | 6% |
| 2023 | 7 | 11% |
| 2022 | 7 | 11% |
| 2021 | 12 | 8% |
| 2020 | 33 | 12% |
| 2019 | 115 | 29% |
| 2018 | 200 | 27% |
| 2017 | 6 | 4% |
| 2016 | 18 | 10% |
| 2015 | 36 | 13% |
| 2014 | 128 | 28% |
| 2013 | 67 | 24% |
| 2012 | 142 | 24% |
| 2011 | 49 | 8% |
| 2010 | 46 | 8% |
| 2009 | 51 | 4% |
| 2008 | 40 | 4% |
| 2007 | 266 | 9% |
| 2006 | 18 | 6% |
| 2005 | 84 | 12% |
| 2004 | 48 | 8% |
| 2003 | 40 | 5% |
| 2002 | 68 | 7% |
| 2001 | 15 | 6% |
| 2000 | 33 | 7% |
| 1999 | 18 | 4% |
| 1998 | 16 | 3% |
| 1997 | 35 | 6% |
| 1996 | 21 | 5% |
| 1995 | 25 | 8% |
| 1994 | 21 | 7% |
| 1993 | 29 | 11% |
| 1992 | 18 | 3% |
| 1991 | 8 | 5% |
| 1990 | 8 | 6% |
| 1989 | 6 | 5% |
| 1988 | 9 | 14% |
| 1987 | 2 | 3% |
| 1985 | 2 | 15% |
Other parts of the 1998 Toyota Camry
121 complaintsEngine cooling
92 complaintsVehicle speed control
83 complaintsSuspension
70 complaintsAir bags
50 complaintsTires
41 complaintsSeat belts
35 complaintsBody and structure
35 complaintsElectrical system
33 complaintsSteering
33 complaintsExterior lighting
18 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