Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Toyota Camry submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 95 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 95, in the owner's own words
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 FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
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.
JUST GOT HOME DID NOT SMELL OR SEE ANYTHING UNUSUAL, WENT INSIDE AND MAYBE FIVE MINUTES LATER I SEEN LOTS OF SMOKE WENT OUTSIDE AND THE CAR WAS SMOKING AND FLAMING UNDER THE HOOD. FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO COME TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PLASTIC RADIATOR HAD BECOME OVERHEATED AND FRACTURED. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT OBSERVED STEAM COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO NOTICED THERE WAS A CRACKED IN THE RADIATOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,740.
IT JUST STALLS FOR NO REASON. SOMETIMES IT STALLS AT A LIGHT SOMETIMES IT STALLS WHILE DRIVING AND SOMETIMES IT WONT STALL FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS. *TR
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. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK INSIDE OF THE OIL FILTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN OIL CHANGE FACILITY WHERE THE OIL FILTER WAS NOT INSTALLED INCORRECTLY AND CAUSED OIL TO LEAK AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE ENGINE OVER HEATED AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DIFFERENT LOCAL MECHANIC. THE SECOND MECHANIC ALSO INFORMED HIM THAT AN OIL LEAK ALONG WITH A DAMAGED FILTER CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 110,000.
ON MAY 13, 2010 APPROX 9:15 PM WHILE DRIVING A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY LE V6, CAR STALLED/MALFUNCTIONED WHILE BEING PULLED OVER BY CHP WHICH CAUSED REAR END COLLISION SPIN OUT AND 2 OTHER CAR ACCIDENTS, I HAVE PROOF (VIDEO, PHOTOS, RECEIPTS, AND SERVICE HISTORY) THE CAR'S THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE AND OR OTHER SYSTEMS CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. UPDATED IVOQ 08/17/10 *TR UPDATED IVOQ 10/06/10 UPDATED IVOQ 11/17/10 IT WAS DETERMINED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE OUTER DOOR HANDLE WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 01/12/11
TOYOTA CUSTOMER AND OWNER WITH UNFORTUNATE PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR DRIVEN NORMALLY IN THE ORDINARY COURSE OF THE DAY AS AN ELDER. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS FAILED, THE OIL LEAKS, THE FLOORMAT INTERFERES WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND STICKS, INTERFERING WITH BRAKING EXPERIENCED RECENTLY ON THE NY-CT HIGHWAY. I PAID TO REPAIR THE ELECTRICAL FAILURE AND OIL LEAKS AND STILL THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AS INDICATED FOR EXAMPLE BY THE DASHBOARD WHICH IS CONTINUOUSLY LIT UP, I.E. IS STILL NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I WROTE TO TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, U.S.A., INC. 19001 SOUTH WESTERN AVE. DEPT. WC11 TORRANCE, CA 90501 CC: NANCY FEIN, VP CUSTOMER SERVICE TOYOTA MOTOR SALES USA INC., PO BOX 10054 TOLDEO OHIO 43682-4419. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THERE WAS AN UNINTENDED INCREASE IN ACCELERATION OF 110 MPH. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE REDUCED SPEED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN. THE FAILURE OCCURRENCES WERE INTERMITTENT DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING. THE IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURRED AND THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED INTO THE "PARK" POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN. THERE WAS SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE HOOD AREA. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IGNITED INTO MASSIVE FLAMES. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION FACILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 03/19/10. *LJ UPDATED 09/21/10
EGR VALVE BROKEN AND VACUUM SWITCHING VALVE NOT WORKING. ENGINE DIES (SOMETIMES TOTALLY DIES AND SOMETIMES DIES AND STARTS AFTER A MOMENT) AFTER TAKING EXIT FROM HIGHWAYS AND SOMETIMES ON HIGHWAYS AT 65 M/HR. STEERING GETS LOCKED (CANNOT TURN) BECAUSE ENGINE DIES OUT. FORTUNATELY DIDN'T INVOLVE IN MAJOR ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS. HOWEVER THERE WERE MINOR ACCIDENTS WITH NO DAMAGE TO ANY PROPERTY INCLUDING MY VEHICLE. PROBLEM RESOLVED AFTER REPLACING EGR & VSV ASSEMBLIES. VERY FORTUNATE I DIDN'T INVOLVE IN ANY SERIOUS ACCIDENTS AS SEVERAL TIMES MY VEHICLE STOPPED ALL OF A SUDDEN ON HIGHWAYS AT AROUND 60 M/HR. *TR
THE BALANCE SHAFT HIT THE OIL PAN AND MADE A HOLE IN THE ENGINE AND THE OIL SPREAD ALL OVER THE ENGINE THAT LED TO LOT OF SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON NORMAL CONDITIONS THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHT INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DRIVER STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND OBSERVED FLAMES FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED DAMAGES WITH HEAVY SMOKE AND FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE WERE NOTIFIED. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 150,000. UPDATED 09/18/09. *LJ UPDATED 09/18/09.*JB
ON 2/21/2008 I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND MY AUTO BURST INTO FLAMES. MY AUTO IS A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY 4CYL. I RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO STATING THAT TOYOTA HAS AN ENGINE OIL SLUDGE DEFECT ON CERTAIN MODELS. MY AUTO IS ONE OF THEM. ADDITIONALLY THE NOTIFICATION I RECEIVED STATED THAT I CAN TAKE MY AUTO INTO TOYOTA TO BE REPAIRED. OVER ABOUT TWO YEARS I TOOK MY AUTO IN WITH ALL THE PAPER WORK/DOCUMENTS AND EACH TIME TOYOTA STONEWALLED ME. ALSO I JUST WENT INTO TOYOTA FOR THE SAME REASON AND WITH ALL THE PAPER WORK ON 2/14/2008 AND AGAIN TOYOTA TOLD ME THEY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THIS AND THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING. I AM VERY MUCH LUCKY TO HAVE SURVIVED THIS INCIDENT ON 2/21/2008. *TR
AIR INDUCTION HOSE ON 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY LE JAPAN BUILT IS FAILING. THE AIR INDUCTION HOSE FROM THE AIR FILTER BOX THAT LEADS TO THE THROTLE BODY IS CRACKING. AND I HAVE CHECKED INTO THIS MATTER FROM READING USER REVIEWS OF THIS YEAR MODEL CAR AND IM THE ONLY ONE WHO IS EXPERENCING THIS ISSUE. THE CAR IS STILL FUNCTIONAL HOW EVER IT HAS A VERY DIFFUCULT TIME STARTING IN THE MORNING. *CN
MY DAUGHTER HAS 2 1998 TOYOTA CAMRYS BOTH HAVE HAD MASSIVE ENGINE BLOCK FAILURE BY THE FRONT MOTOR MOUNT, ONE RESULTED IN A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. HER FIRST CAMRY I HELPED HER BUY IT USED ABOUT 1 1/2 YEARS AGO (THIS CAR WAS ACTUALLY TITLED IN MY NAME) AND APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS AGO WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE ENGINE BLOCK CAME APART BY THE FRONT MOTOR MOUNT SPRAYING OIL ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, WHICH PROCEEDED TO CATCH ON FIRE, LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT AND THE FIRE WAS CONTAINED UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WAS PARTS OF THE ENGINE BLOCK, AND BOLTS AND OIL SCATTERED ON THE HIGHWAY. THAT CAMRY WAS NOT REPAIRABLE. WE FOUND HER ANOTHER 1998 CAMRY ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO AND THIS ONE SHE BOUGHT ALL ON HER OWN AND IT IS TITLED IN HER NAME. WELL A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO HER NEW 1998 CAMRY HAD MASSIVE ENGINE BLOCK FAILURE AT THE FRONT MOTOR MOUNT IN THE SAME LOCATION AS THE OTHER CAMRY. THERE WAS NO FIRE INVOLVED ON THIS ONE. THE POLICE WERE CALLED TO BOTH SCENES, AND THE FIRE DEPT. WAS CALLED ON THE FIRST INCIDENT. THIS FORM DOES NOT HAVE INPUT FOR 2 VEHICLES. THE SECOND 1998 CAMRY IN MY DAUGHTERS NAME. WE DO STILL HAVE POSSESSION OF BOTH VEHICLES AND IN THE SAME CONDITION AS THE DAY THEY STOPPED WORKING. *TR
I OWN A TOYOTA CAMRY 1998 MODEL. THE ENGINE OIL LEAKS NON-STOP. SEVERAL MONTHS BACK I RECEIVED A NOTICE OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT WITH THE TOYOTA COMPANY. IT STATED THAT ALL TOYOTA CAMRYS 1998 HAD AN ENGINE OIL LEAK DEFECT, AND AS PER THE CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT I COULD TAKE MY CAR TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY WOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM AT THEIR COST. ALSO, THAT IF I HAD INCURRED ANY COSTS TRYING TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED ON MY OWN, TOYOTA WILL PAY SUCH COSTS TO THE OWNER. ACCORDINGLY, I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY TOOK THE COPY OF THE NOTICE FROM ME AND INFORMED ME THAT IT DOES NOT APPLY TO MY CAR. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD CHECK AND FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. IF THIS WAS THE CASE, THEN WHY WAS I SENT A NOTICE IN THE FIRST PLACE TO TAKE MY CAR TO A DEALERSHIP FOR THE PROBLEM FIX? THIS HAS BEEN A VERY FRUSTRATING AND EMBARRASSING EXPERIENCE. THIS IS MY COMPLAINT, AND I REQUEST HELP IN GETTING THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE BLEW. SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AS THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE THE INSPECTION DETERMINED A LIFTER ROD HAD FRACTURED AND BLOWN OUT THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE CASING. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.
BLUE SMOKE COME FROM TAIL PIPE AFTER CAR SIT FOR A FEW DAYS AND THE FRONT RIGHT STRUT OR SOMETHING ON THAT SIDE RATTLE. THE DATE IS WHEN I FIRST HEARD THE NOISE BUT THE PREVIOUS OWNER HEARD THE NOISE A YEAR OR TWO AFTER PURCHASE,SHE HAD THE STRUTS CHANGED AND THE NOISE IS STILL THERE. *NM
1998 CAMRY, 4 CYLINDER, 62650 MILES. WHILE DRIVING AT AROUND 50 MPH SPEED, HEARD AN UNUSUAL SOUND AND SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND FOUND THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE LOWER HALF OF THE ENGINE AND THE OIL DIP STICK WAS SHEARED IN TO 2 PIECES. MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE THREW A ROD AND PUT A HOLE. HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WITH A REFURBISHED ONE AT A PRIVATE SHOP. CONTACTED THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, TOYOTA WILL NOT BE REPLACING THE ENGINE AND THE LEAST QUOTE FOR REPAIR WAS $4500.00 I BOUGHT THE CAR USED FROM A DEALER IN JAN 2001 AND HAVE HAD REGULAR SERVICE OIL CHANGE AND MAINTENANCE DONE ON IT. IN FEB 2006 HAD THE 60K MILE SERVICE DONE. IN MAY 2002 HAD RECEIVED A LETTER FROM TOYOTA ABOUT POSSIBLE GELLING ISSUE WITH ENGINE OIL. SUSPECT THE ENGINE FAILURE IS A RESULT OF ENGINE OIL GELLING. THE FAILED ENGINE MAY STILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE SHOP, NOT SURE. *JB
THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER IN MAY 2000 STATING THAT HIS 1998 CAMRY HAD THE POTENTIAL OF OIL GELLING OR SLUDGING. *TS THE LETTER ALSO EXPLAINED THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD BE DIAGNOSED BY THE PRESENCE OF BLUE SMOKE OR EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. THE CONSUMER VEHICLE DIDN'T EXHIBIT ANY SIGNS OF A PROBLEM WHEN THE LETTER WAS RECEIVED. EVENTUALLY THE CONSUMER STARTED NOTICING SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TAILPIPE ON STARTUP AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE LETTER WAS PRESENTED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER. THE DEALER REFUSED TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM WITHOUT THE CONSUMER PAYING A FEE. THE CONSUMER REFUSED TO PAY AND THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER DIAGNOSE OR FIXED. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY ALSO STATED THAT HE HAD TO PAY THE DEALER FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST. *NM
A PROBLEM WITH WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM EXHAUST WHEN STARTING THE CAR FOR THE FIRST TIME EACH DAY. BURNS OFF QUICKLY BUT SHOULD NOT BE DOING THIS AT ALL. DEALER SAYS THE PROBLEM MAY BE A VALVE LIFTER, BUT THAT THIS CAR IS TOO NEW FOR THAT. CAR HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT. CONCERNED ABOUT SMOKE AND FIRE OR EMISSIONS PROBLEM. THIS CAR IS RATED FOR CA EMISSIONS AND WAS MADE IN JAPAN. *JB
DT: THE STEAM SEAL VALVE IS LEAKING OIL TO THE CHAMBER OF THE ENGINE. THE PROBLEM FIRST STARTED IN APRIL 2005. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD AND IT IS STARTED THERE IS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE MAY CATCH ON FIRE. *AK
I BROUGHT MY 98 CAMRY INTO TOYOTA CITY IN MAMARONECK, NY ON 11/6/03 BECAUSE OF BLUE SMOKE THAT WAS COMING OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. SEALS WERE REPLACED BUT THERE WAS STILL LEAKING OF OIL. ON 6/2/04 THE CAMRY HAS MORE REPAIRS DONE WITH GASKETS AND SEALS REPLACED BUT STILL THERE WAS OIL LEAKING . I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO HAVE THE LEAK CHECKED AND I AM ALWAYS TOLD THERE IS NO LEAK. I HAVE SMOKE COMING INTO THE CAR FROM THE ENGINE AREA AND PUT A QUART OF OIL IN EVERY WEEK. *NM
MY 1998 TOYOTA CAMERY ALWAYS BURNED SOME OIL.THEN AT ABOUT 108000 MILES IT STARTED BURNING OIL AT A RAPID PACE. I BROUGHT IT IN TO TOYOTA TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT FOR THE OIL SLUDGING PROBLEM ,WHICH THEY KNOW OF.THEY SAID MY ENGINE IS SHOT AND I DID NOT HAVE THE OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM, SO THEY WOULD NOT COVER REPAIRS.THEY SAID ONE REASON I DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM IS BECAUSE I CHANGED OIL EVERY 3000 MILES.*AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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