1998 Toyota Camry Suspension Problems

REAR SUSPENSION ISSUE THAT ALLOWS THE CAR TO BOTTOM OUT OVER SMALL BUMPS AND A CONSTANT BUMPING NOISE. THIS IS NOT JUST A ONE TIME INCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10399467

Incident

Jan 1, 1999

CAR BOTTOMED OUT OVER ANY UNEVEN SURFACE EVAN AFTER I REPLACED SHOCKS AND MOUNTS FOR OVER 850 DOLLARS ON FRONT END. FIINALLY REPLACED FRONT AND REAR SPRINGS AND STRUTS FOR 2000 DOLLARS AND CAR STILL BOTTOMS OUT AND IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE . CONTACT TOYOTA ABOUT PROBLEM BUT NO DEALER WOULD ADMIT TO SUSPENSION DESIGN FLAW IN 1998 CAMRY SUSPENSION. OTHER FAULTS WITH ACCELERATION AND SERIOUS INJURIES DUE TO GAS PEDALS WE'RE A NATURAL PROGRESSION IN CAMRYS THAT FOLLOWED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10396602

Incident

Jun 18, 2009

Mileage

60,000 mi

DEAR SIR OR MADAM, I HAVE 1998 CAMRY LE AND THE FRONT SUSPENSION MAKES CLUNKING AND BANGING NOISE WHEN I DRIVE OVER ANY UNEVEN SURFACE OR SMALL HOLE, BUT NOISE GETS MUCH WORSE WHEN I DRIVE OVER BUMPS OR HUMPS. I HOPE YOU WILL TAKE ACTION TO MY COMPLAINT AND THANK YOU ADVANCE FOR TAKING CARE FOR US AS A CONSUMER SAFETY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10394549

Incident

Dec 8, 2010

I NOTICE THE SAME ISSUE WITH MY CAMRY THE NOISE IS CONSTANT IT MAKES A RATTLING NOISE IN THE FRONT AND THEN IT ALSO SQUEAKS IN THE FRONT. I BOUGHT IT TO PEP BOYS 6 TIMES AND THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM IT IS A HORRIBLE NOISE THAT IS VERY LOUD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10384685

Incident

Oct 10, 2010

Mileage

56,000 mi

1. FRONT SPRING RETAINER COLLAPSED INTO TIRE AND SHREDDED TIRE IN MOTION, LOST CONTROL, REPLACED SHOCK ABSORBER ASSY' 2. REAR STABILIZER BAR SPLIT IN HALF, REAR WHEEL WOBBLED UNCONTROLLABLY CONDITION, TEMPORARY WELD, MUST BE REPLACED, PART AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10235443

Incident

Mar 21, 2008

Mileage

110,000 mi

I HAVE A '98 TOYOTA CAMRY LE WITH A FRONT-END RATTLING NOISE EMANATING FROM THE SUSPENSION. WHEN I DRIVE OFF IN THE MORNING (COLD) OVER A MODERATELY BUMPY ROAD, ITS SOUNDS LIKE MY FRONT END WAS GOING TO FALL OFF. THIS RATTLE IS DEFINITELY TEMPERATURE DEPENDENT AND DRIVING ME CRAZY. LOOKING AT THE WEB FOUND THE SAME PROBLEM ALSO ON CAMRYS AND AVALONS FROM '97-'99. *TR

NHTSA ID

10221012

Incident

Feb 28, 2008

Mileage

90,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10174630

Incident

Nov 20, 2006

ALL 4 STRUTS WORN-OUT AND LEAKING ON A VEHICLE LESS THAN 60,000 MILES . DRIVING WITH BAD STRUTS WAS HORRIBLE! VERY LOUD RATTLING NOISE. WAS TOLD BY AUTO SHOP THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE 1998 CAMRY. THE RESULT WAS A REPAIR BILL OF $800.00. I COULD NOT AFFORD TO REPLACE ALL 4 STRUTS SO REPLACED ONLY 2 AT A COST OF $500.00!!*AK

NHTSA ID

10100866

Incident

Nov 20, 2004

PROBLEM WITH SUSPENSION. *BF THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10096800

Incident

Oct 1, 2004

Mileage

37,000 mi

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. *LA

NHTSA ID

10054843

Incident

Nov 14, 2003

Mileage

80,000 mi

FRONT NOISE IF PASSING OVER BUMPS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS VERY COMMON TO TOYOTA CAMRYS FOR THIS YEAR THE DEALER STATES THE ONLY WAY TO GET RID OF THE NOISE IS TO REPLACE THE FRONT STRUTS AT COST TO ME. *LA

NHTSA ID

10043360

Incident

Mar 20, 2003

Mileage

60,000 mi

I BOUGHT MY CAR NEW IN MAY 1998. I HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED AT LEAST 3 TIMES THE FIRST TIME BEING 11/8/99. I HAVE COMPLAINED SEVERAL TIMES OF FRONT END NOISE, CAR DRIFTING, AND STEERING VIBRATIONS. EACH TIME I WAS TOLD IT WAS EITHER INCORRECT TIRE PRESSURE, OUT OF BALANCE OR ALIGNMENT. MOST OF THE TIME I WAS TOLD THE NOISE IS NORMAL ROAD NOISE AND THE DRIFTING IS NORMAL DRIFTING. I THINK SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. MY CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I BOUGHT A NEW CAR TO AVOID HAVING TO PAY FOR ALL THESE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS AND BECAUSE I HAD A 7 MONTH OLD BABY. I NOW HAVE TWO CHILDREN AND SOMETIMES I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THEM IN MY CAR. MY CAR STILL MAKES THE NOISE, DRIFTS, STEERING WHEEL VIBRATIONS. I HAVE EVEN REPORTED CLUNKING NOISES FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR AND WAS TOLD IT NEEDED TO BE GREASED OR THE BOLTS TIGHTENED. IT SEEMS TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ALL ALONG AND DECIDED TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. TOYOTA SHOULD BE FORCED TO FIX ALL THE VEHICLES WITH THIS CONDITION. IT SHOULDN'T TAKE SOMEONE'S DEATH BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE. I AM A FIRST TOYOTA BUYER AND VERY DISAPPOINTED. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO FIX A SUSPENSION SYSTEM THAT WAS DEFECTIVE AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, NOR SHOULD I HAVE TO FOR A $20,000 CAR THAT IS BARELY 5 YEARS OLD WITH ONLY 53,000 MILES ON IT. I THOUGHT THE MECHANICS WERE RIGHT ABOUT NORMAL NOISE UNTIL I SAW ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU. JB

NHTSA ID

10039141

Incident

May 25, 1998

THE SUSPENSION OF MY 1998 CAMRY LE HAS BEEN HAVING NOISES WHEN PASS THE SPEED HUMPS FOR TWO YEARS. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE HEARD SOME COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT THERE IS NO RECALL YET. IT MAKE ME VERY CONCERNED. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10023562

Incident

Feb 1, 2001

JUST BEFORE 30,000 MILES MY RIGHT FONT SUSPENSION BEGAN TO RATTLE OCCASIONALLY. THE CAR NOW HAS 93,000 MILES AND THE RATTLE IS STILL HEARD NOW AND THEN. NUMEROUS TRIPS TO THE SHOP HAVE NOT TURNED UP ANY CAUSE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10018604

Incident

Dec 21, 1999

Mileage

29,604 mi

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. *JB

NHTSA ID

10010712

Incident

Oct 15, 2002

Mileage

68,000 mi

FRONT SUSPENTION SOUNDS LOOSE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS IN RAPID CONCESSION. GETTING LOUDER EVERY DAY AND CAN'T PINPOINT THE PROBLEM

NHTSA ID

10005412

Incident

Jan 1, 2002

Mileage

31 mi

FRONT SUPENSION MAKES CLUNKING AND BANGING NOISE WHEN DRIVING OVER EVEN SMALL POT HOLES. NOISE GETS MUCH WORSE WITH LARGER POT HOLES. NOISE STARTED AROUND 25K MILES.SUSPECT FRONT STRUTS AND STRUT MOUNTS.

NHTSA ID

10002945

Incident

Jan 19, 2003

Mileage

25,000 mi

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE FRONT RIGHT STRUTS SNAPPED CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

NHTSA ID

10001791

Incident

Dec 23, 2002

Mileage

41,000 mi

THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM WAS FAULTY WHICH CAUSED A KNOCKING AND SQUEAKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *MR *NLM

NHTSA ID

8022658

Incident

Jan 1, 2002

Mileage

42,000 mi

PROBLEMS WITH REAR SUSPENSION BOTTOMING OUT GOING OVER DIPS, BUMPS, ETC. HAVE BECOME MORE PRONOUNCED OVER TIME. ANYTIME YOU HAVE ANY PASSENGERS, EVEN ONE SMALL CHILD, IN REAR SEAT, THE CAR BOTTOMS OUT AND SCRAPES THE STREET SURFACE. EVEN BACKING OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY, WHICH IS SLIGHTLY ELEVATED, CAUSES THE REAR TO BOTTOM OUT AND SCRAPE THE DRIVEWAY. WHEN DRIVING AT THE SPEED LIMIT, IT WILL BOTTOM OUT ON SLIGHTLY ROUGH ROAD. WE HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT BUT THEY HAVE ADVISED US THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY ARE VERY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE SUSPENSION BUT INSIST THAT TOYOTA BUILT THE CAR WITH A SOFT SUSPENSION FOR A SOFT RIDE. THE RESULT IS A CAR THAT BOTTOMS OUT CONTINOUSLY IF YOU HAVE ANY PASSENGERS IN THE REAR OF THE COMPARTMENT OR A LOAD IN THE TRUNK.*AK

NHTSA ID

764948

THE FRONT SUSPENSION WAS EXCESSIVELY SHAKY. IT VIBRATED AND MADE A LOT OF NOISE WHEN GOING OVER A ROUGH ROAD. FROM MY RESEARCH ON THIS SUBJECT AT THE NHTSA WEB SITE, THERE ARE 52 REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THE 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY MODEL. I HAD THE PROBLEM FIXED AT A DEALERSHIP IN LOUISIANA. THEY REPLACED THE STRUT MOUNTS ON BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION AT A COST OF $420.82. THEY TOLD ME THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL BY TOYOTA. IT IS MY WISH THAT TOYOTA BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT IS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE '98 CAMRY.*AK

NHTSA ID

762926

Incident

Jun 8, 2002

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

762072

RECURRNET NOISE FROM FRONT END SINCE DAY ONE, ESPECIALLY GOING OVER ROUGH PAVEMENT. DEALERS SERVICED ONCE FOR FREE, BUT NOISE CONTINUED. NOW THAT WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, I AM ADVISED THAT THE STRUT MOUNTS HAVE FAILED AND NED TO BE REPLCED. REPLACED BOTH FRONT STRUT MOUNTS AT COST OF $416.58. SERVICE ADVISER ADMITS TOYOTA HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THIS BUT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I BELIEVE THIS A POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPAIR FOR ALL OWNERS OF CAMRYS.

NHTSA ID

758825

Incident

Feb 12, 2002

WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD AND DRIVER TURNS HITTING OR A BUMPING THERE'S A GRINDING NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS STRUT TOWERS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

8003421

Incident

Nov 1, 2001

RIGHT REAR VALVE CAP WAS REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA ID

564144

Incident

Dec 7, 2001