Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 1998 Toyota Camry
NHTSA data on file today
The 1998 Toyota Camry has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 600 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #09E025000 FMVSS 108/REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS/AMBER REFLECTOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #01V012000 TOYOTA/ACCELERATOR CABLE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #99V307000 TOYOTA/STEERING WHEEL NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 110 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 91 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 82 complaints
- Suspension 69 complaints
- Air Bags 50 complaints
- Tires 39 complaints
Of the 600 complaints on file, 64 report a crash and 31 a fire; across all 600 complaints, owners report 45 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,500–$7,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 1998 Toyota Camry has a moderate number of complaints, with notable issues in brakes, engine cooling, and vehicle speed control. While recalls address some concerns, common failures and repair costs are generally manageable, contributing to an average overall rating.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| brake system | 60,000–90,000 miles | $300–$600 | common |
| engine cooling | 80,000–100,000 miles | $400–$800 | common |
| suspension system | 70,000–100,000 miles | $500–$900 | occasional |
| vehicle speed control | 85,000–110,000 miles | $250–$500 | occasional |
| steering components | 60,000–90,000 miles | $350–$700 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil change every 5,000 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 30,000 miles
- Coolant flush every 50,000 miles
- Timing belt replacement every 100,000 miles
- Transmission fluid change every 60,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Uneven brake pedal feel
- Engine overheating
- Unresponsive cruise control
- Steering wheel vibrations
- Irregular suspension noise
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 1998 Toyota Camry at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.