10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 4
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 88,645 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
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.
- Cincinnati, OH, USA
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.
- Westminster, CA, USA
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.
- Ny, NY, USA
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. Updated 09/21/10
- West Hartford , CT, USA
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. Updated 09/18/09.
- Feeding Hills, MA, USA
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.
- Cardiff, CA, USA
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 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.
- Oviedo, FL, USA
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.
- Mahtomedi, MN, USA
Engine sludge. Not yet failed but inevitable if not repaired.
- Seminole, FL, USA
Have noticed for the past couple of months that a lot of blue-black smoke coming from the exhuaust upon startup. I have found out that a lot of Toyota have had engine failure caused by oil sludge build-up. Now I'm concerned that the engine may fail soon. I have had regular oil changes (some done by Toyota dealership and some by myself). The Toyota dealer in coos bay assured me that this was not a problem and only happens once in about 25,000 cars. The facts seem to be quite different.
- Coos Bay, OR, USA
The engine in my Camry blew. The car was well maintained and running fine. The Toyota dealership informed me that they couldn't find any oil sludging/gelling. However, they couldn't explain why the engine blew. All they could tell me is that a piston blew through the engine. Since they claimed there was no oil sludging/gelling they refused to cover costs of repair.
- New Tripoli, PA, USA
I changed my oil and the attendent said the oil was gelling up. Since that day foward my car burns 4quarts of oil in less than 200 miles I bought the car from the dealer less than a year in a half ago.(Dec 22,2002). Not one garage wants to repair my vechile they told me it was oil rings or valves but its due to the oil sludge. I called Toyota dealership and they told me too bad that I had to pay for the dealer to take the head off and than let them determine if it indeed it is oil gelling. Than Toyota usa would look over my file to see if it would fix the problem very rude and univiting.
- Amsterdam, NY, USA
Driving the Camry down the interstate when oil light came on. Within 2-3 miles I was able to pull off and as I rolled into a gas station the engine began knocking. When towed to a Toyota dealer they said the engine was ruined but claimed it wasn\\'t related to the well-known oil sludge problem. The oil had been changed every 3000-5000 miles and neither leaked nor used oil. The dealer had no explanation why the engine would so suddenly be robbed on oil that it would throw a rod and be ruined. I have since learned the engine has given so many problems that Toyota discontinued it (the 2.2 4liter). Since I had to have a used engine put in (Toyota wanted $5300!!) I have no assurance that this engine won\\'t do exactly the same thing!!
- Lagrange, KY, USA
Engine failed due to oil sludging.dealer told me it is my fault do to infrequent oil changes.they say I need new engine.I repaired myself so it is drivable, but still has problems.some kind of knock and oil leak.I received letter stating Toyota will back there product, but dealer still will not help. Dealer is Toyota on nicholasville.
- Georgetown, KY, USA
My Camry started acting funny. While leaving work to take my car to the Toyota dealer, the engine started making noises so I pulled over, shut the car off and waited for the tow truck. This was Wednesday June 25, 2003. On Friday morning, my husband was notified that we needed a new engine because of "oil gelling" or "oil sludging" and it would be $3,500. I took all of the paperwork with a copy of the June 2002 Toyota letter to my dealer to see if I would "qualify" for their support program. When I asked the service tech why the cars had not been recalled due to the extent of damage that could be caused and he told me it was only a small number of consumers. I have found that to be untrue. I would expect for Toyota to pay for a new engine plus a comporable rental car until my car is fixed along with offering a extended or new warrenty sine the same problem seems to be reoccurring.
- Garner, NC, USA
Engine had to be replaced due to oil gelling.
- Millis, MA, USA
Engine blow up and blew rods, rod bars, crank, oil pump, rings, pistons, thrust washers, shims.
- Douglasville, AL, USA
Currently experiencing oil sludge problem. My Toyota dealership has not committed to taking care of the problem. We are currently still working with them to see if they will take care of the problem.
- Indianapolis, IN, USA
Engine failed due to oil gelling or sludge.
- Hayward, CA, USA
- San Leandro, CA, USA