1999 Toyota Camry

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 501 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the vehicle speed control. It has been recalled 2 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
81,000 milesMedian miles at failure

174 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 60,00075,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Vehicle Speed Control50
17010
Air Bags › Frontal47
44047
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine30
071
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip29
806
Engine and Engine Cooling28
130
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline20
090
Tires17
110
Electrical System14
161
Air Bags14
704
Unknown or Other11
200

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting › Headlights09E025000
Filed May 11, 200942,540 vehiclesDope, Inc.

Defect. DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Vehicle Speed Control01V012000
Filed Jan 16, 200153,061 vehiclesToyota Motor North America, Inc.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL AND V6 ENGINES, AND BUILT AT ONE OF TWO LINES AT THE KENTUCKY PLANT. THE ACCELERATOR CABLE HOUSING COULD BE DEFORMED AT THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTUATOR-TO-THROTTLE BODY CONNECTION. THE ACCELERATOR INNER-CABLE COULD WEAR AWAY AND EVENTUALLY BREAK.

Risk. THIS COULD ALLOW THE THROTTLE TO RETURN TO IDLE OR REMAIN IN ITS MOST RECENT POSITION REGARDLESS OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL OPERATION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR CABLE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 23, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Exterior Lighting
Filed Dec 22, 2021NJ

Aftermarket drive side corner light will not stay on and work

Seat Belts
Filed Dec 21, 2021CA

Front passenger seatbelt does not latch.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Oct 25, 2021148,000 milesMS

The contact owns a 1999 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that the headlights were dim while driving the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the headlights were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed her that there were no recalls on the vehicle. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 09E025000 (Exterior Lighting) which she linked to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 148,000.

EngineCrash
Filed Apr 24, 2019292,000 milesFL

THE VEHICLE UPON START HAD GOT HEAVY. IT WOULD ONLY INCH UPON HEAVY ACCELERATION. THEN SUDDENLY AT TURNING, RETAINED NORMALITY AND BURST FORWARD

Electrical SystemFire1 injured
Filed Feb 26, 2019205,000 milesCA

I TURNED ON REAR DEFROST AND WITHIN FEW SECONDS BACK SEAT WAS ON FIRE. WINDOW BURNT SEAT AND SEAT BELT ALSO BURNED HAND. IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL CAUSE. I FIGURED A FUSE WOULD BLOW PRIOR TO A FIRE INSIDE CAR. HAD I BEEN ON FWY I WOULD HAVE NOT BEEN LUCKY GAS TANK IS INCHES BELOW FIRE .

Electrical System
Filed Nov 14, 2017105,000 milesTN

FOR SEVERAL YEARS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON AND WE HAVE BEEN TOLD IT WAS THE GAS CAP. OUR MECHANIC HAS TRIED MANY SOLUTIONS TO REPAIR THIS AND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS LATER, WE ARE NOW BEING TOLD IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM TO THIS VEHICLE - THE EVAPORATION VAPOR CANISTER. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, THIS PIECE WAS PART OF A LAWSUIT AGAINST TOYOTA THAT TOYOTA LOST. WE CAN NOT AFFORD TO PAY OVER $400 FOR A PART SO THAT IT PASSES INSPECTION. ESPECIALLY WHEN TOYOTA KNEW THIS PART WAS A PROBLEM. TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR OF THIS PART.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Nov 14, 2017110,000 milesTN

THE HEAD LIGHT HAVE VERY LOW ILLUMINATION AND BARELY LOOK LIKE THEY ARE ACTUALLY ON AT NIGHT. THIS IS HAS BEEN A MAJOR SAFETY RISK TO DRIVE THIS CAR AT NIGHT. TOYOTA NEED TO RECALL THESE HEADLIGHTS AND FIX THE DESIGN FLAW,

Steering
Filed Jul 18, 201797,000 milesNC

CAR PULLS TO LEFT AFTER NEW TIRES , 3 DIFFERENT ALIGNMENT CHECKS. WENT ON-LINE AND DISCOVERED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND FEW SOLUTIONS. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND LITTLE HELP FROM DEALERS. YOU HAVE TO MAINTAIN CONSTANT PRESSURE ON WHEEL WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED TO STAY IN LANE.

Electrical System
Filed Apr 25, 2017NY

FOR SEVERAL YEARS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON AND WE HAVE BEEN TOLD IT WAS THE GAS CAP. OUR MECHANIC HAS TRIED MANY SOLUTIONS TO REPAIR THIS AND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS LATER, WE ARE NOW BEING TOLD IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM TO THIS VEHICLE - THE EVAPORATION VAPOR CANISTER. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, THIS PIECE WAS PART OF A LAWSUIT AGAINST TOYOTA THAT TOYOTA LOST. WE CAN NOT AFFORD TO PAY OVER $400 FOR A PART SO THAT IT PASSES INSPECTION. ESPECIALLY WHEN TOYOTA KNEW THIS PART WAS A PROBLEM. TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR OF THIS PART.

Unknown or OtherCrash
Filed Mar 7, 201780,000 milesIL

WHILE GOING SHOPPING TO GET OUR WEEKEND NEWSPAPERS,OUR CAR EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION AND WOULD NOT STOP.THE ONLY WE HAD TO STOP IT WAS TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK WHILE MOVING FORWARD.THE CAR WENT OVER A CURB.

Air BagsCrash
Filed Nov 2, 2016153,000 milesPA

I ONLY HAD MY 1999 CAMRY FOR 5 DAYS. I WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY DOING ABOUT 35 MPH. I WAS GOING AROUND A SLIGHT CURVE WHEN THE WHEEL LOCKED AND I COULDN'T TURN. I TRIED TO STOP BUT COULDN'T AND RAN DIRECTLY INTO THE CONCRETE MEDIAN CAUSING ME TO SPIN AROUND AND THEN HIT THE MEDIAN AGAIN. BOTH AIR BAGS CAME OUT AND MY CAR WAS TOWED TO A LOT WHERE IT WAS DECLARED "TOTALED." NO ONE OR ANY OTHER PROPERTY WAS DAMAGED. I HAD MY CAR FOR ONLY 5 DAYS AND IT MALFUNCTIONED. *TR

Air BagsCrash
Filed Oct 30, 2016153,000 milesPA

I WAS DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY DOING ABOUT 35 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AS I DRIVING AROUND A CURVE. I DROVE INTO THE LEFT CEMENT BARRIER, CAR SPUN AROUND AND HIT THE BARRIER AGAIN. I JUST PURCHASED THE CAR AND DIDN'T EVEN HAVE IT FOR 5 DAYS! THE CAR WAS TOWED AND SALVAGED. *TR

Air Bags
Filed Sep 16, 2016AZ

THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON DASH FLASHES. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS. I HAVE HAD IT CHECKED NUMEROUS TIMES BY AN AUTHORIZED TOYOTA SERVICE DEALER AND THEY USED TO MESS WITH SOME WIRES UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT UNTIL THE LIGHT STOPPED FLASHING. THAT FIX LAST FOR A FEW MONTHS AND THEN THE FLASHING LIGHT RETURNS. THIS SITUATION HAS NEVER BEEN RESOLVED WHICH LEAVES ME TO WONDER IF I HAVE AIR BAG PROTECTION OR NOT. LUCKILY I HAVE HAD NO MAJOR ACCIDENTS ,FOR I SUSPICION THAT IF I DID THOSE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY. I NEED TO RESOLVE THIS SAFETY ISSUE !

Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise Control
Filed Jul 19, 2016114,000 milesMO

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN OFF CRUISE CONTROL, THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING INDEPENDENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING CAUSING THE CONTACT TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE RPM WAS EXTREMELY HIGH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000. ...UPDATED 09/12/16 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM TURNED OUT TO PIECE OF PAPER MANAGED TO GET PAST THE AIR FILTER AND THROTTLE BODY AND JAMMED THE THROTTLE PLATE. THERE WAS NO SYSTEM FAILURE. THE CONSUMER WISHED TO WITHDRAW HIS COMPLAINT. UPDATED 10/18/16.*JB

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator PedalCrash1 injured
Filed Apr 7, 2015109,000 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL REMAINED STUCK AFTER BEING DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND ONLY THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE DETAILS OF THE CRASH WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jan 2, 2015109,000 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

Power Train
Filed Dec 10, 2014180,000 milesPA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHIFT LEVER FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFTER CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

EngineFire
Filed Nov 19, 2014200,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY. AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE, FLAMES ENGULFED THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

EngineFire
Filed Oct 14, 2014220,000 milesNC

1999 TOYOTA CAMRY LE 4CYL STARTER FAILED TO DISENGAGE FROM FLYWHEEL CAUSING FIRE. THE STARTER KEPT RUNNING BURNING IT OUT AND ALSO BURNING THE POSITIVE CABLE TO THE BATTERY. DAMAGE TO THE BATTERY IS UNDER INVESTIGATION. I WAS SITTING PARKED IN A PARKING LOT WITH THE RADIO AND THE AIR ON WHEN I OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE THEN STARTED TO COME INTO THE CAR THRU THE AIR CONDITIONING. I TURNED THE CAR OFF BUT THE SMOKE CONTINUED AND THE FIRE DEPT WAS CALLED. AFTER LOOKING AT THE INTERNET THIS SEEMS TO BE A WIDELY KNOWN ISSUE WITH MULTIPLE POSTINGS. I HAVE NOT SEEN A RECALL ON THIS. IT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. MY INSURER SAID THAT MY CLAIM WILL BE DENIED DUE TO MECHANICAL FAILURE. TOYOTA NEEDS TO HE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. *TR

Engine
Filed Jun 10, 2014CT

1999 TOYOTA CAMRY. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE PROBLEMS AND SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE WAITING FOR HIS WIFE, WITH THE ENGINE IDLING, WITH THE GEAR IN PARK AND THE A/C ON HIGH, THE ENGINE ACCELERATED ABRUPTLY AND WITHIN 2-3 SECONDS, THERE WAS A LOUD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. HE IMMEDIATELY SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF, EXITED THE VEHICLE, AND LOOKED UNDER IT. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED OIL ON THE PAVEMENT. THE ENGINE HAD THROWN A ROD THROUGH THE PAN. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE SOLD THE VEHICLE. *JB

20 of 501 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2007
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
202450100Routine
202364220Do not drive
202260110Routine
2021156121Fatalities reported
2020273320Above average
2019394610Above average
2018738840Above average
2017148350Routine
2016183220Routine
2015271131Fatalities reported
2014455341Fatalities reported
2013274211Fatalities reported
2012589260High concern
2011599570High concern
2010602910High concern
20091,29310192Fatalities reported
20089338130High concern
20072,88610644Fatalities reported
2006317542Fatalities reported
20057215106Fatalities reported
20046383115Fatalities reported
20037801105Fatalities reported
200295342012Fatalities reported
20012724113Fatalities reported
20004544283Fatalities reported
1999 — this page5012422Fatalities reported
19986003310High concern
19975554273Fatalities reported
1996417785Fatalities reported
19953035111Fatalities reported
19942873108Fatalities reported
19932602102Fatalities reported
19925652190Above average
19911491101Fatalities reported
1990134230Routine

Compare every Camry year →

Reading this record

2 deaths reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: May 11, 2009. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.