There are 75 stored owner reports matching the air bags & restraints leading-label group for the 1998 Toyota Camry in our NHTSA-sourced dataset. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Loaded 50 of 75 matching reports. This is a limited sample of up to 50 reports, ordered by incident date when available, not the complete group. The list controls page through the loaded reports only.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE DRIVER LOSS CONTROL WHEN VEHICLE WAS HYDROPLANING. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FLIP TWICE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK, NECK, BRUISES AND GLASS CUT THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE CONTACT STATED INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE TOTAL LOSS. THE CONTACT STATED LOCAL DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 146,000
STARTING IN 2015, THREE OF THE 5 SEAT BELTS IN MY 1998 CAMRY DO NOT REMAIN LATCHED, OR FAIL TO INITIALLY LATCH. AS A (RETIRED) MECHANICAL ENGINEER, I DISASSEMBLED THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM. THE DEFECT IS IN THE ANCHOR MECHANISM WITH THE "PRESS" BUTTON ON IT. THE "PRESS" BUTTON HAS A METAL SPRING MOUNTED ON THE RED PLASTIC PART, AND THE PLASTIC HAS GRADUALLY CRACKED AT THE SPRING MOUNT. THIS METAL SPRING IS WHAT PUSHES THE METAL BLOCK THROUGH THE RECTANGULAR HOLE IN THE SHOULDER BELT COUPLER, WHEN IT IS PLUGGED INTO THE SEAT BELT ANCHOR AND LATCHED PROPERLY. EVENTUALLY, THE CRACK GROWS TO THE POINT THAT THE METAL SPRING CANNOT EXERT ENOUGH FORCE TO RELIABLY LATCH TO THE SHOULDER BELT. IT MAY INITIALLY LATCH AND FEEL SECURE, BUT CAN THEN COME LOOSE SEVERAL MINUTES LATER WHEN DRIVING THE CAR. I PLAN TO INCLUDE 3 PHOTOS OF THE PROBLEM PART, ONE SHOWING THE CRACK IN THE PLASTIC. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS, SO THE SEAT BELT PROBLEM HAS NOT RESULTED IN ANY INJURIES TO MYSELF OR MY PASSENGERS. THE LOCAL TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS NO EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR SEAT BELTS, SO I BOUGHT NEW TOYOTA REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR THE DEFECTIVE BELT ANCHORS. WE LIVE IN THE DESERT, SO LONG-TERM HEAT AND COLD CYCLES COULD BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR. THE SPRING HAS ITS HEAVIEST LOAD ON THE PLASTIC MOUNT WHEN THE SEAT BELT IS NOT ENGAGED, SO THE CRACK COULD POSSIBLY START, OR GROW, EVEN WHEN THE SEAT BELT IS NOT BEING USED.
THIS 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY LE WAS PURCHASED USED IN 2003 FROM A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. IT NOW HAS 64, 970 MILES ON IT, HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, CONTAINS ALL ORIGINAL PARTS, AND HAS A FLAWLESS ELECTRONICS SYSTEM. THE PROBLEM LIES WITH THE AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHT WHICH HAS BURNED CONSTANTLY FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS, WHILE DRIVING. TO HAVE THIS SYSTEM CHECKED IS COSTLY, YET THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A RECALL ON THESE AIR BAGS FOR THIS YEAR AND MODEL. IN ADDITION, I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE OF ANY KIND REGARDING THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE ADVISE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE MEDIAN. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED COLLAR BONE INJURIES AND ABRASIONS THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 192,000.
BACK SEAT CENTER SEAT BELT WON'T RETRACT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN SHE VEHICLE VEERED INTO A SLIGHT DITCH AND THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER AND LANDED ON ITS ROOF. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES BECAUSE OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND WAS NOT INVESTIGATED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 200,000. UPDATED 08/01/12*LJ
REAR, RIGHT SEAT BELT WAS FULLY EXTENDED AND WILL NOT RETRACT; EVEN AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO RETRACT IT. *TR
TODAY MY WIFE WAS STOPPED IN A PARKING LOT DRIVEWAY WAITING FOR TRAFFIC TO CLEAR WHEN 2 CARS CRASHED INTO THE FRONT END OF THE OUR CAMRY. IT BROKE THE FRONT BUMPER OPEN AND THE STYROFOAM SUPPORT INSIDE. THE IMPACT DID NOT SET OFF THE AIRBAG AND IT IS WITHIN THE FRONT END RANGE OF IMPACT. *KB
I WAS DRIVING A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. I HAD AN ACCIDENT AS I MOVED TO CURB AND HIT A TREE. I WAS MOVING AT 20-25 MILES PER HOUR. THE AIRBAGS GOT DEPLOYED AND WITH A HUGE FORCE. THE AIRBAG IN THE STEERING CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO MY FINGERS CAUSING MULTIPLE FRACTURES AND MULTIPLE STITCHES. *TR
CAR HIT A GUARD RAIL AT AROUND 40 MPH OR HIGHER, CAR WRECKED, NO AIR BAGS INFLATED. CAR WAS A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. *TR
1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION CAUSING A CRASH. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED IN THE SECONDS THE VEHICLE LEFT THE STREET, IT JUMPED THE CURB, RAN OVER A SMALL TREE TRUNK, CROSSED TWO DRIVEWAYS AND HIT A 25 YEAR OLD DOGWOOD HEAD-ON. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED BY THE TREE BEING UPROOTED BECAUSE THE SOIL WAS SATURATED FROM THE RECENT HEAVY RAINS. THE TRESS AND BRANCHES DESTROYED THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND ITS UNDERCARRIAGE. THE VEHICLE CAME TO REST AFTER IT HIT THE SECOND DOGWOOD TREE. THE WINDSHIELD WAS INTACT, HOWEVER, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB UPDATED 03/24/10.*JB
CRASH. MY DAUGHTER DRIVING MY CAR ATTEMPTED TO EXECUTE A LEFT TURN AGAINST TRAFFIC ON RESIDENTIAL STREET. ONCOMING LARGE SUV. LOST IN SHADOW OF LARGE TREE SUV DARK GRAY GOING 30 MPH APPROX. HIT HEAD ON WITH MY TOYOTA CAMRY LE 1998. THE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. NO PREVIOUS ACCIDENTS OR AIRBAG DEPLOYMENTS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL CRASH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND HE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 119,700.
REAR PASSENGER BELT STUCK AND WILL NOT MOVE. *TR
THE REAR MIDDLE SEAT BELT SUDDENLY WILL NOT RETRACT. THE REAR SIDE SEATBELTS SEEM TO GET STUCK EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE. MY BROTHER PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM OUR MOM (WHO HAS BEEN THE ONLY OWNER) LAST YEAR, AND WERE WONDERING IF SHE MISSED A RECALL. *TR
MY WIFE STARTED UP HER 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY, SLOWLY MADE A RIGHT TURN WHEN SUDDENLY THE AUTOMOBILE ACCELERATED AT A HIGH SPEED, JUMPED THE CURB, KNOCKED OVER A PARKING METER AND HIT THE SIDE OF AN APARTMENT HOUSE. SHE WAS NOT HURT AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, DESPITE THE IMPACT. TOYOTA, WHICH HAD JUST SERVICED THE CAR TWO WEEKS BEFORE, REPAIRED THE CAR (WITH MY INSURANCE). WE INSISTED ON A FULL INVESTIGATION BY TOYOTA, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE FLOOR MAT JAMMED THE ACCELERATOR. WE DO NOT BUY THAT STORY IN LIGHT OF RECENT EVENTS AND WHAT HAPPENED TO US. AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE WRITING NOW TO SHOW THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED FOR A WHILE. *TR
WE PURCHASED OUR 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY FROM MY HUSBAND'S 70 YEAR OLD PARENTS LAST YEAR. THERE ARE 82,000 MILES AS OF 1/08. THERE ARE TWO BROKEN SEATBELTS IN THE BACK SEAT(PASSENGER SIDE AND MIDDLE), AND BOTH FRONT SEATBELTS EITHER DO NOT RETRACT OR HAVE TO BE MANUALLY FED BACK INTO THE RETRACTOR. IS THERE ANY KIND OF RECALL REGARDING THIS ISSUE? *TR
JUST RECENTLY MY AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON. I CALLED TOYOTA TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM WAS A RECALL PERHAPS AND FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS NOT AND I WAS SURPRISED ONLY BECAUSE THAT THIS IS A TRUE SAFETY ISSUE IN EVENT THAT I WAS EVER IN A ACCIDENT. AIR BAGS HAVE NOT REACHED 10 YRS OLD YET AND THEY ARE CAUSING PROBLEMS NOW? WHAT CONCERNS ME IS THAT WHEN I HEARD THAT WHEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON YOUR AIR BAGS ARE NOT WORKING MEANING THAT WILL NOT DEPLOY IN ACCIDENT. TOYOTA NEEDS TO CONSIDER OF A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. *NM
ABOUT A YEAR AGO THE DRIVER-SIDE REAR SHOULDER BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. I CHOSE NOT TO GET IT REPLACED, BECAUSE MY CHILD RIDES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. NOW THE PASSENGER-SIDE REAR SHOULDER BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. MY CHILD IS REQUIRED BY LAW TO SIT IN A BOOSTER SEAT IN THE BACK, AND IT IS VERY AWKWARD TO USE THE CENTER SEAT WITH THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF HIS BOOSTER. I WILL BE SPENDING NEARLY $600 TO GET THE SHOULDER BELTS REPLACED. *NM
SEAT BELT ON MY 98 TOYOTA CAMRY MALFUNCTIONED WILL NOT RETRACT. MY 5 YEAR OLD WAS PULLING ON THE SEAT BELT AND PULLED IT OUT ALL THE WAY. DEALER SAID HE WOULD FIX FOR $200.00 I ASKED HIM WHY THEY DON'T FIX IT FOR FREE SINCE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT'S WHAT THEY CHARGE. *JB
Showing 1-20 of 50 loaded complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: May 4, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.