1999 Toyota Camry Problems, Recalls & Reliability

661 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1999 Toyota Camry, alongside 2 recall campaigns and 2 defect investigations. It scores 26/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 66,000 miles.

661Complaints
26/100Trouble index
2Recalls
82,000Typical trouble mileage

Typical

Where 1999 sits among all Camry years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Engine 126 complaints (19%) · typically ~66,000 miles
“The check engine light came on in may of 1999 they then replaced the transmission and the entired computer system. Now the check engine light is on again.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1999 Camry
Brakes & stability 102 complaints (15%) · typically ~62,500 miles
“Brakes failed, replaced and failed again within six months of ownership of new vehicle. Mjs”— owner report to NHTSA, 1999 Camry
Airbags 76 complaints (11%) · typically ~70,000 miles
“While driving at 45 mph consumer's vehicle ran into another vehicle that was stopped at a red light head-on. Upon impact, none of frontal air bags deployed.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1999 Camry
Speed control 65 complaints (10%) · typically ~90,000 miles
“Unexplained acceleration in 1st and 2nd gear at 2800 rpm. The car will not stop in a safe distance.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1999 Camry
Electrical 59 complaints (9%) · typically ~93,350 miles
“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…”— owner report to NHTSA, 1999 Camry
Suspension 36 complaints (5%) · typically ~32,000 miles
“Front strut failure on xle v6 camry. Noise began around 32,000 miles. Strut plates replaced at owner expense at 42,000 miles and all four struts then replaced again at owner expense at 59,000 miles. Manufacturer contacted and refused assistance "in this case." indication from other reports on net…”— owner report to NHTSA, 1999 Camry

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 219 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 82,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 55,000 and 120,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (2)

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 09E025000 2009

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…

Fix: 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 CONTROL 01V012000 2001

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…

Fix: 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…

Federal defect investigations

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE PE02079 opened 2002, closed 2003
ENGINE SEIZURE DP02004 opened 2002, closed 2002

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

1998peak 100 in 19992021

Questions buyers ask

Is the 1999 Toyota Camry reliable?

The 1999 Toyota Camry drew 661 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 26/100, scored against the model's worst year (2007).

What are the most common 1999 Toyota Camry problems?

The top reported problems for the 1999 Toyota Camry are engine (126 complaints), brakes & stability (102), and airbags (76).

At what mileage do 1999 Toyota Camry problems show up?

Owners most often report 1999 Toyota Camry problems around 82,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 55,000 and 120,000 miles.

Does the 1999 Toyota Camry have recalls?

2 recall campaigns apply to the 1999 Toyota Camry. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

← 1998 Camry All Camry years 2000 Camry →
Data updated 2026-08-12 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.