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1990 Toyota Camry

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1990 Toyota Camry do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 295.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 14 of 134 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Seat Belts. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports3 fire reports6 injury reports

Latches/locks/linkages complaints

19 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 2001
Latches/locks/linkages

WHILE CONSUMER IS IN VEHICLE AND LOCKS DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR CONSUMER CANNOT GET OUT UNLESS SOMEONE FROM OUTSIDE OPENS DOOR. CONTACTED DEALER,AND DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #885286

Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 1999
Latches/locks/linkages

DOORS LOCKED CONSUMER IN THE CAR, AND THE DOORS COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE OR OUT MANUALLY OR AUTOMATICALLY. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #847297

Mileage unknown · Jan 19, 1999
Latches/locks/linkages

POSSIBLE CAR THEFT DUE TO DEFECTIVE DOOR LOCKS PRIOR TO RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #543428

Mileage unknown · Aug 24, 1998
Latches/locks/linkages

TOYOTA WEST, LAS VEGAS, NV MADE REPAIR AT NO CHARGE, EXCEPT FOR COST OF PART. I WAS TOLD THE CAUSE WAS A BROKEN PLASTIC CLIP, THEY SOMETIMES BREAK ON THEIR OWN. THIS MADE BE DUE TO THE HEAT IN LAS VEGAS. I SUGGEST A RECALL E MADE WITH A REPLACEMENT OF THE PLASTIC CLIP WITH A METAL CLIP TO PREVENT A PROBLEM WITH REMOVING A PAS…

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TOYOTA WEST, LAS VEGAS, NV MADE REPAIR AT NO CHARGE, EXCEPT FOR COST OF PART. I WAS TOLD THE CAUSE WAS A BROKEN PLASTIC CLIP, THEY SOMETIMES BREAK ON THEIR OWN. THIS MADE BE DUE TO THE HEAT IN LAS VEGAS. I SUGGEST A RECALL E MADE WITH A REPLACEMENT OF THE PLASTIC CLIP WITH A METAL CLIP TO PREVENT A PROBLEM WITH REMOVING A PASSENGER FROM THE CAR (IN AN ACCIDENT) IF THE CLIF BREAKS.

NHTSA ODI #540313

Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 1998
Latches/locks/linkages

CAR IS PRESENTLY AT TOYOTA WEST IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA FOR REPAIR. I HAVE INDICATED TO DEALER THAT THIS REPAIR SHOULD BE AT NO COST TO ME, SINCE IT IS A FAILURE THAT PREVENTS THE REAR PASSENGER FROM EXITING THE VEHICLE. TOYOTA DOES NOT THINK THAT TOYOTA WILL COVER THE REPAIR AT NO CHARGE.

NHTSA ODI #539066

Mileage unknown · Oct 31, 1997
Latches/locks/linkages

BUTTON STILL DOES NOT ALWAYS OPERATE TO LOCK OR UNLOCK THE FOUR DOORS, REPLACE RELAY ASSY FOR DOOR.

NHTSA ODI #524158

Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 1997
Latches/locks/linkages

DOOR LOCKS ON VEHICLE DO NOT LOCK WITH KEY OR BUTTON. ALSO DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. DRIVERS SIDE DOOR MUST BE SLAMMED.OWNER TOOK VEHICLE TO SERVICE STATION AND THEY COULD NOT FIX REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #816813

Mileage unknown · May 6, 1997
Latches/locks/linkages

ALL 4 DOORS WERE LOCKED, WITH PASSENGER INSIDE NONE OF THE DOOR COULD BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. PASSENGER EXITED THROUGH WINDOW.

NHTSA ODI #516949

Mileage unknown · Jan 26, 1996
Latches/locks/linkages

OWNER WAS CHARGED FOR RECALL WORK. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA ODI #978262

Official recalls

2

16V396000 · Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/cooler

Jun 2, 2016

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.

92V135000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

Sep 22, 1992

THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) FOR THE POWER DOOR LOCK SYSTEM CAN FAIL, CAUSING THE CONTACTS TO "WELD", AND RESULTING IN DOOR LOCK SOLENOID DAMAGE, WITH FAILURE OF THE DOOR TO LOCK OR UNLOCK, EVEN UNDER MANUAL OPERATION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE DOOR FAILS TO OPEN AFTER ECU FAILURE, VEHICLEOCCUPANTS WOULD HAVE INCREASED DIFFICULTY EXITING THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY.

Remedy: INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL SUBCIRCUIT RELAY CONTROL TO PREVENT MALFUNCTION OF ORIGINAL RELAYS IN THE ECU.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

9

EA97008 · Leaking Fuel Tank

Opened Apr 23, 1997 · Closed Apr 22, 1998

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

CRACKS IN THE SOLDER JOINT OF THE FUEL FILL OR INLET PIPE IN THE FUEL TANK ALLOWS LIQUID FUEL TO LEAK FROM THE TANK

PE97003 · Leaking Fuel Tank

Opened Jan 21, 1997 · Closed Apr 23, 1997

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

CRACKS IN THE SOLDER JOINT OF THE FUEL FILL OR INLET PIPE IN THE FUEL TANK ALLOWS LIQUID FUEL TO LEAK FROM THE TANK.

EA93032 · Alleged Battery Explosions

Opened Dec 27, 1993 · Closed Nov 30, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

There is no summary currently available

PE93074 · Alleged Battery Failures

Opened Aug 27, 1993 · Closed Dec 27, 1993

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

There is no summary currently available

EA92013 · Stuck Power Door Locks

Opened May 8, 1992 · Closed May 12, 1993

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

There is no summary currently available

EA91027 · Engine Compartment Fires

Opened Jun 6, 1991 · Closed May 29, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

There is no summary currently available

PE91042 · Engine Compartment Fires

Opened Feb 7, 1991 · Closed Jun 6, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

There is no summary currently available

EA90028 · Passive Safety Belt Fails

Opened May 29, 1990 · Closed Feb 28, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts

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PE90027 · Passive Safety Belt Warnin

Opened Dec 15, 1989 · Closed May 29, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts

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