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1996 Toyota Camry

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Toyota Camry do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 295.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 98 of 417 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 76 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 52 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

55 crash reports8 fire reports44 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

47 reports
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90,000 miles · Feb 19, 2004
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE CONSUMER WAS STRUCK ON THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT AND THE AIRBAGS DID DEPLOY. WHEN THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, THEY DEPLOYED IN RIBBONS. THE INFLATER CANISTER SPRAYED THE CONTENTS OVER THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER SUFFERED MINOR INJURI…

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WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE CONSUMER WAS STRUCK ON THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT AND THE AIRBAGS DID DEPLOY. WHEN THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, THEY DEPLOYED IN RIBBONS. THE INFLATER CANISTER SPRAYED THE CONTENTS OVER THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #10050154

Mileage unknown · Nov 23, 2003
Air BagsInjury

MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE I WAS DRIVING, WITH A PASSENGER, APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, ON A SLIGHT INCLINE ON A BACK COUNTRY ROAD, IN THE MID AFTERNOON. I NOTIFIED TOYOTA SANTA CRUZ, WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE CAMRY NEW IN 1996, AND THEY ESSENTIALLY DID NOTHING. I NOTIFIED TOYOTA'S REGIONAL OFFICE AND I MET WIT…

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MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE I WAS DRIVING, WITH A PASSENGER, APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, ON A SLIGHT INCLINE ON A BACK COUNTRY ROAD, IN THE MID AFTERNOON. I NOTIFIED TOYOTA SANTA CRUZ, WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE CAMRY NEW IN 1996, AND THEY ESSENTIALLY DID NOTHING. I NOTIFIED TOYOTA'S REGIONAL OFFICE AND I MET WITH AN AGENT FROM THERE WHO INSPECTED MY CAR AT TOYOTA SANTA CRUZ. HE FOUND EVIDENCE A ROCK HAD HIT A STABILIZING BAR UNDERNEATH. I REPORTED HAVING NOT SEEN OR HIT A ROCK ON THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT. I WAS TOLD TO AWAIT TOYOTA'S DECISION IN THE MAIL WITHIN 10 DAYS. THEY CONCLUDED MY AIR BAGS HAD DEPLOYED APPROPRIATELY. MY WITNESS AND I WROTE BACK TO THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, WHERE WE HAD BEEN REFERRED, DISPUTING THEIR CONCLUSION TWICE, AND BOTH TIMES THE RESPONSE WAS THAT THEIR CONCLUSION WAS FINAL. I AM CONFINED TO ONLY BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT BY MAIL. MEANWHILE, I AM DRIVING WITH NO AIRBAGS NOW FOR CLOSE TO 2 YEARS. TOYOTA HAS PROMPTED ME TO GET MY AIR BAG LIGHT FIXED SINCE THE DEPLOYMENT, BUT THAT IS ALL. AND MY HORN DOESN'T WORK NORMALLY NOW THAT THE VINYL IS RIPPED OPEN IN THE CENTER OF THE STEERING WHEEL. I INTENTIONALLY BOUGHT THE CAMRY FOR IT'S SAFETY RECORD. I AM IN DISBELIEF THAT TOYOTA CARES SO LITTLE FOR SAFETY. PLEASE, PLEASE HELP ME. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10047400

Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 2003
Air BagsCrashInjury

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING OUR 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY, VID #[XXX]. SHE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE CAR SPUN OUT AGAINST A GUARD RAIL, TOTALING THE CAR. NEITHER THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG NOR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WERE DEPLOYED, CAUSING INJURY TO MY DAUGHTER WHOSE HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. *LA INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE…

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MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING OUR 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY, VID #[XXX]. SHE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE CAR SPUN OUT AGAINST A GUARD RAIL, TOTALING THE CAR. NEITHER THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG NOR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WERE DEPLOYED, CAUSING INJURY TO MY DAUGHTER WHOSE HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. *LA INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10041527

97,857 miles · Jun 16, 2003
Air BagsInjury

FRONT AIRBAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED, SERIOUSLY INJURING DRIVER, WHEN FRONT TIRE BUMPED CURB WHILE TURNING INTO DRIVEWAY. CAR WAS MOVING UNDER 5 MPH WHEN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10023144

Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2001
Air BagsSeatsCrashInjury

DURING AN ACCIDENT ON 10/15/01 MY DRIVER SIDE SEAT BROKE AND MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #753672

Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2001
Air BagsCrash

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 30MPH ON HIGHWAY AND ANOTHER VEHICLE STOPPED IN FRONT SUDDENLY, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHEN CONSUMERER SLAMING THE BRAKE IN PANIC STOP, BUT WITH OUT ANY ACCIDENT DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #891509

Mileage unknown · May 16, 2001
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHEN OLDER SON WAS DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD-ON. YOUNGER SON WAS RIDING ON PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING SERIOUS INJURIES TO PASSENGER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #888405

Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2001
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE TRAVELING AT 15 MPH FRONT END HIT SIDE OF ANOTHER CAR . WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 15MPH. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, AND CONSUMER SUSTAINED A BROKEN WRIST. CONSUMER STATED THAT AN AIRBAG WAS THERE TO PROTECT PASSENGER, BUT INSTEAD IT BROKE CONSUMER'S WRIST.*AK

NHTSA ODI #884921

Mileage unknown · Mar 24, 2001
Air BagsCrashInjury

AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHILE CRASHING FRONTEND OF CAR AT THE SPEED OF 35 MPH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE'S DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. DRIVER INJURED NECK & PASSENGER INJURED KNEES! *AK

NHTSA ODI #742973

Mileage unknown · Feb 15, 2001
Air BagsCrash

VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 30-35 MPH IMPACT AND BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #880685

Official recalls

2

99V307000 · Steering: Steering Wheel/handle Bar

Nov 1, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE STEERING WHEEL SET NUT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED CAUSING STEERING VIBRATION AND LOOSENESS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE STEERING WHEEL SET NUT.

96V037000 · Exterior Lighting:tail Lights

Feb 20, 1996

THE PLASTIC MATERIAL OF THE BULB HOLDERS OF THE REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY DOES NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT HEAT RESISTANCE. WHEN THE BULB IS ILLUMINATED, THE RESULTING HIGH TEMPERATURE CAN CAUSE THE BULB HOLDER TO DEFORM.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AS THE BULB HOLDER DEFORMS, THE BULB CAN LOSE ELECTRICAL CONTACT, RESULTING IN AN INOPERATIVE LAMP, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR COMBINATION LAMP BULB HOLDER TO SEE IF IT IS THE DEFECTIVE MATERIAL. THE DEFECTIVE BULB HOLDER TOGETHER WITH THE WIRING HARNESS WILL BE REPLACED WITH A CORRECT BULB HOLDER AND HARNESS.

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

2

DP02004 · Engine Seizure

Opened Apr 30, 2002 · Closed Jun 20, 2002

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

No summary supplied.

PE01024 · Suspension Coil Spring

Opened Jul 18, 2001 · Closed Jan 29, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension

No summary supplied.

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