IllustrationDURING VEHICLE COLLISION THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS BADLY SMASHED, HOWEVER THE FRONTAL AIR BAG EXPERIENCED NO DEPLOYMENT. *MJS
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Camry years →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: 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 reportsVEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLSION, AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK
FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH AIR BAGS WHEN THE FRONT TIRE STRUCK CONCRETE, BUMPER WAS NOT STRUCK AND VEHICLE WAS ONLY TRAVELING 5-10 MPH. YH
WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED ,CAUSING MINOR INJURIES. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH TIRE SLIGHTLY HIT A CURB, CAUSING DUAL AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT AIRBAG CAUGHT ON FIRE , RESULTING IN 1ST DEGREE BURNS TO THE DRIVER , BUT THERE WAS NO PASSENGER SEATED. *AK
CONSUMER SAYS THAT A BUMP WAS HIT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 20MINUTES, AND WHEN RETURNED TO VEHICLE THE AIR BAGS HAD DEPLOYED ON THEIR OWN. *AK
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40-45MPH WHEN A VEHICLE PULLED IN FRONT AT 1-2 MPH, CAUSING CONSUMER TO REAREND VEHICLE IN FRONT . WITH $3,700 IN DAMAGE, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CONSUMER WAS INJURED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 20 MPH THE VEHICLE HAD A FRONTAL IMPACT IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THIS ACCIDENT.*AK
FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAGS.
NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING COLLISION & SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN PROPERLY, RESULTING IN CHEST INJURIES.538159 DUPE OF 825226. *AK
Official recalls
299V307000 · 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
2DP02004 · 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.