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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

Electrical System complaints

26 reports
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140,000 miles · Mar 10, 2016
Electrical SystemSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SEIZE IN THE TURNED POSITION WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE WHEN IT SEIZED. IN ADDITION, THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO PROVIDE ACCURAT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SEIZE IN THE TURNED POSITION WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE WHEN IT SEIZED. IN ADDITION, THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO PROVIDE ACCURATE READING LEVELS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ODI #10845948

118,000 miles · Nov 2, 2015
Electrical System

BOTH THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW AND FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW HAVE STOPPED WORKING ON OCCASION. PRESENTLY THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW MAY GO DOWN, BUT WILL NOT GO UP. THE NEXT DAY IT MAY GO UP. I DON'T PUT IT DOWN BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE IT DOWN IN RAIN OR OVERNIGHT. MY PREVIOUS CAMRY ALSO HAD ELECTRICAL WINDOW PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI #10787876

183,345 miles · Dec 21, 2010
Electrical System

FOR SEVERAL WEEKS WHEN I HAVE OCCASIONALLY, ACCIDENTALLY, AFTER TURNING OFF THE IGNITION, WHILE THE TRANSMISSION WAS STILL IN THE DRIVE POSITION I REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION (WHILE IT WAS STILL IN GEAR), AND IT ROLLS. IT IS A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY LE V6. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10371946

130,000 miles · Feb 28, 2008
Electrical SystemInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEY IN HIS HAND AND THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE. ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 1997 MODEL REGARDING THIS SAME FAILURE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEY IN HIS HAND AND THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE. ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 1997 MODEL REGARDING THIS SAME FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 133,700 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 03/26/08. *LJ

NHTSA ODI #10219404

75,000 miles · Nov 4, 2006
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

8/2003 BOUGHT CAR. AT 75.000 MILES, FREEZE PLUGS STARTED TO GO. ONE AFTER THE OTHER. LEAVING ME STRANDED MANY TIMES. AFTER WE REPLACED THE FREEZE PLUGS, 76.000 MILES THE CAR STARTED DUMPING ITS COOLANT THROUGH THE OVERFLOW TANK.. COULD NOT GET ANSWERS FROM PHILLIPS TOYOTA. STARTED LOOSING OIL. THE OBD LIGHT HAS NEVER COME ON. TH…

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8/2003 BOUGHT CAR. AT 75.000 MILES, FREEZE PLUGS STARTED TO GO. ONE AFTER THE OTHER. LEAVING ME STRANDED MANY TIMES. AFTER WE REPLACED THE FREEZE PLUGS, 76.000 MILES THE CAR STARTED DUMPING ITS COOLANT THROUGH THE OVERFLOW TANK.. COULD NOT GET ANSWERS FROM PHILLIPS TOYOTA. STARTED LOOSING OIL. THE OBD LIGHT HAS NEVER COME ON. THE CAR RUNS QUITE AND SMOOTH. MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THE CORPORATION, BUT THEY WILL NOT HELP. ALSO, THE BRAKES HAVE ALWAYS MADE LOUD NOISES, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN. CAR HAS NOW, 130000 MILES ON IT, AND ALL I CAN DO, IS ADD WATER EVERY 25 MILES OR SO. NONE OF THE SHOPS WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO CAN TELL US WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. CAN YOU HELP ME PLEASE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10172605

54,000 miles · Jun 2, 2003
Electrical SystemFire

MY 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE ON THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTTALLED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10020888

Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 2003
Electrical System

THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT HAD BLOWN OUT SEVERAL TIMES, THE MECHANIC FINALLY DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE SHORTED OUT THE TAIL LIGHTS.8JB

NHTSA ODI #10011210

Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2002
Electrical SystemCrash

CONSUMER CAN TAKE KEY OUT OF IGNITION WHILE VEHICLE IS NOT IN PARK. THIS HAD CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8016505

Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 2002
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFire

THE ENGINE SEIZED AND BLEW WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, WHICH CAUSED A CATASTOPHIC FIRE AND COMPLETE DAMAGE TO THE ENTIRE ENGINE AND SURROUNDING PARTS. IT WAS A POTENTIALLY DISASTROUS EVENT THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED GREAT INJURY. WE ARE CONTACTING TOYOTA REGARDING THE NEWSWORTHY "ENGINE SLUDGE" PROBLEM THAT THEY ARE ADMITTING I…

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THE ENGINE SEIZED AND BLEW WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, WHICH CAUSED A CATASTOPHIC FIRE AND COMPLETE DAMAGE TO THE ENTIRE ENGINE AND SURROUNDING PARTS. IT WAS A POTENTIALLY DISASTROUS EVENT THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED GREAT INJURY. WE ARE CONTACTING TOYOTA REGARDING THE NEWSWORTHY "ENGINE SLUDGE" PROBLEM THAT THEY ARE ADMITTING IN 1996-2000 CAMRYS (OURS WAS 1996) AND THERE CLAIM OF HONORING ENGINE DAMAGE CLAIMS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #763290

Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 2002
Electrical System

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE TURNING ON IGNITION VEHICLE WILL VIBRATE. NLM

NHTSA ODI #8008137

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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