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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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

52 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 25, 2010
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING RE TOYOTA SAFETY RECALL FOR SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *TGW DURING THE MONTHS OF MAY THROUGH JULY 2009, THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. OFF AND ON, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP, UNTIL THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. THERE WAS A STRANGE ODOR COMI…

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S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING RE TOYOTA SAFETY RECALL FOR SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *TGW DURING THE MONTHS OF MAY THROUGH JULY 2009, THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. OFF AND ON, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP, UNTIL THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. THERE WAS A STRANGE ODOR COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. IT WOULD GENERALLY HAPPEN WHEN ATTEMPTING A ROUTINE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THEN ON AUGUST 19, 2009, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED; THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK AND THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. AS THE CONSUMER DESPERATELY SHIFTED FROM NEUTRAL, SECOND AND THIRD GEAR, SHE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. SHE WAS ABLE TO WEAVE IN BETWEEN CARS AS THERE WAS NO PLACE FOR HER TO PULL OVER WITHOUT CRASHING. SHE PUT ON HER HAZARD LIGHTS AND BEEPED THE HORN TO WARN OTHER DRIVERS. SHE THEN SWUNG INTO A WIDE PARKING LOT ENTRANCE AND SLAMMED THE GEAR INTO PARK AND CAME TO AN ABRUPT HALT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10314319

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2007
Fuel System, GasolineService Brakes, Hydraulic

GASOLINE LEAK FROM FUEL TANK NECK. BRAKE FLUID LEAK FROM METAL LINE UNDERNEATH THE CAR. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10181288

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

Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 2006
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I OWN A 1996 CAMRY V6 LE WITH 4-WHEEL DISK BRAKES, AND ITS CURRENT MILEAGE IS CLOSE TO 90,000 MILES. I HAVE NEVER WORN OUT THE FRONT DISK PADS, WHILE I HAVE REPLACED THE REAR PADS A FEW TIMES. TOYOTA SAYS IT'S MY GENTLE DRIVING STYLE THAT CAUSES THE UNUSUAL WEAR. I SAY THAT THE PROPORTIONING VALVE SET AT THE FACTORY IS MIS-SE…

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I OWN A 1996 CAMRY V6 LE WITH 4-WHEEL DISK BRAKES, AND ITS CURRENT MILEAGE IS CLOSE TO 90,000 MILES. I HAVE NEVER WORN OUT THE FRONT DISK PADS, WHILE I HAVE REPLACED THE REAR PADS A FEW TIMES. TOYOTA SAYS IT'S MY GENTLE DRIVING STYLE THAT CAUSES THE UNUSUAL WEAR. I SAY THAT THE PROPORTIONING VALVE SET AT THE FACTORY IS MIS-SET, BUT IT TAKES SPECIAL TOOLS TO CHANGE AND NO ONE HAS THESE TOOLS, SO I CAN'T PROVE MY POINT. THE BIG QUESTION TO ME: IS MY CAR STOPPING WITH TWO BRAKES OR 4 BRAKES, AS IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO? *NM

NHTSA ODI #10151794

Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN ABS BRAKES ARE ENGAGED THEY FAIL TO WORK. WAS DRIVING DOWN A ROAD GOING ABOUT 20 MPH ON SNOW COVERD ROAD. BRAKES WAS APPLIED, GRINDING NOISE AND VIBRATION IN THE PEDAL WAS EXPERIENCED-THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE ADEQUATELY, IT TOOK ABOUT 40 FEET TO STOP GOING AT 20MPH. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN WHEN ABS IS NOT ACTIV…

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WHEN ABS BRAKES ARE ENGAGED THEY FAIL TO WORK. WAS DRIVING DOWN A ROAD GOING ABOUT 20 MPH ON SNOW COVERD ROAD. BRAKES WAS APPLIED, GRINDING NOISE AND VIBRATION IN THE PEDAL WAS EXPERIENCED-THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE ADEQUATELY, IT TOOK ABOUT 40 FEET TO STOP GOING AT 20MPH. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN WHEN ABS IS NOT ACTIVE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10108295

60,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
EquipmentPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

THE ENGINE JUST DIES. USUALLY AT A STOP OR SLOW DOWN. PROBABLY 1X/MONTH FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS. PREVIOUSLY IT JUST HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES LAST YEAR. THE FREQUENCY SEEMS TO BE INCREASING. SO FAR IT HAS HAPPENED ONLY WITH CITY DRIVING. I DO 90% CITY DRIVING, BUT AM BECOMING NERVOUS ABOUT TAKING THE CAR OUT ON THE FREEWAY.…

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THE ENGINE JUST DIES. USUALLY AT A STOP OR SLOW DOWN. PROBABLY 1X/MONTH FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS. PREVIOUSLY IT JUST HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES LAST YEAR. THE FREQUENCY SEEMS TO BE INCREASING. SO FAR IT HAS HAPPENED ONLY WITH CITY DRIVING. I DO 90% CITY DRIVING, BUT AM BECOMING NERVOUS ABOUT TAKING THE CAR OUT ON THE FREEWAY. OUR MECHANIC CANNOT FIND ANY HISTORY OF THESE STALLS ON THE CAR'S COMPUTER. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY ISC VALVE EVER SINCE I'VE HAD THE CAR. WE NEED TO REPLACE THE ISC VALVE EVERY YEAR. TOYOTA HAS PAID FOR IT, BUT IT IS ANNOYING NOT TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM SOLVED.

NHTSA ODI #10070289

38,000 miles · Oct 29, 2003
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

WHILE BRAKING AT 20 MPH BRAKE PEDAL LOCKED UP. VEHICLE SWERVED INTO THE NEXT LANE, CAUSING AN ONCOMING VEHICLE TO HIT IT ON FRONT RIGHT HAND SIDE. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10044996

70,000 miles · Sep 30, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicSteering

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH VEHICLE LOST BRAKE AND STEERING POWER. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE TIMING BELT JUMPED, AND THE ENGINE SEIZED UP BECAUSE OF AN OIL JELLYING PROBLEM IN THE ENGINE, PER DEALERSHIP.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10041945

Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, OtherPower Train

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED STALLING/STARTING PROBLEMS, WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE EGR VALVE, THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR AND THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE, WHICH WERE ALL REPLACED, THE TIRES EXPERIENCED UNEVEN TIRE WEAR, THE BRAKES FAILED, THERE WERE TRANSMISSION, DRIVELINE AND STEERING PROBLEMS, THE O-RING WAS REPLACED, AND ALSO THE V…

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THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED STALLING/STARTING PROBLEMS, WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE EGR VALVE, THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR AND THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE, WHICH WERE ALL REPLACED, THE TIRES EXPERIENCED UNEVEN TIRE WEAR, THE BRAKES FAILED, THERE WERE TRANSMISSION, DRIVELINE AND STEERING PROBLEMS, THE O-RING WAS REPLACED, AND ALSO THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXHIBIT ENGINE OIL SLUDGE. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #10011428

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES GRAB WHEN STOPPING AND MAKES AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF NOISE. A VISUAL INSPECTION SHOWED NO FAILURE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10007186

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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