IllustrationIN APPROX JUNE OF 2002 MY TIMING BELT HAD TO BE REPLACED I NOW APPEAR TO HAVE THE OIL GELLING PROBLEM. APPROX MAY 2003 I GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO PUMP GAS AND THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN ON THE DRIVER SIDE. APPROX AUGUST 2003 I BEGAN NOTICING IF DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND I APPLY MY BRAKES MY WHOLE CAR BEGINS SHAKING.
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
Steering complaints
37 reportsVEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN FAILURE OF POWER STEERING.*MR WHILE DRIVING ACROSS THE HIGHWAY THE CONSUMER HAD TO STRUGGLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *CB *JB
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
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. *PH *JB
1996 TOYOTA CAMRY POWER STEERING FAILURE.*MR POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE POWER STEERING WAS REPAIRED FOR $1398.56, IN WHICH THE CONSUMER WANTED TO BE REIMBURSED. TOYOTA WAS INFORMED OF THIS AND DECLINED THE CONSUMER FOR REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO EXPIRATION OF W…
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1996 TOYOTA CAMRY POWER STEERING FAILURE.*MR POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE POWER STEERING WAS REPAIRED FOR $1398.56, IN WHICH THE CONSUMER WANTED TO BE REIMBURSED. TOYOTA WAS INFORMED OF THIS AND DECLINED THE CONSUMER FOR REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO EXPIRATION OF WARRANTY. *PH *CB *JB
POWER STEERING FAILURE ON 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY.*MR WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS DUE TO FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING. *TS. THE TIMING BELT AND RADIATOR HOSE WERE REPLACED. *JB
THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKING AS I'M DRIVING...VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN WITH A SMOOTH ACTION...MY MECHANIC HAD ANOTHER TOYOTA IN THE SHOP WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT! *NLM
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
STEERING HAS A DEAD SPOT ALSO WHEEL DOES NOT RETURN AFTER MAKING A TURN. *JB
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *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.