IllustrationWHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONSUMER LOST STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHEN THAT OCCURRED, THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SPIN AROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE FRONT CONTROL ARM HAD SNAPPED.*AK *PH *JB
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
What owners actually said
417 reportsWHILE 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
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
ENGINE SEIZURE IN 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY.*MR THE ENGINE SEIZURE WAS DUE TO ENGINE SLUDGE BUILD UP. *JB *NLM
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
BRIDGESTONE POTENZA TIRE TREAD SEPARATION, SIZE# UNKNOWN, DOT# UNKNOWN.*AK
ABOUT TEN MINUTES AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF THE FUEL PUMP RELAY CONTINUED TO RUN. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE CONSUMED BY FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED BUT NO ONE WAS INJURED BY THE INCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. *NLM
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
SEVERAL PROBLEMS:FAULTY INTERIOR LIGHTING,POWER ANTENNA,BRAKE NOISE,FAULTY POWER WINDOWS,MAIN REAR SEAL LEAK
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.