IllustrationTHE IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVES ON TWO 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY'S SOLD IN CALIFORNIA, FAIL EVERY 20,000 TO 30,000 MILES, AND REQUIRE REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $425.00 PER REPLACEMENT. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR IN OTHER CARS SOLID IN CALIFORNIA. THERE HAVE BEEN THREE FAILURES PER CAR. *NLM
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 reportsTHE FRONT COIL SPRING SNAPPED AND PUNCTURED THE FRONT DRIVER TIRE. *JB
AS OF THIS WEEK THE FLEX PIPE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS DETERMINED TO BE MALFUNCTIONING. THIS CAUSED EXHAUST GASES TO BE EMITTED UNDER THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE LOCAL DEALER IS REFUSING TO REPLACE THIS PART WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE CONVERTER BECAUSE HE SAYS THAT THE PART IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, THE CA…
Read full complaint
AS OF THIS WEEK THE FLEX PIPE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS DETERMINED TO BE MALFUNCTIONING. THIS CAUSED EXHAUST GASES TO BE EMITTED UNDER THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE LOCAL DEALER IS REFUSING TO REPLACE THIS PART WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE CONVERTER BECAUSE HE SAYS THAT THE PART IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, WHICH IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY IS A SINGLE ASSEMBLY ATTACHED TO THE MALFUNCTIONING "FLEX PIPE".
THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE, WAS REPLACED AT LEAST 6 TIMES. *JB
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…
Read full complaint
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
THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE WAS REPLACED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD DIFFICULTIES STARTING. THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED AND WAS REPLACED 7 MORE TIMES. THE CONSUMER FOUND INFORMATION ON A TOYOTA REPORT WHICH INDICATED THAT THE EGR VALVE AND THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR WERE PREVENTING THE VEHICLE FROM STARTING. *SCC *NLM
I OWN A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY THAT RECENTLY EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO THE BUILD-UP OF OIL SLUDGE AFTER ONLY 80,000 MILES. MY CAR HAS THE SAME 2.2L 4 CYLINDER ENGINE THAT HAS BEEN SHOWN TO BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO THIS SLUDGE PROBLEM. IN RECOGNITION OF THE PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINES, TOYOTA AGREED TO COVER THE COST OF REPAI…
Read full complaint
I OWN A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY THAT RECENTLY EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO THE BUILD-UP OF OIL SLUDGE AFTER ONLY 80,000 MILES. MY CAR HAS THE SAME 2.2L 4 CYLINDER ENGINE THAT HAS BEEN SHOWN TO BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO THIS SLUDGE PROBLEM. IN RECOGNITION OF THE PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINES, TOYOTA AGREED TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIRING THOSE ENGINES IN THEIR 1997-2001 MODELS. HOWEVER, DESPITE THE FACT THAT MY CAR HAS THE SAME ENGINE AND IT WAS PRODUCED TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO THAT TIME FRAME, BECAUSE IT IS IN A 1996 MODEL TOYOTA HAS REFUSED TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIRING IT. THERE IS NO DISPUTING THAT THE FAILURE OF THOUSANDS OF THESE ENGINES AS A RESULT OF A BUILD-UP OF OIL SLUDGE CAN BE ATTRIBUTABLE ONLY TO THE FACT THAT THESE ENGINES ARE DEFECTIVE. AS SUCH, IT IS ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGEOUS THAT TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR OF SOME OF THESE DEFECTIVE ENGINES AND NOT OTHERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. GARY LEVINE. *NLM
THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE WAS DEFECTIVE, WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO START. *TS *JB
STEERING HAS A DEAD SPOT ALSO WHEEL DOES NOT RETURN AFTER MAKING A TURN. *JB
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
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.