IllustrationBRAKES GRAB WHEN STOPPING AND MAKES AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF NOISE. A VISUAL INSPECTION SHOWED NO FAILURE. *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 reports1996TOYOTA CAMRY, 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANS,PROBLEM #1, THERE IS AN ODD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, SAID IT WAS TRANSAXLE BUT THAT THE PROBLEM COULDN'T BE PINPOINTED UNTIL THEY TOOK IT APART. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A TRANMISSION PLACE FOR SECOND OPINION AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO PROBL…
Read full complaint
1996TOYOTA CAMRY, 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANS,PROBLEM #1, THERE IS AN ODD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, SAID IT WAS TRANSAXLE BUT THAT THE PROBLEM COULDN'T BE PINPOINTED UNTIL THEY TOOK IT APART. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A TRANMISSION PLACE FOR SECOND OPINION AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM AT ALL. I HAD THE CLUTCH REPLACED AND THE NOISE WENT AWAY FOR A DAY OR TWO BUT CAME BACK. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THIS NOISE COULD BE.
WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, BLUE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *NLM THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS AN ENGINE SLUDGE PROBLEM. THERE IS A RECALL ON 1997-2001 2.2 CYL ENGINES, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO SEIZE UP DURING OPERATION. THE ENGINE IS PRONE TO …
Read full complaint
WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, BLUE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *NLM THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS AN ENGINE SLUDGE PROBLEM. THERE IS A RECALL ON 1997-2001 2.2 CYL ENGINES, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO SEIZE UP DURING OPERATION. THE ENGINE IS PRONE TO DANGEROUS LEVELS OF GASOLINE CONTAMINATION DILUTION. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE COVERED EVEN THOUGH ITS A 1996, BECAUSE IT HAS THE SAME ENGINE. *SCC
IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE HAS A DEFECT, CAUSES VEHICLE TO IDLE LOW, AND WILL EVENTUALLY STOP ENGINE FROM STARTING IF THIS CONTINUES. CONTACTED MAUFACTURER/DEALER. THEY WER EAWARE OF DEFECT, BUT NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, THERE IS BLUE SMOKE COMING FROM TAILPIPE AT START UP. DEALER STATED THERE WAS A SLUDGE PROBLEM IN ENGINE DUE TO THE OIL NOT BEING CHANGED REGULARLY.*AK
CONSUMER CAN TAKE KEY OUT OF IGNITION WHILE VEHICLE IS NOT IN PARK. THIS HAD CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
IDELE AIR CONTROL VALVE KEEPS STICKING. THE DEALER HAS CLEAN IT ONCE AND REPLACED IT ONCE. IT KEEPS COMING BACK AFTER 2 MONTHS. I CLEANED IT MULTIPLE TIMES. CLEANING WON'T HELP ANYMORE. VEHICLE KEEPS STALLING WHEN STARTING THE ENGINEE COLD. HAVE TO STEP ON GAS PEDAL UNTIL ENGINE HEATS UP OR ENGINE DIES.*AK
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…
Read full complaint
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
UPON STARTING VEHICLE AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION, VEHICLE WOULD STALL. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND NOTICED IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK. *JB
CONSUMER STATES THAT OIL AND OTHER COOLANTS SLUDGED UP IN VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE. MECHANIC INDICATED IT WAS A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM.*JB
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.