IllustrationREPLACED VALVE ASSEMBLY 4 TIMES (ABOUT 1/YEAR). *AK
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 reportsENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. *AK
RACK & PINION STEERING SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED AT 70,000 MILE - NO WARRANTY COMPENSATION. *AK
CANNOT START ENGINE AND ENGINE STALLLING DUE TO IDLE SPPED CONTROL VALVE FAILURE. REPLACED ISC VALVE 5 TIMES SINCE 1997.
LEFT SIDE FRONT END COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE GETTING INTO PARKED VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY, AND NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH FELT A SLIGHT LOSS OF POWER WHICH WAS CORRECTED BY ITSELF. A MINUTE LATER, WHEELS LOCKED UP, AND VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT TRANSAXLE CRACKED AND IT BROKE OFF WHERE IT WAS ATTACHED TO THE BODY. DIFFERENTIAL UNIT LOCKING WAS TORN UP, AND CE…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH FELT A SLIGHT LOSS OF POWER WHICH WAS CORRECTED BY ITSELF. A MINUTE LATER, WHEELS LOCKED UP, AND VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT TRANSAXLE CRACKED AND IT BROKE OFF WHERE IT WAS ATTACHED TO THE BODY. DIFFERENTIAL UNIT LOCKING WAS TORN UP, AND CENTER SUPPORT WAS WIPED OUT. TRANSFER CASE ALSO BROKE WHERE IT WENT ONTO THE BODY. *AK DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS CHUNKS OF METAL FOUND FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL DRAIN PLUG. CONSUMER HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE INCLUDING STARTING PROBLEMS. STRUT FAILURE. KEY AND LOCK PROBLEMS. WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAULTY. INTERIOR AND BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE. *SLC
WHILE TRAVELING AT 15 MPH FRONT END HIT SIDE OF ANOTHER CAR . WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 15MPH. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, AND CONSUMER SUSTAINED A BROKEN WRIST. CONSUMER STATED THAT AN AIRBAG WAS THERE TO PROTECT PASSENGER, BUT INSTEAD IT BROKE CONSUMER'S WRIST.*AK
AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHILE CRASHING FRONTEND OF CAR AT THE SPEED OF 35 MPH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE'S DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. DRIVER INJURED NECK & PASSENGER INJURED KNEES! *AK
IN A NORMAL WINDY DAY OR MILD WIND TRUNK WILL FALL DOWN HARD AND EASILY.*AKTHE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE AFTERMARKET SPOILER IS TOO HEAVY CAUSING THE TRUNK LID TO FALL EASILY, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE LID HAS FALLEN ON THE CONSUMERS HEAD WHILE REACHING INTO THE TRUNK ON A WINDY DAY. NLM
AFTER PURCHASING CAR I HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES AFTER 3 MONTHS, THEN TOLD ROTORS WERE WARPED, NOW REAR AXLE IS FAULTY AND CALIPERS NEED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH ROTORS/DRUMS AND BRAKES AGAIN. CONTINUAL PROBLEMS WITH FRONT END SHAKING. THIS IS TRUE OF BOTH SIDES, LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT.
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.