IllustrationTHE LEFT FRONT DUNLOP DAYTONA TIRE FAILED AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, WHICH ALSO CAUSED PROPERTY DAMAGE AND INJURY. *SLC
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 FLEXIBLE PIPE INCLUDING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FROM THE EXHAUST FAILED, DEALER WOULD NOT REIMBURSE CONSUMER FOR THE DEFECT. *SLC
MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER MOTOR BLEW DUE TO SADDLES THAT HOLD THE ROD CAP IN PLACE WERE OVER TIGHTENED. *AK THE ROD CAME LOOSE AND WENT THROUGH THE MOTOR BLOCK, CONSUMER WANTS SOMEONE ELSE TO LOOK AT THE MOTOR. AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR FAILED. *SLC
STARTER PANEL FAILED TO WORK. THIS WOULD CAUSE VEHICLE TO STALL OUT FOR NO REASON OR WARNING. HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST THREE TIMES. *AK
TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE (DOT NUMBER: W2RW AKA 3 TIRESIZE: P195 70R14)
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
CONSUMER WAS AT GAS STATION TO FILL HER VEHICLE, AS SOON AS SHE OPENED GAS TANK FLAMES BURST OUT. VERY LITTLE FUEL WAS LEFT IN TANK , FIRE BURNED OUT QUICKLY. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER, WHO TOLD HER CAR WAS FINE. STATIC HAD CAUSED FIRE. ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF.*AK
CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT CANCEL WHEN BRAKE WAS APPLIED. DEALER ADVISED IT WAS THE BRAKE SWITCH WHICH CONTROLED BRAKE LIGHTS & CRUISE CONTROL WAS BAD, PAID DEALER TO REPLACE BUT CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY THAT OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED OR COULD EXPERIENCE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS DEFECT.
BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT REAR DOORS HAVE A GLUEY STICKY SUBSTANCE THAT IS LEAKING FROM THE DOOR.IT IS LEAKING ALL AROUND THE INSIDE FRAME AND HAS MELTED THE MOLDING ON THE ACTUAL BLACK CAR MOLDING THAT IS PART OF THE CAR. IF YOU TOUCH ANY PART OF THE DOOR OR FRAME, THE BLACK SUBSTANCE STICKS TO YOU.LOCAL DEALER UNWILLING TO FIX I…
Read full complaint
BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT REAR DOORS HAVE A GLUEY STICKY SUBSTANCE THAT IS LEAKING FROM THE DOOR.IT IS LEAKING ALL AROUND THE INSIDE FRAME AND HAS MELTED THE MOLDING ON THE ACTUAL BLACK CAR MOLDING THAT IS PART OF THE CAR. IF YOU TOUCH ANY PART OF THE DOOR OR FRAME, THE BLACK SUBSTANCE STICKS TO YOU.LOCAL DEALER UNWILLING TO FIX IT. SEEMS LIKE A DEFECT TO ME. HAS BEEN THIS WAY SINCE MARCH 2000.
FIRESTONE TIRE EXPERIENCED BLOWOUT. *SLC
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.