IllustrationMileage unknown · Aug 1, 1999
Unknown Or Other
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA ODI #709451
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 reportsNO SUMMARY
WHILE DRIVING WHEELS LOCK UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SKID AND HAVE A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH TIRE SLIGHTLY HIT A CURB, CAUSING DUAL AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT AIRBAG CAUGHT ON FIRE , RESULTING IN 1ST DEGREE BURNS TO THE DRIVER , BUT THERE WAS NO PASSENGER SEATED. *AK
FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING BROKE AND FELL ONTO THE ROAD, WHICH COULD CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. *AK
PAINT DELAMINATION ON ROOF OF CAR. NO SAFETY DEFECT DISCUSSED IN SUMMARY. *AK
INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE ON DRIVERS SIDE HAS BROKE OFF, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO RAPIDLY EXIT THE CAR. PASSENGER SIDE HAS CRACKS AND SPRING HAS WORN THROUGH. THIS CAR IS DRIVEN BY 48 Y/O WOMEN (MY WIFE). MY CONCERN IS THAT IN AN ACCIDENT, THERE WOULD BE NO WAY TO GET OUT WITHOUT JAMMING A SCREWDRIVER IN IT, OR ROLLING DOWN THE WINDOW…
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INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE ON DRIVERS SIDE HAS BROKE OFF, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO RAPIDLY EXIT THE CAR. PASSENGER SIDE HAS CRACKS AND SPRING HAS WORN THROUGH. THIS CAR IS DRIVEN BY 48 Y/O WOMEN (MY WIFE). MY CONCERN IS THAT IN AN ACCIDENT, THERE WOULD BE NO WAY TO GET OUT WITHOUT JAMMING A SCREWDRIVER IN IT, OR ROLLING DOWN THE WINDOW AND OPENING FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE FACT THAT BOTH SIDES ARE FAILING LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. SINCE THE ONE PLASTIC PIECE COSTS $33.00, I WILL PROBABLY LOOK FOR ONE IN THE JUNK YARD, (WHICH MAY ALSO HAVE PREMATURELY AGED). WE LIVE IN FLORIDA SO PERHAPS THE U/V RAYS CONTRIBUTE TO ITS DEMISE. NONETHELESS IT IS CREATING AN UNSAFE SITUATION AND I COULDN'T POSSIBLY BE THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *AK
I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE IN 4 DIFFERENT TIMES, 3 TIMES TO MODERN TOYOTA AND ONCE TO ANOTHER DEALER. ON 05-06-1999, RON HOLBROOK OF MODERN TOYOTA IN WINSTON-SALEM (336)785-1411 STATED THAT AT LEAST 25 OTHER 1996 CAMRYS HE KNOWS OF HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE MANUFACTURER IS WORKING ON IT . PLEASE RESPOND WITH WHAT I NEED TO DO. …
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I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE IN 4 DIFFERENT TIMES, 3 TIMES TO MODERN TOYOTA AND ONCE TO ANOTHER DEALER. ON 05-06-1999, RON HOLBROOK OF MODERN TOYOTA IN WINSTON-SALEM (336)785-1411 STATED THAT AT LEAST 25 OTHER 1996 CAMRYS HE KNOWS OF HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE MANUFACTURER IS WORKING ON IT . PLEASE RESPOND WITH WHAT I NEED TO DO. THANKS, MICHAEL
NO COLD/FAST IDLE, CAR STALLS WHEN STARTING COLD, IDLE ERRATIC, GOES LOW HAVE TO GIVE IT GAS SO IT WON'T STALL,3 TRIPS TO THE DEALER, EACH TIME DEALER CLAIMED CAR WAS REPAIRED, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS BEEN NO HELP, WHEN CONTACING DEALER FOR THE FOURTH TIME, THEY SAID THEY'D GET BACK TO ME. WON'T RETUR…
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NO COLD/FAST IDLE, CAR STALLS WHEN STARTING COLD, IDLE ERRATIC, GOES LOW HAVE TO GIVE IT GAS SO IT WON'T STALL,3 TRIPS TO THE DEALER, EACH TIME DEALER CLAIMED CAR WAS REPAIRED, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS BEEN NO HELP, WHEN CONTACING DEALER FOR THE FOURTH TIME, THEY SAID THEY'D GET BACK TO ME. WON'T RETURN MY CALLS. THIS IS GOING ON FOR A MONTH, I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR.
ENGINE ACCELERATED WHILE PULLING INTO THE GARAGE. ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE... CAR DID NOT STOP. RAN INTO THE HOUSE. HAD TO TURN OFF IGNITION TO STOP ENGINE ACCELERATION.
COSCO TURNABOUT INFANT CAR SEAT (CAME WITH THE "ROCK N' ROLLER STROLLER) MODEL NUMBER 01-654 (IF THE STROLLER AND CAR SEAT HAVE THE SAME NUMBERS) DOES NOT FIT SECURELY IN THE CAR SEAT. IN A SIDE IMPACT CRASH THE SEAT WOULD BECOME DISLODGED, AS IT CAN SLIDE LEFT AND RIGHT. I HAVE TO PIN THE SEAT BEHIND THE BACK OF THE PASSENGER S…
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COSCO TURNABOUT INFANT CAR SEAT (CAME WITH THE "ROCK N' ROLLER STROLLER) MODEL NUMBER 01-654 (IF THE STROLLER AND CAR SEAT HAVE THE SAME NUMBERS) DOES NOT FIT SECURELY IN THE CAR SEAT. IN A SIDE IMPACT CRASH THE SEAT WOULD BECOME DISLODGED, AS IT CAN SLIDE LEFT AND RIGHT. I HAVE TO PIN THE SEAT BEHIND THE BACK OF THE PASSENGER SEAT TO IMMOBALIZE IT. I HAVE EVEN HAD A POLICE OFFICER LOOK AT IT AND HE TOOK NOTICE IT DIDN'T SEEM TOO SAFE. *AK
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.