THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT ON DRIVER SIDE DOES NOT RETRACT BACK WHEN DOOR HAS BEEN CLOSED
1987 Toyota Camry
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1987 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: 4 of 58 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.
- Seat Belts. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
58 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1987 TOYOTA CAMRY. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT DRIVER INTENT. SHE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO A NEARBY BUILDING. SHE SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES, INCLUDING A BROKEN RIGHT LEG, RIGHT SHOULDER AND STERNUM. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED.…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1987 TOYOTA CAMRY. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT DRIVER INTENT. SHE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO A NEARBY BUILDING. SHE SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES, INCLUDING A BROKEN RIGHT LEG, RIGHT SHOULDER AND STERNUM. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED ACCORDINGLY. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND WOULD NOT ASSIST DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 05/07/10. *LJ UPDATED 07/13/10*JB
DT: CONTACT STATES THAT THE RUST ON THE VEHICLE IS CAUSING GAS FUMES TO COME INTO THE CAB OF VEHICLE. THE RUST IS IN THE REAR WHEEL WELLS. HE BELIEVES THE RUST WEAKENS THE STRUCTURE. DEALER WOULD OFFER NO HELP AT THEIR EXPENSE. MANUFACTURER OFFERED THE CONTACT $500.00 OFF OF A NEW VEHICLE. *AK
THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 92 V 025 000. *JB
MY CAR KEEPS STALLING OUT. I CAN SMELL GAS MOST OF THE TIME. WE CANNOT LOCATE A LEAK - HAVE CHANGED THE FUEL FILTER, DISTRIBUTOR CAP & OXYGEN SENSOR BUT WHEN IT RAINS OR IS HUMID THE CARS STALLS UNTIL IT GETS WARM (AFTER RUNNING FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES). THIS HAPPENS WHEN YOU PRESS THE GAS PEDAL EVEN SLIGHTLY. NO ONE CAN LOCATE…
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MY CAR KEEPS STALLING OUT. I CAN SMELL GAS MOST OF THE TIME. WE CANNOT LOCATE A LEAK - HAVE CHANGED THE FUEL FILTER, DISTRIBUTOR CAP & OXYGEN SENSOR BUT WHEN IT RAINS OR IS HUMID THE CARS STALLS UNTIL IT GETS WARM (AFTER RUNNING FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES). THIS HAPPENS WHEN YOU PRESS THE GAS PEDAL EVEN SLIGHTLY. NO ONE CAN LOCATE THE PROBLEM - SOMEONE I WORK WITH HAD ONE THAT DID THE SAME THING UNTIL THEY SOLD IT. YOU CAN PAD THE PEDAL AND SOMETIMES GET PAST THE POINT OF STALLING. *NLM
THE DRIVER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING A RATTLE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE ACCOMPANIED BY ERRATIC SWAYING OF THE REAR END AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS SINCE MAY OF 1996. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED IN DEC2001. THE REAR TORSION BAR WAS BROKEN AT A BEND AT IT CROSSES NEAR THE EXHAUST PIPE. A REPLACEMENT BAR WAS SOUGHT AT AN AUTO JUNK YARD AND IT…
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THE DRIVER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING A RATTLE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE ACCOMPANIED BY ERRATIC SWAYING OF THE REAR END AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS SINCE MAY OF 1996. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED IN DEC2001. THE REAR TORSION BAR WAS BROKEN AT A BEND AT IT CROSSES NEAR THE EXHAUST PIPE. A REPLACEMENT BAR WAS SOUGHT AT AN AUTO JUNK YARD AND IT WAS NOTED THAT ALL 5 OF THE SAME MODEL CARS AT THE YARD HAD THE SAME FAILURE AT THE SAME LOCATION!!!! THIS FALURE CAN CAUSE SUBSTANTIAL DIRECTIONAL CONTROL PROBLEMS AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND SHOULD MAY EASILY BE CONFUSED AS A FAILURE CAUSED BY THE SUBSEQUENT ACCIDENT. IN FACT THE FAILURE JUST PRIOR TO ACCIDENT CAN CAUSE THE ACCIDENT, ESPECIALLY AT HIGH SPEED AND SHOULD BE INSPECTED FOR AFTER ANY REPORTED ACCIDENT WITH THIS CAR. THE FAILURE CAN CAUSE THE DRIVER TO EASILY LEAVE THE ROAD OR DRIVE ERRATICALLY AND MAY BE ATTRIBUTED TO DRIVER ERROR RATHER THAN MECHANICAL FAILURE, WHICH IT APPEARS IS HAPPENING FREQUENTLY IN THIS MODEL VEHICLE.*AK
BOTH THE DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT ARE DEFECTIVE ALONG WITH BOTH LAP BELTS THEY DO NOT LOCK UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES.*AK
BRAKE LINES FROM THE FRONT TO REAR OF VEHICLE HAVE RUSTED THROUGH; CONSUMER HAVE REPLACED BRAKE LINE, AND HAD OLD LINE AVAILABLE FOR ANALYSIS. PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
A LOUD CRUNCHING NOISE OCCURS WHEN DRIVING OVER DIPS OR SPEED BUMPS IN FRONT END. *AK THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND REPLACED THE STRUT TOWER SUPPORT MOUNT AT THE CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. *YH
Official recalls
392V135000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Sep 22, 1992
THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) FOR THE POWER DOOR LOCK SYSTEM CAN FAIL, CAUSING THE CONTACTS TO "WELD", AND RESULTING IN DOOR LOCK SOLENOID DAMAGE, WITH FAILURE OF THE DOOR TO LOCK OR UNLOCK, EVEN UNDER MANUAL OPERATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE DOOR FAILS TO OPEN AFTER ECU FAILURE, VEHICLEOCCUPANTS WOULD HAVE INCREASED DIFFICULTY EXITING THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY.
Remedy: INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL SUBCIRCUIT RELAY CONTROL TO PREVENT MALFUNCTION OF ORIGINAL RELAYS IN THE ECU.
92V025000 · Seat Belts
Feb 28, 1992
LIQUID SPILLED IN THE CONSOLE AREA CAN PENETRATE TO THE HOUSING OF THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT FOR THE FRONT SEAT AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS. LIQUID CONTAMINATION OF THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT CAN CAUSE FAILURE OF THE UNIT SIGNAL NEEDED TO ACTIVATE THE MOVEMENT OF THE MOTORIZED SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE MOTORIZED SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGES MAY NOT MOVEPROPERLY, RESULTING IN LACK OF SAFETY BELT PROTECTION FOR SEAT OCCUPANTS OF THEFRONT SEAT, AND INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP ORACCIDENT.
Remedy: INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER TO THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT OF THE AUTOMATIC SAFETY BELT SYSTEM.
89V175000 · Seat Belts:front
Oct 18, 1989
OCCUPANT RELEASE OF THE LAP BELT IN A CERTAIN MANNER COULD CAUSE THE BELT RETRACTOR TO LOCK AT THE RETRACTED AND STOWED POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SEAT BELTS MAY BE UNUSABLE OR OCCUPANTS MAY BEDISCOURAGED FROM USING BELTS, INCREASING THEIR POTENTIAL FOR INJURY IN ANACCIDENTAL OR SUDDEN STOP.
Remedy: REPLACE LAP BELT WITH A REDESIGNED BELT GUIDE.
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
10EA97008 · Leaking Fuel Tank
Opened Apr 23, 1997 · Closed Apr 22, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
CRACKS IN THE SOLDER JOINT OF THE FUEL FILL OR INLET PIPE IN THE FUEL TANK ALLOWS LIQUID FUEL TO LEAK FROM THE TANK
EA93010 · Under Dash Fires
Opened Apr 26, 1993 · Closed Sep 29, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System
There is no summary currently available
EA92044 · Throttle Sticking
Opened Dec 18, 1992 · Closed Jan 31, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
PE92065 · Throttle Sticking
Opened Jul 16, 1992 · Closed Dec 18, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
EA92013 · Stuck Power Door Locks
Opened May 8, 1992 · Closed May 12, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
DP92001 · Automatic Door Lock Malfunction
Opened Jan 6, 1992 · Closed May 8, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Unknown Or Other
AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK MALFUNCTION
EA90028 · Passive Safety Belt Fails
Opened May 29, 1990 · Closed Feb 28, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
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PE90027 · Passive Safety Belt Warnin
Opened Dec 15, 1989 · Closed May 29, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
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EA89020 · Front Lap Belt Jams
Opened Mar 22, 1989 · Closed Nov 16, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
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PE89014 · Frnt Seat Lap Belt Jamming
Opened Nov 18, 1988 · Closed Mar 22, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
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