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1990 Toyota Camry

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1990 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

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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: 14 of 134 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 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports3 fire reports6 injury reports

What owners actually said

134 reports
Mileage unknown · Feb 17, 1999
Seat Belts

SHOULDER BELT DOES NOT SLIDE FROM FRONT TO BACK TO SECURE DRIVER. TOOK TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED THAT WIRES HAD SNAPPED & WOULD NEED TO BE TRACED. WOULD PULL ON DOOR & SOMETIMES WOULD WOULD WORK, BUT NOT ALL THE TIME. *AK

NHTSA ODI #834927

Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 1999
Structure

CONSMER OPENED THE REAR DOOR AND THE METAL PLATE CRACKED AND PULLED AWAY FROM THE HINGES. THE DEALERSHIP SAID WHEN SHE GETS AN OIL CHANGE SHE NEEDS TO GREASE THE DOORS. THE PAINTED, NOT BRASS BEARING, WAS THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAD BOTH REAR DOORS REPAIRED, CURRENTLY, BOTH FRONT DOORS ARE HARD TO OPEN, AND CONSUMER IS AFRAID TO…

Read full complaint

CONSMER OPENED THE REAR DOOR AND THE METAL PLATE CRACKED AND PULLED AWAY FROM THE HINGES. THE DEALERSHIP SAID WHEN SHE GETS AN OIL CHANGE SHE NEEDS TO GREASE THE DOORS. THE PAINTED, NOT BRASS BEARING, WAS THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAD BOTH REAR DOORS REPAIRED, CURRENTLY, BOTH FRONT DOORS ARE HARD TO OPEN, AND CONSUMER IS AFRAID TO OPEN THE DOORS TO FULL CAPACITY BECAUSE THEY MAY BREAK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #834149

Mileage unknown · Jan 19, 1999
Latches/locks/linkages

POSSIBLE CAR THEFT DUE TO DEFECTIVE DOOR LOCKS PRIOR TO RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #543428

Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 1999
Structure

POWER DOOR LOCKS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.

NHTSA ODI #543369

Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 1999
Electrical SystemFire

WHILE DRIVING AT 20MPH SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM PASSENGER'S DOOR PANEL. CONSUMER PULLED TO THE SIDE AND DISCONNECTED BATTERY, AND PULLED THE PANEL OFF. FIRE WAS NOTICED ON THE WIRES AND SOLENOID WAS VERY HOT. FIRE DAMAGED ALL FOUR LOCK ACTUATORS AND RELAY. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #832981

Mileage unknown · Dec 22, 1998
Seat Belts

WHILE GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT STOPPED WORIKING, AND CONSUMER DIDN'T HAVE ANY SUPPORT FROM THE SEAT BELT. COSNUMER THINKS THE MOTOR FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #832527

Mileage unknown · Dec 3, 1998
Electrical System

CONSUMER SAYS THAT THE 7.5 FUSE LOCATED IN THE FRONT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE KEEPS BLOWING OUT, AND WHEN IT BLOWS OUT THE VEHICLE WINDOWS AND LOCKS STOP OPERATING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #831669

Mileage unknown · Dec 3, 1998
Seat Belts

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS. AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS DO NOT WORK AT ALL. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. REPAIRS WILL BE MADE AT OWNER'S COST. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #831662

Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 1998
Exterior Lighting

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH HEAD LIGHTS. HEADLIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #831456

Mileage unknown · Nov 24, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHENEVER VEHICLE IS GOING UP SLIGHT INCLINE, IT WOULD LOSE CONSIDERABLE POWER. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES & MECHANICS COULD NOT LOCATE ANYTHING WRONG. *AK THIS HAPPENS ONLY WHILE DRIVING THROUGH THE MOUNTAIN AT HIGH ATTITUDES. *ADJ

NHTSA ODI #831319

Official recalls

2

16V396000 · Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/cooler

Jun 2, 2016

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.

92V135000 · 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.

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

9

EA97008 · 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

PE97003 · Leaking Fuel Tank

Opened Jan 21, 1997 · Closed Apr 23, 1997

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.

EA93032 · Alleged Battery Explosions

Opened Dec 27, 1993 · Closed Nov 30, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

There is no summary currently available

PE93074 · Alleged Battery Failures

Opened Aug 27, 1993 · Closed Dec 27, 1993

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

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

EA91027 · Engine Compartment Fires

Opened Jun 6, 1991 · Closed May 29, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

There is no summary currently available

PE91042 · Engine Compartment Fires

Opened Feb 7, 1991 · Closed Jun 6, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

There is no summary currently available

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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