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1993 Toyota Camry

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1993 Toyota Camry do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 295.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 28 of 260 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

47 crash reports9 fire reports41 injury reports

Power Train complaints

29 reports
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198,000 miles · Nov 9, 2009
Power Train

1. APRIL 2, 2009. WE WERE DRIVING ON I-68 E LESS THAN 100 FROM OUR DESTINATION OF WASHINGTON, DC. WE WERE DRIVING AROUND THE HILLS THERE AND SUDDENLY, THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE UNINTENTIONALLY. THE BRAKES WERE PRESSED TO THE FLOOR BUT IT DIDN'T SLOW THE CAR BUT DID HELP SO THAT CAR DIDN'T ACCELERATE MORE THAN THE 75+MPH …

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1. APRIL 2, 2009. WE WERE DRIVING ON I-68 E LESS THAN 100 FROM OUR DESTINATION OF WASHINGTON, DC. WE WERE DRIVING AROUND THE HILLS THERE AND SUDDENLY, THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE UNINTENTIONALLY. THE BRAKES WERE PRESSED TO THE FLOOR BUT IT DIDN'T SLOW THE CAR BUT DID HELP SO THAT CAR DIDN'T ACCELERATE MORE THAN THE 75+MPH IT HAD ACCELERATED TO FROM 60-65MPH. WE TRIED TO TURN THE CRUISE CONTROL ON AND OFF THINKING IT WAS A COMPUTER ISSUE BUT IT DIDN'T HELP AND IT WAS ON WHEN THE INCIDENT BEGAN. WE TRIED GOING INTO NEUTRAL BUT IT JUST REVVED THE ENGINE UP INTO THE RED, BUT FROM THERE WE WERE GOING TO PUT IT IN PARK, BUT GOING FROM NEUTRAL TO PARK WE PASSED THROUGH REVERSE AND SINCE THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING WE STARTED TAKING OFF IN REVERSE. WELL WE ENDED UP PERPENDICULAR TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC COMING AROUND THE MOUNTAIN, BUT GOT THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE THROTTLE GOT STUCK, THE WIRE OVER THE SPRING MECHANISM THAT PULLS THE THROTTLE WIRE BACK IF YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE PEDAL. IT WAS TAKEN OFF THE RETRACTING MECHANISM AND I HAVEN'T HAD ANY INCIDENTS SINCE. 2. THIS HAPPENED ONCE ON THE DATE ABOVE. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS. WE OR OTHER CAR PASSENGERS COULD HAVE DIED GOING AT THAT SPEED AND WITH THE LIMITED VISIBILITY FROM DRIVING AROUND THE MOUNTAIN/HILL. 3. THE THROTTLE WIRE WAS REMOVED FROM OVER THE RETRACTING MECHANISM. THE TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE SKIDDING DONE WHILE BRAKING. I NOW CHECK THE THROTTLE WIRE REGULARLY TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS PASSING AND NOT OBSTRUCTED. THE BRAKES WERE CHECKED BUT THEY ARE GOOD. I SAW THAT SOME NEWER TOYOTAS WERE RECALLED FOR ACCELERATING RELATED TO FLOOR MATS, BUT I DON'T HAVE ONE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CAR. IN THE LA TIMES I SAW AN ARTICLE ABOUT THIS FAILURE AND I HOPE TO ADD TO THE DATA AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10291435

118,000 miles · Mar 14, 2007
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHEN PLACING THE GEAR IN PARK THE GEAR SHIFT FAILED. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE MUST BE ENGAGED TO AVOID THE VEHICLE ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000. THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 180,000. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10185094

73,363 miles · Sep 29, 2004
Power Train

RUBBER AXLE BOOT TORN ON PASSENGER SIDE; REPAIR ESTIMATE WAS PROHIBITIVE. LAST YEAR HAD RUBBER AXLE BOOT REPAIRED ON DRIVER SIDE AT A REASONABLE COST/WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THAT THEY JUST ACTIVATED THEIR ADP COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT MORNING AND THE PRICE WAS A MUST; WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER TOYOTA DUE TO HIGH REPAIR COST.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10093303

133,017 miles · Mar 8, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSteeringFire

OIL/FLUID LEAKS FROM FOUR SPOTS (TRANSMISSION AREA, VALVE COVER GASKETS, POWER STEERING PUMP AND RACK & PINION) MYSTERIOUSLY OCCURRED AT THE SAME TIME AND ALMOST SET THE VEHICLE ABLAZED WHEN THE OIL DRIPPED ONTO EXHAUST PIPE JUST BELOW THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CAR DEALERS SERVICEMAN ADVISED ME NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR ANY LONGER…

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OIL/FLUID LEAKS FROM FOUR SPOTS (TRANSMISSION AREA, VALVE COVER GASKETS, POWER STEERING PUMP AND RACK & PINION) MYSTERIOUSLY OCCURRED AT THE SAME TIME AND ALMOST SET THE VEHICLE ABLAZED WHEN THE OIL DRIPPED ONTO EXHAUST PIPE JUST BELOW THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CAR DEALERS SERVICEMAN ADVISED ME NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR ANY LONGER UNTIL IT IS FIXED BECAUSE IT WILL SURELY BE ON FIRE. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10010143

Mileage unknown · Oct 10, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

THERE IS A PERSISTENT OIL LEAK PROBLEM THAT BEGAN AT 89000 MILES AND IS UNFIXABLE. THE VALVE COVER, OIL PAN, AND OIL FILTER GASKETS WERE REPLACED AT APPROXIMATELY 93000 MILES AND 9000 MILES LATER PROBLEM HAS RETURNED, PLUS THERE IS A SMOKE SMELL PERMEATING THE CAR CABIN. YD

NHTSA ODI #785724

Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2001
Power Train

AT 85000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP IN REVERSE, WHEN THE REVERSE GEAR WENT, THE OVERDRIVE DISENTEGRATED AND THERE WAS TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. NLM

NHTSA ODI #563139

Mileage unknown · May 14, 2001
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING,CAUSING FRONT WHEELS TO LOCK. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #888132

Mileage unknown · Mar 22, 2001
Power Train

THE 6 CYLINDER TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY, THE CONSUMER FEELS THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE PAID FOR REPLACEMENT SINCE THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 53,731 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. NLM

NHTSA ODI #560484

Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 2001
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED, ALTHOUGH THE DEALER TRIED. THE FIRST GEAR SLIPS WITH A LOUD NOISE AS SOON AS IT IS ENGAGED. THIS HAPPENS WITH OR WITHOUT THE CAR IN MOTION. SECOND GEAR IS USED INSTEAD. THE DEALERSHIP TRIED TO REPAIR IT AND WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL, THEY HOWEVER, REPLACED THE CLUTCH AT THAT TIME. THIS DID NOT SO…

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THE TRANSMISSION HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED, ALTHOUGH THE DEALER TRIED. THE FIRST GEAR SLIPS WITH A LOUD NOISE AS SOON AS IT IS ENGAGED. THIS HAPPENS WITH OR WITHOUT THE CAR IN MOTION. SECOND GEAR IS USED INSTEAD. THE DEALERSHIP TRIED TO REPAIR IT AND WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL, THEY HOWEVER, REPLACED THE CLUTCH AT THAT TIME. THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE FIRST GEAR PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #741890

Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 2000
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. *CJ

NHTSA ODI #556943

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

2

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

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