IllustrationREPLACED VALVE ASSEMBLY 4 TIMES (ABOUT 1/YEAR). *AK
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
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
76 reportsCANNOT START ENGINE AND ENGINE STALLLING DUE TO IDLE SPPED CONTROL VALVE FAILURE. REPLACED ISC VALVE 5 TIMES SINCE 1997.
I HAVE SEEN ON THE INTERNET THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS SLUDGE ENGINE WITH PROPER MAINTENANCE. TOYOTA NOT BACKING THE WARRANTY. THERE IS A BIG PROBLEM WORLDWIDE HERE. *AK
CAR STALLS WHEN STARTING COLD. IDLE SPEED CONTROL MOTOR FAILED 4 TIMES SINCE PURCHASED, ALMOST ONCE A YEAR.
THE 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
MECH SAID FAILURE OF NEOPRENE WASHER CAUSED TRANS FAILURE
VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. ALSO, IT HAS A COLD START UP/SOMETIMES IT WON'T START, AND THERE IS ROUGH IDLING. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. EVERY 7-8 MONTHS IT SHOWS SYMPTOMS OF INSTABILITY DURING IGNITION. THE RPM NEEDLE IS ALSO VERY UNSTABLE, ESPECIALLY ON COLDER DAYS. *AK *ML
VEHICLES OXYGEN SENSOR FAILURE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SURGE AND DIE UNLESS THE ENGINE IS COMPLETELY WARM. *ET
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.