IllustrationWHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *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 reportsEXHAUST PIPE ASSEMBLY REPLACED, FAILURE CAUSING FUMES TO ENTER VEHICLE. MJS
VEHICLE MALKES A LOUD RATTLING NOISE WHEN IDLING. DEALER SAID VEHICLE NEEDED NEW TIMING BELT. *AK
RESERVOIR BOTTLE FAILED PREMATURELY. BOTTLE DETERIATED AND LEAKS COOLANT ONTO THE EXHAUST.
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…
Read full complaint
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.
WHILE DRIVING ALL POWER STOPPED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL. WHEN NOTICED THE POWER FAILURE TRIED TO PULL OVER, BUT DID NOT HAVE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *AK
ENGINE VALVE ASSEMBLY FAILED.
COLD START VALVE FAILED.
ENGINE IS HAVING TROUBLE STARTING, THE PROBLEM IS UNDIAGNOSED AND IS STILL PRESENT.
SINCE THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE PURCHASED THE AUTOMOBILE, IT HAS BEEN PULSATING/VIBRATING AND HESITATION WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS OF 50 MPH OR MORE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM AND CONSUMER IS UNSATISFIED WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE.
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.