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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.

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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

Equipment complaints

17 reports
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60,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
EquipmentPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

THE ENGINE JUST DIES. USUALLY AT A STOP OR SLOW DOWN. PROBABLY 1X/MONTH FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS. PREVIOUSLY IT JUST HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES LAST YEAR. THE FREQUENCY SEEMS TO BE INCREASING. SO FAR IT HAS HAPPENED ONLY WITH CITY DRIVING. I DO 90% CITY DRIVING, BUT AM BECOMING NERVOUS ABOUT TAKING THE CAR OUT ON THE FREEWAY.…

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THE ENGINE JUST DIES. USUALLY AT A STOP OR SLOW DOWN. PROBABLY 1X/MONTH FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS. PREVIOUSLY IT JUST HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES LAST YEAR. THE FREQUENCY SEEMS TO BE INCREASING. SO FAR IT HAS HAPPENED ONLY WITH CITY DRIVING. I DO 90% CITY DRIVING, BUT AM BECOMING NERVOUS ABOUT TAKING THE CAR OUT ON THE FREEWAY. OUR MECHANIC CANNOT FIND ANY HISTORY OF THESE STALLS ON THE CAR'S COMPUTER. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY ISC VALVE EVER SINCE I'VE HAD THE CAR. WE NEED TO REPLACE THE ISC VALVE EVERY YEAR. TOYOTA HAS PAID FOR IT, BUT IT IS ANNOYING NOT TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM SOLVED.

NHTSA ODI #10070289

200,000 miles · May 27, 2003
EquipmentSuspension

THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SUSPENSION COIL SPRING SNAPPED WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE TO MOVE OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND FRACTURED THE END OF THE SPRING AND SCORED THE TIRE WALL. *NLM *AK THE MICROSCOPIC OBSERVATION OF THE FRACTURED SURFACE SHOWED DARK CRYSTALS EMBEDDED IN THE STEEL. *SCC THE AIR CONDITIONER DID NOT BLOW COLD…

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THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SUSPENSION COIL SPRING SNAPPED WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE TO MOVE OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND FRACTURED THE END OF THE SPRING AND SCORED THE TIRE WALL. *NLM *AK THE MICROSCOPIC OBSERVATION OF THE FRACTURED SURFACE SHOWED DARK CRYSTALS EMBEDDED IN THE STEEL. *SCC THE AIR CONDITIONER DID NOT BLOW COLD AIR, THE DEALER REPLACED THE CONDENSOR AND RECEIVER DRYER *JB

NHTSA ODI #10021619

Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

UPON STARTING VEHICLE AT IDLE SPEED, THE CONTROL VALVE STICKS. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALERSHIP, AND CONSUMER HAS BEEN TOLD THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. *AK BRAKES EXPERIENCE GRINDING, SQUEAKING, AND VIBRATION, ROTORS WERE WARPED AND BRAKE PADS WERE GLAZED, BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED, HOWEVER PROBLEM CONTINUES. CONSUMER …

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UPON STARTING VEHICLE AT IDLE SPEED, THE CONTROL VALVE STICKS. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALERSHIP, AND CONSUMER HAS BEEN TOLD THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. *AK BRAKES EXPERIENCE GRINDING, SQUEAKING, AND VIBRATION, ROTORS WERE WARPED AND BRAKE PADS WERE GLAZED, BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED, HOWEVER PROBLEM CONTINUES. CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A SUSPENSION PROBLEM THAT IS CAUSING UNEVEN TIRE WEAR. VEHICLE EXPERIENCES SEVERAL ENGINE RELATED PROBLEMS, MOTOR MOUNTS WERE WEAK CAUSING STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION, 16 VALVE SEALS CAME APART DUE TO BEING INSTALLED INCORRECTLY, WATER PUMP LEAKED, TIMING BELT FAILED, VALVE COVER LEAKED, AND CAM SEAL WAS REPLACED. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION RELATED PROBLEMS, RIGHT OUTER AXLE BOOT WAS SPLIT AND LEAKING GREASE, CV BOOTS FAILED TWICE, SHIFTER WAS HARD AND WAS MAKING NOISES, DEALER FOUND THE SHIFTER LEVER PLATE WAS BROKEN, TRANSMISSION PAN GASKET WAS REPLACED, THERE WAS A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE REAR WHEN GOING IN REVERSE. THE CAR JACK WAS MISSING FROM THE TRUNK AND THE ANTENNA WAS INOPERABLE. DEALER FOUND AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE BATTERY. CONSUMER NOTICED A RATTLING NOISE UNDER THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT, DEALER SECURED SEAT SLIDE ADJUSTER HOOK, TEMPERATURE GAUGE DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. OVERDRIVE LIGHT WAS INOPERABLE. VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL FUEL RELATED PROBLEMS, THE EGR VALVE ASSEMBLY, EGR MODULATOR, IDLER CONTROL VALVE, IDLE AIR SPEED CONTROL, DISTRIBUTOR O-RING, IDLER BEARING, ISC VALVE, AND VACUUM SWITCHING VALVE HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED, BLUE SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST, DEALER CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY, FUEL INJECTION, AND RECALIBRATED THE FUEL SENSOR, VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ROUGH AND STALLING DUE TO FAULTY EGR VACUUM MODULATOR, DEALER STATED THAT THE VALVE WOULD DEFAULT IF THERE WAS TOO MUCH OIL ADDED, THE VALVE IS TOO SMALL SO IT WILL STICK OR BECOME CLOGGED UP WITH CARBON BUILD UP. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #897821

Mileage unknown · Jan 26, 2001
Equipment

POWER ANTENNA WAS CAUSING SHORTAGES IN RADIO. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPLACED ANTENNA. AT PRESENT, PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE ANTENNA DOES NOT CONTRACT IN VERY COLD WEATHER, CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #879125

Mileage unknown · Dec 11, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment

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

NHTSA ODI #876242

Mileage unknown · Oct 28, 1999
EquipmentSeats

SEAT SLIDE/TRACK FAILED. MJS

NHTSA ODI #549290

Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 1998
Equipment

BOTH REMOTES FOR THE KEYLESS ENTRY/SECURITY SYSTEM HAVE FALLEN APART WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. TOYOTA REFUSES TO REPLACE THEM. I HAVE NOT USED THEM IN ANY UNUSUAL MANNER. IF THE WARRANTY IS

NHTSA ODI #700104

Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 1997
Equipment

CASSETTE PLAYER FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #605269

Mileage unknown · Sep 22, 1997
Equipment

ANTENNA SNAPPED.

NHTSA ODI #605140

Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 1997
Equipment

DIGITAL CLOCK FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #603598

Official recalls

2

99V307000 · 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

2

DP02004 · 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.

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