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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

Exterior Lighting complaints

19 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2011
Exterior LightingParking BrakeSteeringCrash

MY HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY DIM, FORTUNATELY I HAVE NOT CRASHED AT THIS POINT BUT I HAVE SWERVED AND AT NEAR ACCIDENT SITUATIONS. I CANNOT SEE IN THE DARK AND I AM FORCED TO USE MY HIGH BEAMS. AROUND SUMMER OF 2010, I CRASHED M Y CAR ON A CURVE GOING TO SAN FRANCISCO, CA ON HIGHWAY 85. AS I WAS ABOUT TO CURVE I SLOWLY WENT FROM 6…

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MY HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY DIM, FORTUNATELY I HAVE NOT CRASHED AT THIS POINT BUT I HAVE SWERVED AND AT NEAR ACCIDENT SITUATIONS. I CANNOT SEE IN THE DARK AND I AM FORCED TO USE MY HIGH BEAMS. AROUND SUMMER OF 2010, I CRASHED M Y CAR ON A CURVE GOING TO SAN FRANCISCO, CA ON HIGHWAY 85. AS I WAS ABOUT TO CURVE I SLOWLY WENT FROM 65 MPH TO 25 MPH OR A BIT LOWER TO CURVE CORRECTLY. MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO CURVE APPROPRIATELY SO MY CAR CONTINUED STRAIGHT AND HIT THE SIDE OF THE CURVE (LUCKILY IT WAS BLOCKED BY A STEEL HIGHWAY FENCE). I REPLACED THE DRIVERS DOOR AND FRONT BUMPER WITH AN AWFUL OFF COLOR PAINT JOB. I DID NOT MAKE A POLICE REPORT AND I DID NOT CONTACT MY INSURANCE. I FIXED MY CAR AND NOW I AM AFRAID IT MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN. PROPERTY DAMAGE OF MY CAR WAS DONE. MY WINDOW NO LONGER WORKS AND MY KEY ENTRY IS NO LONGER FUNCTIONING AS WELL DUE TO THE CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10386228

104,800 miles · Jul 24, 2008
Exterior LightingSteering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT WENT TO HIS INSURANCE COMPANY AFTER HAIL DAMAGED HIS VEHICLE. THE INSURANCE REPRESENTATIVE DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER'S 96V037000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHT) AND 99V307000 (STEERING WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR); HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED I…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT WENT TO HIS INSURANCE COMPANY AFTER HAIL DAMAGED HIS VEHICLE. THE INSURANCE REPRESENTATIVE DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER'S 96V037000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHT) AND 99V307000 (STEERING WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR); HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 104,800. UPDATED 09/15/08 *BF UPDATED 09/17/08. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10235652

Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 2004
Exterior Lighting

AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC EVERY MONTH OR EVERY OTHER WEEK REPLACED THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TAIL LIGHT BULBS. DEALER INDICATED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE VIN . *AK

NHTSA ODI #10068548

Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 2004
Exterior Lighting

NHTSA 96V037000. THE PLASTIC MATERIAL OF THE BULB HOLDERS OF THE REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY DOES NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT HEAT RESISTANCE. WHEN THE BULB ILLUMINATED IT WOULD RESULT IN A HIGH TEMPERATURE THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE BULB HOLDER TO DEFORM. THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10059851

Mileage unknown · Apr 29, 2002
Exterior Lighting

96 V 0237 000/LIGHTING:LAMP OR SOCKET:TAIL LIGHT: CONSUMER REPORTING INOPERATIVE TAIL LIGHT. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE VIN# WAS NOT COVER UNDER THE MANUFACTURER RECALL. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8008767

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2002
Exterior Lighting

WHEN COMING TO A STOP LEFT REAR BRAKE LIGHT WOULD FAIL TO ILLUMINATE. TOOK VEHICLE TO PRIVATE MECHANIC, AND COULD NOT FIND CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8003433

Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2001
Exterior LightingCrash

TAIL LIGHTS FAILED: CHECK LIGHT BULBS - THEY'RE OKAY; WARNING LIGHT SOMETIME GOES ON. *AK

NHTSA ODI #750824

Mileage unknown · Apr 13, 2001
Electrical SystemExterior LightingPower Train

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH FELT A SLIGHT LOSS OF POWER WHICH WAS CORRECTED BY ITSELF. A MINUTE LATER, WHEELS LOCKED UP, AND VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT TRANSAXLE CRACKED AND IT BROKE OFF WHERE IT WAS ATTACHED TO THE BODY. DIFFERENTIAL UNIT LOCKING WAS TORN UP, AND CE…

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WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH FELT A SLIGHT LOSS OF POWER WHICH WAS CORRECTED BY ITSELF. A MINUTE LATER, WHEELS LOCKED UP, AND VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT TRANSAXLE CRACKED AND IT BROKE OFF WHERE IT WAS ATTACHED TO THE BODY. DIFFERENTIAL UNIT LOCKING WAS TORN UP, AND CENTER SUPPORT WAS WIPED OUT. TRANSFER CASE ALSO BROKE WHERE IT WENT ONTO THE BODY. *AK DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS CHUNKS OF METAL FOUND FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL DRAIN PLUG. CONSUMER HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE INCLUDING STARTING PROBLEMS. STRUT FAILURE. KEY AND LOCK PROBLEMS. WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAULTY. INTERIOR AND BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #885849

Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 2000
Electrical SystemExterior LightingFuel System, Gasoline

TURN SIGNAL FAILED, REPAIRED WIRING TO THE HAZARD SWITCH, HOWEVER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENT FAILURE AFTER REPAIR. *MJS

NHTSA ODI #551962

Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 1997
Exterior Lighting

INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHING FASTER THAN USUAL.

NHTSA ODI #604959

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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