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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

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

22 reports
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Mileage unknown · May 29, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control

#1 - DISCOVERED WIND NOISE FROM AN INCOMPLETE SEAL IN RIGHT REAR QUARTER GLASS OF VEHICLE, ONE MONTH AFTER PURCHASE. TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEL TOYOTA(DEALER), WHO SAID THEY RESEALED THE WINDOW. NOISE FROM SAID WINDOW CONTINUED, AT HIGHER SPEEDS ABOVE 30MPH. I TOOK VEHICLE BACK INTO DEALER ONE MONTH LATER. THIS TIME, THEY SAID THEY …

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#1 - DISCOVERED WIND NOISE FROM AN INCOMPLETE SEAL IN RIGHT REAR QUARTER GLASS OF VEHICLE, ONE MONTH AFTER PURCHASE. TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEL TOYOTA(DEALER), WHO SAID THEY RESEALED THE WINDOW. NOISE FROM SAID WINDOW CONTINUED, AT HIGHER SPEEDS ABOVE 30MPH. I TOOK VEHICLE BACK INTO DEALER ONE MONTH LATER. THIS TIME, THEY SAID THEY REPLACED THE WEATHERSTRIP AROUND THE WINDOW, THAT THE "WIND NOISE" HAD BEEN CAUSED BY DEFORMED WEATHERSTRIP. THIS WAS DONE WHILE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY, NEVER TO MY SATISFACTION. CONDITION EXISTS TODAY, 05/29/2002!! #2 - DISC BRAKES WERE SERVICED BY JERRY'S TOYOTA IN BALTIMORE, AFTER MAKING A STICKING NOISE RIGHT BEFORE THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STOPPED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT PADS, MACHINED THE ROTORS, AND SERVICED THE LEFT FRONT CALIPER AFTER HE FOUND IT STICKING. THIS DID NOT ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE NOISE, WHICH CONTINUES TODAY (05/29/2002) EVEN AFTER A SECOND SERVICING! #3 - ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, SO I TOOK THE TOYOTA CAMRY INTO JERRY'S TOYOTA FOR SERVICING. THEY CLEANED CARBON DEPOSITS FROM INJECTORS, THROTTLE PLATE VALVES AND PISTON RINGS; SAID THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE #3 CYLINDER. THIS HAPPENED A SECOND TIME; I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICING. I AM NOW WAITING FOR EITHER A THIRD INCIDENT AT $200. TO FIX, OR IF THEY REPLACE ANY FUEL INJECTORS, THESE COST $200. EA PER PART!!*AK

NHTSA ODI #762435

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 · Nov 7, 2000
Fuel System, GasolineFire

CONSUMER WAS AT GAS STATION TO FILL HER VEHICLE, AS SOON AS SHE OPENED GAS TANK FLAMES BURST OUT. VERY LITTLE FUEL WAS LEFT IN TANK , FIRE BURNED OUT QUICKLY. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER, WHO TOLD HER CAR WAS FINE. STATIC HAD CAUSED FIRE. ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF.*AK

NHTSA ODI #874600

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 · Jan 25, 1999
Fuel System, Gasoline

CAR DOES NOT TURN OVER AT FIRST START OF THE DAY. DEALERSHIP (WESTCHESTER TOYOTA, NY) STATES FUEL INJECTORS NEED TO BE CLEANED. DEALERSHIP PROCEEDED AND CLEANED THE INJECTOR'S YET THE CAR STILL DOES NOT TURN OVER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #702588

Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 1997
Fuel System, Gasoline

START UP FUEL INJECTION FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #604562

Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 1997
Fuel System, Gasoline

IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #606033

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 1997
Fuel System, Gasoline

GAS GAUGE FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #603729

Mileage unknown · Apr 29, 1997
Fuel System, Gasoline

ENGINE AUTOMATIC CHOKE FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #603287

Mileage unknown · Dec 12, 1996
Fuel System, GasolineService Brakes, Air

THE AUTOMATIC CHOKE FAILED AND THE BRAKES AND DRUMS OVERHEATED AND BURNED.

NHTSA ODI #512423

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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