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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

Suspension complaints

28 reports
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Mileage unknown · May 16, 2001
Suspension

CONSUMER WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY GETTING READY TO BACK UP AND FRONT SPRING COIL POPPED THROUGH TIRE ON DRIVER'S FRONT SIDE. CONSUMER DIDN'T HAVE ANY SIGNS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. TIRE WAS TAKEN OFF, AND WHAT WAS LEFT HAD A BIG BLOTCH IN METAL. IT WAS BROKEN IN HALF, ONLY TOP PART WAS ATTACHED TO VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED…

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CONSUMER WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY GETTING READY TO BACK UP AND FRONT SPRING COIL POPPED THROUGH TIRE ON DRIVER'S FRONT SIDE. CONSUMER DIDN'T HAVE ANY SIGNS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. TIRE WAS TAKEN OFF, AND WHAT WAS LEFT HAD A BIG BLOTCH IN METAL. IT WAS BROKEN IN HALF, ONLY TOP PART WAS ATTACHED TO VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, AND WARRANTY COVERAGE WAS FOR 36,000 MILES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #888366

Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 2001
Suspension

LEFT SIDE FRONT END COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE GETTING INTO PARKED VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY, AND NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #886151

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 · May 8, 2000
Suspension

LEFT REAR WHEEL IS MAKING A NOISE AND LEAKING OIL. RIGHT SIDE IS LEAKING OIL ALSO, BUT IS NOT MAKING NOISE. CONSUMER FEELS WHEEL MAY COME OFF. DEALER REPLACED THE HUB AND BEARING THAT WAS MAKING NOISE. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #861567

Mileage unknown · Dec 13, 1999
SuspensionUnknown Or Other

THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATES WHEN REACHING A SPEED ABOVE 55 MPH, ALSO ON HIGHWAY DRIVING THE VEHICLE PULLS TO RIGHT AND/OR LEFT AT TIMES, DEALERSHIP INDICATES NO PROBLEM, BECAUSE THEY WILL ONLY TEST THE VEHICLE ON SIDE ROADS, AS OPPOSED TO HIGHWAY DRIVING WHICH IS WHAT I BOUGHT THE CAR FOR. THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN ENGA…

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THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATES WHEN REACHING A SPEED ABOVE 55 MPH, ALSO ON HIGHWAY DRIVING THE VEHICLE PULLS TO RIGHT AND/OR LEFT AT TIMES, DEALERSHIP INDICATES NO PROBLEM, BECAUSE THEY WILL ONLY TEST THE VEHICLE ON SIDE ROADS, AS OPPOSED TO HIGHWAY DRIVING WHICH IS WHAT I BOUGHT THE CAR FOR. THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN ENGAGED, IF YOU HIT THE BRAKES, WHILE THE TIRES ARE STILL TORQUED MAKES AN EXTREMELY LOUD BANG, AND THE VEHICLE AT TIMES TENDS TO SPEED UP THEN SLOW DOWN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #716003

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 1999
Suspension

WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN THE VEHICLE SEVERELY PULLS TO THE RIGHT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #849610

Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 1999
Suspension

FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING BROKE AND FELL ONTO THE ROAD, WHICH COULD CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #838214

Mileage unknown · Nov 23, 1998
StructureSuspensionCrashInjury

OUR 1996 CAMRY WAS REARENDED ON 8-12-97. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED AT FIRST THEN SAID IT HAD TO BE REPAIRED. WE REJECTED THE CAR DUE TO THE UNSAFE CONDITION. I WAS FORCED BY AUCTION TO GO PICK UP CAR. (11000 DOLLARS LATER) I TOWED IT HOME. I ALSO TOWED IT TO GET AN ESTIMATE FROM ANOTHER TOYOTA DEALER. (THAT WAS 3000 MORE DOL…

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OUR 1996 CAMRY WAS REARENDED ON 8-12-97. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED AT FIRST THEN SAID IT HAD TO BE REPAIRED. WE REJECTED THE CAR DUE TO THE UNSAFE CONDITION. I WAS FORCED BY AUCTION TO GO PICK UP CAR. (11000 DOLLARS LATER) I TOWED IT HOME. I ALSO TOWED IT TO GET AN ESTIMATE FROM ANOTHER TOYOTA DEALER. (THAT WAS 3000 MORE DOLLARS OF WORK) AFTER PAYING FOR THIS CAR FOR 1 YEAR AND NOT BEING ABLE TO DRIVE IT WE TURNED IT IN. (REPOSSESED) TOYOTA MOTOR CREDIT WAS NOTIFIED OF THE WORK IT NEEDED. THEY AUCTIONED IT AND NOW SOME UNKNOWING PERSON IS OPERATING THAT CAR. THE CAR IS VERY UNSAFE, I HAVE WRITTEN EVERYONE I CAN THINK OF ABOUT THIS AND NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE. IF YOU CAN GIVE ME ANY HELP ON THIS MATTER IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. RANDY MITCHELL 102 BERMUDA LN. MOYOCK NC 27958 919-435-6826

NHTSA ODI #700840

Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 1997
Suspension

WHEN VEHICLE ACCELERATES OR STOPS THE BACK AREA MOVES FORWARD AND BACKWARDS. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #817928

Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 1997
Suspension

FRONT STRUT ASSEMBLY FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #605414

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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