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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.

About this comparison →
417Owner complaints

Model-year median: 295

2Recall campaigns

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2Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
260
1993287
1994303
1995417
1996555
1997600
1998501
1999
Compare all Camry years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
76Service Brakes, Hydraulic
52Vehicle Speed Control
50Air Bags
47Steering
37
All reported categories
Suspension
28Electrical System
26Structure
26Visibility
26Tires
25Fuel System, Gasoline
22Power Train
21Exterior Lighting
19Seat Belts
18Equipment
17Unknown Or Other
17Seats
7Latches/locks/linkages
6Wheels
4Fuel System, Other
3Child Seat
1Engine
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Interior Lighting
1Parking Brake
1Service Brakes, Air
1

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

Visibility complaints

26 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2000
Visibility

MAIN WINDOW SWITCH ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WOULD LATCH TO LOWER THE WINDOW THEN WOULD NOT UNLATCH TO RAISE THE WINDOW EVEN AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND OPENING THE DOOR. DEALER SAID IT WOULD COST $300+ TO REPLACE THE MAIN WINDOW CONTROL BOARD. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER THE RIGHT SIDE PASSENGER SWITCH QUIT AND NEITHER SIDE (RIGHT OR L…

Read full complaint

MAIN WINDOW SWITCH ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WOULD LATCH TO LOWER THE WINDOW THEN WOULD NOT UNLATCH TO RAISE THE WINDOW EVEN AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND OPENING THE DOOR. DEALER SAID IT WOULD COST $300+ TO REPLACE THE MAIN WINDOW CONTROL BOARD. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER THE RIGHT SIDE PASSENGER SWITCH QUIT AND NEITHER SIDE (RIGHT OR LEFT) SWITCH WOULD WORK. CANNOT LOWER WINDOW AT ALL AND FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD IF THE WINDOW HAD TO BE OPENED IN AN EMERGENCY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #725180

Mileage unknown · Dec 30, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility

EXHAUST PIPE ASSEMBLY REPLACED, FAILURE CAUSING FUMES TO ENTER VEHICLE. MJS

NHTSA ODI #550133

Mileage unknown · Jul 1, 1998
Visibility

SUNROOF FAILED. QCAW

NHTSA ODI #605247

Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 1998
VisibilityInjury

INTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR WAS DETACHED BY DEPLOYING AIR BAGS AND HIT A REAR SEAT PASSENGER CAUSING HEAD INJURIES.

NHTSA ODI #532375

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 1998
Visibility

DEFOGGER SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK EFFICIENTLY CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY.

NHTSA ODI #529115

Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 1997
Visibility

OUTSIDE SIDE VIEW MIRROR FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #605347

Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 1997
Exterior LightingVisibility

POWER WINDOW FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #605320

Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 1997
Visibility

DRIVER'S SIDE VIEW MIRROR FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #603179

Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 1997
Visibility

DEFOGGER INOPERATIVE, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY.

NHTSA ODI #603017

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 1997
Electrical SystemEquipmentVisibility

STARTER FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #602770

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.

Go deeper into Toyota Camry problems

Toyota Camry electrical problems →Toyota Camry transmission problems →