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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 →

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

What owners actually said

417 reports
190,000 miles · Sep 22, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control

ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2014, WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING A 96 TOYOTA CAMRY CAR HOME, ALL OF THE SUDDEN, THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY ACCELERATED, SHE HIT THE BRAKE HARD BUT THE VEHICLE STILL WENT 40 MPH. SHE ALMOST HIT SEVERAL VEHICLES BEFORE SHE MANAGED TO SHIFT IT TO THE PARKING MODE AND STOP THE VEHICLE IN THE UP-SLOPE DRIVEWAY. AT THI…

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ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2014, WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING A 96 TOYOTA CAMRY CAR HOME, ALL OF THE SUDDEN, THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY ACCELERATED, SHE HIT THE BRAKE HARD BUT THE VEHICLE STILL WENT 40 MPH. SHE ALMOST HIT SEVERAL VEHICLES BEFORE SHE MANAGED TO SHIFT IT TO THE PARKING MODE AND STOP THE VEHICLE IN THE UP-SLOPE DRIVEWAY. AT THIS TIME, THE VEHICLE WAS STILL ROARING AND SMOKE CAME OUT AND SHE TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. WE FELT THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND IS SIMILAR TO ACCIDENT HAPPENED SEVERAL YEARS AGO. WE WOULD LIKE TO REPORT IT TO NHTSA AND WISH YOU START A SWIFT INVESTIGATION. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10638045

185 miles · Jul 21, 2014
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

96 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH 185K MILES ACCELERATED TO A HIGH SPEED FOR UNKNOWN REASONS. TRYING TO HALT THE CAR, A LANDSCAPING TREE WAS HIT, THE WHEEL BLEW OUT, EVENTUALLY STOPPING THE CAR. VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND TO GEAR, PEDAL OR SHUT OFF OF VEHICLE FROM COMMANDS GIVEN. INSTEAD, AFTER HITTING LANDSCAPING TREE RUNOVER, NEAR MISS PEDEST…

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96 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH 185K MILES ACCELERATED TO A HIGH SPEED FOR UNKNOWN REASONS. TRYING TO HALT THE CAR, A LANDSCAPING TREE WAS HIT, THE WHEEL BLEW OUT, EVENTUALLY STOPPING THE CAR. VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND TO GEAR, PEDAL OR SHUT OFF OF VEHICLE FROM COMMANDS GIVEN. INSTEAD, AFTER HITTING LANDSCAPING TREE RUNOVER, NEAR MISS PEDESTRIANS, TIRE BLOWOUT, THEN HALTED. POLICE TESTED (ON POLICE REPORT VERIFIED) TURN ON OF VEHICLE IN WHICH CAR RESUMED HIGH SPEED REVVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10615029

117,000 miles · May 27, 2014
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH MAKING A LEFT TURN, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO BOTH THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT AND REAR DOOR WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH MAKING A LEFT TURN, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO BOTH THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT AND REAR DOOR WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

NHTSA ODI #10594282

193,000 miles · May 11, 2014
Air BagsSeat BeltsSeatsCrashInjury

WAS INVOLVED IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT WHERE VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP WAITING TO EXIT FREEWAY: BACKUP ON FREEWAY EXIT, WAS REAR ENDED AT HIGH SPEED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. CAUSING CHAIN REACTION CRASH, VEHICLE WAS SANDWICHED BETWEEN TWO VEHICLES. VEHICLE FLOORING BECAME DEFORMED WHICH MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPS…

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WAS INVOLVED IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT WHERE VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP WAITING TO EXIT FREEWAY: BACKUP ON FREEWAY EXIT, WAS REAR ENDED AT HIGH SPEED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. CAUSING CHAIN REACTION CRASH, VEHICLE WAS SANDWICHED BETWEEN TWO VEHICLES. VEHICLE FLOORING BECAME DEFORMED WHICH MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSING AND MOST IMPORTANTLY FOR THE SEAT BELT TO FAIL CAUSING ME TO BANG MY FACE INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. I FOUND THE SEAT BELT WAS UNBUCKLED AFTER THE CRASH. AIRBAGS DID DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10587674

135,060 miles · Oct 2, 2013
Vehicle Speed Control

STUCK ACCELERATOR PEDAL ENTERED I-75 S ON-RAMP AT ELLENTON FL AND WAS ACCELERATING. AT ABOUT 60 MPH, RAPID ACCELERATION OCCURRED. I WAS QUICKLY APPROACHING A TRACTOR TRAILER ABOUT MID-RIVER ( MANATEE RIVER), CHECKED THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT (NOT ON) AND HIT THE BRAKES. THE BRAKES SLOWED THE VEHICLE FROM 70MPH BUT THE ENGIN…

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STUCK ACCELERATOR PEDAL ENTERED I-75 S ON-RAMP AT ELLENTON FL AND WAS ACCELERATING. AT ABOUT 60 MPH, RAPID ACCELERATION OCCURRED. I WAS QUICKLY APPROACHING A TRACTOR TRAILER ABOUT MID-RIVER ( MANATEE RIVER), CHECKED THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT (NOT ON) AND HIT THE BRAKES. THE BRAKES SLOWED THE VEHICLE FROM 70MPH BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE. I HAD THE BRAKE PETAL FULLY ENGAGED, WHICH DECREASED SPEED TO ABOUT 40 MPH. I PULLED ONTO THE BERM ABOUT ONE-HALF MILE PAST BRIDGE AND WHILE KEEPING FOOT ON BRAKE PULLED GEAR SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. ENGINE WAS FULLY ENGAGED PRODUCING A LOUD SCREECHING SOUND. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A STOP. THE CAR WAS TOWED BY AAA TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP.. WORDING ON REPAIR ESTIMATE IS AS FOLLOWS: WORK REQUESTED: ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK. WORK PERFORMED: DIAGNOSE TO AIR INTAKE BOOT DETERIORATED, FOUND SMALL PIECE FELL OFF AND JAMMED INTO THROTTLE PLATE, INSTALL NEW AIR INTAKE BOOT. (AIR MASS METER BOOT). (THE DEFECTIVE DETERIORATING BOOT IS IN MY POSSESSION.) *TR

NHTSA ODI #10546497

166,000 miles · Jul 29, 2013
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES FRACTURED INTO PIECES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT AND THEY INFORMED THERE WAS NOT A RECALL RELATED TO THE PROBLEM. …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES FRACTURED INTO PIECES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT AND THEY INFORMED THERE WAS NOT A RECALL RELATED TO THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.

NHTSA ODI #10532352

149,000 miles · Jun 19, 2013
Vehicle Speed Control

THIS EVENT OCCURRED TWICE: I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30-40 MPH W/OUT THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OF THE GAS PEDAL TO APPLY THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. I HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AS HARD AS I COULD TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IN THE SECOND INCIDENT I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR OUT OF GEAR WHICH CAUSED THE…

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THIS EVENT OCCURRED TWICE: I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30-40 MPH W/OUT THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OF THE GAS PEDAL TO APPLY THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. I HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AS HARD AS I COULD TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IN THE SECOND INCIDENT I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR OUT OF GEAR WHICH CAUSED THE RPM TO JUMP SIGNIFICANTLY. ONCE THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE CAR FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT FIND ANY OPEN RECALLS NOR COULD THE DEALER IDENTIFY ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. I ALSO TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY ANY PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10520705

85,000 miles · Sep 11, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTION. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD INCREASE ACCELERATION SPEEDS INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A R…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTION. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD INCREASE ACCELERATION SPEEDS INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 96E001000(VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) BUT THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER BUT DID NOT GET A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ODI #10475032

117,000 miles · Dec 21, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A GASOLINE ODOR WAS EMITTED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE EVEN WHEN THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE FAILURE OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

NHTSA ODI #10440854

122,000 miles · Oct 28, 2011
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD FREQUENTLY EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS. IN ADDITION, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS INOPERABLE. WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO AVOID A CRASH, THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THE CONTACTED HAD TO STEER ABRUPTLY TO AV…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD FREQUENTLY EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS. IN ADDITION, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS INOPERABLE. WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO AVOID A CRASH, THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THE CONTACTED HAD TO STEER ABRUPTLY TO AVOID THE CRASH BUT THE VEHICLE THEN ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE ACCELERATION UNTIL CRASHING INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000.

NHTSA ODI #10433457

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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