IllustrationNO SUMMARY.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Camry years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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
What owners actually said
417 reportsWHILE DRIVING AND TRYING TO MAKE A STOPBY APPLYING THE BRAKES, VEHICLE GRINDS/ SQUEAKS, AND THERE IS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK
WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN THE VEHICLE SEVERELY PULLS TO THE RIGHT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
POWER DOOR LOCKS ENGAGE TO LOCKING POSITION INDEPENDENTLY AND OFTEN CONTINUALLY WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA DEALER A MINIMUM OF TWO TIMES TO BE REPAIRED. DEALER DETECTED A LOW VOLTAGE PROBLEM AND REPLACED BATTERY. DOOR LOCKS CONTINUE TO SELF LOCK. DEALER UNABLE TO GET DOOR LOCKS TO SELF INITIATE THEREFORE…
Read full complaint
POWER DOOR LOCKS ENGAGE TO LOCKING POSITION INDEPENDENTLY AND OFTEN CONTINUALLY WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA DEALER A MINIMUM OF TWO TIMES TO BE REPAIRED. DEALER DETECTED A LOW VOLTAGE PROBLEM AND REPLACED BATTERY. DOOR LOCKS CONTINUE TO SELF LOCK. DEALER UNABLE TO GET DOOR LOCKS TO SELF INITIATE THEREFORE DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT UNABLE TO DETECT PROBLEM. DEALER UNWILLING TO DO ANY MORE FOR OWNER. VEHICLE CONTINUES TO ENGAGE LOCKING MECHANISM WHILE IN USE. TRANSPORTING CHILDREN IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IF MECHANISM LOCKS CHILD/CHILDREN INSIDE.
DRIVER 'S SIDE SEAT MOVES, THE ANCHOR IS LOOSE WHEN GOING AROUND A CURVE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED ,CAUSING MINOR INJURIES. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. *AK
MY WIFE, VARDHANI MURTY, WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, HIT AN UNEVEN SPOT ON THE ROAD, AND THE CAR SWERVED VIOLENTLY RIGHT TO LEFT AND LEFT TO RIGHT A FEW TIMES AND REMAINED STUCK PULLING RIGHT, WAS HIT BY AN 18 WHEELER ON LEFT REAR SIDE, STOPPED BY GUARD RAIL; SUFFERED INJURIES AND FRACTURES
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES DURING HIGH SPEED , THERE WAS GRINDING NOISE AND THE BRAKES COMPLETELY LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE CRASH. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK
STEERING WHEEL CAME OFF WHILE TRAVELING 72 MPH. THE ONLY THING THAT WAS ATTACHED WERE THE WIRES. NO INJURIES. CONSUMER HAD NO CONTROL OF VEHICLE, BUT WAS ABLE TO PUMP THE BRAKES TO GET VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL. *AK
RESERVOIR BOTTLE FAILED PREMATURELY. BOTTLE DETERIATED AND LEAKS COOLANT ONTO THE EXHAUST.
Official recalls
299V307000 · 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
2DP02004 · 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.