1996 Toyota Camry

Open safety recalls, the components owners report failing most often, crash-test results and running costs for the 1996 Toyota Camry — assembled from NHTSA and EPA records.

What owners report breaking

Top 8

The parts named most often across 476 owner complaintsfiled with NHTSA for this make, model and year — the closest free answer to “what is likely to go wrong?”

Engine and engine cooling6313%
1 injured
Service brakes, hydraulic4610%
8 crashes · 5 injured
Vehicle speed control459%
9 crashes · 1 fire · 4 injured · 3 deaths
Air bags419%
26 crashes · 1 fire · 31 injured · 1 death
Steering245%
2 crashes · 1 injured
Electrical system235%
1 crash · 3 fires · 1 injured
Structure225%
3 injured
Tires214%
1 crash · 2 injured

Complaints are self-reported and skew toward problems people find alarming, so treat this as where to look, not a defect rate.

SourceNHTSA Complaintschecked Jul 24, 2026, 2:06 AM

Safety recalls

7 open

NHTSA lists 7 recalls for this make/model/year. Recalls apply to the model, so some may already be fixed on this specific car — check with a dealer using the VIN.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS11/08/2008

Issue: K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.

Campaign 08E050000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS11/05/2009

Issue: DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Campaign 09E025000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING24/05/2006

Issue: CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

Campaign 06E049000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING23/03/2006

Issue: CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Campaign 06E026000

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR01/11/1999

Issue: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE STEERING WHEEL SET NUT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED CAUSING STEERING VIBRATION AND LOOSENESS.

Risk: THIS CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE STEERING WHEEL SET NUT.

Campaign 99V307000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL03/01/1996

Issue: THESE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEMS FAIL TO HOLD THE SPEED SET BY THE DRIVER AND CAN ACCELERATE ABOVE THE INTENDED SET SPEED.

Risk: UNINTENDED ACCELERATION CAN INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE CRUISE CONTROL ASSEMBLIES.

Campaign 96E001000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS20/02/1996

Issue: 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.

Risk: 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.

Campaign 96V037000

SourceNHTSA Recallschecked Jul 24, 2026, 2:06 AM

Owner complaints

476 filed

476

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

5 complaint-reported fatalities on this model.

STEERING,SUSPENSION,ENGINE12/31/2020

THE STEERING SUCKS IVE TRIED EVERYTHING BUT NOTHING IT STILL DRIVES MY SUCKS

AIR BAGS08/22/2019

MY 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY IS LISTED UNDER THE "AIRBAGS" UNREPORTED RECALL FOR REPAIR/REPLACEMENT. PLEASE ADVISE.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL01/15/2017

I AM THE OWNER OF THE 96 TOYOTA CAMRY IDENTIFIED BY THE VIN NUMBER PROVIDED. I HAVE EXPERIENCED AN ABNORMAL SPEEDING OF MY CAR AS EXPLAINED BELOW: THIS PAST FRIDAY, JAN 13TH ABOUT 6:30 PM CENTRAL TIME, I WAS TRAVELING ON I-65 SOUTH (FROM BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA TO HOOVER, ALABAMA). ABOUT 15 TO 20 MINUTES ON THE ROAD, WHEN I WAS JUST ABOUT TO REACH MY DESTINATION, MY VEHICLE STARTED ACCELERATING ABRUPTLY EVEN WHEN THE FOOT WAS OFF THE PEDAL. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES BUT THE ENGINE KEPT REVVING UPWARDS OF 3000 RPM. IN GREAT DISTRESS, PRAYING TO JESUS, I KEPT HARDLY PRESSING THE BRAKES AND WAS ABLE TO SHIFT GEAR TO NEUTRAL. IT STARTED REVIVING UP HIGHER IN NEUTRAL. SHIFTED TO PARK AND STOPPED THE ENGINE. IT SEEMS, THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE DESIGN OF THROTTLE OR THE PARTS INVOLVED IN THE VEHICLE'S SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM. I TOWED THE VEHICLE TO MY PLACE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE AND ADVICE ME IF I HAVE TO REACH OUT TO THE MANUFACTURER FOR A CAR REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT. *TR

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLcrash11/22/2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPEED UP IN EXCESS OF 100 MPH AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A GUARDRAIL. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRAIN INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AFTER THE FIRST OCCURRENCE AND ADVISED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED AT A TOYOTA DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THE SPECIFIC DETAILS OF THE DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR COULD NOT BE PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. ..UPDATED 05/09/17 *BF CONSUMER REPLACED THE PART CAUSING UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WITH NEW PART ON JULY 26,2013. CONSUMER HAD A CAR ACCIDENT ON NOVEMBER 25,2013. UPDATED 9/5/18*JB

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL07/29/2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, IT INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000. UPDATED 10/06/16*LJ *TR

STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM03/10/2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SEIZE IN THE TURNED POSITION WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE WHEN IT SEIZED. IN ADDITION, THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO PROVIDE ACCURATE READING LEVELS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM11/02/2015

BOTH THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW AND FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW HAVE STOPPED WORKING ON OCCASION. PRESENTLY THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW MAY GO DOWN, BUT WILL NOT GO UP. THE NEXT DAY IT MAY GO UP. I DON'T PUT IT DOWN BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE IT DOWN IN RAIN OR OVERNIGHT. MY PREVIOUS CAMRY ALSO HAD ELECTRICAL WINDOW PROBLEMS.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER08/28/2015

I HAD DRIVEN THE CAR FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES WHEN THE GAS PEDAL SEEMED TO BE SUCKED TO THE FLOOR. THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 50 AND I COULD BARELY GET IT TO STOP. I HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP; BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I'M NOT CRAZY. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME IN 2 WEEKS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED. WHAT IS WRONG?

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMcrash08/15/2015

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. I WAS TURNING A CORNER WITH MY FOOT SLIGHTLY ON THE BRAKE. SUDDENLY THE CAR LUNGED AHEAD AT A FAST SPEED WITHOUT ME HAVING MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. THEN JUMPED A CURB AND FLATTENED A STOP SIGN. THE CAR WAS THEN HEADING TOWARDS A CHAIN-LINK FENCE SURROUNDING A MULTITUDE OF HIGH ELECTRICAL TOWERS. I TURNED THE WHEEL TO MY RIGHT AND BOUNCED DOWN THE CURB ONTO THE STREET. I WAS HEADING TOWARDS SOME LAWN MOWER TRAILERS. I HAD BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE PRESSING DOWN AS HARD AS I COULD, BUT THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN. SUDDENLY THE ENGINE DIED AND THE CAR STOPPED. TOYOTA TOWED THE CAR IN FOR INSPECTION. THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT NOW AND I AM WITHOUT A CAR. I CHECKED THE INTERNET AND SAW THAT THIS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION HAPPENED WITH MANY 1996 MODELS. IT WAS A TERRIFYING EXPEROENCE. I COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE. THERE WAS A LAWN CREW WORKING IN THE AREA AT THE TIME THIS OCCURRED. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE? THE DATE THIS HAPPENED WAS FIRST MID-WEEK IN APRIL, 2015. THANK YOU.

AIR BAGS07/21/2015

DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, BRAKING WINDSHIELD AND BRUISING DRIVER WHEN CAR BARELY MOVING FORWARD. TAPPED ANOTHER CARS BUMPER, NO OTHER DAMAGE TO EITHER VEHICLE.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL09/22/2014

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

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLcrash07/21/2014

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

Showing 12 of 476 complaints.

SourceNHTSA Complaintschecked Jul 24, 2026, 2:06 AM

Crash-test ratings (NCAP)

Rated

OverallNot rated

Frontal crashNot rated

Side crashNot rated

RolloverNot rated

Electronic stability controlNo

Forward collision warningNo

Lane departure warningNo

2 open NHTSA investigations into this model. Investigations come before recalls, so these are potential defects not yet covered by one.

Rated configuration: 1996 Toyota Camry 4-DR.

SourceNHTSA NCAP Safety Ratingschecked Jul 24, 2026, 2:06 AM

Fuel economy & running cost

21 mpg

18mpg

City

21mpg

Combined

25mpg

Highway

What drivers actually get18 owners

25.9 mpg average · 18–34 range · EPA says 21

Over 5 years this costs $3,500 more in fuel than an average new vehicle.

Fuel: Regular
Est. annual fuel cost: $2,850
CO₂ tailpipe: 423.1904761904762 g/mi

SourceEPA fueleconomy.govchecked Jul 24, 2026, 2:06 AM

Checking one specific Toyota Camry?

Everything on this page applies to the model as a whole. Run its 17-character VIN to decode that exact car — its engine, trim, assembly plant and factory equipment — alongside these records. Free, no account.

Run a VIN →

Other Toyota Camry model years

Recalls and complaints are filed against a specific model year, so figures differ from one year to the next even within a single generation. See every Toyota Camry year.

🔧What owners report breaking

⚠️Safety recalls

💬Owner complaints

🛡️Crash-test ratings (NCAP)

⛽Fuel economy & running cost

Checking one specific Toyota Camry?

Other Toyota Camry model years

⛽Fuel economy & running cost

⚠️Safety recalls

🛡️Crash-test ratings (NCAP)

🔧What owners report breaking

💬Owner complaints

What owners report breaking

Safety recalls

Owner complaints

Crash-test ratings (NCAP)

Fuel economy & running cost

Fuel economy & running cost

Safety recalls

Crash-test ratings (NCAP)

What owners report breaking

Owner complaints