MYRModel Year Report

1996 Toyota Camry

◆ Worse than typical
1996 Toyota Camry
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
417
Recalls
7

Campaigns on file for 1996

Investigations
2

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Engine and engine cooling

20% of complaints

Complaints per year

1983: 6 complaints 1983 1984: 8 complaints 1985: 13 complaints 1986: 33 complaints 1987: 58 complaints 1988: 69 complaints 1989: 117 complaints 1989 1990: 136 complaints 1991: 155 complaints 1992: 569 complaints 1993: 263 complaints 1994: 306 complaints 1995: 303 complaints 1996: 417 complaints 1996 417 1997: 555 complaints 1998: 600 complaints 1999: 501 complaints 2000: 454 complaints 2001: 272 complaints 2001 2002: 953 complaints 2003: 781 complaints 2004: 638 complaints 2005: 721 complaints 2006: 317 complaints 2007: 2,886 complaints 2007 2008: 933 complaints 2009: 1,293 complaints 2010: 603 complaints 2011: 599 complaints 2012: 590 complaints 2013: 274 complaints 2013 2014: 455 complaints 2015: 269 complaints 2016: 182 complaints 2017: 148 complaints 2018: 745 complaints 2019: 396 complaints 2019 2020: 274 complaints 2021: 156 complaints 2022: 60 complaints 2023: 64 complaints 2024: 51 complaints 2025: 146 complaints 2025
1983: 6 complaints 1983 1984: 8 complaints 1985: 13 complaints 1986: 33 complaints 1986 1987: 58 complaints 1988: 69 complaints 1989: 117 complaints 1989 1990: 136 complaints 1991: 155 complaints 1992: 569 complaints 1992 1993: 263 complaints 1994: 306 complaints 1995: 303 complaints 1996: 417 complaints 1996 417 1997: 555 complaints 1998: 600 complaints 1999: 501 complaints 2000: 454 complaints 2001: 272 complaints 2001 2002: 953 complaints 2003: 781 complaints 2004: 638 complaints 2004 2005: 721 complaints 2006: 317 complaints 2007: 2,886 complaints 2007 2008: 933 complaints 2009: 1,293 complaints 2010: 603 complaints 2010 2011: 599 complaints 2012: 590 complaints 2013: 274 complaints 2013 2014: 455 complaints 2015: 269 complaints 2016: 182 complaints 2016 2017: 148 complaints 2018: 745 complaints 2019: 396 complaints 2019 2020: 274 complaints 2021: 156 complaints 2022: 60 complaints 2022 2023: 64 complaints 2024: 51 complaints 2025: 146 complaints 2025
1983: 6 complaints 1983 1984: 8 complaints 1985: 13 complaints 1985 1986: 33 complaints 1987: 58 complaints 1987 1988: 69 complaints 1989: 117 complaints 1989 1990: 136 complaints 1991: 155 complaints 1991 1992: 569 complaints 1993: 263 complaints 1993 1994: 306 complaints 1995: 303 complaints 1996: 417 complaints 1996 417 1997: 555 complaints 1998: 600 complaints 1999: 501 complaints 1999 2000: 454 complaints 2001: 272 complaints 2001 2002: 953 complaints 2003: 781 complaints 2003 2004: 638 complaints 2005: 721 complaints 2005 2006: 317 complaints 2007: 2,886 complaints 2007 2008: 933 complaints 2009: 1,293 complaints 2009 2010: 603 complaints 2011: 599 complaints 2011 2012: 590 complaints 2013: 274 complaints 2013 2014: 455 complaints 2015: 269 complaints 2015 2016: 182 complaints 2017: 148 complaints 2017 2018: 745 complaints 2019: 396 complaints 2019 2020: 274 complaints 2021: 156 complaints 2021 2022: 60 complaints 2023: 64 complaints 2023 2024: 51 complaints 2025: 146 complaints 2025

1996: 417 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19836
19848
198513
198633
198758
198869
1989117
1990136
1991155
1992569
1993263
1994306
1995303
1996417
1997555
1998600
1999501
2000454
2001272
2002953
2003781
2004638
2005721
2006317
20072,886
2008933
20091,293
2010603
2011599
2012590
2013274
2014455
2015269
2016182
2017148
2018745
2019396
2020274
2021156
202260
202364
202451
2025146

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Engine and engine cooling

20% · 84 reports

Most commonly citing gasoline and engine.

FIREINJURY

Service brakes

13% · 56 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic and air.

CRASHINJURY

Vehicle speed control

12% · 50 reports

Most commonly citing cruise control and accelerator pedal.

CRASHFIREINJURYDEATH

Air bags

11% · 47 reports

Most commonly citing frontal.

CRASHFIREINJURYDEATH
Show complaint excerpts

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 2014-05-11

Also filed under Seat belts and seats

Front airbags inadvertently deployed, seriously injuring driver, when front tire bumped curb while turning into driveway. Car was moving under 5 MPH when airbags deployed.

NHTSA ODI report, 2003-06-16

While in a front end accident the air bag did not deploy. Please describe.

NHTSA ODI report, 1996-04-17

Steering

9% · 39 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic power assist system and steering wheel/handle bar.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

The steering sucks ive tried everything but nothing it still drives my sucks

NHTSA ODI report, 2020-12-31

Also filed under Engine

Safety timeline

7 recalls · 2 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. ▮
    1996Complaint volume 417 complaints filed for this model year.
  2. R
    1996-01-02Vehicle speed control96E001000 These cruise control systems fail to hold the speed set by the driver and can accelerate above the intended set speed.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace these cruise control assemblies.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. R
    1996-03-25Exterior lighting96V037000 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…

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. R
    1999-11-30Steering99V307000 Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The steering wheel set nut may not have been sufficiently tightened causing steering vibration and looseness.

    Remedy: Dealers will tighten the steering wheel set nut.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. I
    2001-07-18Preliminary evaluationClosed 2002-01-29 Suspension coil spring
  6. I
    2002-04-30Defect petitionClosed 2002-06-20 Engine seizure
  7. R
    2006-04-03Exterior lighting06E026000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. R
    2006-07-01Exterior lighting06E049000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  9. R
    2008-12-17Exterior lighting08E050000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  10. R
    2009-07-28Exterior lighting09E025000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

1996 Toyota Camry — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Engine and engine cooling: 84 reports on file for this year.
  • Service brakes: 56 reports on file for this year.
  • Vehicle speed control: 50 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 96E001000 · Vehicle speed control
  • Recall 96V037000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 99V307000 · Steering
  • Recall 06E026000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E049000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 08E050000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 09E025000 · Exterior lighting
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 1996 Toyota Camry reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1996 Toyota Camry is rated "worse than typical".
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Toyota Camry?
The most-reported component is engine and engine cooling, accounting for 20% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1996 Toyota Camry have?
7 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.