1996 Toyota CAMRY problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
246 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
96,429 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 98 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 30 of 246 complaints (12.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 46 | 18.7% |
| Steering behavior | 28 | 11.4% |
| Engine operation | 18 | 7.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 4.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 2.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 1.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 30 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 20 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 16 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 16 |
| Tires | 15 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 13 |
| Steering | 13 |
| Air Bags | 11 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 30; Engine And Engine Cooling: 20; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 16; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 16; Tires: 15; Air Bags:Frontal: 13; Steering: 13; Air Bags: 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 15 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 16 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 31 |
| 150,000 and above | 17 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 15; 75,000 to 99,999: 16; 100,000 to 149,999: 31; 150,000 and above: 17
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (31). 148 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 15 |
| 2000 | 31 |
| 2001 | 35 |
| 2002 | 23 |
| 2003 | 35 |
| 2004 | 34 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 10 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 14 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
1996: 15; 2000: 31; 2001: 35; 2002: 23; 2003: 35; 2004: 34; 2005: 8; 2006: 6; 2007: 10; 2008: 6; 2009: 5; 2010: 14; 2011: 6; 2012: 1; 2013: 3; 2014: 4; 2015: 4; 2016: 3; 2017: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 46 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 28 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 18 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10007186 · 2003-02-12 (February 12, 2003)
BRAKES GRAB WHEN STOPPING AND MAKES AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF NOISE. A VISUAL INSPECTION SHOWED NO FAILURE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007186 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011428 · 2003-03-26 (March 26, 2003)
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED STALLING/STARTING PROBLEMS, WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE EGR VALVE, THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR AND THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE, WHICH WERE ALL REPLACED, THE TIRES EXPERIENCED UNEVEN TIRE WEAR, THE BRAKES FAILED, THERE WERE TRANSMISSION, DRIVELINE AND STEERING PROBLEMS, THE O-RING WAS REPLACED, AND ALSO THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXHIBIT ENGINE OIL SLUDGE. *AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011428 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010660 · 2003-03-18 (March 18, 2003)
STEERING HAS A DEAD SPOT ALSO WHEEL DOES NOT RETURN AFTER MAKING A TURN. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 38,630 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010660 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070209 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
IDLE PROBLEM. TAKEN TO MECHANIC TWICE. HAVE REPLACED ISC VALVE AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR SINCE 1996 (TWICE IN 1997 AND 1998), IN THE LAST YEAR CAR HAS STALLED WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO COMPLETE ENGINE SHUTDOWN IN MIDDLE OF ROADWAY. ENGINE TAKES A FEW TRIES TO START AGAIN.
Owner-reported narrative. 64,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070209 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10087379 · 2004-09-13 (September 13, 2004)
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE RPMS WENT TO THE RED ZONE. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND PARKED, AND DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT GO UP. AAA ARRIVED, AND VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE IT WAS REPAIRED AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. CONSUMER FOUND SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE WEBSITE.*AK THE VEHICLE SPUN IN A 360 DEGREE TURN ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS BEFORE IT REACHED 24,000 MILES. CONSUMER CHANGED TIRES FROM THE TIRES TOYOTA PROVIDED TO A MICHELIN TIRE AND THE SPINNING STOPPED. ON JULY 12, 2004 THE TRANSMISSION WA…
Owner-reported narrative. 74,972 miles reported. Look up ODI 10087379 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10748866 · 2015-08-15 (August 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 TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10748866 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10787876 · 2015-11-02 (November 2, 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.
Owner-reported narrative. 118,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10787876 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040193 · 2003-09-17 (September 17, 2003)
ABOUT TEN MINUTES AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF THE FUEL PUMP RELAY CONTINUED TO RUN. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE CONSUMED BY FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED BUT NO ONE WAS INJURED BY THE INCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040193 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10181288 · 2007-02-01 (February 1, 2007)
GASOLINE LEAK FROM FUEL TANK NECK. BRAKE FLUID LEAK FROM METAL LINE UNDERNEATH THE CAR. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10181288 at NHTSA ↗