Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1996 Toyota Camry, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling76
- Service brakes, hydraulic52
- Vehicle speed control50
- Air bags47
- Steering37
- Suspension28
- Structure26
- Electrical system26
- Visibility26
- Tires25
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 59 injuries and 5 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 44 1996 Camry vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 35 people died inside them, and 4 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1996 Toyota Camry failed the safety check 1.79% of the time — 22% more often than the average 1996 passenger car (1.47%). Median odometer at inspection: 153,359 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
10 cars built in 1996 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 25 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In Finland
19 of these cars first registered in 1996 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 345,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
232 1996 cars are on the New Zealand register; 30% arrived as used imports, 67% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 5 variants: combined 10.2–11.6 L/100 km (about 20–23 mpg US), CO₂ 235–267 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camry · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 11.8 | 8.3 | 10.2 |
| Camry · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.3 | 9.0 | 11.4 |
| Camry Wagon · Station wagon: Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.4 | 9.0 | 11.4 |
| Camry · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.1 | 9.7 | 11.6 |
| Camry Wagon · Station wagon: Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.1 | 9.7 | 11.6 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 1996 Toyota Camry.
| 1996073 14 May 1996 | Suspension NOTE: CAMRY PLUS MODELS EQUIPPED WITH EXTRA VALUE PACKAGE INSTALLED AT PORT OF ENTRY. THE WHEEL LUG NUT SEATING SURFACES MAY BE IMPROPERLY MACHINED. AS A RESUL… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE STEERING WHEEL SET NUT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED CAUSING STEERING VIBRATION AND LOOSENESS.
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Toyota told its dealers about the 1996 Toyota Camry: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 627195 | SUBJECT REGARDING SHOULDER BELT ANCHOR TAPE SET. *YD |
| 619097 | TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING RETRO-FIT INTERNAL TRUNK RELEASE KITS. *TT |
| 613510 | INFORMATION REGARDING A CHANGE IN THE STEERING WHEEL INSTALLATION NUT TORQUE SPECIFICATION. *MR |
| 6088664 | TOYOTA WILL INITIATE A SPEICAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO INSPECT AND TIGHTEN THE STEERING WHEEL SET NUT. *TT |
| 605166 | INFORMATION REGARDING REVISED TIMING BELT TENSION SPRING. *TT |
| 604667 | SUBJECT REGARDING TOYOTA DINGHY TOWING GUIDE. *TT |
| 602530 | SUBJECT ON PARKING BRAKE CABLE. *YC |
| 602527 | NEW FRONT BRAKE PADS ARE AVAILABLE TO REDUCE THE FRONT BRAKE GROAN NOISE. *YC |
| 602184 | NEW FRONT BRAKE PADS ARE AVAILABLE TO REDUCE FRONT BRAKE GROAN NOISE, GRINDING NOISE, SQUEAK OR VIBRATION. *YC |
| 600684 | REPLACEMENT OF THE FRONT AXLE HUB NUT. *YC |
| 53031 | ELIMINATING HUMMING NOISES. *YC |
| 52999 | AN IMPROVED ALTERNATOR BELT ADJUSTING BAR AND A/C COMPRESSOR MAGNETIC CLUTCH ROTOR SUB-ASSEMBLY ARE BEING MADE AVAILABLE TO ELIMINATE COMPRESSOR KNOCKING NOISE AT IDLE. *YC |
| 52140 | THE SHAPE OF VALVE BODY GASKET NO.2 HAS BEEN CHANGED. *JD |
| 52104 | A541E VALVE BODY GASKET NO.2. *JD |
| 51257 | INTERAL ENGINE NOISE WHEN IDLING AT NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE. *JD |
| 10244113 | TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2023 model year vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the criteria listed in this Service Bulletin. Follow the Procurement Procedure in this bulletin to request a replacement certification label or VIN plate. |
| 10214323 | TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions |
| 10207946 | POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground and spare tires currently in use by Toyota. This information must be kept near the point of vehicle sale and be available to any customer that requests it. Customers can find this information on the Owner?s section of Toyota.com. Dealers can locate a copy of this guide on the Claims Processing & Resource Center in Dealer Daily as well. |
| 10197476 | Replacement vin plates. |
| 10197473 | Product general information. |
| 10190453 | TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions. |
| 10188913 | TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2021 model year vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the criteria listed in this Service Bulletin. Follow the Procurement Procedure in this bulletin to request a replacement certification label or VIN plate. |
| 10187241 | TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions. |
| 10186195 | TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions. |
| 10174891 | TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 07, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0032-20. Replacement Certification Labels and VIN Plates |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
ENGINE SEIZURE
SUSPENSION COIL SPRING
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation