TroubleCAR
81
Trouble

1996 Toyota Camry

Complaints: 417Avg mileage: 100,219 miSince: Feb 1996
5 deathsCrashFire59 injured

Problem Areas

Vehicle Speed Control
36
Air Bags:Frontal
28
Engine: Gasoline
25
Tires
22
Engine and Engine Cooling:Engine
20
Engine and Engine Cooling
20
Air Bags
19
Unknown or Other
17
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
16
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
13

Complaints Over Time

Recent Complaints

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Mar 24, 2010SAINT PAUL, MN
3 deathsCrash2 injured

RE: INSPECTION OF 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY INVOLVED IN 2006 FATAL CRASH, 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY 4 DOOR, MODEL LXS (MINNESOTA VEHICLE LICENSE KJL 696) STATE OF MINNESOTA V. KOUA FANG LEE(CRIMINAL VEHICULAR HOMICIDE). *TWX UPDATED 9/29/11*CW THE DRIVER OF THE TOYOTA WAS CONVICTED IN 2007 OF CRIMINAL VEHICULAR HOMICIDE-GROSS NEGLIGENCE WHICH KILLED THREE PEOPLE AND SEVERELY INJURED TWO OTHERS. THE DEFENDANTS ATTORNEY HAS RAISED CONCERNS THAT A SUDDEN ACCELERATION DEFECT IN THE TOYOTA CAMRY MAY HAVE CAUSED THE CRASH. UPDATED 03/30/10. (COUNTY ATTORNEY REQUESTED THAT NHTSA PARTICIPATE IN THE INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE) UPDATED 04/07/10 RECEIVED FOLLOW-UP LETTER. UPDATED 04/07/10.*JB

AIR BAGS
80,000 miFeb 26, 2010STILLWATER, OK
1 deathCrash3 injured

1996 CAMRY WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT THEN SURGED FORWARD INTO THE INTERSECTION WHERE IT WAS STRUCK BY A MOTORCYCLE AND PICK-UP TRUCK. CAMRY AND MOTORCYCLE BOTH TOTALED. AIRBAGS IN CAMRY DIDN'T DEPLOY ON IMPACT BUT HAD A DELAY. POLICE INVOLVED WITH CASE. CAMRY DRIVER CITED FOR FAILURE TO YIELD TO A RED LIGHT WHICH DRIVER WAS STOPPED AT INITIALLY. NO FURTHER INVESTIGATION. WITH TOYOTA IN THE NEWS, FOUND REPORTS OF OTHER 1996 CAMRY'S WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION SO FILED THIS COMPLAINT. FAMILY MEMBER WAS OWNER AND DRIVER OF CAMRY. MOTORCYCLE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT RESULTED IN DEATH 5 YEARS LATER. *TR UPDATED 05/10/10 *BF UPDATED 07/08/10.*JB

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Apr 16, 1997PERRIS, CA
1 deathCrash

VEHICLE HIT CAR IN THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE AND AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
May 2, 2004ROCHESTER, NY
CrashFire

I EXPERIENCED 3 OR 4 SUDDEN ACCELERATION INCIDENTS WITH MY 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY DURING THE FIRST 5 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. NO ACCIDENTS RESULTED. I CAN'T GIVE THE EXACT DATES (IGNORE THE INCIDENT DATE I ENTERED BELOW; I JUST PUT A DATE IN AT RANDOM SINCE IT'S A REQUIRED ENTRY). IT'S BEEN OVER A YEAR SINCE THE LAST ONE. ALL OCCURRED AS I STARTED TO BRAKE IN A VERY SLOW-MOVING SITUATION - TWO DEFINITELY HAPPENING WHILE PARKING, COMING TO A STOP BEFORE THE INCIDENT. HOWEVER, WHEN TOUCHING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO REVERSE DIRECTION OR STOP, THERE WAS A CONFUSING SURGE AS MY INSTINCT WAS TO QUESTION WHETHER I HAD TOUCHED THE ACCELERATOR RATHER THAN BRAKE AND THUS TAKE OFF MY FOOT - THE WORST ACTION. IN ALL CASES, I HAD ENOUGH TIME TO REALIZE THAT I DID HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND PUSHED DOWN FORCEFULLY WHICH STOPPED THE ACCELERATION. I ASKED MY MECHANIC TO CHECK THIS OUT, BUT UNLESS HE COULD REPLICATE THE SITUATION, NO DIAGNOSIS WAS POSSIBLE. GIVEN THE RANDOMNESS OF THESE OCCURENCES, THE PROBABLILITY OF A REPLICATION IS PRETTY CLOSE TO ZERO. THE ONE COMMON THREAD IN THESE INCIDENTS: THEY OCCURRED FOLLOWING A LONG ROAD TRIP DURING WHICH I WAS USING CRUISE CONTROL FOR EXTENDED PERIODS, THOUGH IN NONE OF THE INCIDENTS, WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL ON. I AM SENDING THIS NOW AS I LEARNED YOU ARE LOOKING INTO SUCH INCIDENTS AND THOUGHT YOU WOULD WANT TO BUILD A RECORD. I BELIEVE THERE ARE FAR MORE INCIDENTS LIKE THIS THAT NEVER GET REPORTED BECAUSE THEY END SAFELY; A SOLICITATION OF SUCH INCIDENTS FROM THOSE LIKE MYSELF WHO SIMPLY REMAIN PUZZLED OVER THEM WOULD YIELD A MUCH LARGER DATA BASE. THANK YOU.*AK

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
100,000 miNov 22, 2016KENTWOOD, MI
Crash1 injured

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

AIR BAGS
117,000 miMay 27, 2014TORRENCE, CA
Crash1 injured

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH MAKING A LEFT TURN, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO BOTH THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT AND REAR DOOR WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

AIR BAGS
193,000 miMay 11, 2014CAMPBELL, CA
Crash1 injured

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. VEHICLE FLOORING BECAME DEFORMED WHICH MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSING AND MOST IMPORTANTLY FOR THE SEAT BELT TO FAIL CAUSING ME TO BANG MY FACE INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. I FOUND THE SEAT BELT WAS UNBUCKLED AFTER THE CRASH. AIRBAGS DID DEPLOY. *TR

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
135,000 miJun 2, 2011BRISTOW, VA
Crash1 injured

WE HAD A SITUATION DESCRIBED BELOW. I SHALL BE GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD SHED SOME LIGHT ON IT. THIS INCIDENT INVOLVES TOYOTA CAMRY 1996. IT IS A CRITICAL SITUATION. YOUR ASSISTANCE WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. [XXX] DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCIDENT: MONDAY (4/25/2011) WAS THE TRASH COLLECTION DAY AT OUR DEVELOPMENT. WE HAVE TWO CARS: CAMRY AND LEXUS. WE HAD TO PULL ONE CAR OUT TO BRING THE TRASH CAN IN. IT WAS APPROXIMATELY AROUND 6 P.M. MY WIFE VOLUNTEERED TO PULL THE CAR OUT, SO THAT I COULD BRING THE TRASH CAN IN. MY WIFE PULLED THE CAR OUT ON THE DRIVEWAY AND PARKED, STILL HER FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. AS SHE WAS BRINGING THE GEAR TO DRIVE, AS SOON AS IT REACHED THE REVERSE GEAR, THE CAR SPEEDED BACKWARD IN AN UNCONTROLLABLE SPEED AND WITH IN SECONDS IT HIT AND SHATTERED OUR NEIGHBOR?S MAIL BOX AND ITS METAL POST. THE CAR STOPPED. I WAS STANDING AND WAS SHOCKED TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING. SHE THOUGHT THAT SHE WAS IN OUR NEIGHBOR?S LAWN, AND WANTED TO BRING THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AS SOON AS SHE BROUGHT THE GEAR TO THE DRIVE, IT AGAIN RACED FORWARD IN HIGH UNCONTROLLABLE SPEED AND HIT OUR BRICK WALL OF OUR HOUSE AND WAS PINNED DOWN AND STOPPED. THE CAR WAS TOTALED, WRECKING THE FRONT AND THE BACK WITH TWO IMPACTS. BOTH AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. SHE HAD HER SEAT BELT ON. THESE TWO DEVICES PROBABLY SAVED HER LIFE. SHE WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. POLICE ARRIVED AND ACCOMPANIED US TO THE HOSPITAL. WE SPENT FOUR TO FIVE HOURS IN THE HOSPITAL. REPORT ENCLOSED. SHE HAS SEEN HER PERSONAL PHYSICIAN. SHE HAS SEEN ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON. SHE IS ALSO GOING TO PHYSICAL THERAPY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
200,500 miNov 5, 2009HAYWARD, CA
Crash1 injured

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL AT 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTING ACCELERATING WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE REACHED SPEEDS OF 60-80 MPH WHILE RUNNING TWO STOP SIGNS. HE HAD TO CRASH INTO A TREE AND ANOTHER VEHICLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HE SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT ARM. HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL # 96E001000 (ROSTRA PRECISION CONTROLS). HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE RECALL ONLY APPLIED TO SIX CYLINDER VEHICLES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 200,500. UPDATED 01/12/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED 2 NIGHTS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, THE CRUISE CONTROL CAME ON AND THEN WENT OFF. UPDATED 01/13/10.*JB

AIR BAGS
109,000 miMar 27, 2009ARDEN, NC
Crash1 injured

1996 TOYOTA CAMRY. MY SON WAS INVOLVED IN A 5 MPH ACCIDENT. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE CAR HE REAR ENDED, YET THE TOYOTA WAS TOTALED AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. UPON RESEARCH ON THIS SITE, TOYOTA CAMRY 1996 HAS A ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF AIRBAGS THAT DO NOT DEPLOY. MY SON HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL. *TR

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
150,000 miSep 27, 2007MASCOTTE, FL
Crash1 injured

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. BOTH PASSENGERS WERE WEARING THEIR SEAT BELTS, BUT ONE WAS INJURED AND TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED, BUT COULD STILL BE DRIVEN. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 150,000.

TIRES:TREAD/BELT
125,900 miAug 7, 2007CHICO, CA
Crash1 injured

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH COOPER DEAN ALPHA 365 TIRES, SIZE P195/70R14. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH HE HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND AND THE VEHICLE SPUN 180 DEGREES AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE WALL. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A BURN TO THE LEFT INSIDE FOREARM CAUSED BY THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVABLE AFTER THE CRASH. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05T015000 IS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,900. THE DOT NUMBER AND VEHICLE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

AIR BAGS
35 miJul 11, 2004OCEAN SPRINGS, MS
Crash1 injured

AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WITH HEAD ON COLLISION WITH PINE TREE,MY SON WAS DRIVING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH. HE HAD A SLIGHT CONCUSSION,AND NECK WAS SORE FOR COUPLE DAYS, HE WAS WEARING SEAT BELTS.*AK

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
90,000 miFeb 19, 2004ORANGEBURG, SC
Crash1 injured

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE CONSUMER WAS STRUCK ON THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT AND THE AIRBAGS DID DEPLOY. WHEN THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, THEY DEPLOYED IN RIBBONS. THE INFLATER CANISTER SPRAYED THE CONTENTS OVER THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. *AK *JB

AIR BAGS
Oct 9, 2003MONTEREY, CA
Crash1 injured

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING OUR 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY, VID #[XXX]. SHE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE CAR SPUN OUT AGAINST A GUARD RAIL, TOTALING THE CAR. NEITHER THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG NOR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WERE DEPLOYED, CAUSING INJURY TO MY DAUGHTER WHOSE HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. *LA INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Oct 25, 2001MILFORD, CT
Crash1 injured

DURING AN ACCIDENT ON 10/15/01 MY DRIVER SIDE SEAT BROKE AND MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
May 16, 2001ORANGE, CA
Crash2 injured

WHEN OLDER SON WAS DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD-ON. YOUNGER SON WAS RIDING ON PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING SERIOUS INJURIES TO PASSENGER.*AK

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Apr 3, 2001ENGLEWOOD, CO
Crash1 injured

WHILE TRAVELING AT 15 MPH FRONT END HIT SIDE OF ANOTHER CAR . WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 15MPH. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, AND CONSUMER SUSTAINED A BROKEN WRIST. CONSUMER STATED THAT AN AIRBAG WAS THERE TO PROTECT PASSENGER, BUT INSTEAD IT BROKE CONSUMER'S WRIST.*AK

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Mar 24, 2001MIAMI, FL
Crash2 injured

AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHILE CRASHING FRONTEND OF CAR AT THE SPEED OF 35 MPH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE'S DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. DRIVER INJURED NECK & PASSENGER INJURED KNEES! *AK

STEERING:LINKAGES
Sep 5, 1999HUNTSVILLE, AL
Crash1 injured

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

Other Camry Years

Other Toyota Models