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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
11 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
8 / 4
Average Mileage:
82,370 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1996 Toyota Camry engine problems

engine problem

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1996 Toyota Camry Owner Comments (Page 2 of 2)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #16

Oct 182009

Camry

  • 200,400 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

1996 Toyota Camry, ca dxlesexle cruise control recently stopped working while driving along and the vehicle suddenly increased speed (occurrence date Oct 18 2009) and I pressed the brake and the cruise control disengaged. Subsequent attempts to use the cruise control got the same result, continuous increase of speed until turned off. Checked for recall, and there is a recall for the 1996 Camry in reference to the cruise control, however the local Toyota dealer checked the VIN and said that it is not on the recall list, and Toyota headquarters took my info and also told me the VIN is not on the list. The symptoms are exactly the same as in the recall. Very dangerous situation, as people may think they are under cruise and not realize they are accelerating.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #15

Oct 302009

Camry 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 200,500 miles
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. The consumer stated 2 nights before the accident, the cruise control came on and then went off. Updated 01/13/10.

- Hayward, CA, USA

problem #14

Sep 012005

Camry

  • 60,000 miles
Vehicle-Toyota-Camry-1996 and 1993 problem: Cruise control we own 1996, my mom owns 1993, both have the following problem. Neither of us have been able to afford to have repairs done, so we do not know the cause/remedy. We have instead stopped using. Intermittently, repeatedly, without any warning, cruise control suddenly stops working. A sudden extreme decrease in speed occurs due to failure. Switches and lights indicate it is still on and working properly. This is extremely dangerous on freeways at high rates of speed particularly because that is also when normal use of cruise control is most likely/most often being used. This poses an enormously high risk of being hit from the rear or the car following to swerve and it either hitting, or being hit by, another vehicle. Huge possibility of multiple vehicle pile up. Because cruise control is almost always being used when it the most dangerous times for it to fail, the urgency of this problem can not be over emphasized. More likely to fail on inclines makes it even more dangerous as the rate of speed drops even faster. Starts very intermittently and far between, as time goes on occurs more and more often. Eventually found that it occurs more often on incline, but not always, with a less and less incline as time goes on. Happened on crowded freeway at high rate of speed with big rig following close behind. Almost hit by it! happened at high speed on a crowded freeway, other vehicles close all around, barely avoided nightmare pile up! I can not over emphasize how dangerous this problem is! with both ours and mom's Camry having the exact problem, there may very well indicate pattern/problem.

- Penn Valley, CA, USA

problem #13

Jun 302007

Camry 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 1996 Toyota Camry. While driving 10 mph, the vehicle accelerated without warning. The contact was unable to stop the vehicle, which caused her to rear end another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. NHTSA recall # 96E001000 (vehicle speed control) was found. The mechanic has not inspected the vehicle to determine the cause of failure. A police report was filed. The current and failure mileages were 100,000. Updated 02-01-08.

- Valhalla, NY, USA

problem #12

Jun 052004

Camry

  • miles
While stopping at a traffic light vehicle surged forward. This caused consumer's vehicle to rear end another vehicle. Consumer took the vehicle to the dealer for inspection.

- Bridgeport, CT, USA

problem #11

Jun 102002

Camry 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
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.

- Rochester, NY, USA

problem #10

Aug 021998

Camry

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Idele air control valve keeps sticking. The dealer has clean it once and replaced it once. It keeps coming back after 2 months. I cleaned it multiple times. Cleaning won't help anymore. Vehicle keeps stalling when starting the enginee cold. Have to step on gas pedal until engine heats up or engine dies.

- Walnut, CA, USA

problem #9

Dec 112001

Camry

  • miles
#1 - discovered wind noise from an incomplete seal in right rear quarter glass of vehicle, one month after purchase. Took vehicle into del Toyota(dealer), who said they resealed the window. Noise from said window continued, at higher speeds above 30mph. I took vehicle back into dealer one month later. This time, they said they replaced the weatherstrip around the window, that the "wind noise" had been caused by deformed weatherstrip. This was done while vehicle was under warranty, never to my satisfaction. Condition exists today, 05/29/2002!! #2 - disc brakes were serviced by jerry's Toyota in baltimore, after making a sticking noise right before the vehicle completely stopped. The dealer replaced the front pads, machined the rotors, and serviced the left front caliper after he found it sticking. This did not alleviate the problem with the brake noise, which continues today (05/29/2002) even after a second servicing! #3 - engine light came on, so I took the Toyota Camry into jerry's Toyota for servicing. They cleaned carbon deposits from injectors, throttle plate valves and piston rings; said the problem was in the #3 cylinder. This happened a second time; I took the vehicle in for servicing. I am now waiting for either a third incident at $200. To fix, or if they replace any fuel injectors, these cost $200. Ea per part!!

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #8

Feb 012000

Camry

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Vehicle accelerated without warning. When applying brakes vehicle would not stop. Consumer had to shift into neutral 3 itmes, and once had to shift into neutral and turn off engine. Toyota dealer could not determine cause. Private mechanic replaced throttle.

- Huntingtown, MD, USA

problem #7

Jul 151998

Camry

  • miles
Cruise control would not cancel when brake was applied. Dealer advised it was the brake switch which controled brake lights & cruise control was bad, paid dealer to replace but concerned about the possibility that others have experienced or could experience an accident due to this defect.

- Washougal, WA, USA

problem #6

Mar 201999

Camry

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Engine accelerated while pulling into the garage. Attempted to brake... car did not stop. Ran into the house. Had to turn off ignition to stop engine acceleration.

- Berne, IN, USA

problem #5

Feb 251998

Camry

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
On several occasions the vehicle failed to respond when the accelerator pedal was depressed.

- Churchville, MD, USA

problem #4

Aug 121997

Camry

  • miles
Vehicle accumulated carbon deposits. The engine is taking a longer time to warm up. Dealer replaced the iac valve.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

problem #3

Mar 171996

Camry

  • miles
Driving various speeds & going down hill w/foot on brakes, vehicle would suddenly surge. Computer sensors can not tell if accelerator is on/off. Took to dealer & could not find problem 1st time; mechanic took for test drive & said there was a problem. Owner has arbitration papers.

- Parker, CO, USA

problem #2

Jan 021997

Camry

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Idler misadjusted.

- Cypress, CA, USA

problem #1

Feb 191996

Camry

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Engine surges.

- Redding, CA, USA

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