RoadVitals

1983 Toyota Camry

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
6
Latest Apr 15, 2003
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Feb 28, 1990
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
4
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1983 Toyota Camry, most frequently naming the seat belts, electrical and fuel system categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 4 NHTSA investigations name it; and 15 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Seat belts436.4%
  • Electrical19.1%
  • Fuel system19.1%
  • Other / unspecified19.1%
  • Suspension19.1%
  • Tires & wheels19.1%
  • Brakes19.1%
  • Visibility19.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
90V040000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Feb 28, 1990
121,389 units potentially affected
The defect: CRUISE CONTROL COMPUTER MALFUNCTION COULD OCCUR UPON SHUTTING OFF THE CONTROL AFTER CONTINUOUS USE FOLLOWED BY COLD AMBIENT TEMPERATURES.
The risk: THERMAL SHOCK TO THE CRUISE CONTROL COMPUTER COULD RESULT IN ENGINE RACING IF THE ENGINE IS RESTARTED WITH THE MAIN CONTROL SWITCH IN THE 'ON' POSITION. THIS COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT IF THIS IS PERFORMED IN NORMAL TRAFFIC CONDITIONS.
The remedy: REPLACE COMPUTER WITH ONE OF IMPROVED DESIGN.
TOYOTA MOTOR CO., LTD.View on NHTSA.gov
83V133000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

Dec 8, 1983
48,737 units potentially affected
The defect: VOLTAGE REGULATOR WHICH CONTROLS THE AMOUNT OF FLOW IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BETWEEN THE BATTERY AND THE ALTERNATOR, MAY HAVE MANUFACTURING ERRORS IN AN INTEGRATED CIRCUIT. THE REGULATOR MAY OVERCHARGE THE BATTERY.
The remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR AT NO CHARGE.
TOYOTA MOTOR CO., LTD.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE90021ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

FAILED SPEED CONTROL

Opened Dec 1, 1989
Closed Mar 21, 1990

===

EQUIPMENTLed to recall 90V040000
PE87057ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

IGNITER ASSEMBLY FAILURE

Opened Sep 10, 1987
Closed Mar 30, 1988

SUMMARY: TOYOTA RECOVERED SOME FAILED IGNITION CONTROL MODULES FROM THEFIELD. INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT A SOLDER JOINT IN THE POWER TRANSISTOROF THE MODULE WAS SUBJECT TO FAILURE. BECAUSE THE PART IS AN EMISSIONRELATED COMPONENT A VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS RECALL CAMPAIGN WAS CONDUCTED.THE PREDOMINANT MODE OF FAILURE IS AN INABILITY TO START THE ENGINE,ALTHOUGH A STALLED CONDITION CAN OCCUR WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING.SINCE THE REPORTED OCCURENCE OF ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES IS SMALL, AND THEREPAIR IS BEING CONDUCTED UNDER THE EMISSIONS RECALL CAMPAIGN, THELIKLEHOOD OF FURTHER ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES IS REMOTE.===

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DP86008ClosedDefect Petition

SUDDEN ACCELERATION

Opened Apr 2, 1986
Closed Aug 7, 1986

SUDDEN ACCELERATION

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
DP85001ClosedDefect Petition

SHOULDER HARNESS PROBLEM

Opened Sep 21, 1984
Closed Jan 2, 1985

SHOULDER HARNESS PROBLEM

SEAT BELTS

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Seat belts
Filed Apr 15, 2003

WHILE PLACING THE CHILD INSIDE OF THE CAR SEAT THE RED BUTTON COLLAPSED. AS A RESULT THE CHILD WAS NOT RESTRAINED SECURELY IN THE SEAT. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10015947
Incident
Apr 15, 2003
BrakesOther / unspecifiedSeat belts+3 more
Filed Mar 23, 2000

SDT4WEQTW

NHTSA ID
999999
Fuel system
Filed Nov 20, 1995
Crash reported

CAR REAR ENDED IN ACCIDENT. GAS TANK WAS RUPTURED. DRIVER FOUND OUT THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS VERY RUSTY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

NHTSA ID
975189
Incident
Oct 30, 1995
Seat belts
Filed Jun 22, 1995

LEFT DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTON DETERIORATED/BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO FAIL. *AK

NHTSA ID
967476
Incident
Jan 15, 1995
Seat belts
Filed Jun 13, 1995

THE CAR HAS TAKATA SEATBELTS AND THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVERS BROKE. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT

NHTSA ID
966788
Incident
Jun 6, 1994
Electrical
Filed May 15, 1995

CONSUMER RECIEVE RECALL ON ELECTRICAL SYSTEM REGULATOR HAD IT FIX 1987 IS NOW HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH CAR. TT

NHTSA ID
965294

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

TSB003220

AIR BAGS; EQUIPMENT; VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

Toyota PRO19-02

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL; TIRES; WHEELS

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.

T-SB-0032-20 Rev

EQUIPMENT

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.

T-SB-0304-17 Obs

EQUIPMENT

TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 07, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0032-20. Replacement Certification Labels and VIN Plates

T-SB-0032-20

EQUIPMENT

TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin Nos. PG021-88, PG015-89, PG0015-90, PG002-91, PG002-93, PG005-97, PG007-01, PG007-07, PG006-01, PG004-97, T-SB-0144-08, and T-SB-0304-17. The aforementioned bulletins are obsolete, and any printed versions should be discarded. 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 ? 2020 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.

PG004-97-Obsolet

EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Technical Service Bulletin: OBSOLETE NOTICE: July 31, 2018: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0304-17.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Toyota Camry by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
20251441054.6
2024471049.6
2023602060.3
2022581056.6
20211541055.4
20202683056.2
20193896058.6
20187318059.3
20171483061.0
20161802059.9
20152681046.8
20144533055.6
20132742053.3
20125882053.6
20115985059.4
20106029058.0
20091,29110263.4
20089328362.9
20072,88510363.7
20063175167.3
20057215269.0
20046383267.1
20037801359.7
20029534469.1
20012724164.6
20004544268.2
19995012264.0
19986003261.4
19975554365.5
19964177263.2
19953035161.4
19942873264.4
19932602263.5
19925652362.1
19911491655.9
19901342958.4
19891133765.1
1988644867.9
19875831064.8
1986320142.5
1985130147.7
1984823—
1983Viewing624—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.