RoadVitals

1996 Toyota Camry Airbags Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Airbags reportsComplaints 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.
47
Latest Aug 22, 2019
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
11%
of 417 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
33
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
42

What this page shows

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Toyota Camry submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 47 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming airbag

The 25 most recent of 47, in the owner's own words

Airbags
Filed Aug 22, 2019

MY 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY IS LISTED UNDER THE "AIRBAGS" UNREPORTED RECALL FOR REPAIR/REPLACEMENT. PLEASE ADVISE.

NHTSA ID
11245820
Incident
Aug 22, 2019
Airbags
Filed Jul 21, 2015

DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, BRAKING WINDSHIELD AND BRUISING DRIVER WHEN CAR BARELY MOVING FORWARD. TAPPED ANOTHER CARS BUMPER, NO OTHER DAMAGE TO EITHER VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
10735620
Incident
Jul 15, 2015
Mileage
140,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 27, 2014
Crash reported1 injury reported

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.

NHTSA ID
10594282
Incident
Apr 15, 2014
Mileage
117,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seatsSeat belts
Filed May 11, 2014
Crash reported1 injury reported

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

NHTSA ID
10587674
Incident
May 10, 2014
Mileage
193,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed Feb 26, 2010
Crash reported3 injuries reported1 death reported

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

NHTSA ID
10314472
Incident
Jul 26, 2003
Mileage
80,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed Nov 5, 2009
Crash reported1 injury reported

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

NHTSA ID
10291132
Incident
Oct 30, 2009
Mileage
200,500 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 27, 2009
Crash reported1 injury reported

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

NHTSA ID
10263242
Incident
Mar 27, 2009
Mileage
109,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 27, 2007
Crash reported1 injury reported

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.

NHTSA ID
10204325
Incident
Sep 25, 2007
Mileage
150,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed Jul 6, 2007
Crash reported

TL*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. *KB

NHTSA ID
10195480
Incident
Jun 30, 2007
Mileage
100,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 11, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

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

NHTSA ID
10080788
Incident
Jul 4, 2004
Mileage
35 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 19, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

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

NHTSA ID
10050154
Incident
Dec 1, 2003
Mileage
90,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 23, 2003
2 injuries reported

MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE I WAS DRIVING, WITH A PASSENGER, APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, ON A SLIGHT INCLINE ON A BACK COUNTRY ROAD, IN THE MID AFTERNOON. I NOTIFIED TOYOTA SANTA CRUZ, WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE CAMRY NEW IN 1996, AND THEY ESSENTIALLY DID NOTHING. I NOTIFIED TOYOTA'S REGIONAL OFFICE AND I MET WITH AN AGENT FROM THERE WHO INSPECTED MY CAR AT TOYOTA SANTA CRUZ. HE FOUND EVIDENCE A ROCK HAD HIT A STABILIZING BAR UNDERNEATH. I REPORTED HAVING NOT SEEN OR HIT A ROCK ON THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT. I WAS TOLD TO AWAIT TOYOTA'S DECISION IN THE MAIL WITHIN 10 DAYS. THEY CONCLUDED MY AIR BAGS HAD DEPLOYED APPROPRIATELY. MY WITNESS AND I WROTE BACK TO THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, WHERE WE HAD BEEN REFERRED, DISPUTING THEIR CONCLUSION TWICE, AND BOTH TIMES THE RESPONSE WAS THAT THEIR CONCLUSION WAS FINAL. I AM CONFINED TO ONLY BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT BY MAIL. MEANWHILE, I AM DRIVING WITH NO AIRBAGS NOW FOR CLOSE TO 2 YEARS. TOYOTA HAS PROMPTED ME TO GET MY AIR BAG LIGHT FIXED SINCE THE DEPLOYMENT, BUT THAT IS ALL. AND MY HORN DOESN'T WORK NORMALLY NOW THAT THE VINYL IS RIPPED OPEN IN THE CENTER OF THE STEERING WHEEL. I INTENTIONALLY BOUGHT THE CAMRY FOR IT'S SAFETY RECORD. I AM IN DISBELIEF THAT TOYOTA CARES SO LITTLE FOR SAFETY. PLEASE, PLEASE HELP ME. *LA

NHTSA ID
10047400
Incident
Dec 6, 2001
Airbags
Filed Oct 9, 2003
Crash reported1 injury reported

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

NHTSA ID
10041527
Incident
Oct 7, 2003
Airbags
Filed Jun 16, 2003
1 injury reported

FRONT AIRBAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED, SERIOUSLY INJURING DRIVER, WHEN FRONT TIRE BUMPED CURB WHILE TURNING INTO DRIVEWAY. CAR WAS MOVING UNDER 5 MPH WHEN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10023144
Incident
Jul 26, 2002
Mileage
97,857 mi
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Oct 25, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported

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

NHTSA ID
753672
Incident
Oct 15, 2001
Airbags
Filed Jun 27, 2001
Crash reported

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 30MPH ON HIGHWAY AND ANOTHER VEHICLE STOPPED IN FRONT SUDDENLY, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHEN CONSUMERER SLAMING THE BRAKE IN PANIC STOP, BUT WITH OUT ANY ACCIDENT DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
891509
Incident
Dec 12, 2000
Airbags
Filed May 16, 2001
Crash reported2 injuries reported

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

NHTSA ID
888405
Incident
Apr 28, 2001
Airbags
Filed Apr 3, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported

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

NHTSA ID
884921
Incident
Oct 30, 2000
Airbags
Filed Mar 24, 2001
Crash reported2 injuries reported

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

NHTSA ID
742973
Incident
Mar 18, 2001
Airbags
Filed Feb 15, 2001
Crash reported

VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 30-35 MPH IMPACT AND BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ID
880685
Incident
Feb 13, 2001
Airbags
Filed Aug 31, 2000

DURING VEHICLE COLLISION THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS BADLY SMASHED, HOWEVER THE FRONTAL AIR BAG EXPERIENCED NO DEPLOYMENT. *MJS

NHTSA ID
554237
Incident
Jul 23, 2000
Airbags
Filed Jan 27, 2000
Crash reported

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLSION, AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
855567
Incident
Jan 14, 2000
Airbags
Filed Oct 25, 1999
1 injury reported

FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH AIR BAGS WHEN THE FRONT TIRE STRUCK CONCRETE, BUMPER WAS NOT STRUCK AND VEHICLE WAS ONLY TRAVELING 5-10 MPH. YH

NHTSA ID
549163
Incident
Mar 12, 1998
Airbags
Filed Sep 15, 1999
1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED ,CAUSING MINOR INJURIES. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
847757
Incident
Sep 14, 1999
Airbags
Filed Jul 12, 1999
Fire reported1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH TIRE SLIGHTLY HIT A CURB, CAUSING DUAL AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT AIRBAG CAUGHT ON FIRE , RESULTING IN 1ST DEGREE BURNS TO THE DRIVER , BUT THERE WAS NO PASSENGER SEATED. *AK

NHTSA ID
842123

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .