RoadVitals

1996 Toyota Camry Electrical Problems

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

Data refreshed

Electrical 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.
36
Latest Mar 10, 2016
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.
9%
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.
5
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. 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. 36 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 electrical

The 25 most recent of 36, in the owner's own words

ElectricalSteering
Filed Mar 10, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SEIZE IN THE TURNED POSITION WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE WHEN IT SEIZED. IN ADDITION, THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO PROVIDE ACCURATE READING LEVELS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID
10845948
Incident
Aug 1, 2015
Mileage
140,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 2, 2015

BOTH THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW AND FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW HAVE STOPPED WORKING ON OCCASION. PRESENTLY THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW MAY GO DOWN, BUT WILL NOT GO UP. THE NEXT DAY IT MAY GO UP. I DON'T PUT IT DOWN BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE IT DOWN IN RAIN OR OVERNIGHT. MY PREVIOUS CAMRY ALSO HAD ELECTRICAL WINDOW PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID
10787876
Incident
Oct 16, 2015
Mileage
118,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Dec 21, 2010

FOR SEVERAL WEEKS WHEN I HAVE OCCASIONALLY, ACCIDENTALLY, AFTER TURNING OFF THE IGNITION, WHILE THE TRANSMISSION WAS STILL IN THE DRIVE POSITION I REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION (WHILE IT WAS STILL IN GEAR), AND IT ROLLS. IT IS A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY LE V6. *TR

NHTSA ID
10371946
Incident
Nov 24, 2010
Mileage
183,345 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 28, 2008
1 injury reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEY IN HIS HAND AND THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE. ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 1997 MODEL REGARDING THIS SAME FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 133,700 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 03/26/08. *LJ

NHTSA ID
10219404
Incident
Jul 13, 2007
Mileage
130,000 mi
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+1 more
Filed Nov 4, 2006

8/2003 BOUGHT CAR. AT 75.000 MILES, FREEZE PLUGS STARTED TO GO. ONE AFTER THE OTHER. LEAVING ME STRANDED MANY TIMES. AFTER WE REPLACED THE FREEZE PLUGS, 76.000 MILES THE CAR STARTED DUMPING ITS COOLANT THROUGH THE OVERFLOW TANK.. COULD NOT GET ANSWERS FROM PHILLIPS TOYOTA. STARTED LOOSING OIL. THE OBD LIGHT HAS NEVER COME ON. THE CAR RUNS QUITE AND SMOOTH. MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THE CORPORATION, BUT THEY WILL NOT HELP. ALSO, THE BRAKES HAVE ALWAYS MADE LOUD NOISES, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN. CAR HAS NOW, 130000 MILES ON IT, AND ALL I CAN DO, IS ADD WATER EVERY 25 MILES OR SO. NONE OF THE SHOPS WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO CAN TELL US WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. CAN YOU HELP ME PLEASE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10172605
Incident
Mar 25, 2004
Mileage
75,000 mi
BrakesElectricalPowertrain (other)+2 more
Filed Jan 15, 2004

THE ENGINE JUST DIES. USUALLY AT A STOP OR SLOW DOWN. PROBABLY 1X/MONTH FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS. PREVIOUSLY IT JUST HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES LAST YEAR. THE FREQUENCY SEEMS TO BE INCREASING. SO FAR IT HAS HAPPENED ONLY WITH CITY DRIVING. I DO 90% CITY DRIVING, BUT AM BECOMING NERVOUS ABOUT TAKING THE CAR OUT ON THE FREEWAY. OUR MECHANIC CANNOT FIND ANY HISTORY OF THESE STALLS ON THE CAR'S COMPUTER. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY ISC VALVE EVER SINCE I'VE HAD THE CAR. WE NEED TO REPLACE THE ISC VALVE EVERY YEAR. TOYOTA HAS PAID FOR IT, BUT IT IS ANNOYING NOT TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM SOLVED.

NHTSA ID
10070289
Incident
Jun 15, 2003
Mileage
60,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 2, 2003
Fire reported

MY 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE ON THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTTALLED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10020888
Incident
Jun 2, 2003
Mileage
54,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 10, 2003

THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT HAD BLOWN OUT SEVERAL TIMES, THE MECHANIC FINALLY DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE SHORTED OUT THE TAIL LIGHTS.8JB

NHTSA ID
10011210
Incident
Mar 8, 2003
Electrical
Filed Aug 16, 2002
Crash reported

CONSUMER CAN TAKE KEY OUT OF IGNITION WHILE VEHICLE IS NOT IN PARK. THIS HAD CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
8016505
Incident
Jul 16, 2002
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 20, 2002
Fire reported

THE ENGINE SEIZED AND BLEW WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, WHICH CAUSED A CATASTOPHIC FIRE AND COMPLETE DAMAGE TO THE ENTIRE ENGINE AND SURROUNDING PARTS. IT WAS A POTENTIALLY DISASTROUS EVENT THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED GREAT INJURY. WE ARE CONTACTING TOYOTA REGARDING THE NEWSWORTHY "ENGINE SLUDGE" PROBLEM THAT THEY ARE ADMITTING IN 1996-2000 CAMRYS (OURS WAS 1996) AND THERE CLAIM OF HONORING ENGINE DAMAGE CLAIMS.*AK

NHTSA ID
763290
Incident
Jun 7, 2002
Electrical
Filed Apr 19, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE TURNING ON IGNITION VEHICLE WILL VIBRATE. NLM

NHTSA ID
8008137
Incident
Mar 15, 1997
BrakesElectricalEngine+7 more
Filed Oct 16, 2001

UPON STARTING VEHICLE AT IDLE SPEED, THE CONTROL VALVE STICKS. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALERSHIP, AND CONSUMER HAS BEEN TOLD THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. *AK BRAKES EXPERIENCE GRINDING, SQUEAKING, AND VIBRATION, ROTORS WERE WARPED AND BRAKE PADS WERE GLAZED, BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED, HOWEVER PROBLEM CONTINUES. CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A SUSPENSION PROBLEM THAT IS CAUSING UNEVEN TIRE WEAR. VEHICLE EXPERIENCES SEVERAL ENGINE RELATED PROBLEMS, MOTOR MOUNTS WERE WEAK CAUSING STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION, 16 VALVE SEALS CAME APART DUE TO BEING INSTALLED INCORRECTLY, WATER PUMP LEAKED, TIMING BELT FAILED, VALVE COVER LEAKED, AND CAM SEAL WAS REPLACED. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION RELATED PROBLEMS, RIGHT OUTER AXLE BOOT WAS SPLIT AND LEAKING GREASE, CV BOOTS FAILED TWICE, SHIFTER WAS HARD AND WAS MAKING NOISES, DEALER FOUND THE SHIFTER LEVER PLATE WAS BROKEN, TRANSMISSION PAN GASKET WAS REPLACED, THERE WAS A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE REAR WHEN GOING IN REVERSE. THE CAR JACK WAS MISSING FROM THE TRUNK AND THE ANTENNA WAS INOPERABLE. DEALER FOUND AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE BATTERY. CONSUMER NOTICED A RATTLING NOISE UNDER THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT, DEALER SECURED SEAT SLIDE ADJUSTER HOOK, TEMPERATURE GAUGE DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. OVERDRIVE LIGHT WAS INOPERABLE. VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL FUEL RELATED PROBLEMS, THE EGR VALVE ASSEMBLY, EGR MODULATOR, IDLER CONTROL VALVE, IDLE AIR SPEED CONTROL, DISTRIBUTOR O-RING, IDLER BEARING, ISC VALVE, AND VACUUM SWITCHING VALVE HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED, BLUE SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST, DEALER CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY, FUEL INJECTION, AND RECALIBRATED THE FUEL SENSOR, VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ROUGH AND STALLING DUE TO FAULTY EGR VACUUM MODULATOR, DEALER STATED THAT THE VALVE WOULD DEFAULT IF THERE WAS TOO MUCH OIL ADDED, THE VALVE IS TOO SMALL SO IT WILL STICK OR BECOME CLOGGED UP WITH CARBON BUILD UP. *SLC

NHTSA ID
897821
Incident
Feb 1, 1996
Electrical
Filed Jul 7, 2001

I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW TOYOTA CAMRY LE IN NOV. 95 IT WAS MODEL 96. AN ONGOING PROBLEM OF STARTING THE CAR. WHEN I START THE CAR WHETHER ITS MORNING OR IN THE AFTERNOON, ONCE I RELEASE THE KEY IT DIES. I'VE BEEN GOING TO 2 TOYOTA DEALERS AND THEIR DIAGNOSED IS ALWAYS THE IDLE CONTROL. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM STARTED IN 1997, THEN AGAIN IN 1999. I WENT TO TOYOTA NORTH HOLLYWOOD AND THEY FIXED IT BY REPLACING THE IDLE VALVE ITSELF, SO I WAS TOLD. THEN MAY 2000, I HAD A PROBLEM AGAIN WHEN IN MY DASHBOARD THE WARNING "CHECK ENGINE " LIT. SO I WENT AGAIN TO HAVE IT FIXED. THEN THIS TIME, I AM HAVING A PROBLEM AGAIN STARTING THE CAR, THE ENGINE DIES AND I HAVE TO STEP ON GAS PEDAL FOR MORE THAN 2 MINUTES TO START IT , WHETHER IT'S MORNING OR AFTERNOON. I WENT BACK TO TOYOTA SERVICE THIS TIME IN TOYOTA WONDRIES ALHAMBRA WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR. AND THEY SAID THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE IDLE CONTROL VALVE AGAIN AND IT WILL COST AGAIN $330. WHY IS THIS AN ONGOING PROBLEM? I KNOW DOZENS OF CARS FROM MY FRIENDS AND FAMILIES BUT THEY DONT GO THROUGH THE SAME PROBLEM EVERY OTHER YEAR. PLEASE HELP.*AK

NHTSA ID
748018
Electrical
Filed May 7, 2001
Fire reported

ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. *AK

NHTSA ID
745006
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+5 more
Filed Apr 13, 2001

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH FELT A SLIGHT LOSS OF POWER WHICH WAS CORRECTED BY ITSELF. A MINUTE LATER, WHEELS LOCKED UP, AND VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT TRANSAXLE CRACKED AND IT BROKE OFF WHERE IT WAS ATTACHED TO THE BODY. DIFFERENTIAL UNIT LOCKING WAS TORN UP, AND CENTER SUPPORT WAS WIPED OUT. TRANSFER CASE ALSO BROKE WHERE IT WENT ONTO THE BODY. *AK DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS CHUNKS OF METAL FOUND FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL DRAIN PLUG. CONSUMER HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE INCLUDING STARTING PROBLEMS. STRUT FAILURE. KEY AND LOCK PROBLEMS. WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAULTY. INTERIOR AND BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE. *SLC

NHTSA ID
885849
Incident
Mar 30, 2001
Electrical
Filed Jan 26, 2001

POWER ANTENNA WAS CAUSING SHORTAGES IN RADIO. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPLACED ANTENNA. AT PRESENT, PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE ANTENNA DOES NOT CONTRACT IN VERY COLD WEATHER, CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM. *SLC

NHTSA ID
879125
Incident
Dec 15, 1999
Electrical
Filed Nov 28, 2000

STARTER PANEL FAILED TO WORK. THIS WOULD CAUSE VEHICLE TO STALL OUT FOR NO REASON OR WARNING. HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST THREE TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ID
875624
ElectricalFuel systemExterior lighting
Filed Apr 25, 2000

THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START DUE TO LOOSE CONNECTION AND CORRODED BATTERY TERMINAL. YH

NHTSA ID
551962
Incident
Apr 25, 2000
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Oct 28, 1999

SEAT SLIDE/TRACK FAILED. MJS

NHTSA ID
549290
Incident
Oct 7, 1999
Electrical
Filed Dec 9, 1998

DATES OF SERVICE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM: 7/17/96, 7/29/96, 9/06/96, 9/20/96, 11/02/96, 07/10/97,10/06/97 DEALER TURNED OFF ENGINE LIGHT BUT PROBLEM WAS ONLY TEMPORARILY FIXED. 5/14/98 IS THE MOST RECENT DATE WHEN ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED & TURNED OFF BY ITSELF 3 DAYS LATER, THEREFORE 5/14/98 OCCURRENCE WAS NOT BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE. DEALER HAD CONCLUDED THE CAUSE TO BE SEVERAL THINGS. THEIR FIRST DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE LIGHT BEING SET OFF BY ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION IN ALARM WIRING (ALARM WAS INSTALLED BY THE SAME DEALER), THE NEXT DIAGNOSIS WAS IT WAS DUE TO BAD CHARCOAL CANNISTER FOR WHICH THE PARTS WERE SPECIALLY ORDERED & CAR WAS BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE FROM DATE 9/12/96 TO 9/19/96. THE PROBLEM WAS SHORTLY FIXED FOR THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AGAIN AND CAR WAS BROUGHT IN AGAIN ON 11/02/96. IT WAS A HASSLE TO KEEP BRINGING IN THE CAR ONLY TO HAVE THE ENGINE LIGHT ON 1-2 WEEKS LATER. I HAVE BEEN GIVING UP ON THIS PROBLEM (IE BRINGING IN TO THE DEALER). THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I JUST IGNORE IT& THE LIGHT WOULD GO OFF BY ITSELF WHICH IS EQUIVALENT TO THE RESULT OF MY DEALER'S SERVICE, ONLY IGNORING IT SAVES ME TIME & ENERGY. DEALER KEEPS TELLING ME IT'S NOT DANGEROUS AND KEEP BRINGING THE CAR IN WHENEVER THIS HAPPENS AGAIN.

NHTSA ID
701245
Incident
Jul 4, 1996
Electrical
Filed Jun 17, 1998

1SC VALVE STICKS CAUSING IGNITION TO NOT START VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
605808
Incident
Apr 1, 1998
Body & structureElectricalSeat belts+2 more
Filed Mar 6, 1998

SEAT BELTS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES.

NHTSA ID
531960
Electrical
Filed Jan 25, 1998

VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AFTER SITTING FOR 2 DAYS.

NHTSA ID
529758
Incident
Jan 15, 1997
Electrical
Filed Oct 27, 1997

CASSETTE PLAYER FAILED.

NHTSA ID
605269
Incident
Nov 27, 1996
Electrical
Filed Sep 22, 1997

ANTENNA SNAPPED.

NHTSA ID
605140
Incident
Oct 1, 1996

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 .