2016 Toyota Camry Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2016 Toyota Camry, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Airbags3013.8%
- Steering2511.5%
- Driver assistance2411.1%
- Electrical209.2%
- Brakes198.8%
- Body & structure198.8%
- Powertrain (other)188.3%
- Engine188.3%
- Seat belts94.1%
- Other / unspecified83.7%
- Visibility73.2%
- Interior & seats62.8%
- Fuel system62.8%
- Suspension41.8%
- Exterior lighting31.4%
- Transmission10.5%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
My daughter accidentally rear ended someone in her Toyota Camry. The damage to the front end was severe enough that the car has been totaled but the air bags did not deploy.
Airbags did not deploy after an accident that resulted in the hood crumpling. Car was at a complete stop when hit from behind at approximately 45mph, resulting in the car being pushed forward into the back of another vehicle.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
The vehicle touch screen stopped working. It doesn't allow the options to be chosen (radio, audio, and general settings) . The screen remains frozen. The estimated cost for repair is $2,000. The steering wheel vibrate and makes noises when vehicle speed is 40 or above. Diagnostic reports a steering column replacement. Estimated cost $ 800- 2,000
Vehicle- 2016 Toyota Camry As I was making a slight turn on the highway, my steering wheel began to sparatically veering left and right, which resulted in me hitting a curb, not once but twice. Due to the heavy impact and harsh involuntary, out of control steering the airbag should have deployed. However, it failed to do so. Instead, only the "airbag light" came on my dashboard along with warning lights that had not been there prior to accident.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
WAS GLIDING INTO MY GARAGE FOOT WAS ON BRAKE, (SO NO SPEED AT ALL) WHEN I HEARD A SUDDEN ENGINE ROAR AND CAR PICKED UP SPEED AND WAS PROPELLING ME TOWARD THE BACK WALL OF THE GARAGE. I IMMEDIATELY JAMMED ON MY BRAKE BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP BEFORE HITTING RACKS AND WALL AT THE BACK OF MY GARAGE. THIS ACCELERATION OF THE CAR RESULTED IN PROPERTY DAMAGE TO CAR AND AND PROPERTY.
I was on the highway during traffic hour going approximately 40 mph at 2 rpm and when I tried to accelerate to keep up with the flow of traffic, the car did not accelerate and actually slowed down and suddenly shifted down below 1 rpm which caused the oncoming cars behind me to hit their brakes hard. After it slowed down and did not accelerate, even though I pressed the gas pedal further, it suddenly shifted to 3.5 rpm and bolted forward towards the vehicle slowing down in front of me causing me to slam the brakes. It felt as if there was a disconnect between the transmission and the engine. Nothing popped up on the dashboard. This continued twice more before I pulled over and restarted the car to see if would help and it sort of did for about 10 miles before occurring once more before I reached my destination, so I pulled over and checked it on my OM126p and it showed no faults in the system. I then took it to the mechanic the next day and the car was fine the mechanic cleared the vehicle and said it was probably due to a clogged fuel filter and I have an appointment with them in hopes of fixing this problem. Now I’ve read into the problem and it seems to be a recurring problem and there’s been countless situations like mine in which the safety of both I and others on the road have been put at great risk. Please look into the problem on the off chance it isn’t a problem with filters. Please look after the safety of everybody on the road. Thank you.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
The vehicle touch screen stopped working. It doesn't allow the options to be chosen (radio, audio, and general settings) . The screen remains frozen. The estimated cost for repair is $2,000. The steering wheel vibrate and makes noises when vehicle speed is 40 or above. Diagnostic reports a steering column replacement. Estimated cost $ 800- 2,000
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2016 Toyota Camry. The vehicle was a private sale from Facebook Marketplace. The contact stated that after purchasing the vehicle, the vehicle experienced various mechanic failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. At the time of the purchase, the mileage was approximately 117,000; however, it was later discovered that the mileage was 257,080.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
The rear brake (passage side) had very uneven wearing. It is the outside pad only. It is a potential safety issue. It was discovered when performing brake inspection by myself. There was no warning except some grinding noise.
I was stopped at a traffic light, on an uphill grade, for roughly thirty seconds when my 2016 Toyota Camry Hybrid just started slowly accelerating. I looked down and my foot was still on the brake. The car then accelerated quickly. I turned into the left hand turn lane in order to avoid hitting the vehicle in front of me. The car then jumped the center divider and slam in the curb on the other side of the street before it stopped. At no time did I take my foot off the brake. There was only minor damage to the front bumper, but I destroyed two plants in the center divide. (I do not know, as of yet, if there was any damage to underneath of car.) As I was less than two miles from home, I drove the vehicle home. The next business day I had the vehicle towed to the Toyota dealership in San Juan Capistrano, CA. I told them of the problem and they immediately notified corporate. Corporate TOOK possession of the car and did not issue its report until June 1, 2022 (31 days after the incident).
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
1. Component / System Failed: - The primary exterior paint and clear coat layer completely separated from the factory electro-coat (E-coat) primer on the vehicle's body structure (specifically near the rear quarter panel, roof pillar, and doors). The vehicle and affected component are available for inspection upon request. 2. Safety / Risk to Safety: - While driving at highway speeds (65+ mph), large, thick sheets of brittle paint layer detach and fly off the vehicle. This creates an unexpected road debris hazard for trailing motor vehicles, potentially causing driver distraction or windshield impact for vehicles behind me. Furthermore, large paint loss around the roof/windshield pillars creates noticeable glares and glare reflection in direct sunlight, compromising visual clarity. 3. Dealer / Professional Confirmation: - Yes. I brought the vehicle to a local Toyota dealership service center. The service department confirmed the paint detachment, noting it matches the known factory primer adhesion failure pattern addressed under Toyota Customer Support Program ZJB. However, they stated the extended program window had elapsed and refused coverage. 4. Prior Inspections: - The vehicle has been inspected by a Toyota dealership service department. It has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives as no collision has occurred yet. 5. Warning Lamps, Messages, or Prior Symptoms: - No dashboard warning lights or messages appeared prior to the failure, as this is a structural/body paint adhesion defect. The issue first appeared as minor blistering/bubbling along the panel edges without any external impact or stone chip damage, and rapidly progressed into large, multi-inch sections peeling off down to the bare grey primer.
The METAL trunk torsion bar broke with no warning or symptoms while I was sitting in my vehicle with the trunk closed. While it sounds minimal, it caused such a deafening sound I initially thought there had been an explosion in the rear of my vehicle. This occurred a few minutes after I removed an item from the trunk and closed the trunk. I was sitting in the driver's seat with the car running about to back up when the explosive sound occurred. If the trunk had still been open, the risk of significant injury and death would have been quite high given the explosive sound made when it broke and slammed the interior of the trunk. If it had hit my head, chest or an artery with that level of force, it likely would have caused death in my opinion. There were ZERO warnings. My trunk worked fine, no symptoms of any kind that it was about to fail and that is what makes this so dangerous. This is a part that never should have failed. It should last the lifetime of the car. The largest part of the broken torsion bar IS available for inspection. The smaller piece that broke off and became a potentially lethal projectile must be somewhere behind the paneling, but I have not been able to find it. I can make my car available if an inspector would like to search for the missing piece. I have received a quote from the dealer for replacement, so it has been inspected. Components that failed in the trunk: 64531-06500 Hinge Torsion Bar Right Hand 64127-06110 Torsion Bar Bracket/Hardware Kit. Rear Spoiler/Hardware Kit Note- There is also a 64532-06500 Hinge Torsion Bar Left Hand that could possibly fail in the same way.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
I have a 2016 Toyota Camry LE and I'm having problems with the shaft and that is dangerous. I see that other Camry's are having the same problem as my car is. I think this problem need to be reported as a recall.
Subject: Investigation Request: Excessive Oil Consumption in 2012-2017 Toyota 2.5L Engines To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to request an investigation into a critical defect with Toyota’s 2.5L 4-cylinder engines in 2012-2017 vehicles, including my 2016 Toyota Camry SE. Despite regular maintenance and timely oil changes, my vehicle began consuming oil excessively around 120,000 miles, leading to significant safety risks. The problem began with sluggish acceleration and grinding noises, both hazardous in city traffic. After hearing grinding noises, I checked the oil level, and the dipstick was completely dry, despite still having 3,000 miles until my next scheduled oil change. The engine was consuming one quart of oil per week under normal driving conditions. Despite multiple visits to Toyota-certified dealerships, the issue was overlooked or minimized. Eventually, a dealership diagnosed worn piston rings, but by 130,000 miles, my engine had completely failed. I’m thankful [XXX] that my engine never quit while I was driving at highway speeds or in city traffic, as it could have been a serious accident. This issue is well-documented among owners of 2015-2017 Toyota Camrys and other models equipped with the same engine, even when vehicles are properly maintained. This defect not only threatens engine reliability but also endangers drivers by causing performance failures, such as grinding noises, sluggish acceleration, and unexpected power loss. Toyota has issued recalls for similar engine defects in other vehicles but has failed to address this issue for the 2.5L 4-cylinder engines in the 2012-2017 models. I urge the NHTSA to investigate this widespread issue and hold Toyota accountable for ensuring the safety and reliability of these vehicles. Many drivers, including myself, are at risk without proper action. Thank you for addressing this pressing matter. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
The engine quit running whenever the headlights, turn signals, or wipers were turned on. This was obviously a serious safety problem when driving! It began intermittently on 6/30/25, but it became a consistent problem by 7/7/25, so I took the car to the closest Toyota Dealership for evaluation. I can provide their service report to you if requested. It took them 6 hours and $1000 to diagnose the problem as bad electrical grounding points (high resistance), which were only revealed after they removed the front bumper. In my opinion, it is an unsafe design to have poor grounding for headlights cause the engine to die.
Subject: Investigation Request: Excessive Oil Consumption in 2012-2017 Toyota 2.5L Engines To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to request an investigation into a critical defect with Toyota’s 2.5L 4-cylinder engines in 2012-2017 vehicles, including my 2016 Toyota Camry SE. Despite regular maintenance and timely oil changes, my vehicle began consuming oil excessively around 120,000 miles, leading to significant safety risks. The problem began with sluggish acceleration and grinding noises, both hazardous in city traffic. After hearing grinding noises, I checked the oil level, and the dipstick was completely dry, despite still having 3,000 miles until my next scheduled oil change. The engine was consuming one quart of oil per week under normal driving conditions. Despite multiple visits to Toyota-certified dealerships, the issue was overlooked or minimized. Eventually, a dealership diagnosed worn piston rings, but by 130,000 miles, my engine had completely failed. I’m thankful [XXX] that my engine never quit while I was driving at highway speeds or in city traffic, as it could have been a serious accident. This issue is well-documented among owners of 2015-2017 Toyota Camrys and other models equipped with the same engine, even when vehicles are properly maintained. This defect not only threatens engine reliability but also endangers drivers by causing performance failures, such as grinding noises, sluggish acceleration, and unexpected power loss. Toyota has issued recalls for similar engine defects in other vehicles but has failed to address this issue for the 2.5L 4-cylinder engines in the 2012-2017 models. I urge the NHTSA to investigate this widespread issue and hold Toyota accountable for ensuring the safety and reliability of these vehicles. Many drivers, including myself, are at risk without proper action. Thank you for addressing this pressing matter. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that the seat belts of the driver’s and passenger’s side rear seats failed to retract, causing concerns for the contact. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the seat belt retractors were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 132,393.
On 01/14/2022, I was in a car accident. I hit a Mitsubishi Outlander Sport head on at 45 mph and my airbags didn’t deploy nor did my seatbelts lock. My car is available for inspection at Classic Collision of Augusta body repair shop. Since my airbags did not deploy and my seatbelt did not lock, I made contact with my steering wheel and my right hand made contact with the dash. My passenger’s airbags did not deploy nor did their seatbelt lock. They made contact with the window, door, and dash of my car. We sustained injuries from the accident. Unknown if problem has been reproduced or confirmed by dealer or service center. Vehicle has been inspected by my auto insurance and the body repair shop, but unknown results. Unknown if any other entities have inspected the vehicle. Yes, a maintenance required message was present for a oil change required. Message appeared when mileage hit 48479 due for oil change per the mileage on the sticker on my windshield.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
The car starts shaking and the stirring wheel at 40 mph or more. 10 /1/23.
DURING BOTH WET AND DRY CONDITIONS AT TIMES THE CAR DOESN'T REALIGN AFTER MAKING TURNS, GRINDS WHILE TURNING, PULLS TO THE RIGHT, PULL AND SHAKE VIOLENTLY WHEN HAVING TO COME TO OR MAKE AN ABRUPT STOP. WITH CAR IN PARK, TURNED OFF, AND KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY AND TRIES TO OSCILLATE. CAN PROVIDE VIDEO UPON REQUEST.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
The engine quit running whenever the headlights, turn signals, or wipers were turned on. This was obviously a serious safety problem when driving! It began intermittently on 6/30/25, but it became a consistent problem by 7/7/25, so I took the car to the closest Toyota Dealership for evaluation. I can provide their service report to you if requested. It took them 6 hours and $1000 to diagnose the problem as bad electrical grounding points (high resistance), which were only revealed after they removed the front bumper. In my opinion, it is an unsafe design to have poor grounding for headlights cause the engine to die.
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the glass sunroof suddenly exploded causing glass pieces to enter the cabin of the vehicle. No injuries were reported. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 127,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
While loading groceries in my trunk, the torsion bar sheared off and broke (the hook part). It fell hard on my shoulder (fortunately not my neck or head). I have never seen steel actually break rather than bend. I tried to fix it but could not. Trunk is heavy and unstable (falls easily), as is part of car in back. Went to Toyota dealer and found out no recall, and "iffy" fix. They wanted $488.50 to try and fix. My body shop estimated $164. and purchased correct Toyota parts, followed their instructions. The bars only held for a few minutes, then they failed to hold up the trunk again. I was almost injured again with this failure, but managed to catch it in time. They refunded me $100. since they said there was no more "play" to work with. Went on social media only to find that many Toyota Camry 2016 and 2015s had torsion bar failures, with no recall. Some said that they spent over $1000. trying to fix it, but never could, no matter what dealership or body shop repaired it. Others gave up and sold it. It is not something that I can "live with". the trunk is heavy to life and unstable. Have to hold it while trying to put things in trunk. I have had 6 Toyotas in my life and 3 cars with Auto Nation, but have never had the lack of integrity, follow-through and non-solutions that I have experienced with the purchase of this car. Unlike others, I can't afford to sell/replace my car at this time, and can't live with it as is. I truly love my car, but do not feel safe using it and am totally frustrated. All I want is for Toyota and/or its mfr.) to own up to the design flaw and either fix or replace it. Note: I have photos of broken part, failure, and estimates, but couldn't get them to download onto your form. (It just kept deleting the form and having me start over). Please advise if I can send another way.
FIRST ISSUE, (MINOR) DRIVER SIDE REAR SEATBELT DOES NOT RECOIL CORRECTLY. MUST BE MANUALLY FED IN ORDER TO RESET FOR NEXT USE. SECOND ISSUE, HOOD LATCH DOES NOT RELEASE AS IT IS SUPPOSED TO. YOU MUST HAVE A LONG FLAT HEAD SCREWDRIVER AND MANUALLY LIFT THE HOOK FROM THE HOOD IN ORDER TO RAISE HOOD. APPEARS TO BE A WEAK SPRING ON THE LEVER. NOT SURE WHAT ABOUT THIS CAR MAKES IT EAT TIRES BUT I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW (12 MILES) AND NOW HAVE 98,000 AND I AM GOONG THROUGH TIRES APPROXIMATELY EVERY 10,000 MILES REGARDLESS OF BRAND OR WARRANTY. HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE ALIGNED MULTIPLE TIMES BY MULTIPLE COMPANIES AND STILL NO WEAR PATTERN ON TIRES JUST WORN COMPLETELY SMOOTH. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE WITH THE THOUGHT OF PUTTING MY SON IN IT IT TRAVEL TO COLLEGE AND BACK BUT I WILL GET RID OF THE VEHICLE BEFORE I PUT MY CHILD IN IT FULL TIME. HE DOESN'T NEED THE HEADACHE OF CHECKING TIRES AND REPLACING THEM EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS. THERE IS NO TIRE SPECIALIST WITH ANY IDEA WHY THE TIRES WOULD BE WEARING THIS BAD ON THIS VEHICLE. MAKES ME WONDER IF OTHER CONSUMERS ARE HAVING TO REPLACE THEIRS AS OFTEN AS I DO. I DO LIVE IN A RURAL AREA BUT ON A PAVED ROAD AND MOST OF MY TRAVEL IS VIA HIGHWAY. DATE PROVIDED IS DATE OF LAST TIRE ROTATION AND REPLACEMENT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
My car when I driving lose power and in seconds the rpm come highly and make my car dangerous because accelerated when I don’t use the gas pedal
AT ANY GIVEN TIME, WHILE DRIVING SLOW OR STOPPED, I WILL PUSH ON THE GAS PEDAL AND A 1 0R 2 SECOND LAPSE WILL OCCUR BEFORE MY CAR MOVES FORWARD. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HIT MY ANOTHER CAR!!!!!!
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAD THE CAR SINCE IT HAD 7 MILES ON IT. IT ONLY HAS 24K ON IT NOW. I HAVE HAD ALIGNMENT ISSUES CONSTANTLY, STEERING IS LOOSE AND TIRES ARE WEARING FAST I HAVE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 BEFORE IT HIT 10K MILES. NOW THEY ARE WORN AGAIN DUE TO ALIGNMENT
WHEN EVER YOU PRESS THE BRAKES MAKE ROARING SOUND WHEN AT SPEED OF 60 OR ABOVE ON HIGHWAY AND SOMETIMES MISSES THE BRAKE WHEN YOU PUSH IT TO STOP. WHEN YOU REVERSE OR TURN RIGHT OR LEFT DIFFERENT KIND OF NOISES COMES FROM SUSPENSION AND SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS GOING TO BREAK.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
The engine quit running whenever the headlights, turn signals, or wipers were turned on. This was obviously a serious safety problem when driving! It began intermittently on 6/30/25, but it became a consistent problem by 7/7/25, so I took the car to the closest Toyota Dealership for evaluation. I can provide their service report to you if requested. It took them 6 hours and $1000 to diagnose the problem as bad electrical grounding points (high resistance), which were only revealed after they removed the front bumper. In my opinion, it is an unsafe design to have poor grounding for headlights cause the engine to die.
HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OFF AND ON, L DON'T DRIVE AT NIGHT MOSTLY TILL RECENTLY, L TOOK IT TO TOYOTA DEALER. THEY GAVE ME ESTIMATE ABOUT $600.00 TO FIT IT .CLAIMING, I NEEDS REPLACING HEADLIGHT STALK/SWITCH(FOUND HEADLIGHT STOCK/SWITCH OPEN CIRCUT). THE MILEAGE ON MY CAR JUST 21,103. ALSO, THIS MY 3RD TOYOTA, AND USED THEM MORE THAN TEN YEARS WITH THIS PROBLEM, THIS MUST BE MANUFACTURAL DEFAULT, AND FIND OUT THAT, SOME ARE RE-CALL FOR SOME CAMRY 2016. PLEASE. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STARTED TO SPUTTER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GREEN'S TOYOTA OF LEXINGTON (630 E NEW CIR RD, LEXINGTON, KY 40505) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .