Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1996 Toyota Camry owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. The consumer stated 2 nights before the accident, the cruise control came on and then went off. Updated 01/13/10.
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. Updated 05/10/10 updated 07/08/10.
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.
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.
Tl 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.
Tl 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.
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.
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.
My daughter was driving our 1996 Toyota Camry, vid #[redacted]. 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.
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.
Airbag complaints in other Camry years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1996 Toyota Camry?
NHTSA has 47 complaints about the air bags of the 1996 Toyota Camry, 11% of the model year's 417 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (29 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1996 Toyota Camry airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 1996 Toyota Camry, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1996 Toyota Camry airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 109,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 32 crashes, 1 fire and 40 injuries and 2 deaths to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.