Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government
holds on this vehicle.
Owners have filed 184 safety complaints
about the 2016 Toyota Camry with the US government. Of those, 41 describe a crash, 2 mention a fire, 35 people were injured and no death is recorded. 2 recall campaigns are open against it, covering equipment and the air bags.
The most complained-about system is the air bags,
named in 31 complaints, 17% of the total.
The typical failure was reported at 28,886 miles,
the median across the 115
complaints that gave
an odometer reading.
Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files
· Covers November 2015 to September 2026 · How this is counted
What is on file
184 complaints on file
184
Complaints
41
Describe a crash
2
Mention fire
35
People injured
0
Deaths
A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a
finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts
them.
Complaints rose by half year on year: 11 in the twelve months to 2026-Q2, against 7 in the twelve before.
A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free.
Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can
answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a
model year.
Which system owners named
Complaints naming each system
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 34 · 18%
34 18%
AIR BAGS 31 · 17%
31 17%
STEERING 25 · 14%
25 14%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 22 · 12%
22 12%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 21 · 11%
21 11%
STRUCTURE 20 · 11%
20 11%
POWER TRAIN 18 · 10%
18 10%
SERVICE BRAKES 18 · 10%
18 10%
ENGINE 17 · 9%
17 9%
SEAT BELTS 9 · 5%
9 5%
WHEELS 8 · 4%
8 4%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 6 · 3%
6 3%
01531
Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it.
One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 184.
When the complaints arrived
By the year NHTSA received them
By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures
happened. They peaked in 2016 at 28.
This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure
happened. The range runs from 2015 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program
NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what
happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2016 Toyota CAMRY, and it is a separate
question from what owners report going wrong later.
Test
4 DR FWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover
11.1%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard
A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.
Recall campaigns
2 on file
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
16V420000 · June 9, 2016
The defect
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota Camry and Highlander, 2015-2016 Toyota Tundra, Scion FR-S, and tC vehicles. The Load Carrying Capacity Modification Label may not reflect the correct added weight of the installed accessories. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."
The risk
An incorrect label may lead an owner to overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
SET will notify owners, and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC · up to 4,253 vehicles across all model years covered
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
16V215000 · April 14, 2016
The defect
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Avalon and Camry vehicles manufactured November 30, 2015 to March 4, 2016. The occupant classification system (OCS) that activates or deactivates the front passenger seat air bag system may have been improperly calibrated. As a result, the front passenger air bag and the front passenger knee air bag may not deploy as intended in certain crash scenarios. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
The risk
Air bags that do not deploy as intended during a crash increase the risk of injury.
The remedy
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will recalibrate the OCS, free of charge. The recall began by May 13, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is G0J.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 58,515 vehicles across all model years covered
In owners’ own words
Quoted from the complaint file
Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the
people who filed them, not findings of fault.
AIR BAGS
3 injured · crash · towed · 21,000 miles
TOYOTA CAMRY VIN [XXX]. TOYOTA CASE #[XXX] POLICE INCIDENT:[XXX] THIS IS TO INFORM YOU THAT MY WIFE ENDED UP A SEVERE CAR ACCIDENT DATED 9-7-2017. THE TOYOTA CAMRY LE 2016 CAR WHICH WAS ON LEASE FROM THE TOYOTA F OVER 20 MONTHS COMPLETELY TOTALED OUT. THE CAR WAS HIT ON THE NON DRIVER REAR SEAT BY THE OTHER CAR WHILE TURNING. THE IMPACT WAS OF AT LEAST 30-40 M/HR OF THE SPEED.ABOVE CAR SPINNED 180 DEGREE ENDED UP STOPPING DUE TO ROAD SIDE PAVEMENT IN THE OPPOSITE ROAD. THE IMPACTED SIDE WHEEL WAS BROKEN AND ROTATED OUT. THE IMPACT WAS SEVERE BUT THE AIR BAGS MAINLY ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT AND REAR SEAT DID NOT OPEN AT ALL. THE REMAINING OPEN BAG WAS FLOPPY. BEING A MEDICAL PHYSICIAN, THIS …
NHTSA complaint 11023729, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
AIR BAGS
3 injured · crash · towed · 62,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE REAR-ENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT WHICH STOPPED ABRUPTLY. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK IN PLACE, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO HIT HER CHEST ON THE STEERING WHILE THE TWO CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEATS HIT THE BACK OF THE SEATS IN FRONT OF THEM. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE TWO CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEATS WERE FRIGHTENED AND SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISES THAT DID NOT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER, WAITING FOR THE INSURANCE …
NHTSA complaint 11223035, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
AIR BAGS
3 injured · crash · 8,214 miles
BOUGHT CAR NEW 03/16. INVOLVED IN MVA 06/01/16 WHERE WE WERE T-BONED BY A F150 TRUCK AT 30 MPH. THE TRUCK PEELED THE BODY OF CAR OFF THE FRAME FROM WHERE THE PASSENGER DOOR HINGE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR. DAMAGING SENSORS THAT WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED SIDE AIRBAGS. THE DOOR HANDLE FELL OFF, HINGES HAD TO BE REPLACED, TAIL LIGHTS AND HEAD LIGHTS REPLACED, BOTH PASSENGER DOORS AND TIRES REPLACED. WHY DID THE SIDE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOY? TOYOTA TOLD ME THAT SINCE I HAD THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM FIXED, THEY ARE NOT TO BE BLAMED. MY CHILD WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT. EVEN AFTER ALL REPAIRS TO THE CAR, WHILE DRIVING OVER 30 MPH, THERE IS A LOUD WIND TUNNEL NOISE GOING THROUGH THE …
NHTSA complaint 10933791, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
STRUCTURE:BODY
2 injured · crash · towed · 22,000 miles
MY HUSBAND WAS HEADED TO WORK WHEN A 16 YEAR OLD DRIVER DID NOT MAKE A COMPLETE STOP AT THE STOP SIGN AND PRECEDED TO CROSS THE ROAD WINTER GARDEN - VINELAND RD AS MY HUSBAND COMING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD TRIED TO AVOID HITTING HER BUT COULD NOT, HITTING HER ON THE BACK DRIVERS SIDE OF HER CAR. THE IMPACT TO THE FRONT OF OUR CAR WHICH BROKE A ROD BENT IN THE TIRE SMASHED THE DRIVERS FRONT SIDE ALSO BENDING THE HOOD, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WITH THAT IMPACT I AM WONDERING WHY DIDN'T THEY DEPLOY?
NHTSA complaint 10882537. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
I own a 2016 Toyota Camry SE with the 2.5L 4-cylinder engine. The vehicle currently has approximately 155,000 miles and is experiencing excessive engine oil consumption. The engine requires oil to be added approximately every 800–1,000 miles despite regular maintenance and the use of full-synthetic high-mileage motor oil. The spark plugs were also replaced approximately 20,000 miles ago. I am concerned that this level of oil consumption is excessive and could result in the engine operating with insufficient oil between normal service intervals, potentially causing engine damage or failure while the vehicle is being driven. I am aware that other owners of Toyota vehicles equipped with 2.5L …
NHTSA complaint 11767560, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2016 Toyota Camry. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 163,000, and at the time of the registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 293,148.
NHTSA complaint 11763617. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
STRUCTURE:BODY
The factory-applied paint (Toyota color code 070, Blizzard Pearl) is delaminating and peeling off both the driver-side and passenger-side A-pillars, exposing primer underneath. The clear coat and color coat are separating from the substrate in sheets. This is not impact damage or external wear — it is a failure of paint adhesion. Toyota has acknowledged this defect in Customer Support Program ZKG, which covers 2008–2017 Camry vehicles finished in 070 Blizzard Pearl and 040 Super White. My vehicle is a 2016 Camry in 070. The program provides coverage for 10 years from date of first use. My in-service date was December 2015, so coverage expired in December 2025 — shortly before the defect …
NHTSA complaint 11762705, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
AIR BAGS
1 injured · crash · towed · 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving the vehicle, the vehicle was involved in a front-end crash while making a left turn at an intersection. The air bags failed to deploy upon impact. The contact's daughter suffered bruising to the chest and stomach but had not yet sought medical attention. A Police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to a storage facility and was waiting to be towed to another independent mechanic to be inspected. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
NHTSA complaint 11762741. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
STRUCTURE:BODY
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 …
NHTSA complaint 11754611, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
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.
NHTSA complaint 11751016. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's
lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How
many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by
the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.
Complaints: NHTSA's ODI
complaint file, published October 2, 2026. One
complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall
campaign API, newest campaign on this vehicle filed June 9, 2016.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI
investigation file, published October 2, 2026.
A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by
us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that
sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.
G
Compiled and maintained by guarledes Independent developer and analyst