AI Damage2016 Toyota Camry: common problems
Owners of the 2016 Toyota Camry filed 189 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and steering. The maker issued 165 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 189
- involving a crash
- 41
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 165
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 16% of all complaints
- 2 Steering 13% of all complaints
- 3 Vehicle speed control 12% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 11% of all complaints
- 5 Structure 11% of all complaints
- 6 Service brakes 11% of all complaints
- 7 Powertrain 10% of all complaints
- 8 Engine 9% of all complaints
- Air bags: 31 complaints (16% of all), 24 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 4.
- Steering: 25 complaints (13% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Vehicle speed control: 22 complaints (12% of all), 7 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Electrical system: 21 complaints (11% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 30.
- Structure: 20 complaints (11% of all), 5 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 59.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.5 L · petrol · 4 cylnamed in 3 complaints
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- 2.5 L · hybrid · 4 cylnamed in 3 complaints
- automatic, 6-speed
- CVT
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 189 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 31 | 24 | 4 |
| Steering | 25 | 3 | 1 |
| Vehicle speed control | 22 | 7 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 21 | 2 | 30 |
| Structure | 20 | 5 | 59 |
| Service brakes | 20 | 4 | 4 |
| Powertrain | 18 | 3 | 0 |
| Engine | 17 | 3 | 7 |
| Seat belts | 9 | 3 | 0 |
| Visibility | 8 | 0 | 4 |
| Wheels | 8 | 3 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 5 | 0 | 2 |
| Suspension | 4 | 2 | 1 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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.
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.
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.
There is rust in my vehicles body and the chassis is bent out of shape in the front. I didnt realize until I took it to the body shop. Also the ac system will not work no one knows how to fix it I spent over $3000 trying to fix it at the dealership.
The car lurched very hard backwards. The car hit a pole that holds up the covered parking. I had my foot on the brake hard and it was still trying to move and I put it in neutral and it revved a lot. Then I turned it off. It has done this a couple of times but not to this extent.
While driving 15-20 mph, the power steering became difficult to maneuver without warning. As a result, the contact's vehicle crashed into a handicap placard sign pole. There were no injuries. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence.
While in a parking lot in gridlock traffic leaving an event my 2016 toyota camry made a loud thump noise as if was releasing the brake. The car then literally made a sudden acceleration forward and it would not stop.
Afterwards, the contact's vehicle experienced unintended acceleration. The contact stated depressed the brake pedal frequently, but it did not function for approximately 45 seconds before the contact was able to regain control. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 348 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 17% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Camry has 233 complaints (9 years in the data). This year has 189, below average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a…
Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition…
- The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air…
The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and…
- The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix…
The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and…
- To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used…
To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from…
- Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical…
Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal…
- Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal…
Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. Follow…
- Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad…
Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. This type of contamination can…
- Some 2005 – 2024 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a…
Some 2005 – 2024 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition…
- Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal…
Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination.
- This Service Bulletin provides updated non-electric water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips for…
This Service Bulletin provides updated non-electric water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips for some 2008 – 2025 model year Toyota vehicles.
- Customers have expressed concerns about the performance of Qi Wireless Chargers
Wireless chargers on applicable vehicles are designed to work with Qi Certified devices only. MagSafe devices, that are not Qi Certified, may not charge as expected with Qi Wireless Chargers.
- This is to advise of various price adjustments that will affect Toyota Genuine Motor Oil and Long Life…
This is to advise of various price adjustments that will affect Toyota Genuine Motor Oil and Long Life Coolant, effective March 1, 2024. These products are ordered through the Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC)…
NHTSA lists 165 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Toyota Camry?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, steering, vehicle speed control. Total complaints: 189. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: airbags did not deploy (8%), windows, sunroof (8%), warning lights, check engine (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2016 Toyota Camry?
NHTSA lists 165 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2016 Toyota Camry from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2016 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.