1996 Toyota Camry Steering Problems

Your steering feels unresponsive or difficult to control, and you've tried multiple repairs without improvement. The overall driving experience remains poor despite your attempts to fix it.

Your steering wheel can suddenly lock up while turning, requiring you to use excessive force to move it. At the same time, your speedometer may give inaccurate speed readings. These issues started around 140,000 miles and weren't repaired. A mechanic would need to inspect the steering column for seized components and check the speedometer circuit for electrical faults.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 15 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE REAR, SIMILAR TO A THUMP. THE STEERING THEN BECAME DIFFICULT AND THE CONTACT BEGAN HAVING DIFFICULTIES STEERING THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE SWAY BAR AND FRONT END SUSPENSION FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE SPRINGS AND STRUTS WERE FRACTURED, AN OIL LEAK WAS DISCOVERED AND THE DEALER RECOMMENDED A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,510 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 127,555.

MY HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY DIM, FORTUNATELY I HAVE NOT CRASHED AT THIS POINT BUT I HAVE SWERVED AND AT NEAR ACCIDENT SITUATIONS. I CANNOT SEE IN THE DARK AND I AM FORCED TO USE MY HIGH BEAMS. AROUND SUMMER OF 2010, I CRASHED M Y CAR ON A CURVE GOING TO SAN FRANCISCO, CA ON HIGHWAY 85. AS I WAS ABOUT TO CURVE I SLOWLY WENT FROM 65 MPH TO 25 MPH OR A BIT LOWER TO CURVE CORRECTLY. MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO CURVE APPROPRIATELY SO MY CAR CONTINUED STRAIGHT AND HIT THE SIDE OF THE CURVE (LUCKILY IT WAS BLOCKED BY A STEEL HIGHWAY FENCE). I REPLACED THE DRIVERS DOOR AND FRONT BUMPER WITH AN AWFUL OFF COLOR PAINT JOB. I DID NOT MAKE A POLICE REPORT AND I DID NOT CONTACT MY INSURANCE. I FIXED MY CAR AND NOW I AM AFRAID IT MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN. PROPERTY DAMAGE OF MY CAR WAS DONE. MY WINDOW NO LONGER WORKS AND MY KEY ENTRY IS NO LONGER FUNCTIONING AS WELL DUE TO THE CRASH. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE FAILURE STOPPED AFTER DRIVING 5 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 63,000.

THIS IS A REPAIR SHOP IN THE BETHESDA MARYLAND AREA AND THE CUSTOMERS CAR IS A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY STATION WAGON. THE CAR HAS APPROX. 135,000 MILES. WE DID MAJOR REPAIRS TO THE CAR INCLUDES REPLACE LOWER BALL JOINTS AND RIGHT FRONT AXLE. THE CUSTOMER CALLED AND SAID THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL FOLDED UNDER THE CAR. WE HAD CAR TOWED TO SHOP AND FOUND THE CASTLE RETAINER NUT FOR THE RIGHT OUTER TIE WAS COMPLETELY MISSING AND THE TIE ROD END CAME OUT OF STEERING KNUCKLE. THE COTTER KEY WAS STILL INSIDE OF THE HOLE, WHICH INDICATED THE NUT DID NOT UNTHREAD BUT CAME APART- I WENT BACK WHERE THE CAR WAS TOWED FROM BUT COULD NOT FIND ANY PART OF THE CASTLE NUT. WE REPLACED BOTH OUTER TIE ROD ENDS FOR SAFETY AND DID FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT AT NO CHARGE TO CUSTOMER. WE FOUND NO CRACKS OR PROBLEMS WITH THE CASTLE NUT FROM THE OTHER SIDE, BUT BOTH OUTER TIE ROD ENDS CAME WITH NEW CASTLE NUTS. WE ARE FILING THE PROBLEM TO SEE IF ANY OTHER CAMRY PROBLEMS LIKE THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED , AT CUSTOMERS REQUEST. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT WENT TO HIS INSURANCE COMPANY AFTER HAIL DAMAGED HIS VEHICLE. THE INSURANCE REPRESENTATIVE DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER'S 96V037000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHT) AND 99V307000 (STEERING WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR); HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 104,800. UPDATED 09/15/08 *BF UPDATED 09/17/08. *JB

TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING THE 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED A STICKY SUBSTANCE AROUND THE VALVE COVER GASKET. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS NEEDING A NEW ENGINE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THISWAS A SAFETY DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,578. *AK THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS RE-SEALED, THE TIMING BELT AND AXLE SEALS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 04/12/07. *JB

IN APPROX JUNE OF 2002 MY TIMING BELT HAD TO BE REPLACED I NOW APPEAR TO HAVE THE OIL GELLING PROBLEM. APPROX MAY 2003 I GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO PUMP GAS AND THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN ON THE DRIVER SIDE. APPROX AUGUST 2003 I BEGAN NOTICING IF DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND I APPLY MY BRAKES MY WHOLE CAR BEGINS SHAKING.

MY CAR HAS 135,000 MILES ON IT AND I WAS RECENTLY NOTICING THAT IT WOULD RUN HARD AND NOT SWITCH GEARS AS SMOOTHLY AS IT ONCE HAD. I TOOK IT IN TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO BE EVALUATED AND WAS TOLD IT HAD SLUDGE IN MY ENGINE PROBABLY DUE TO INFREQUENT OIL CHANGES I WAS THEN INFORMED BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT IT NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AND THAT IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $5000-$6000. I INFORMED THE ADVISOR THAT I ALWAYS HAD MY OIL CHANGED AS PER THE OWNER?S MANUAL, AND I REQUESTED A WRITTEN ESTIMATE AS TO THE EXACT DETAILS THAT FORMED THE BASIS FOR THIS PRICE QUOTE. I WAS ULTIMATELY DENIED THAT INFORMATION. THE GENTLEMAN TOLD ME HE WOULD CALL ME BACK AND/OR FAX IT TO ME, AFTER WHICH I RECEIVED NOTHING. I CALLED AGAIN, GOT HIS SUPERVISOR INSTEAD OF THE SERVICE ADVISOR, AND HE EXPLAINED THAT ENGINE SLUDGE WAS THE DIAGNOSIS AND THAT I COULD NOT GET A WRITTEN ESTIMATE BECAUSE THE EXACT PARTS NEEDED COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. HE STATED HE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE SOMEONE LOOK FURTHER INTO THE ENGINE'S PROBLEM TO GIVE ME THE ESTIMATE IN WRITING. I ASKED WHY THIS HADN'T BEEN DONE PRIOR TO THE COMPLETION OF THE DIAGNOSIS THAT I ORDERED, AND HE THEN BEGAN STAMMERING AND INFORMED ME THAT HE DIDN'T HAVE MY FILE IN FRONT OF HIM AND HE COULD CALL ME BACK AFTER LOOKING INTO IT FURTHER. HE THEN PROCEEDED TO ASK ME IF I WAS REALLY WILLING TO PAY THAT MUCH FOR AN ENGINE?. WHEN I ASKED WHAT MY OTHER ALTERNATIVES WERE, HE OFFERED TO TRANSFER ME TO A SALESMAN! I NEVER RECEIVED ANY FURTHER PHONE CALLS. IT HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE THAT IF I AM NOT WILLING TO BUY A NEW VEHICLE, THE LEVEL OF SERVICE I RECEIVE DECREASES DRAMATICALLY. I HAVE SINCE TAKEN MY CAR TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT SHOP TO HAVE IT REPAIRED, WHERE I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET AN EXPLANATION BOTH IN WRITING AND BY THE ADVISOR IN CONVERSATION AS TO WHAT EXACTLY IS WRONG AND WHAT EXACTLY NEEDS TO BE FIXED.

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.

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN FAILURE OF POWER STEERING.*MR WHILE DRIVING ACROSS THE HIGHWAY THE CONSUMER HAD TO STRUGGLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *CB *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH VEHICLE LOST BRAKE AND STEERING POWER. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE TIMING BELT JUMPED, AND THE ENGINE SEIZED UP BECAUSE OF AN OIL JELLYING PROBLEM IN THE ENGINE, PER DEALERSHIP.*AK

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. *PH *JB

1996 TOYOTA CAMRY POWER STEERING FAILURE.*MR POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE POWER STEERING WAS REPAIRED FOR $1398.56, IN WHICH THE CONSUMER WANTED TO BE REIMBURSED. TOYOTA WAS INFORMED OF THIS AND DECLINED THE CONSUMER FOR REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO EXPIRATION OF WARRANTY. *PH *CB *JB

POWER STEERING FAILURE ON 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY.*MR WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS DUE TO FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING. *TS. THE TIMING BELT AND RADIATOR HOSE WERE REPLACED. *JB

THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKING AS I'M DRIVING...VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN WITH A SMOOTH ACTION...MY MECHANIC HAD ANOTHER TOYOTA IN THE SHOP WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT! *NLM

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED STALLING/STARTING PROBLEMS, WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE EGR VALVE, THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR AND THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE, WHICH WERE ALL REPLACED, THE TIRES EXPERIENCED UNEVEN TIRE WEAR, THE BRAKES FAILED, THERE WERE TRANSMISSION, DRIVELINE AND STEERING PROBLEMS, THE O-RING WAS REPLACED, AND ALSO THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXHIBIT ENGINE OIL SLUDGE. *AK *JB

STEERING HAS A DEAD SPOT ALSO WHEEL DOES NOT RETURN AFTER MAKING A TURN. *JB

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

POWER STEERING RACK & PINION GEAR AND HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE BEGAIN TO LEAK AT ABOUT 70,000 MILES. DEALER SAID THESE ITEMS NEED TO BE REPLACED. NOW TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A NEW PART NUMBER FOR THE POWER STEERING GEAR, WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THEY REALIZED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ORIGINAL PART. 70,000 IS WAY TO EARLY FOR SUCH A FAILURE. THE REPAIR IS VERY COSTLY. PARTS ALONE FOR THE REPAIR ARE ABOUT $1400. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD COMPENSATE.

RACK & PINION STEERING SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED AT 70,000 MILE - NO WARRANTY COMPENSATION. *AK

DEALER SERVICE REPS SAYS TO REPLACE ENTIRE RACK & PINION STEERING GEAR. *AK

CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AT DEALERSHIPS PER TOYOTA'S SCHEDULE; NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. 73,000 IS TOO EARLY FOR THE RACK AND PINION TO HAVE AN INTERNAL LEAK. CAR HAS BEEN WELL-MAINTAINED AN NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT. COST TO REPAIR THE R&P $1500, COMPANY AGREED TO ADJUST IT BY $241. BLACK TAR LIKE SUBSTANCE LEAKING OUT OF BACK DOORS. DON'T KNOW IF IT CAN BE REPAIRED. *AK

STEERING WHEEL IS VERY HARD TO MANEUVER, ONLY IN WET CONDITIONS IS STEERING NORMAL. DEALER IS AWARE, AND WILL ONLY REPAIR UNDER RAINY CONDITIONS. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE RECALL COMPONENT PRIOR TO NOTIFICATION. (99V-307) *MJS

MY WIFE, VARDHANI MURTY, WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, HIT AN UNEVEN SPOT ON THE ROAD, AND THE CAR SWERVED VIOLENTLY RIGHT TO LEFT AND LEFT TO RIGHT A FEW TIMES AND REMAINED STUCK PULLING RIGHT, WAS HIT BY AN 18 WHEELER ON LEFT REAR SIDE, STOPPED BY GUARD RAIL; SUFFERED INJURIES AND FRACTURES

STEERING WHEEL CAME OFF WHILE TRAVELING 72 MPH. THE ONLY THING THAT WAS ATTACHED WERE THE WIRES. NO INJURIES. CONSUMER HAD NO CONTROL OF VEHICLE, BUT WAS ABLE TO PUMP THE BRAKES TO GET VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL. *AK

WHEELS OR STEERING LOCKED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER. (QCAW)

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED.

ALARM SYSTEM COMPUTER PORT FAILED.

RACK AND PINION FAILED CAUSING LEAK.

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING UNDER NORMAL OPERATION, DRIVING 65 MPH OR LOWER, TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL. THE VEHICLE SKIDDED, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *AK

GRINDING NOISE IN STEERING WHEEL WHEN TURNING LEFT.

MISALIGNMENT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO DRIFT TO LEFT/RIGHT, ALSO STEERING WHEEL CROOCKED AND REPLACED FRONT TIRES. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND COULDN'T STEER THE CAR , PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

POWER STEERING NOISE. *SD

STEERING PUMP BOLT ON BRACKET REPAIRED. *SD