TOYOTA CAMRY · model year

1986 TOYOTA CAMRY

35 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1986TOYOTACAMRY carries 35 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 1 fire, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1986 CAMRY is seat belts:front:buckle assembly with 10 filings, followed by tires (3) and vehicle speed control (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 51 investigation files overlapping the 1986 CAMRY, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

35
Complaints
2
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

35 filings

Crashes Reported

2 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY10
TIRES3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE2
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE2
TIRES:TREAD/BELT2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR1
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD1
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT1

Recent Complaints

20160510VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1986 TOYOTA CAMRY THAT WE BOUGHT NEW. WE HAD AN ISSUE WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION BACK IN 1986 AND BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE ORIGINAL TOYOTA DEALER. THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE ISSUE WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION HAS HAPPENED 3 MORE TIMES MOST RECENTLY A FEW WEEKS AGO. WE HAVE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THE LAST INCIDENT A FEW WEEKS AGO WAS TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT. THE CAR ONLY HAS 120K MILES AND RUNS GREAT. IS THERE A SPECIFIC FIX FOR THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION ISSUE IN THE 1986 TOYOTA? WE DON'T WANT TO SELL THE CAR IN FEAR SOMEONE WILL HAVE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BUT WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY WHAT CAUSES THIS INTERMITTENT SERIOUS ISSUE. THE 1ST ACCELERATION ISSUE IN 1986 WAS WHEN WE WERE ON THE HIGHWAY USING CRUISE CONTROL. ONCE WE TURNED OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL THE CAR CONTINUED TO GAIN SPEED EVEN WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES. WE WERE ON AN OPEN HIGHWAY WITH LITTLE TRAFFIC AND WERE AB

Mileage: 120

20110415TIRES

RAPID RUBBER DETERIORATION ON KUHMO PASSENGER CAR TIRE. *TR

Mileage: 152,100

20100304VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1986 TOYOTA CAMRY UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ONCE*CW THE CONSUMER STATED THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION HE EXPERIENCED WAS DUE TO ELECTRONICS NOT THE PEDAL. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS ON A STEEP UPHILL CLIMB ON MN HIGHWAY 52 WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENABLED. THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWING BECAUSE OF THE HILL. HE PUSHED ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT STARTED ACCELERATING OUT OF CONTROL. HE REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE PEDAL, BUT THE SPEED CONTINUED TO INCREASE. THE CONSUMER PULLED THE PEDAL UP WITH HIS FOOT WHICH HAD NO EFFECT. HE HIT THE BRAKE TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL, BUT IT DIDN'T STOP ACCELERATING. HE TURNED OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL VIA THE ON/OFF BUTTON AND THE LIGHT WENT OUT, BUT IT STILL DID NOT STOP ACCELERATING. AS THE CONSUMER CRESTED THE HILL, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE EVEN MORE. HE TURNED THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION AND THE VEHICLE COASTED TO A STOP WHILE HE PRESSED ON THE BRAKE MUCH HARDER THAN WAS NORMALLY NECESSARY. THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE.

20050628TIRES:TREAD/BELT

3/28/04-PURCHASED 4 NEW TIRES FROM WAL-MART TIRE CENTER (P185/70R13 BW X-TRAC). 4/16/2005- BROKE DOWN ON SIDE OF ROAD DUE TO VEHICLE SHAKING VIOLENTLY. HAD VEHICLE TOWED; MECHANIC SAID THAT BELT IN TIRE SLIPPED. I RETURNED TIRE TO WAL-MART AND THEY GAVE ME A PRO-RATED PRICE ON NEW TIRE (BASED ON THE TREAD THAT WAS LEFT ON DAMAGED TIRE) 6/27/05-BROKE DOWN ON SIDE OF ROAD AGAIN BECAUSE OF VEHICLE SHAKING VIOLENTLY. ALMOST HIT ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHEN I SWERVED INTO OTHER LANE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO MECHANIC-MECHANIC SAID THAT BELT SLIPPED ON OTHER TIRE. HAD TO HAVE TIRE REPLACED.

20030908TIRES

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 70MPH WHEN I HEARD AN EXPLOSION AND MY CAR BEGAN TO VIBRATE. I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND SAW THAT MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD BLOWN OUT. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING ON THE ROAD NOR WAS MY TIRE PUNCTURED. SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO LOOKED AT THE TIRE SAID THE BLOWOUT WAS CAUSED BY A STRUCTURAL DEFECT. 3 WEEKS BEFORE THIS INCIDENT, I HAD THE TIRES INSPECTED AND PROPERLY INFLATED BY THE TIRE DEALER WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THEM. THE TIRES WERE SUPPOSED TO LAST 40,000 MILES BUT I ONLY GOT 24,000 MILES OUT OF THE DEFECTIVE TIRE. THE TIRE IS A GOODYEAR CLUB DOT # 7UE8 0Y62 1700 (SIZE 185/70R/13 - 86T) I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE THIS TIRE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND I AM NOW WORRIED ABOUT THE OTHER 3 GOODYEAR CLUB TIRES THAT I HAVE REMAINING ON MY CAR. I AM A CONSCIENTIOUS AND RESPONSIBLE DRIVER (I HAVE MY TIRES ROTATED REGULARLY AND PROPERLY INFLATED) AND I WAS SHOCKED WHEN THIS BLOWOUT HAPPENED. I BELIEVE THESE TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE.*AK

20021203ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE MAKES CLANGING SOUND BETWEEN 1500-2500RPM WHICH INCREASES IN FREQ ALONG WITH ENGINE SPEED THEN STOPS . HEARD IN PARK AS WELL AS DRIVING CAR? WHAT IS IT? HOW CAN IT BE FIXED? DT

20020722ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THIS IS A GENERAL RATHER THAN SPECIFIC COMPLAINT, ABOUT ONE OF THE GREATEST DANGERS ON THE ROAD: THE POSSIBILITY OF SUDDEN BREAKAGE OF THE TIMING BELTS IN MANY CARS. THEY ARE PRONE TO BREAK WITHOUT WARNING, LEAVING THE CAR TOTALLY WITHOUT POWER, POWER-ASSIST STEERING, OR POWER BRAKES, AS HAPPENED TO MY WIFE IN THE ABOVE CASE. FEW PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF THIS DANGER, OR OF THE NEED TO REPLACE THE TIMING BELT AFTER 50,000 MILES OR SO. THE MADDENING THING IS THAT UNBREAKABLE METAL TIMING CHAINS ARE AVAILABLE (AND USED ON THE SAME ENGINES IN PICKUP TRUCKS, I BELIEVE) BUT ARE NOT INSTALLED IN AUTOS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOISIER.*AK

20000919VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

WINDOW HANDLE ON DRIVERS SIDE FELL OFF. HE TOOK IT TO GARAGE. THE ONLY WAY THAT THE HANDLE WILL STAY IF CONSUMER WOULD HAVE THE WINDOW OPEN, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE. HE HAS KNOB NEXT TO HIM, AND THEN HE WILL STICK THE KNOB ON THE DOOR TO OPEN AND CLOSE OF THE DOOR. *AK

20000919TIRES:TREAD/BELT

AFTER MARKET TIRES, P185/70R13 SIZE. TREAD ON THE REAR LEFT TIRE SEPARATED AT 45MPH.*AK WHEEL WAS DAMAGED DUE TO BLOWOUT, DUNLOP SP4N M+S, DOT NUMBER U2FM2KB457. *SLC

20000323EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

SOMETHING

20000217SEAT BELTS:FRONT

FRONT PASSENGER'S SEATBELT WILL NOT LOCK UP WHEN MAKING A STOP ,ALLOWING PASSENGER TO FLY FORWAARD,CAUSING LOSS OF PROTECTION. *AK

19991010SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

PROBLEM OCCURED GRADUALLY AND ALMOST UNNOTICABLY. WHEN IT BECAME MORE FREQUENT I FELT IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS THE FIRST SIGN, BUT IT DIDN'T STAY ON BUT FOR A FEW SECONDS. REPAIRS INCURRED AN EXPENSE ON MY PART (ON 26 OCTOBER 1999) OF $765.66 FOR TWO WHEEL CYLINDERS, BRAKE SHOES (1) AND TWO LOWER CONTROL ARMS. I COULD NOT PURCHASE JUST THE BEARINGS, WHICH I WAS TOLD WAS THE PROBLEM, THEY WOULD ONLY SELL ME THE ENTIRE UNITS FOR REPLACEMENTS.

19990416ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE ONTO THE FREEWAY. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, BUT IT ONLY OCCURS WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE. *AK

19980407STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED.

19971229STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER. CAUSE OF PROBLEM UNKNOWN. *AK

19970820SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

THE LOWER CONTROL ARM IS SEPARATING AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SWITCH LANES WHEN GAS IS APPLIED. DEALER SAYS IT IS NOT COVERED. *AK

19970325SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE CASING DETERIORATED, UNABLE TO RELEASE SEATBELT.

19970130SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT FEMALE PART IS CRACKED WHERE THE BUCKLE GOES IN AND HAS CAUSED THE SEAT BELT NOT TO LATCH. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

19961015CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

DRIVER GOT INTO VEHICLE, HAD FOOT ON BRAKES, SHIFTED VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, STARTED BACKING UP VEHICLE OUT OF GARAGE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY TOOK OFF WITHOUT WARNING, WENT ACROSS STREET, JUMPED CURB. *AK

19961001CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

THROTTLE PEDAL BROKE WHICH CAUSED IT TO STICK, VEHICLE IMPACT 12:00 POSITION, HITTING A WALL, SPEED 30 *AK. *AK

Compare 1986TOYOTACAMRY to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1986 TOYOTA CAMRY have?
The 1986 TOYOTA CAMRY has 35 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1986 TOYOTA CAMRY?
The most-complained component for the 1986 TOYOTA CAMRY is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY with 10 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 1986 TOYOTA CAMRY safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.