Is the 2016 Toyota Camry a bad year?
184 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Camry years.
Keep it. You picked a good year.
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2016 Toyota Camry are in line with other Camry years.
2th quietest of 20 Camry years by owner complaints (years with 7+ years on the road).
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2016 Camry owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 50,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 31 (17%) | 21k–63k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 25 (14%) | 36k–79k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Speed control | 22 (12%) | 8k–51k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 21 (11%) | 17k–65k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Body structure | 20 (11%) | 20k–70k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 18 (10%) | 9k–59k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 18 (10%) | 6k–87k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Brakes | 19 (10%) | 6k–42k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Seat belts | 9 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 8 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 7 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seats | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 50,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 184 complaints: 41 mention a crash · 2 mention a fire · 24 report an injury · 24 say the car was towed.
14 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Sep 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2016 Toyota Camry: 2
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." An incorrect label may lead an owner to overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. Air bags that do not deploy as intended during a crash increase the risk of injury.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Toyota: 145
Repair instructions Toyota sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2016 Toyota Camry. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Non-electric water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips for some 2008 - 2025 model year Toyota vehicles
Some vehicles may exhibit a Check Brake System? message displayed on the Multi-Information Display…
Some vehicles may exhibit a MIL "ON" condition with Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P2610 (ECM/PCM Engine Off Timer Performance) present
Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels…
Neighbouring years
2015 Camry: 271 complaints, keep it · 2017 Camry: 148 complaints, keep it.
Every Toyota Camry year
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Questions
Is the 2016 Toyota Camry a bad year?
184 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Camry years. At 50,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Toyota Camry?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: air bags (31), steering (25), speed control (22), electrical system (21), body structure (20).
How many recalls does the 2016 Toyota Camry have?
2 recall campaigns list this model year: Equipment (NHTSA 16V-420), Air bags (NHTSA 16V-215). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.