2016 Toyota Camry Problems

What owners report

Owners of this 2016 Camry most often describe problems with the electric power steering (stiff or heavy assist, noise, a wandering or pulling wheel) and with air bags that did not deploy in a crash. A separate group of complaints covers engine/transmission stalling and hesitation at low speed, often at very low mileage, and sunroof or body-panel noise. Many complaints are filed in the first few thousand miles, while steering and air bag reports cluster at higher mileage.

1. 1
   Steering

   Power steering stiff, noisy or pulling

   • 21 complaints (11%)
   • median 61,000 mi at 3.8 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2026

   Complaints describe the steering becoming stiff or hard to turn without warning, sometimes intermittently and sometimes worsening over time. Owners also report groaning or grinding noises while turning, the wheel pulling to one side and not returning to center after a turn, and excessive play in the wheel. Several say the dealer could not duplicate the problem, while others were told it was a known characteristic on this model; one owner linked a sudden loss of steering assist to a weak battery. Mostly reported between roughly 25,000 and 70,000 miles, with a few cases at much higher mileage.

   What to check: Turn the wheel lock to lock at a standstill and while driving to listen for noise and feel for stiffness or uneven effort, and ask whether any power steering diagnosis or repair has been done. Check the battery condition as well, since one owner tied the symptom to a weak battery.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “After sitting almost all winter, I went to drive the car three blocks away. I noticed that the steering wheel had too much play in it. We called the dealer and was told is a typical problem on the Camry, so why isnt there a recall on it. My car only has 25,543 miles on it, its hardly considered old. On a paved road.”

   NHTSA complaint #11407200, filed 2021-04, 25,543 miles

   “If my wheel's are turned when I turn my car off the car pulls really hard that direction when I start it again. Right or left it doesn't matter just switch ever direction my wheels where pointed when I turned it off.”

   NHTSA complaint #11266514, filed 2019-10, 58,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Air bags did not deploy in a crash

   Mentioned in 9 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe front, side or rear impacts in which the air bags did not deploy, and in some cases the seat belts did not lock. Several report injuries such as chest or neck bruising and say the dealer or manufacturer attributed the non-deployment to impact angle, sensor damage or a prior occupant-classification repair. A related complaint describes an air bag warning light after wiring in the steering wheel was disturbed, diagnosed as a spiral cable replacement. Reported across a wide mileage range, from about 8,000 to 130,000 miles, usually after a collision.

   Recall 16V215000

   What to check: Confirm the occupant classification system recall (16V215000) was completed for the vehicle, and check that no air bag warning light is on at startup. Ask whether the car has been in a collision and whether bags deployed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata recall and dras ii failure for as yet to be determined additional vins my friend and I were in the front driver side and front passenger side seats, buckled up, sitting in traffic stopped on the 5 freeway headed north. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11102884, filed 2018-06, 28,000 miles

   “On 1/23, I was involved in a mva. I was hit by another vehicle traveling faster than 65 miles per hour. My air bags did not deploy from any area in my car. My car was at a complete stop on a city street when I was hit.”

   NHTSA complaint #11316314, filed 2020-03, 70,000 miles
3. 3
   Vehicle speed control

   Stalling, hesitation and surging at low speed

   • 39 complaints (21%)
   • median 10,330 mi at 1.9 yrs old (25 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2026

   Complaints describe the engine shutting off while driving, loss of acceleration with the pedal held down, and a one- to two-second delay before the car moves from a stop. Some owners report the engine revving and the car lurching forward or backward at parking-lot speeds, and a few describe unintended acceleration while braking. Dealers often told owners they could not duplicate the problem or that it was normal for a new vehicle, though one report mentions stored codes pointing to the engine control module. Mostly reported under about 20,000 miles, with some cases up to 60,000 miles.

   What to check: During a test drive, come to a full stop and accelerate several times to check for delay or surging, and ask whether the engine control module or throttle-related codes have ever been stored. Note that adaptive cruise control braking reportedly does not always illuminate the brake lights.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “At stop signs or traffic lights, the engine would rev considerably & then stop. As we approached our driveway, the car lurched forward, then stopped. We got to our garage-entry control box & the car lurched forward on our parking deck, going less than 5 MPH, & we hit a brick wall. We then put the car in reverse & it lurched backwards so we stopped the car, turned it off & called the police. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10971070, filed 2017-04, 7,817 miles

   “In july 2016 I was cresting the top of a hill when another vehicle pulled out in front of me causing me to hit my brakes. Upon braking and deceleration, I felt the car momentarily try accelerating through the brakes. This freaked me out and I pulled over to try and figure out what had happened. Checked my floor mat and everything was locked in place as it should be. So I started my car back up, with it in park gave it a little rev. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10937419, filed 2016-12, 5,000 miles
4. 4
   Brakes

   Soft or low brake pedal

   • 13 complaints (7%)
   • median 4,331 mi at 1.7 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2023

   Owners report the brake pedal sinking toward the floor under steady pressure, requiring hard pushing or pumping to stop, and brake warning lights coming on. Some say the dealer verified the pedal problem but could not identify a cause, and others were told no fault was found. A few complaints describe the car creeping or lurching while the pedal was held down. Mostly reported under about 10,000 miles, including some within the first few hundred miles.

   What to check: Hold firm pressure on the brake pedal at a stop and check that it does not slowly sink, and ask for service records showing any brake fluid or ABS work. Watch for brake warning lights during the test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. Because it was gridlock in the parking lot the only way it was going to stop was to hit a person or another car. My Camry hit 2 cars and finally stopped. The car at the time was not in motion but in drive with the foot on the brake”

   NHTSA complaint #11133124, filed 2018-10, 24 miles

   “Car was purchased 3/16 with no problems until we went on vacation 6/16 with about a 1200 mi one way drive. Upon arrival we noticed that at long stoplights the brake was going to the floor. After having this happen several times the car would actually start moving with the pedal down on the floor. Pumping the brakes would bring the pressure back up, but the pedal would still creep to the floor on steady pressure. After a very scary ride home thru the mountains the car was taken to the dealer. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10883921, filed 2016-07, 3,000 miles
5. 5
   Body and structure

   Sunroof shattering or popping over bumps

   • 9 complaints (5%)
   • median 37,000 mi at 4.0 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2016–2022

   Complaints describe the glass sunroof shattering while driving at highway speed with no visible impact, sending glass into the cabin. Other owners report knocking, popping or snapping noises from the roof area when the car crosses uneven surfaces, and say dealers could not resolve it or that repair was expensive. A separate group describes door-window glass shattering while parked. Reported from a few thousand miles up to about 130,000 miles, often at highway speed or on uneven pavement.

   What to check: Inspect the sunroof glass and frame for chips, prior replacement or sealant work, and drive over a rough patch or speed bump to listen for popping from the roof. Ask whether the sunroof assembly has been repaired.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Sunroof explosion: my partner and I were driving on the freeway when we heard a very loud, frightening explosion above and slightly behind front driver/passenger seats. There wasn't any visible sign of broken windows, body damage or a wobbly tire to indicate the cause. We were traveling in the middle lane of the freeway at approximately 70 MPH with no other vehicles in front of, next to or behind us. We could not see anything on the road in front of, next to or behind the car to have caused damage to the car. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11378174, filed 2020-12, 60,545 miles

   “The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the glass sunroof suddenly exploded causing glass pieces to enter the cabin of the vehicle. No injuries were reported. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 127,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11438356, filed 2021-10, 127,000 miles

Buying note. On a used 2016 Camry, check the steering feel and listen for noise on a test drive, verify the occupant classification recall was completed, and check the brake pedal for sinking. Service records showing how low-speed stalling or roof noise complaints were handled are worth asking for.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.