Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 68 complaints with NHTSA about the 1987 Toyota Camry, and it carries 3 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Seat belts | 23 | 34% |
| Fuel system | 11 | 16% |
| Electrical system | 7 | 10% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 5 | 7% |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 6% |
| Service brakes | 4 | 6% |
| Structure | 3 | 4% |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | 3% |
| Power train | 2 | 3% |
| Suspension | 1 | 1% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT ON DRIVER SIDE DOES NOT RETRACT BACK WHEN DOOR HAS BEEN CLOSED
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1987 TOYOTA CAMRY. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT DRIVER INTENT. SHE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO A NEARBY BUILDING. SHE
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
DT: CONTACT STATES THAT THE RUST ON THE VEHICLE IS CAUSING GAS FUMES TO COME INTO THE CAB OF VEHICLE. THE RUST IS IN THE REAR WHEEL WELLS. HE BELIEVES THE RUST WEAKENS THE STRUCTURE. DEALER WOULD OFFER NO HELP AT THEIR
NHTSA complaint: Structure
THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 92 V 025 000. *JB
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
MY CAR KEEPS STALLING OUT. I CAN SMELL GAS MOST OF THE TIME. WE CANNOT LOCATE A LEAK - HAVE CHANGED THE FUEL FILTER, DISTRIBUTOR CAP & OXYGEN SENSOR BUT WHEN IT RAINS OR IS HUMID THE CARS STALLS UNTIL IT GETS WARM (AFT
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
THE DRIVER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING A RATTLE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE ACCOMPANIED BY ERRATIC SWAYING OF THE REAR END AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS SINCE MAY OF 1996. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED IN DEC2001. THE REAR TORSION BAR WAS B
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
BOTH THE DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT ARE DEFECTIVE ALONG WITH BOTH LAP BELTS THEY DO NOT LOCK UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
BRAKE LINES FROM THE FRONT TO REAR OF VEHICLE HAVE RUSTED THROUGH; CONSUMER HAVE REPLACED BRAKE LINE, AND HAD OLD LINE AVAILABLE FOR ANALYSIS. PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1987 Toyota Camry. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) FOR THE POWER DOOR LOCK SYSTEM CAN FAIL, CAUSING THE CONTACTS TO "WELD", AND RESULTING IN DOOR LOCK SOLENOID DAMAGE, WITH FAILURE OF THE DOOR TO LOCK OR UNLOCK, EVEN UNDER MANUAL OPERATION.
Risk: IF THE DOOR FAILS TO OPEN AFTER ECU FAILURE, VEHICLEOCCUPANTS WOULD HAVE INCREASED DIFFICULTY EXITING THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY.
Fix: INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL SUBCIRCUIT RELAY CONTROL TO PREVENT MALFUNCTION OF ORIGINAL RELAYS IN THE ECU.
LIQUID SPILLED IN THE CONSOLE AREA CAN PENETRATE TO THE HOUSING OF THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT FOR THE FRONT SEAT AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS. LIQUID CONTAMINATION OF THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT CAN CAUSE FAILURE OF THE UNIT SIGNAL NEEDED TO ACTIVATE THE MOVEMENT OF THE MOTORIZED SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGE.
Risk: THE MOTORIZED SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGES MAY NOT MOVEPROPERLY, RESULTING IN LACK OF SAFETY BELT PROTECTION FOR SEAT OCCUPANTS OF THEFRONT SEAT, AND INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN S
Fix: INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER TO THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT OF THE AUTOMATIC SAFETY BELT SYSTEM.
OCCUPANT RELEASE OF THE LAP BELT IN A CERTAIN MANNER COULD CAUSE THE BELT RETRACTOR TO LOCK AT THE RETRACTED AND STOWED POSITION.
Risk: SEAT BELTS MAY BE UNUSABLE OR OCCUPANTS MAY BEDISCOURAGED FROM USING BELTS, INCREASING THEIR POTENTIAL FOR INJURY IN ANACCIDENTAL OR SUDDEN STOP.
Fix: REPLACE LAP BELT WITH A REDESIGNED BELT GUIDE.
| Reliability | 85 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 85 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 86 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 81 | excellent |
| Performance | 45 | below average |
| Efficiency | 45 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 68 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and seat belts is the most reported area with 23 of them (34%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 85/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density, adjusted for how many were sold so a popular model is not penalised for having more owners.
AVOIR scores its longevity 85/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1987 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 77/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.