Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 172 complaints with NHTSA about the 1991 Toyota Camry, and it carries 1 recall. 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 | 27 | 16% |
| Equipment | 23 | 13% |
| Electrical system | 20 | 12% |
| Service brakes | 14 | 8% |
| Structure | 13 | 8% |
| Tires | 12 | 7% |
| Power train | 9 | 5% |
| Vehicle speed control | 8 | 5% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 7 | 4% |
| Visibility | 6 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
Original equipment radio failed to operate and dome light and other electrical components are not functioning. Dealer has no parts to repair the safety recall which are to be supplied by Toyota .
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
THE DRIVERS SIDE SHOULDER HARNESS HAS FROZE IN THE LOCKED POSITION. TRIED TO REPAIR AND FOUND OUT NOBODY KNOWS HOW TO REPAIR AND NO PARTS AVAILABLE. I RECEIVED A TICKET AND ELECTED TO MANUALLY SLIP IT OVER MY EACH TIME..
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
SHORTLY AFTER INSTALLING A SPECTRA PREMIUM REPLACEMENT FUEL TANK ON MY 1991 CAMRY, THE VENT TUBE LEAKED FUEL AND VAPORS DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE JOINT WHERE THE VAPOR TUBE IS SOLDERED TO THE TANK. A HAIRLINE CRACK AT THIS
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
TL-THE DRIVER OWNED A 1991 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING 90 MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER WAS KILLED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILE
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
RADIATOR BLEW UP, REPLACED IT, THEN CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, REPLACED IT, THEN BLOWN HEAD GASKET, REPLACED IT, THEN RADIATOR HOSES BLEW, REPLACED IT, THEN THERMOSTAT WENT OUT, REPLACED IT, AND IT STOPPED WORKING A
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKES. THE VEHIC
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
MY CAR: 1991 TOYOTA CAMRY. THREE TIMES WENT INTO EXCESSIVE HIGH SPEED WITH ME AND THIRD TIME BLEW THE HEAD GASKET. MY (MASTER) MECHANIC UPON REPAIRING THE CAR, TEST DROVE THE CAR AND EXPERIENCED THE SAME UNCONTROLLED HIG
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
DOOR LOCKS DOES NOT WORK WITH KEY/SWITCH. ELECTRIC RELAY OR THE SOLENOIDS DO NOT WORK. ONCE I LOCK THE DOOR, I CAN NOT OPEN IT, NEITHER FROM INSIDE NOR FROM OUTSIDE. THIS IS FOR 1991 CAMRY (TOYOTA). *TR
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1991 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.
FAILURE OF A SPECIFIC ELECTRONIC COMPONENT IN THE RADIOS CAUSES AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Risk: IF THE FAILURE OCCURS, IT COULD RESULT IN A PASSENGERCOMPARTMENT FIRE.
Fix: REPAIR THE RADIO.
| 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 172 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and seat belts is the most reported area with 27 of them (16%). There is 1 recall 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 1991 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.