Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 612 complaints with NHTSA about the 1992 Toyota Camry, and it carries 2 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 294 | 48% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 83 | 14% |
| Air bags | 33 | 5% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 32 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 25 | 4% |
| Tires | 22 | 4% |
| Power train | 19 | 3% |
| Visibility | 19 | 3% |
| Vehicle speed control | 15 | 2% |
| Service brakes | 14 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
BOTH FRONT DOORS CANNOT OPEN EITHER FROM EXTERIOR NOR INTERIOR WITH KEY. KEYS WORK FINE. LATCH/DOOR KNOB BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE DON'T WORK AND NO SAFE EXIT OF VEHICLE EXCEPT THROUGH BACK DOOR. DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE
NHTSA complaint: Structure
AIR BAG DEPLOYED DURING JUMP START. CAR HAD NOT BEEN USED IN SEVERAL WEEKS AND ON JUMP START AIR BAG DEPLOYED.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TAKATA RECALL. I WAS DRIVING A 1992 TOYOTA CAMRY AND WAS GOING 38 MILES PER HOUR AND HAD A SEIZURE AND BLACKED OUT. I HIT A CAR HEAD ON AND THE AIRBAG DIDNT DEPLOY SO MY CHEST AND FACE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL EVEN THOUGH
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TAKATA RECALL - THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN A PARKING LOT. I ENTERED THE CAR, BUCKLED MY SEATBELT, INSERTED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, STARTED THE CAR, AND THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THERE HAD BEEN NO IMPACT.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
HERCULES ROADTOUR 655 TIRE DEVELOPED A LARGE BULGE IN SIDEWALL AREA. THIS WAS NOTICED AND THE TIRE WAS TAKEN OUT OF SERVICE AS BEING UNSAFE. THE LOCAL HERCULES TIRE DEALER SAID THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE TIRE OR GIVE
NHTSA complaint: Tires
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S DOOR COULD NOT BE UNLOCKED OR OPENED FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD ALSO EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL CRUNCHING
NHTSA complaint: Steering
I STOPPED AT A GAS STATION YESTERDAY MORNING TO PUT AIR IN MY TIRE AND HAD MY SON WITH ME , I LEFT CAR IN PARK WITH ENGINE RUNNING , WHEN DONE I WAS PUTTING MY SON BACK INTO CAR SEAT , I LEANED INTO CAR WITH MY BACK TO T
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1992 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.
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO.
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE D
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
| Reliability | 74 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 80 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 86 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 81 | excellent |
| Performance | 47 | below average |
| Efficiency | 40 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 612 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and structure is the most reported area with 294 of them (48%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 74/100 (good) 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 80/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1992 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 73/100. 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.