Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 301 complaints with NHTSA about the 1993 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 41 | 14% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 38 | 13% |
| Power train | 29 | 10% |
| Service brakes | 29 | 10% |
| Vehicle speed control | 19 | 6% |
| Structure | 19 | 6% |
| Visibility | 19 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 16 | 5% |
| Tires | 14 | 5% |
| Seat belts | 11 | 4% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
(1) BREAK IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, BREAK LIGHT IS SHOWING, AFTER ADDING FLUID LIGHT DISAPPEAR AND FUNCTION AFTER SEVERAL PUMPING, PUSHING OF THE BREAK DOWN AND RELEASING TOWARDS UP. SEEMS LIMITED FRICTION TO FUNCTION
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
DRIVING NORTH ON THE TACONIC PARKWAY A CAR HITS ME ON MY PASSENGER SIDE FROM THEN I HIT A GUARDRAIL THEN FLIPPED THEN HIT A ROCK AND LANDED IN THE TREES THE ONLY AIR BAG THAT CAME OUT WAS THE DRIVER SIDE MY PASSENGER AIR
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
I HAD A WRECK THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED BURNING MY RIGHT ARM AND RELEASING SMOKE AND PATICALS THAT I COUGHED UP FOR A WEEK
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON SEPT. 19 2015(SATURDAY). I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. AND AS I PROCEEDED DRIVING DOWN A MAIN STREET I WAS ONLY GOING 5-10MPH AS I LEFT THE GREEN LIGHT AND LESS THAN A MIN. I COULDN'T SEE NOTHI
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
RAN DIRECTLY INTO A TREE AT APPOX. 30MPH AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CONCIDERABLE DAMAGE TO DRIVERS SIDE FRONT GRILLE, BUMPER, HEADLIGHTS, HOOD AND SIDE PANEL.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
I WAS DRIVING AT 25 MPH WHEN LET OFF THE GAS PEDAL BUT THE CAR CONTINUED AT THAT SPEED AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO TAP THE PEDAL IT ONLY SPED UP MORE. I HELD THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ATTEMPT TO SLOW IT DOWN TO NO AVAIL. I SHIFTED
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 4 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE TRAVELED INTO TRAFFIC AND NARROWLY AVOIDED SEVERAL CRASH
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT MOVED FORWARD AND BACKWARD ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NO
NHTSA complaint: Seats
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1993 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 | 79 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 83 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 86 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 81 | excellent |
| Performance | 47 | below average |
| Efficiency | 41 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 301 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 41 of them (14%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 79/100 (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 83/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1993 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 75/100. 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.