Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 330 complaints with NHTSA about the 1995 Toyota Camry, and it carries 5 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 48 | 15% |
| Air bags | 43 | 13% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 27 | 8% |
| Steering | 21 | 6% |
| Vehicle speed control | 20 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 19 | 6% |
| Power train | 19 | 6% |
| Structure | 16 | 5% |
| Seat belts | 13 | 4% |
| Exterior lighting | 13 | 4% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
MY COUSIN PURCHASED A USED 1995 CAMRY LAST YEAR AND WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD SHE NOTICED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS SMOKING SO SHE RACED TO PULL OVER ONE BLOCK FURTHER FROM WHERE IT STARTED & AT THE STOPPING POINT AND
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
THE BREAK JUST SOPPED WORKING WHEN I WAS IN THE HIGH WAY SO THAT IS WHY AM MAKING THE COMMENT
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
FIRST AND FOREMOST VEHICLE HAS 345,000 MILES AND AM THE THIRD OWNER AND BROUGHT IT FROM LOS ANGELES. I WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE AN IMAGE OF A RECEIPT I HAVE FROM MY FATHER FOR $700 IN COSTS FOR BREAKS AND TIRES BEFORE H
NHTSA complaint: Power train
CAR BOTTOM OUT TURNING IN TO ROADS & DRIVEWAYS & LOW PLACES IN ROAD WAYS SHOCK DON,T LEAK.
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
MY VEHICLE IS A CAMRY STATION WAGON. ON THE ABOVE DATE, I WAS BACKING MY CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY & THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR.. USING MY FLOOR JACK, I CLIMBED UNDER IT & DISCOVERED THAT THE STEEL BRAKE LINES HAD RUPT
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
MY CAR IS HARD TO STEER WHEN I GO AROUND CURVES ON THE STREET OF THE MOUNTAINS WHERE I LIVE. IT FEELS AS IF I COULD DRIVE RIGHT OFF OF THE MOUNTAIN IF I DON'T QUICKLY CORRECT THE STEERING. IT IS AS THOUGH IT IS SLIPP
NHTSA complaint: Steering
TRY TO START CAR AND WHEN TURN THE KEY I GET NO START NO CRANK,I ALSO HAVE NO POWER TO ACCESSORIES COMING OFF OF FUSE BLOCK UNDER THE DASH ON DRIVERS SIDE. I HAVE CHECKED BATTERY ITS FINE. HEADLIGHTS WORK,AND DOME LIGHT
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
CAR HAS BEEN SWERVING VIOLENTLY AROUND CURVED ROADS. THE ALIGNMENT WAS THROWN OUT OF SPECIFICATION BY BROKEN COIL SPRINGS. ALL OTHER COMPONENTS SUCH AS BALL JOINTS TIE RODS WHEEL BEARINGS... WERE FOUND TO BE WITHIN SPEC.
NHTSA complaint: Steering
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 1995 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.
K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND A
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
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 | 70 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| Maintenance | 86 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 81 | excellent |
| Performance | 47 | below average |
| Efficiency | 43 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 330 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 48 of them (15%). There are 5 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 70/100 (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 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1995 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 72/100. 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.