FaultScore

1988 Toyota Camry electrical problems

13 of the 88 complaints about the 1988 Toyota Camry are about the electrical system — 15% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 90,000 miles.

F

13

Complaints

0

Crashes

3

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Starter Assembly 5 38.5%
Switch 2 15.4%
Electrical System 2 15.4%
12V/24V/48V Battery 1 7.7%
Front Underhood 1 7.7%
Interior/Under Dash 1 7.7%
Alternator/Generator/Regulator 1 7.7%

Electrical System across every Toyota Camry year

1988 13 1.0%
1989 12 0.9%
1990 11 0.8%
1991 25 1.9%
1992 28 2.1%
1993 21 1.6%
1994 24 1.8%
1995 22 1.7%
1996 30 2.3%
1997 40 3.0%
1998 35 2.7%
1999 41 3.1%
2000 37 2.8%
2001 22 1.7%
2002 36 2.7%
2003 21 1.6%
2004 41 3.1%
2005 35 2.7%
2006 21 1.6%
2007 235 17.9%
2008 48 3.7%
2009 85 6.5%
2010 25 1.9%
2011 31 2.4%
2012 61 4.6%
2013 29 2.2%
2014 55 4.2%
2015 30 2.3%
2016 20 1.5%
2017 23 1.8%
2018 66 5.0%
2019 26 2.0%
2020 65 4.9%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 90,000 miles Phoenix Citty, AL Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED A SPARK NEAR THE VEHICLE'S HOOD. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER MOMENTS BEFORE IT SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE IGNITED, AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS LOCATED AT BI-CITY TOWING. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 90,000.

NHTSA complaint #10188021 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

College Park, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY

FLYWHEEL TEETH FOR STARTER IS GETTING CHEWED UP. COSNUMER HAS HAD STARTER AND FLYWHEEL REPLACED TWICE. MANUFACTURER HAS REDESIGNED PARTS.

NHTSA complaint #881003 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brooklyn, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

CONSUMER PURCHASED A DEFECTIVE (DIEHARD BATTERY), VEHICLE EXPERIENCED NO-START CONDITION AND STALLING, ON TWO OCCASIONS THE CONSUMER WENT BACK TO PLACE OF PURCHASE TO HAVE BATTERY INSPECTED AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE BATTERY, REPLACEMENT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH, WIRING FROM THE STARTING MOTOR TO THE IGNITION SWITCH, STARTER AND FINALLY THE BATTERY, RECEIVED NOTICE OF DEFECTIVE BATTERY AFTER ALL PREVIOUS REPLACEMENTS WERE COMPLETED. *MJS

NHTSA complaint #550401 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mountain Graove, MO

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

KEY CAN BE TAKEN OUT OF THE IGNITION IN ANY GEAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED AND VEHICLE HAS ROLLED AWAY BEFORE. DEALER SAYS IT'S NORMAL.

NHTSA complaint #853709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Santa Clara, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY

MACPHERSON STRUTS FAILED 3 TIMES. ALSO, MUFFLER/STARTER/FLYWHEEL AND BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED.

NHTSA complaint #518642 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Santa Clara, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY

STARTER/FLYWHEEL/MUFFLER/BRAKES/MCPHERSON STRUTS FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #518514 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lexington, KY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

STARTER FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #515668 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pembrok Pines, FL Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

DROVE LESS THEN A MILE AND AFTER BEING PARKED FOR 15 MINUTES, THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. PLEASE DESCRIBE IN DETAIL.

NHTSA complaint #804713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NEW Lenox, IL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY

STARTER HAS TORN OFF PART OF THE FLY WHEEL TEETH, CAUSING IT TO FAIL; FLYWHEEL FAILURE DUE TO STARTER CUTTING OFF PART OF FLYWHEEL'S TEETH.

NHTSA complaint #509788 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bothell, WA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS CAUSE THE SEAT BELTS AND POWER WINDOWS TO FAIL. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA complaint #978055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Santa Cruz, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE SITTING IN DRIVEWAY, VEHICLE FIRE EXTENDED TO CONSUMER'S HOME. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #974974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pomona, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IGNITION GRINDS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START VEHICLE/VEHICLE FAILS TO START.

NHTSA complaint #489904 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Marietta, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY

INTERMITTENT STARTER FAILURES, RESULTING IN VEHICLE NOT STARTING. *SKD

NHTSA complaint #489366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1988 Toyota Camry problems

← Full 1988 Toyota Camry report