1988 Toyota Camry
Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1988 Toyota Camry is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 31 on record.
1988 Toyota Camry at a glance
Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.
1988 Toyota Camry recalls 4
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heat…
Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.
THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) FOR THE POWER DOOR LOCK SYSTEM CAN FAIL, CAUSING THE CONTACTS TO "WELD", AND RESULTING IN DOOR LOCK SOLENOID DAMAGE, WITH FAILURE OF THE DOOR TO LOCK OR UNLOCK, EVEN UNDER MANUAL OPERATION.
Fix: INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL SUBCIRCUIT RELAY CONTROL TO PREVENT MALFUNCTION OF ORIGINAL RELAYS IN THE ECU.
OCCUPANT RELEASE OF THE LAP BELT IN A CERTAIN MANNER COULD CAUSE THE BELT RETRACTOR TO LOCK AT THE RETRACTED AND STOWED POSITION.
Fix: REPLACE LAP BELT WITH A REDESIGNED BELT GUIDE.
DUE TO A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE THREAD PROFILE OF THE CAR JACK, WHEN THE WAGON IS RAISED, THE JACK MAY BE UNABLE TO SUSTAIN THE VEHICLE.
Fix: REPLACE JACK.
Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.
1988 Toyota Camry common problems
The most-reported problem areas across all 80 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.
1988 Toyota Camry MPG & running costs
Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 6 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.
Estimated 5-year cost to own
A rough guide to what running a 1988 Toyota Camry costs over five years and 75,000 miles.
How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.
Dimensions & weight
Manufacturer-reported figures for the 1988 Toyota Camry — ranges cover the 2 body / drivetrain versions on record. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.
Investigations & service bulletins
NHTSA defect investigations 8
LEAKING FUEL TANK Closed
CRACKS IN THE SOLDER JOINT OF THE FUEL FILL OR INLET PIPE IN THE FUEL TANK ALLOWS LIQUID FUEL TO LEAK FROM THE TANK
NHTSA #EA97008 · Vehicle Speed Control · opened Apr 1997 · closed Apr 1998THROTTLE STICKING Closed
NHTSA #EA92044 · Vehicle Speed Control · opened Dec 1992 · closed Jan 1994THROTTLE STICKING Closed
NHTSA #PE92065 · Vehicle Speed Control · opened Jul 1992 · closed Dec 1992STUCK POWER DOOR LOCKS Closed
NHTSA #EA92013 · Structure · opened May 1992 · closed May 1993PASSIVE SAFETY BELT FAILS Closed
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NHTSA #EA90028 · Seat Belts · opened May 1990 · closed Feb 1992PASSIVE SAFETY BELT WARNIN Closed
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NHTSA #PE90027 · Seat Belts · opened Dec 1989 · closed May 1990FRONT LAP BELT JAMS Closed
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NHTSA #EA89020 · Seat Belts · opened Mar 1989 · closed Nov 1989FRNT SEAT LAP BELT JAMMING Closed
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NHTSA #PE89014 · Seat Belts · opened Nov 1988 · closed Mar 1989An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.
Manufacturer service bulletins 19
Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 19.
TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2023 model year vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the crit…
Bulletin TSB003220 · Air Bags, Vehicle Speed Control, Equipment · Aug 2023POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground and spare tires currently in use by Toyota. This information must be kept near the point of vehicle sale and be available to any customer that requests it.…
Bulletin Toyota PRO19-02 · Tires, Wheels, Equipment · Jan 2022TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2021 model year vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the crit…
Bulletin T-SB-0032-20 Rev · Equipment · Feb 2021TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 07, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0032-20. Replacement Certification Labels and VIN Plates
Bulletin T-SB-0304-17 Obs · Equipment · Apr 2020TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin Nos. PG021-88, PG015-89, PG0015-90, PG002-91, PG002-93, PG005-97, PG007-01, PG007-07, PG006-01, PG004-97, T-SB-0144-08, and T-SB-0304-17. The aforementioned bulleti…
Bulletin T-SB-0032-20 · Equipment · Apr 2020Technical Service Bulletin: OBSOLETE NOTICE: July 31, 2018: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0304-17.
Bulletin PG004-97-Obsolet · Equipment · Aug 2018Technical Service Bulletin: OBSOLETE NOTICE: July 31, 2018: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0304-17.
Bulletin PG006-01-Obsolet · Equipment · Aug 2018TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 31, 2018 Rev2: ? The Supersession Notice has been updated. January 11, 2018 Rev1: ? The Supersession Notice has been updated. Any previous printed versions of this bulletin should be discarded. SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information cont…
Bulletin T-SB-0304-17_Rev · Equipment · Jul 2018TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin Nos. PG021-88, PG015-89, PG0015-90, PG002-91, PG002-93, PG005-97, PG007-01, PG007-07, and T-SB-0144-08. Service Bulletin Nos. PG021-88, PG015-89, PG0015-90, PG002-9…
Bulletin T-SB-0304-17_Rev · Equipment · Jan 2018TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE November 21, 2017: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0304-17.
Bulletin T-SB-0144-08_Obs · Equipment · Nov 2017Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the CAMRY. Model-year data, not specific to one car.
Canadian recalls 2
Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 1988 Toyota Camry. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.
Electrical
CERTAIN RELAYS IN THE POWER DOOR LOCK ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) MAY FAIL, CAUSING THEIR CONTACTS TO "WELD", RESULTING IN DOOR LOCK SOLENOID DAMAGE, POSSIBLY PREVENTING THE LOCKING OR UNLOCKING OF THE DOOR, EVEN UNDER MANUAL OPERATION. THIS WOULD PREVENT AN OCCUPANT FROM BEING ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. CORRECTION: AN ADDITIONAL SUB-CIRCUIT INCLUDING THE RELAYS TO THE ECU WIL…
Transport Canada #1992124 · Sep 1992Accessories
DUE TO A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE THREAD PROFILE OF THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT CAR JACK, THE JACK MAY BE UNABLE TO SUSTAIN THE VEHICLE IN THE LIFTED POSITION AND IT COULD THEREFORE LOWER ITSELF. THIS COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO PERSONS USING THE JACK. CORRECTION: CAR JACK WILL BE REPLACED ON AFFECTED VEHICLES. NOTE: WAGONS ONLY AFFECTED.
Transport Canada #1988119 · Aug 1988Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.
About the Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is an automobile sold internationally by the Japanese auto manufacturer Toyota since 1982, spanning multiple generations. Originally compact in size (narrow-body), the Camry has grown since the 1990s to fit the mid-size classification (wide-body)—although the two widths co-existed in that decade. Since the release of the wide-bodied versions, Camry has been extolled by Toyota as the firm's second "world car" after the Corolla. As of 2022, the Camry is positioned above the Corolla and below the Avalon or Crown in several markets.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.
1988 Toyota Camry vehicles on record
1988 Toyota CamryJT1W0SV2100184028
1988 Toyota CamryJT1EVZV2100048097
1988 Toyota CamryJT1E0SV2100252824
1988 Toyota CamryJT1W0SV21J0066866
1988 Toyota CamryJT1W0SV2100190413
1988 Toyota CamryJT1EVZV2100028031
1988 Toyota CamryJT1E0SV2100153907
1988 Toyota CamryJT1W0CV2000021426
1988 Toyota CamryJT1E0SV2100105959
1988 Toyota CamryJT1E0SV2100096235
1988 Toyota CamryJT1E0SV2103179454
1988 Toyota CamryJT1W0SV2100231960
1988 Toyota CamryJT1W0CV2000001985
1988 Toyota CamryJT1W0SV2100140899
1988 Toyota CamryJT1W0CV2000010035
1988 Toyota CamryJT1W0CV2000007589
1988 Toyota CamryJT1E0CN2000005748
1988 Toyota CamryJT1E0SV2100248285
1988 Toyota CamryJT1W0SV2100130934
1988 Toyota CamryJT1W0SV2100017975
1988 Toyota CamryJT1EVZV2100001011
1988 Toyota CamryJT1W0SV2100237774
1988 Toyota CamryJT1000SV200078927
1988 Toyota CamryJT1E0SV2103068731