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2006 Toyota Camry Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2006 Toyota Camry has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Tire tread and belt separation.” Toyota's owner's manual splits service into Schedule 1 (severe) and Schedule 2 (normal). Most US drivers fall under Schedule 1 because it covers short trips, extreme temperatures, dusty roads, or heavy idling. The intervals below reflect Schedule 1 — the schedule Toyota recommends for typical real-world use.

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No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2006 Toyota Camry.

Reported to NHTSA

Tire tread and belt separation

TIRES

4 NHTSA complaints · 2012-05 → 2016-06

“TIRE PLY SEPARATION ON 4 TIRES - KUMHO SOLUS KR21 215/60 R16 94T E4-0268050 DOT 4TL1 YP6V TIRES PURCHASED APRIL 2014. ALL 4 TIRES FAILED FROM MAY 31 THROUGH JUNE 11, 2016. VEHICLE HAD 95K+ MILES ON IT ON DATE OF TIRE PURCHASE. VEHICLE HAD 124K+ MILES ON IT YESTERDAY (JUNE 11)”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10873732
“TRAVELING EAST ON INTERSTATE 10 WEST OF TONOPAH, AZ , FELT VIBRATION AND PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SUFFERED A PARTIAL TREAD SEPARATION. TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH SPARE AND TRIP CONTINUED FOR ANOTHER 30 MILES WHEN THE LEFT FRONT TIRE SUFFERED A COMPLETE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10521570
“BELTS SEPARATING ON TIRE. NORMAL IN-CITY DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE TIRE STARTED TO MAKE VERY LOUD NOISE WHILE DRIVING, STARTED TO BOUNCE, AND CAR WOULDN'T DRIVE STRAIGHT AND PUSHING MY CAR INTO THE RIGHT LANE ALMOST HITTING EVERY CAR PASSING ON THE RIGHT AS I WAS TRYING TO SLOW”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10505051

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Dashboard cracking and sticky melting surface

STRUCTURE

54 NHTSA complaints · 2011-10 → 2021-02

“ON MARCH 26,2020 I WENT TO DRIVE MY CAR. THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED, STICKY, AND MELTED THROUGHOUT. THE NEXT DAY I CALLED PRIORITY TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD (JOHN SERVICE MANAGER) THAT THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT DUE TO THE WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT NOTIFICATION-ZE6 WHICH ENDED MAY 31, 2017”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11320494
“TOYOTA ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS VERY COMMON STICKY DASHBOARD ISSUE. IT CREATES BOTH A SAFETY ISSUE - THE DASHBOARD BECOMES SO REFLECTIVE THAT YOU CANT SEE THE ROAD - AND IS DISGUSTING. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT I WAS ON A WAITING LIST... TO DATE I NEVER WAS TOLD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11209754
“MY DASH IS CRACKING AND FALLING APART. WHAT KIND OF ENGINEERING IS THIS THAT THE DASH FALLS APART IN SUCH A SHORT TIME IN A CAR THAT IS SUPPOSED TO OUT LAST ITS COMPETITORS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11281002

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Unintended acceleration during low-speed maneuvering

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

24 NHTSA complaints · 2012-02 → 2026-07

“I was driving my 2006 Toyota Camry on a level residential road at 35 mph and stopped at a red light. Upon turning left, the car unexpectedly accelerated at a high speed. I stepped on the brakes but the car did not stop nor slow. I was driving towards a very busy intersection. I”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11452333
“ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4TH (2019) I WAS WAITING IN LINE AT A RED LIGHT (ON STATE STREET AT THE INTERSECTION WITH HAYWOOD ROAD IN ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA). SUDDENLY MY TOYOTA 2006 LURCHED FORWARD AND BANGED INTO THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. I STOMPED ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR STOPPED, THEN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11267069
“NHSTA SAFETY COMPLAINT TEXT Safety defect and Incident Chronology: I am reporting a catastrophic, recurring sudden unintended acceleration (SUA) defect originating strictly from a forward idle state, culminating in a severe bidirectional runaway and property damage crash. This”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11747785

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag failure to deploy during collision

AIR BAGS

21 NHTSA complaints · 2011-12 → 2026-06

“The contact owned a 2006 Toyota Camry. While the contact's son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle crashed into a street pole and rolled several times before crashing into a parked vehicle, where it came to a stop. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact's”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11746469
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY ON IMPACT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG DEPLOY AFTER HER HEAD COLLIDED WITH THE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11389976
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A USED 2006 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING AND THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO OPERATE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A POLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11278678

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag warning light illumination

AIR BAGS

21 NHTSA complaints · 2012-05 → 2023-05

“MY AIRBAGS LIGHT IS ON AND MY AIRBAGS ARE NOT WORKING MAKING IT VERY DANGEROUS. I BROUGHT MY INTO THE DEALER AND HE SAID THAT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM IN THE CAR IS DEFECTIVE CAUSING MY AIRBAG SYSTEM TO BE INOPERABLE. THEY WILL NOT FIX IT. I ONLY HAVE 49,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I AM”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10785825
“TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN DAMP RAINY COOL WEATHER,THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND IT'S STAYING ON”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10940346
“YESTERDAY WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON CITY STREETS WITH MY WIFE ON THE PASSENGER SEAT THE PASSENGER "AIR BAG OFF" LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THE CAR HAS 78,131 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE TOYOTA OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THAT THE "AIR BAG OFF" INDICATOR MEANS THAT THE PASSENGER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11063884

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Steering column noise and rack and pinion leak

STEERING

9 NHTSA complaints · 2011-06 → 2025-08

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASH INTO AN UTILITY POLE. A POLICE REPORT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11234387
“WELL, NOTHING HAPPENED BUT I BELIEVE TOYOTA CAMRY, SE, SEDAN, V6, HAS A PROBLEM WITH STEERING RACK AND PINION DRIVE LEAK AT 90 K. MANY CAMRY VEHICLES HAVE IT, ACCORDING TO NUMEROUS REPORTS ON THE WEB FOR MODELS (2001 THROUGH WHATEVER, SEDANS OR NOT). FIXING IT COSTS A FORTUNE,”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10722382
“I WAS EASING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN FRONT OF A BANK AND WAS NEARLY STOPPED WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD. WITH A FULL PLATE GLASS WINDOW IN FRONT OF ME, I WRENCHED THE STEERING WHEEL AS FAST AND AS FAR TO THE RIGHT AS POSSIBLE AND DON'T KNOW HOW I MISSED THE CONCRETE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10493586

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Excessive oil consumption

ENGINE

4 NHTSA complaints · 2016-07 → 2018-07

“MY CAR WAS TESTED AND QUALIFIED FOR AN ENGINE INTERNAL REBUILD DUE TO EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION. IT'S BEEN A YEAR AND THE PARTS STILL HAVE NOT BEEN DELIVERED TO THE DEALER. MEANWHILE I HAVE TO FILL UP THE OIL 3+ TIMES IN-BETWEEN EVERY OIL CHANGE WHICH IS COSTING ME THE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10897379
“I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2006 SOLARA THAT CURRENTLY HAS ABOUT 56,000 MILES. LAST YEAR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED TURNING ON, BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL THIS YEAR THAT I FOUND OUT THE PROBLEM. MY CAR IS BURNING EXCESSIVE OIL, ABOUT 1.75 QUARTS EVERY 1,200 MILES (ACCORDING TO”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10884062
“I HAVE PROPERLY MAINTAINED MY VEHICLE SINCE I PURCHASED IT. TUESDAY I HEADED TO WORK AND THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED OVER TO THE GAS STATION TO CHECK IT. I HAD NO OIL IN MY CAR. I JUST HAD AN OIL CHANGE LESS THAN TWO WEEKS PRIOR. I THE PROCEEDED TO PUT THREE QUARTS IN MY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11104922

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 5,000 mi

Replace 0W-20 full-synthetic oil and filter every 5,000 miles under Schedule 1, or 10,000 miles under Schedule 2. Toyota covers the first 2 oil changes through ToyotaCare.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 5,000 mi

Rotate tires every 5,000 miles. Toyota recommends rotation at every oil change to maximize tire life on FWD and AWD models.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 5,000 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake every 5,000 miles. Toyota recommends measuring pad thickness at each service.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 36 months. Critical for the integrity of the ABS, VSC, and brake assist systems.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace the engine air filter every 30,000 miles. Earlier under Schedule 1 if driven on unpaved roads.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

Toyota labels ATF as 'lifetime fill' on most automatics, but recommends inspection and replacement every 60,000 miles under severe service. Use Toyota WS or Type-IV — no substitutes.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Spark Plugs

Every 120,000 mi

Toyota iridium-tipped spark plugs are rated for 120,000 miles. Earlier replacement reduces fuel economy and can cause misfires on direct-injection engines.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Super Long Life Coolant (SLLC)

Every 50,000 mi

Toyota SLLC (pink): first change at 100,000 miles, then every 50,000 miles. Do not substitute green or orange coolant — it will damage the cooling system seals.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace the cabin air filter every 30,000 miles, sooner in dusty climates. Located behind the glove box on most Toyota and Lexus models.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Serpentine / Drive Belt Inspection

Every 60,000 mi

Inspect the serpentine belt and tensioner every 60,000 miles. Toyota uses long-life EPDM belts that rarely fail before 100,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Timing Chain — No Replacement

On condition / lifetime

Toyota's 2AR-FE, 2GR-FKS, A25A-FKS, and most Toyota engines built since 2010 use a timing chain rated for the life of the engine. No scheduled replacement.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Pro only

Timing chains are normally lifetime. Listen for rattle on cold start — that's the actionable signal. Replacement is major work, quote separately.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

303 crashes 1990–2024

How the 303 occupant deaths break down

236

driver deaths

67

passenger deaths

303

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2006 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

122

complaints mentioning a crash

9

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2006 Toyota Camry reflects Toyota's published service intervals and the Maintenance Required Light system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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