ToyotaCamry1986Overview/toyota/camry/1986/base/

1986 Toyota Camry

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1986 Camry.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1986 Toyota Camry came equipped with an automatic four-speed transmission and achieved EPA fuel economy ratings of 26 city, 33 highway, and 29 combined mpg, while its engine holds 3.9 quarts of oil with viscosity recommendations of 15W-40, 20W-40, or 20W-50 meeting API SL standards; notably, this early generation recorded zero recalls and only 36 total owner complaints, a remarkably low figure that set the baseline for a model whose complaint history from 1990 through 2025 would range from a peak of 3,613 in 2007 down to a low of just 11 in 2014, demonstrating that the Camry's legendary reliability was no accident but rather a trajectory that began with this very generation.

Model year202620252024202320222021202020191986

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity3.9 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type15W-40 / 20W-40 / 20W-50 API SLOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy26/33/29 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length175.6 in
Overall width66.5 in
Overall height53.9 in
Wheelbase102.4 in
Curb weight2425 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)61/39

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined26 / 33 / 29 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume93 cu ft
Cargo volume14 cu ft
Recommended fuelDiesel

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Camry of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

11.8–12.7 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 11.80 sec — 1983 LE
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1983LE 2.0L I-411.80 sec18.40 sec92 hpFWD
1983LE 2.0L I-412.69 sec19.25 sec92 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 3.9 qt of 15W-40 / 20W-40 / 20W-50 API SL engine oil, GL-5 · 80W-90 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear OilGL-5 · 80W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity3 Pints
Engine OilABOVE 10 degrees F
Engine Oil Capacity3.9 qt
Engine OilAPI · 15W-40 · 20W-40 · 20W-50 · 10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity4 qt
Power Steering FluidATF

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 10,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 20,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Fasteners (torque) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect)
At 30,000 miUniversal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect)
At 60,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap O-Ring (inspect) · Timing Belt (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1986 Camry's federal record indicates 12 seat belt complaints, 6 tire complaints, 4 vehicle speed control complaints, and 4 engine/engine cooling complaints, along with 2 crash complaints and 1 fire complaint. However, the provided year-by-year federal record begins in 1990, so the 1986 model year falls outside the available trend data and cannot be directly compared to adjacent years or the generation's complaint arc. The 1990–2025 data shows a long-term increase in complaints and TSBs, with early 1990s years like 1990 (148 complaints) and 1991 (172 complaints) far lower than later peaks such as 2007 (3,613 complaints), but the 1986 totals are absent from this series. Without 1986's aggregate complaint and recall counts, its position relative to the generation's trajectory cannot be assessed from this dataset, and the data does not specify root causes for the listed complaint areas. Based solely on the limited 1986 figures, the model shows moderate early concerns concentrated in restraints and tires, but a definitive buy recommendation requires verification of those systems and review of complete historical records not included here.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
17
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
36
Owner complaints
2 involved a crash · 1 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 36 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Seat Belts12
Tires6
Vehicle Speed Control4
Engine & Engine Cooling4
Visibility3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic3
Structure2
Equipment1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 17 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB0032202023-08-17Air BagsTSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or…
Toyota PRO19-022022-01-12TiresPOL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all…
T-SB-0032-20 Rev2021-02-03EquipmentTSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or…
T-SB-0304-17 Obs2020-04-07EquipmentTSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 07, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see…
T-SB-0032-202020-04-06EquipmentTSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Camry. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1986 Camry take?

3.9 qt of ABOVE 10 degrees F 15W-40, 20W-40 OR 20W-50 API SL, ABOVE -10 degrees F 10W-30, 10W-40 OR 10W-50 API SL, BELOW 50 degrees F: 5W-30 API SL, per the factory manual.

Does the 1986 Camry have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Camry get?

EPA figures are 26 city / 33 highway / 29 combined mpg.