The 1990 Toyota Camry has 22 latches & locks complaints filed with NHTSA — 14% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.
22
Latches & Locks complaints
14%
Share of year
0
Crash-involved
1
Related recalls
Defect
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.
Consequence
IF THE DOOR FAILS TO OPEN AFTER ECU FAILURE, VEHICLEOCCUPANTS WOULD HAVE INCREASED DIFFICULTY EXITING THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY.
Remedy
INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL SUBCIRCUIT RELAY CONTROL TO PREVENT MALFUNCTION OF ORIGINAL RELAYS IN THE ECU.
“WAS LOCKED INSIDE 1990 TOYOTA CAMRY, ABOUT 250 DEGREES OR MORE. ALL DOOR HANDLES FAILED. MOONROOF WOULD NOT OPEN. HAD TO KICK OUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW TO ESCAPE. TOYOTA, IF YOU DON'T THINK THESE ARE DEFECTIVE CARS, YOU MUST BE FROM AN ALIEN PLANET. PLEASE, POLICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME I SURVIVED A…”
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the 1990 Toyota Camry latches & locks — 14% of all complaints filed for that model year.
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the latches & locks: 92V135000.
Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.
Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.