1987 vs 1988 Toyota Camry

Both years are the same generation, so most of what they offer is shared.

Watch out for

Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check.

Nothing that 1988 lacks.

Nothing that 1987 lacks.

Leaking fuel tanks All years

What to check: Smell for fuel around the car and look at the tank's seams and straps from underneath for wet spots or rust.

SlashGear lists fuel tank leaks among the NHTSA investigations of the 1987–1991 Camrys. One All-Trac owner in Curbside Classic's comments reports a leaking tank and says no replacement tanks are to be had.

SlashGear, owners' reports (unofficial)
Seat belts that stick or lock All years

What to check: Pull each belt out and let it wind back, and buckle and release the lap belts. Ask a Toyota dealer whether recall 89V175000 was done, and on a 1987 recall 92V025000 for the motorized belts.

SlashGear lists sticky and jammed seat belts among the NHTSA investigations of these years. Recall 89V175000 covered 1987–1989 lap belts whose retractor could lock in the stowed position.

NHTSA, SlashGear

Nothing that 1988 lacks.

Rare All-Trac all-wheel drive Drivetrain
Four model years, sedan only; Toyota expected 5% of Camry sales Curbside Classic

92V025000 1987
A spill in the console can reach the motorized seat belt computer and stop the belts moving. NHTSA

89V175000 1987–1989
Releasing the lap belt a certain way can lock the retractor with the belt stowed. NHTSA
92V135000 1987–1990
The power door lock computer can fail with its contacts welded, so the doors may not lock or unlock, even by hand. NHTSA

After 1987, up to and including 1988.

1988The All-Trac all-wheel-drive sedan and a 2.5L V6 arrive, but not together. Curbside Classic, a published reference

Nothing that 1988 lacks.

Engines: 2.5L V6 (1988–1991) A published reference
Drivetrains: All-Trac all-wheel drive (1988–1991) Curbside Classic, a published reference

Engines: 2.0L four-cylinder Curbside Classic, a published reference
Transmissions: 5-speed manual Curbside Classic, a published reference, 4-speed automatic Curbside Classic, a published reference
Drivetrains: Front-wheel drive A published reference
Body styles: Sedan A published reference, Wagon A published reference
Trims: Base Edmunds, a published reference, DX Edmunds, a published reference, LE Edmunds, a published reference

Super White 040 An owners' registry (unofficial)
Silver Metallic 164, 1987–1988 An owners' registry (unofficial)
Gray Metallic 167, 1987–1990 An owners' registry (unofficial)
Dark Red Pearl 3H3, 1987–1989 An owners' registry (unofficial)
Dark Blue on Light Blue Metallic 21C, 1987–1988 An owners' registry (unofficial)
Dark Blue Pearl 8E3, 1987–1990 An owners' registry (unofficial)
Light Blue Metallic 8D8, 1987–1989 An owners' registry (unofficial)

Reputation: what owners and the press report

Watch for: 1987 Less sought after One source so far

SlashGear says the 1987 drew more NHTSA investigations than any other Camry year, ten, over under-dash fires, fuel tank leaks, stuck throttles and jammed seat belts. It counts the 1987 with the 1st gen. SlashGear

Sought after: An All-Trac for snow 1988–1991

Owners in the comments under Curbside Classic's All-Trac piece, an unofficial source: of seven commenters who owned, drove or want one, three praise it in snow or its center differential lock, one of them with a car that reached 399,000 miles. Curbside Classic, owners' reports (unofficial)
Watch for: The 1988–1991 cars Less sought after One source so far

SlashGear ranks these years fourth worst of the Camry's generations. Each drew more NHTSA investigations than any Camry year but the 1987, over fuel tank leaks, stuck throttles, sticky seat belts and engine-bay fires, though few complaints are logged. SlashGear