2nd gen Toyota Camry 1987–1991 V20

Overview

Engines

2.0L four-cylinder, 2.5L V6

Came as

• Sedan
• Wagon

On record

2 warnings, 5 recalls

The story

The second Camry reached North America in late 1986 as a 1987 model, a sedan and, for the first time, a wagon. Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky, Toyota's first wholly owned US plant, began building it in May 1988. Every US wagon came from Japan, while the share of US-built sedans grew each year. A published reference

The All-Trac all-wheel-drive sedan came for 1988. It sold slowly, costing almost $2,000 more than a front-drive Camry, and Toyota had expected it to make up only 5% of Camry sales. It was dropped after 1991. Curbside Classic, a published reference

Rare and special

• All-Trac all-wheel drive

Colors

• Silvermist Metallic An owners' registry (unofficial)176, 1991
• Gray on Silver Metallic An owners' registry (unofficial)20C, 1987
• Gray on Silver Metallic An owners' registry (unofficial)29H, 1989
• Gray Metallic An owners' registry (unofficial)185, 1991
• Beige Metallic An owners' registry (unofficial)4H3, 1987

Sources: An owners' registry (unofficial)

Specs

Engines

• 2.0L four-cylinder Curbside Classic, a published reference

  Twin cam; 115 hp in the All-Trac

• 2.5L V6 A published reference

  153 hp, 156 hp from 1990. Not with All-Trac · 1988–1991

Transmissions

• 5-speed manual Curbside Classic, a published reference
• 4-speed automatic Curbside Classic, a published reference

Drivetrains

• Front-wheel drive A published reference
• All-Trac all-wheel drive (1988–1991) Curbside Classic, 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

Packages

• Anti-lock brakes (1989–1991) A published reference
• Split-folding rear seat (years not known) Edmunds

Figures

• Built: Japan, and Georgetown, Kentucky from May 1988. A VIN starting with J is Japanese-built, one starting with 4 US-built A published reference
• Drag coefficient: 0.34 for the sedan A published reference
• V6: Fuel-injected, 24 valves and twin overhead cams A published reference

Rare trims and options

• Rare

  All-Trac all-wheel drive Drivetrain

  Four model years, sedan only; Toyota expected 5% of Camry sales Curbside Classic

Years and what changed

1. 1987

   New model, a sedan or wagon in base, DX or LE trim. A published reference

2. 1988

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

3. 1989
   Refresh

   Mid-life update with one-piece bumper covers front and rear, new taillights and interior changes. Anti-lock brakes become optional on the LE V6 and LE All-Trac. A published reference

4. 1990

   The V6 goes from 153 to 156 hp. Cars built from February 1990 carry Toyota's new logo on the grille, and the DX and LE get color-keyed door handles and grille. New seat fabric and cupholders on the base car, and a split-folding rear seat optional on the DX. Edmunds, a published reference

5. 1991

   A redesigned front valence. The DX gets color-keyed bumpers and new cloth in place of the tweed, and the DX and LE new hubcaps. A published reference

Watch out

Faults owners and the press report, and how to spot each one.

• Leaking fuel tanks All years

  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

  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

Recalls

Newest first. Ask the seller for proof the work was done, or check the VIN with NHTSA.

• 1991 Recall 93V147000

  A part in the radio can fail and cause a short circuit. NHTSA

• 1987–1990 Recall 92V135000

  The power door lock computer can fail with its contacts welded, so the doors may not lock or unlock, even by hand. NHTSA

• 1987 Recall 92V025000

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

• 1987–1989 Recall 89V175000

  Releasing the lap belt a certain way can lock the retractor with the belt stowed. NHTSA

• 1988 Recall 88V127000

  The jack's thread may not hold the raised car. NHTSA

Checked against NHTSA records on November 2, 2026.

Owning

What owners and buyers say

• 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

  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

• 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

Maintenance

No service schedule is added yet.