DIY: 1996 Camry Interior Door Handle Replacement (GEN 3)
This procedure explains how to change the inside door handle on a 1996 Toyota Camry. I replaced both the front and rear right passenger door handles recently. They rear one broke after about 10 years of usage. The front one broke after about 12 years of usage. The driver side door handles are still OK. From what I have read on this forum, it appears that this is a common problem on the Camry after the car is about 10 years of age. It is a very simple, inexpensive procedure to replace them requiring no special tools.
Disclaimer
Use this guide at your own risk! I assume no responsibility for any damage to your vehicle or personal injury as a result of following this guide. Any comments to improve the procedure will be gratefully received.
Time Required
It took me 20 minutes per door from start to finish.
Let's Get Started...
![]()
![]()
Cracked and broken interior door handles.
![]()
Parts Required: The price for a single door handle on Amazon.com is $20 US + shipping from AutoPartPro. They also sell a set of four handles for $46.90 US + shipping. These prices include both the handle and the bezel. If you buy from Toyota, the handle and bezel are each sold separately. The cost of the handle from Toyota is $54 CDN and the cost of the bezel is $23 CDN.
I opted to buy a set of four from Amazon and keep the remaining two handles as spares. The colour and texture matched reasonably well. My Camry has a tan exterior and interior. I ordered the “brown” colour. The parts fit reasonably well and seemed to be well constructed. AutoPartPro also has “grey” ones available.
![]()
1. The first step is to remove the bezel from the door handle. This is the hardest part of the whole procedure. If you have a good understanding of how the bezel is secured to the door handle, removal becomes much easier. The following photos show how the bezel is held in place.
![]()
2. The small square hole in the top of the bezel (black arrow in above photo) fits over the pin at the top of the door handle (black circle).
![]()
3. The larger square hole in the bottom of the bezel (red arrow in above photo) fits over the sheet metal tooth at the bottom of the door handle (red circle).
![]()
4. The plastic latch at the front of the bezel (blue arrow in above photo) slides in behind the sheet metal tab at the front of the door handle (blue circle).
![]()
5. Insert a small slot screwdriver as shown. Pry the bezel upward out outward.
![]()
6. Insert a small slot screwdriver as shown. Pry the bottom of the bezel downward and outward.
![]()
¸
7. Pull the door handle out and rotate the bezel outward to remove it from the door.
![]()
![]()
![]()
8. Push in the center of the two retainers (red circle) and pry them out.
![]()
![]()
![]()
9. Remove plastic caps where necessary to reveal screws. Use Philips screwdriver to remove 5 screws (red circles).
![]()
10. Grasp bottom of door trim panel and give a good tug outward, away from door. The plastic snaps that hold the bottom of the door trim panel will release.
![]()
11. Raise door trim panel vertically upward to release the door trim panel from the door.
![]()
12. Disconnect wiring harnesses. It may be necessary to press down on plastic latch that secures the plug in the receptacle. Set the door trim panel aside.
![]()
13. Remove 3 screws securing door handle to the door.
![]()
![]()
14. Unlatch the two yellow connectors by rotating them away from the linkage rods. Pull the linkage rods down to release them from the yellow connector/bushings. Use a needle nose pliers to compress the yellow connectors and remove them from the broken door handle to keep them as spares. I have had a yellow connector break, so it is handy to have a few spares.
![]()
![]()
15. Lubricate the pivot and slide points.
16. Installation is basically the reverse of the above. Use the palm of your hand to snap the bottom of the door trim panel into place.
![]()
![]()
17. When replacing the two retainers, pull the center part outward before inserting into the door. When the retainer is inserted, then press the center part in.
![]()
18. Note that the hole in door handle is keyed (red arrow) to match with the plug.
19. When installing the bezel, slide the front plastic latch (blue arrow above) under the sheet metal tab at the front of the door handle (blue circle above). Then pry the top hole of the bezel (black arrow above) over the pin (black circle above) with a small slot screwdriver. Then snap the bottom of the bezel in place by pushing on it with the palm of your hand.
This procedure explains how to change the inside door handle on a 1996 Toyota Camry. I replaced both the front and rear right passenger door handles recently. They rear one broke after about 10 years of usage. The front one broke after about 12 years of usage. The driver side door handles are still OK. From what I have read on this forum, it appears that this is a common problem on the Camry after the car is about 10 years of age. It is a very simple, inexpensive procedure to replace them requiring no special tools.
Disclaimer
Use this guide at your own risk! I assume no responsibility for any damage to your vehicle or personal injury as a result of following this guide. Any comments to improve the procedure will be gratefully received.
Time Required
It took me 20 minutes per door from start to finish.
Let's Get Started...
Cracked and broken interior door handles.
Parts Required: The price for a single door handle on Amazon.com is $20 US + shipping from AutoPartPro. They also sell a set of four handles for $46.90 US + shipping. These prices include both the handle and the bezel. If you buy from Toyota, the handle and bezel are each sold separately. The cost of the handle from Toyota is $54 CDN and the cost of the bezel is $23 CDN.
I opted to buy a set of four from Amazon and keep the remaining two handles as spares. The colour and texture matched reasonably well. My Camry has a tan exterior and interior. I ordered the “brown” colour. The parts fit reasonably well and seemed to be well constructed. AutoPartPro also has “grey” ones available.
1. The first step is to remove the bezel from the door handle. This is the hardest part of the whole procedure. If you have a good understanding of how the bezel is secured to the door handle, removal becomes much easier. The following photos show how the bezel is held in place.
2. The small square hole in the top of the bezel (black arrow in above photo) fits over the pin at the top of the door handle (black circle).
3. The larger square hole in the bottom of the bezel (red arrow in above photo) fits over the sheet metal tooth at the bottom of the door handle (red circle).
4. The plastic latch at the front of the bezel (blue arrow in above photo) slides in behind the sheet metal tab at the front of the door handle (blue circle).
5. Insert a small slot screwdriver as shown. Pry the bezel upward out outward.
6. Insert a small slot screwdriver as shown. Pry the bottom of the bezel downward and outward.
7. Pull the door handle out and rotate the bezel outward to remove it from the door.
8. Push in the center of the two retainers (red circle) and pry them out.
9. Remove plastic caps where necessary to reveal screws. Use Philips screwdriver to remove 5 screws (red circles).
10. Grasp bottom of door trim panel and give a good tug outward, away from door. The plastic snaps that hold the bottom of the door trim panel will release.
11. Raise door trim panel vertically upward to release the door trim panel from the door.
12. Disconnect wiring harnesses. It may be necessary to press down on plastic latch that secures the plug in the receptacle. Set the door trim panel aside.
13. Remove 3 screws securing door handle to the door.
14. Unlatch the two yellow connectors by rotating them away from the linkage rods. Pull the linkage rods down to release them from the yellow connector/bushings. Use a needle nose pliers to compress the yellow connectors and remove them from the broken door handle to keep them as spares. I have had a yellow connector break, so it is handy to have a few spares.
15. Lubricate the pivot and slide points.
16. Installation is basically the reverse of the above. Use the palm of your hand to snap the bottom of the door trim panel into place.
17. When replacing the two retainers, pull the center part outward before inserting into the door. When the retainer is inserted, then press the center part in.
18. Note that the hole in door handle is keyed (red arrow) to match with the plug.
19. When installing the bezel, slide the front plastic latch (blue arrow above) under the sheet metal tab at the front of the door handle (blue circle above). Then pry the top hole of the bezel (black arrow above) over the pin (black circle above) with a small slot screwdriver. Then snap the bottom of the bezel in place by pushing on it with the palm of your hand.
