Toyota CAMRY problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
16,629 owner complaints analyzed
59 distinct recall campaigns
50,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1983 to 2024 model years. Data snapshot: . 10,188 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2,641 of 16,629 complaints (15.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3,605 | 21.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1,337 | 8.0% |
| Steering behavior | 1,236 | 7.4% |
| Engine operation | 540 | 3.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 535 | 3.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 208 | 1.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2641 |
| Engine | 1484 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1452 |
| Air Bags | 1132 |
| Power Train | 1001 |
| Electrical System | 975 |
| Service Brakes | 871 |
| Steering | 835 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 2,641; Engine: 1,484; Unknown Or Other: 1,452; Air Bags: 1,132; Power Train: 1,001; Electrical System: 975; Service Brakes: 871; Steering: 835
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3037 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1944 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1707 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1307 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1453 |
| 150,000 and above | 740 |
Under 25,000: 3,037; 25,000 to 49,999: 1,944; 50,000 to 74,999: 1,707; 75,000 to 99,999: 1,307; 100,000 to 149,999: 1,453; 150,000 and above: 740
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3,037). 6,441 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 285 |
| 1996 | 305 |
| 2000 | 370 |
| 2001 | 388 |
| 2002 | 437 |
| 2003 | 519 |
| 2004 | 701 |
| 2005 | 374 |
| 2006 | 342 |
| 2007 | 443 |
| 2008 | 347 |
| 2009 | 453 |
| 2010 | 2172 |
| 2011 | 730 |
| 2012 | 651 |
| 2013 | 607 |
| 2014 | 1225 |
| 2015 | 761 |
| 2016 | 633 |
| 2017 | 629 |
| 2018 | 705 |
| 2019 | 697 |
| 2020 | 615 |
| 2021 | 452 |
| 2022 | 364 |
| 2023 | 320 |
| 2024 | 397 |
| 2025 | 401 |
| 2026 | 306 |
1995: 285; 1996: 305; 2000: 370; 2001: 388; 2002: 437; 2003: 519; 2004: 701; 2005: 374; 2006: 342; 2007: 443; 2008: 347; 2009: 453; 2010: 2,172; 2011: 730; 2012: 651; 2013: 607; 2014: 1,225; 2015: 761; 2016: 633; 2017: 629; 2018: 705; 2019: 697; 2020: 615; 2021: 452; 2022: 364; 2023: 320; 2024: 397; 2025: 401; 2026: 306
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3,605 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1,337 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1,236 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 885087 · 2001-04-04 (April 4, 2001)
BRAKES WERE NOT OPERABLE. ROTORS/BRAKE PADS AND CALIPERS WERE REPLACED MORE THEN OUNCE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 885087 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 490718 · 1995-12-17 (December 17, 1995)
BRAKE PEDAL GOES DOWN TO FLOOR. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 490718 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 487064 · 1995-10-15 (October 15, 1995)
VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY LOSES POWER WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DUE TO TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 487064 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 978575 · 1996-02-01 (February 1, 1996)
PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED AND THE BRAKES CAUGHT ON FIRE, CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 978575 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 504352 · 1996-05-10 (May 10, 1996)
DEFECTIVE BRAKE ROTORS INSTALLED, CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO WOBBLE AFTER RECALL REPAIR. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504352 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 732841 · 2000-09-29 (September 29, 2000)
THIS IS A GENERAL RATHER THAN SPECIFIC COMPLAINT, ABOUT ONE OF THE GREATEST DANGERS ON THE ROAD: THE POSSIBILITY OF SUDDEN BREAKAGE OF THE TIMING BELTS IN MANY CARS. THEY ARE PRONE TO BREAK WITHOUT WARNING, LEAVING THE CAR TOTALLY WITHOUT POWER, POWER-ASSIST STEERING, OR POWER BRAKES, AS HAPPENED TO MY WIFE IN THE ABOVE CASE. FEW PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF THIS DANGER, OR OF THE NEED TO REPLACE THE TIMING BELT AFTER 50,000 MILES OR SO. THE MADDENING THING IS THAT UNBREAKABLE METAL TIMING CHAINS ARE AVAILABLE (AND USED ON THE SAME ENGINES IN PICKUP TRU…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 732841 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 506485 · 1996-07-13 (July 13, 1996)
INTERMITTENT STALLING. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 506485 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014123 · 2003-04-08 (April 8, 2003)
MY CAR KEEPS STALLING OUT. I CAN SMELL GAS MOST OF THE TIME. WE CANNOT LOCATE A LEAK - HAVE CHANGED THE FUEL FILTER, DISTRIBUTOR CAP & OXYGEN SENSOR BUT WHEN IT RAINS OR IS HUMID THE CARS STALLS UNTIL IT GETS WARM (AFTER RUNNING FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES). THIS HAPPENS WHEN YOU PRESS THE GAS PEDAL EVEN SLIGHTLY. NO ONE CAN LOCATE THE PROBLEM - SOMEONE I WORK WITH HAD ONE THAT DID THE SAME THING UNTIL THEY SOLD IT. YOU CAN PAD THE PEDAL AND SOMETIMES GET PAST THE POINT OF STALLING. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014123 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 965294 · 1995-05-15 (May 15, 1995)
CONSUMER RECIEVE RECALL ON ELECTRICAL SYSTEM REGULATOR HAD IT FIX 1987 IS NOW HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH CAR. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 965294 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11118106 · 2018-08-06 (August 6, 2018)
THE CAR SIMPLY WON'T START. I'M NOT SURE WHY, BECAUSE THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR SEEM TO BE WORKING. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE STARTER RECALL. I HAD THAT REPAIRED AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. BUT IT'S NOT THE PROBLEM. THE CAR JUST WON'T START, AND IT TURNS OVER TO TRY TO START.
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11118106 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 975189 · 1995-11-20 (November 20, 1995)
CAR REAR ENDED IN ACCIDENT. GAS TANK WAS RUPTURED. DRIVER FOUND OUT THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS VERY RUSTY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 975189 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 966683 · 1995-06-12 (June 12, 1995)
STRONG FUEL ODOR PRESENT AT ALL TIMES, REPLACE THE FUEL CAP AND RETURN FUEL PUMP. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 966683 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 7 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2008: 7; 2009: 10; 2010: 9; 2011: 5; 2012: 2; 2013: 2; 2014: 3; 2015: 1; 2016: 2; 2017: 3; 2018: 8; 2019: 6; 2020: 3; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 2; 2024: 1
Year-by-year records
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Change in recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 6 | 2 | Not available |
| 1984 | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| 1985 | 9 | 0 | -2 |
| 1986 | 23 | 0 | 0 |
| 1987 | 29 | 3 | +3 |
| 1988 | 43 | 4 | +1 |
| 1989 | 70 | 3 | -1 |
| 1990 | 76 | 2 | -1 |
| 1991 | 99 | 1 | -1 |
| 1992 | 250 | 0 | -1 |
| 1993 | 163 | 0 | 0 |
| 1994 | 174 | 1 | +1 |
| 1995 | 231 | 1 | 0 |
| 1996 | 246 | 2 | +1 |
| 1997 | 320 | 3 | +1 |
| 1998 | 370 | 2 | -1 |
| 1999 | 427 | 1 | -1 |
| 2000 | 451 | 2 | +1 |
| 2001 | 272 | 2 | 0 |
| 2002 | 953 | 4 | +2 |
| 2003 | 780 | 1 | -3 |
| 2004 | 638 | 3 | +2 |
| 2005 | 721 | 5 | +2 |
| 2006 | 317 | 5 | 0 |
| 2007 | 2,886 | 9 | +4 |
| 2008 | 933 | 7 | -2 |
| 2009 | 1,293 | 10 | +3 |
| 2010 | 602 | 9 | -1 |
| 2011 | 598 | 5 | -4 |
| 2012 | 589 | 2 | -3 |
| 2013 | 274 | 2 | 0 |
| 2014 | 455 | 3 | +1 |
| 2015 | 271 | 1 | -2 |
| 2016 | 181 | 2 | +1 |
| 2017 | 148 | 3 | +1 |
| 2018 | 737 | 8 | +5 |
| 2019 | 393 | 6 | -2 |
| 2020 | 270 | 3 | -3 |
| 2021 | 155 | 1 | -2 |
| 2022 | 59 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 | 63 | 2 | +1 |
| 2024 | 48 | 1 | -1 |