Toyota Camry: best & worst years

2024 Toyota Camry Recommended

A mature final-year 8th-gen Camry with an excellent reliability and safety record, refined 8-speed automatic and low running costs. Very few owner complaints. One of the safest used-sedan picks.

2023 Toyota Camry Recommended

Reliable, efficient 8th-gen Camry with standard Toyota Safety Sense and a low repair-cost record; very few owner complaints. A strong, low-risk used buy.

2022 Toyota Camry Recommended

Dependable late 8th-gen Camry with proven powertrains, strong safety scores and low ownership costs; complaint volume is very low. A safe used choice.

2021 Toyota Camry Not rated

151 NHTSA complaints on file. See the full report for the breakdown.

2020 Toyota Camry Caution

Solid 8th-gen Camry but the most-complained year of its generation (electrical, powertrain) and covered by the 2018-2020 low-pressure fuel-pump recall that can cause stalling. Excellent if the recall is done and history is clean.

2019 Toyota Camry Not rated

372 NHTSA complaints on file. See the full report for the breakdown.

2018 Toyota Camry Not rated

720 NHTSA complaints on file. See the full report for the breakdown.

2017 Toyota Camry Recommended

Mature final XV50-generation Camry with the proven 2.5L four / 3.5L V6, strong reliability and 5-star safety; the early torque-converter shudder was resolved years earlier. A top used-sedan value.

• Takata front-airbag inflator recall affecting this generation; confirm the inflator was replaced.
• Coolant leaks from the water pump or the coolant pipe behind the cylinder head on the 2.5L four-cylinder.

2016 Toyota Camry Recommended

Reliable facelifted XV50 Camry with good safety scores and low repair costs; main caveats are the Takata airbag recall and minor steering complaints. A strong used pick.

• Takata front-airbag inflator recall affecting this generation; confirm the inflator was replaced.
• Electric power-steering complaints (heavy, sticky or noisy steering), with a notable spike of reports on the 2015 model year.
• Coolant leaks from the water pump or the coolant pipe behind the cylinder head on the 2.5L four-cylinder.

2015 Toyota Camry Caution

Refreshed XV50 Camry with improved safety (Top Safety Pick+ with front crash prevention) but a notable cluster of electric-power-steering complaints plus the Takata airbag recall. Good overall; verify steering and recalls.

• Takata front-airbag inflator recall affecting this generation; confirm the inflator was replaced.
• Electric power-steering complaints (heavy, sticky or noisy steering), with a notable spike of reports on the 2015 model year.
• Coolant leaks from the water pump or the coolant pipe behind the cylinder head on the 2.5L four-cylinder.

2014 Toyota Camry Recommended

One of the best used Camry years: the torque-converter shudder was fixed and owner complaints are very low. Proven, comfortable and cheap to run.

• Takata front-airbag inflator recall affecting this generation; confirm the inflator was replaced.
• Torque-converter shudder or RPM flare during gear changes on early-build cars, recognized by Toyota and addressed through a limited service campaign.
• Coolant leaks from the water pump or the coolant pipe behind the cylinder head on the 2.5L four-cylinder.

2013 Toyota Camry Caution

Reliable XV50 Camry, though early-build cars can show torque-converter shudder (addressed by a Toyota service campaign). Otherwise durable and inexpensive to own.

• Takata front-airbag inflator recall affecting this generation; confirm the inflator was replaced.
• Torque-converter shudder or RPM flare during gear changes on early-build cars, recognized by Toyota and addressed through a limited service campaign.
• Coolant leaks from the water pump or the coolant pipe behind the cylinder head on the 2.5L four-cylinder.

2012 Toyota Camry Caution

First year of the dependable XV50 generation; mostly reliable but early-build torque-converter shudder and higher first-year complaint volume warrant a careful test drive and service check.

• Takata front-airbag inflator recall affecting this generation; confirm the inflator was replaced.
• Torque-converter shudder or RPM flare during gear changes on early-build cars, recognized by Toyota and addressed through a limited service campaign.
• Coolant leaks from the water pump or the coolant pipe behind the cylinder head on the 2.5L four-cylinder.

2011 Toyota Camry Caution

Cleanest year of the XV40 generation, but still carries that era 2AZ-FE oil-consumption risk and the Takata airbag recall. A reasonable buy if oil use and recalls check out.

• Excessive engine oil consumption on the 2.4L 2AZ-FE four-cylinder, often appearing after the warranty and risking low-oil engine damage if not monitored.
• Takata front-airbag inflator recall affecting this generation; the inflator can rupture and must be confirmed repaired.
• Melting or sticky dashboard surfaces in hot, humid climates, covered by an extended Toyota warranty enhancement.

2010 Toyota Camry Caution

XV40 Camry from the unintended-acceleration recall era; watch for 2AZ-FE oil consumption and confirm the floor-mat/pedal and Takata recalls were completed. Durable but inspect carefully.

• Unintended-acceleration and accelerator-pedal-entrapment concerns from the recall era; affected cars fell under floor-mat and pedal recalls that must be confirmed completed.
• Excessive engine oil consumption on the 2.4L 2AZ-FE four-cylinder, often appearing after the warranty and risking low-oil engine damage if not monitored.
• Takata front-airbag inflator recall affecting this generation; the inflator can rupture and must be confirmed repaired.

2009 Toyota Camry Caution

Peak 2AZ-FE oil-consumption year and part of the unintended-acceleration recall wave, with very high complaint volume. Buy only with documented oil-consumption and recall history.

• Unintended-acceleration and accelerator-pedal-entrapment concerns from the recall era; affected cars fell under floor-mat and pedal recalls that must be confirmed completed.
• Excessive engine oil consumption on the 2.4L 2AZ-FE four-cylinder, often appearing after the warranty and risking low-oil engine damage if not monitored.
• Takata front-airbag inflator recall affecting this generation; the inflator can rupture and must be confirmed repaired.

2008 Toyota Camry Caution

XV40 Camry with the era excessive-oil-consumption and transmission-hesitation issues plus high complaint counts. Durable underneath but needs a careful inspection of engine oil use.

• Unintended-acceleration and accelerator-pedal-entrapment concerns from the recall era; affected cars fell under floor-mat and pedal recalls that must be confirmed completed.
• Excessive engine oil consumption on the 2.4L 2AZ-FE four-cylinder, often appearing after the warranty and risking low-oil engine damage if not monitored.
• Takata front-airbag inflator recall affecting this generation; the inflator can rupture and must be confirmed repaired.

2007 Toyota Camry Avoid

The XV40 troubled first year and by far the most-complained Camry, with 2AZ-FE oil consumption, rough 6-speed shifting and unintended-acceleration concerns. Approachable only with strong service records.

• Unintended-acceleration and accelerator-pedal-entrapment concerns from the recall era; affected cars fell under floor-mat and pedal recalls that must be confirmed completed.
• Excessive engine oil consumption on the 2.4L 2AZ-FE four-cylinder, often appearing after the warranty and risking low-oil engine damage if not monitored.
• Takata front-airbag inflator recall affecting this generation; the inflator can rupture and must be confirmed repaired.

2006 Toyota Camry Caution

Final XV30 Camry: a mechanically durable, easy-to-maintain sedan from the pre-oil-consumption era. Main caveats are age-related electrical/suspension wear and recall-era acceleration complaints.

• Large cluster of unintended-acceleration and vehicle-speed-control complaints, most filed during the 2009-2010 recall era rather than when the cars were new.
• Oil leaks from the valve-cover gasket on both the four-cylinder and V6 engines, common at higher mileage.
• Worn front and rear suspension components (sway-bar links, control-arm bushings and strut mounts) typical of the car at age.

2005 Toyota Camry Caution

Durable, simple XV30 Camry, now aged with high cumulative complaint volume (much of it recall-era acceleration filings) and wear in electrical and suspension parts. A budget buy if well maintained.

• Large cluster of unintended-acceleration and vehicle-speed-control complaints, most filed during the 2009-2010 recall era rather than when the cars were new.
• Oil leaks from the valve-cover gasket on both the four-cylinder and V6 engines, common at higher mileage.
• Worn front and rear suspension components (sway-bar links, control-arm bushings and strut mounts) typical of the car at age.