The best Camry years to buy are 2016, 2017 and 2022. Avoid the 2018: the redesign year has about 2.5 times the Camry's average complaints, mostly hesitant shifting and a brake vacuum pump that Toyota recalled twice.
Best years: 201620172022 Years to avoid: 2018
Every Camry year compared
Owner complaints per 100,000 cars sold. Lower is better. The newest years have had less time to collect complaints, so they are marked too new to judge.
Known Camry problems
Year by year
| Year | Complaints | Per 100k sold | Recalls | Top issue | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 52 | - | 1 | Structure | Too new to judge |
| 2023 | 67 | - | 2 | Other | Too new to judge |
| 2022 | 68 | 23 | 1 | Air bags | Good buy |
| 2021 | 166 | 53 | 1 | Air bags | Good year |
| 2020 | 285 | 97 | 3 | Electrical | Average |
| 2019 | 414 | 123 | 7 | Transmission and drivetrain | Average |
| 2018 | 782 | 228 | 8 | Transmission and drivetrain | Skip this year |
| 2017 | 153 | 40 | 3 | Other | Good buy |
| 2016 | 189 | 49 | 3 | Other | Good year |
| 2015 | 286 | 67 | 1 | Steering | Good year |
| 2014 | 480 | 112 | 3 | Transmission and drivetrain | Average |
| 2013 | 301 | 74 | 2 | Transmission and drivetrain | Average |
| 2012 | 646 | 160 | 2 | Transmission and drivetrain | Watch out |
About the Camry
The Camry is famous for reliability and its numbers back that up: most years sit well below other midsize sedans. The exceptions are first years of a new generation. The 2012 had a torque converter shudder, and the 2018 brought a new 8-speed automatic and engine with several recalls.
- 2012-2017: Seventh generation, 2.5L or V6 with a 6-speed. 2012 has transmission shudder; 2015-2017 are excellent.
- 2018 on: Eighth generation with the 8-speed automatic. 2018 is the weak year; 2021 on is very low.
Camry warranty extensions and special coverage
Carmakers sometimes extend the warranty on a part that fails too often, or pay for a fix outside a recall. These notices come from the dealer bulletins Toyota files with NHTSA. 1,366 Camry bulletins are on file in total.
This tsb contains an owner letter.
This communication is informing dealer principals, general managers, service managers & parts managers of a warranty enhancement program initiated by gulf states Toyota, inc.
This communication is informing vehicle owners of a warranty enhancement program initiated by gulf states Toyota, inc.
Dealer Letter: In our continuing efforts to ensure the best in customer satisfaction, Toyota is announcing a Warranty Enhancement Program to extend the warranty coverage for repairs related a U760E Torque Converter Shudder.
Region Letter: In our continuing efforts to ensure the best in customer satisfaction, Toyota is announcing a Warranty Enhancement Program to extend the warranty coverage for repairs related a U760E Torque Converter Shudder.
Warranty Policy Bulletin: Toyota has received reports of customer concerns in which the power moon roof, power sliding doors or power hatch are inoperative from the overhead console switches or require excessive pressure on the...
Warranty Policy Bulletin POL17-01: Toyota has received reports of customer concerns in which the power moon roof, power sliding doors or power hatch are inoperative from the overhead console switches or require excessive pressu...
Dealer Package: Toyota is announcing a Warranty Enhancement Program to extend the warranty coverage on the Overhead Console Switch Assembly on Certain 2012 Model Year Camry, Camry Hybrid, and Certain 2011 ?
Dealer Email: Toyota is announcing a Warranty Enhancement Program to extend the warranty coverage on the Overhead Console Switch Assembly on Certain 2012 Model Year Camry, Camry Hybrid, and Certain 2011 ?
Region Email: Toyota is announcing a Warranty Enhancement Program to extend the warranty coverage on the Overhead Console Switch Assembly on Certain 2012 Model Year Camry, Camry Hybrid, and Certain 2011 ?
Ask a dealer to check a specific car by VIN. Extensions usually have a time or mileage limit.
Government investigations into the Camry
NHTSA opens an investigation when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Some end in a recall and some close without one.
Defect petition DP23005 · 2012, 2013 · opened Nov 2023
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received a petition dated September 19, 2023 from the owner of a 2012 Toyota Prius V requesting that ODI reevaluate its decision to deny DP19-004.
Defect petition DP22005 · 2012–2022 · opened Jan 2023, closed Aug 2023 · led to recall 22V063000
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States.
Defect petition DP19004 · 2012–2014 · opened Sep 2019, closed Jan 2021
On September 19, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a defect petition from Mr.
Camry vs rivals
Which years drew fewer problems per car soldToyota Camry vs Nissan Altima
Which years drew fewer problems per car soldToyota Camry vs Chevrolet Malibu
Which years drew fewer problems per car soldFord Fusion vs Toyota Camry
Which years drew fewer problems per car soldHyundai Sonata vs Toyota Camry
Which years drew fewer problems per car soldToyota Avalon vs Toyota Camry
Which years drew fewer problems per car soldLexus ES vs Toyota Camry
Which years drew fewer problems per car sold
Questions
What is the best year for the Toyota Camry?
2016 and 2017 and 2022. The best Camry years to buy are 2016, 2017 and 2022. Avoid the 2018: the redesign year has about 2.5 times the Camry's average complaints, mostly hesitant shifting and a brake vacuum pump that Toyota recalled twice.
Which Toyota Camry years should I avoid?
2018. These drew far more owner complaints per car sold than the Toyota Camry average.
Based on 3,889 complaints filed by owners with U.S. safety regulators for model years 2012 to 2024, and U.S. sales by calendar year. How we score.