Every generation: what ownership is like, what breaks at what mileage, what repairs cost, and what to check before you buy.
The Camry is the car you buy when you don't want to think about your car. PartsAdvisory calls it America's best-selling passenger car for most of its life. The few real problems it has are worth knowing before you buy.
'Camry' covers nine generations. One of them has an expensive, well-documented engine issue: 2007-2009 four-cylinders (the 2.4L 2AZ-FE) can burn oil, and the fix is a piston-and-ring replacement. Another, 2012-2014, has a torque-converter shudder. The early 8-speed in 2018-2019 has a software issue. Most of the rest is boring in the best way.
This page walks each generation: what it's like to own, what breaks at what mileage, what the repair costs, and what to check when you're standing in front of one. We also show our own numbers: NHTSA complaints per catalog listing and how often ads mention a problem, always with the denominators.
problems cluster by generation, not by badge — know which one you're looking at
Our catalog has only 4 to 17 listings per year for these cars and no cleared sales, so we have no price or ad-mention story to tell. NHTSA lists 330 complaints for 1995 and 476 for 1996, led by hydraulic brakes and engine/cooling. At this age the real question is the individual car: rust, maintenance history, and whether the V6 timing belt was ever done.
| Miles | Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| about 90K miles or 9 years (applies to the 1994-96 1MZ-FE V6) | Timing belt on the 3.0L V6 (1MZ-FE) | $628 average (YourMechanic: $208 parts, $420 labor); RepairPal range $633-$1,081 | Only the 3.0L V6 has a belt; the four-cylinders don't need this job. The interval comes from a Toyota 2005 maintenance log for the 1MZ-FE. No receipt for a belt on a V6 this old means treat it as due. |
| age-driven | Brake and engine-cooling complaints lead the NHTSA record | Not verified - no source priced a repair for this generation | For 1995 the top NHTSA complaint areas are hydraulic brakes and air bags; for 1996 they are engine/cooling and hydraulic brakes. Counts are small-sample and decades old: use it as a checklist (brake lines, coolant leaks), not a prediction. |
Plain transportation by now. Most trouble reports across the 1997-2001 NHTSA record are brakes, engine/cooling and (2000-2001) vehicle speed control. Oil sludge in the 3.0L V6 and the 2.2L four is the one pattern with a manufacturer program behind it, and that program has long expired.
| Miles | Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| age and maintenance driven | Engine oil sludge (3.0L V6 1997-2002 and 2.2L 5S-FE 1997-2001) | Repair cost for sludge itself: not verified. Owner-reported engine failures on CarComplaints (cause not stated as sludge): $2,000 (1999 seized engine, $139K average) to $4,200 (1997 engine failure, $104K average) | Toyota paid sludge repairs for 8 years from purchase with unlimited miles on these engines, so every car in this generation is now outside the program. A sludged engine is usually found by pulling the oil fill cap and looking for black varnish or jelly; a clean cap and service records are the best evidence you can get. |
| about 90K miles or 9 years (V6 only) | Timing belt on the 3.0L V6 (1MZ-FE) | $628 average (YourMechanic: $208 parts, $420 labor); RepairPal range $633-$1,081 | Only the 3.0L V6 has a belt; the four-cylinders don't need this job. The interval comes from a Toyota 2005 maintenance log for the 1MZ-FE. No receipt for a belt on a V6 this old means treat it as due. |
The 2.4L four-cylinder's weak point is head-bolt thread pull-out, which leads to a leaking head gasket; it is an age-and-mileage problem with a known repair. NHTSA complaints per catalog listing run from 2.8 (2006) to 7.2 (2002), and vehicle speed control is the top complaint category in the 2002 through 2006 records.
| Miles | Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| about 135K-145K miles (owner-reported averages 136K and 141K) | 2.4L head-bolt thread pull-out and head-gasket leak (2AZ-FE) | $2,700-2,840 owner-reported average (CarComplaints, 2002-2003); RepairPal range for a Camry head gasket $2,800-3,773 | Symptom is oil or coolant loss with no obvious puddle. The usual fix is thread inserts (Time-Sert or Helicoil) in the block at the head-gasket job, which is why it costs more than a plain gasket swap. CarComplaints counts 25 complaints for 2003 alone at an average 141,500 miles. |
| about 70K-115K miles | Automatic transmission failure | $3,200-3,700 owner-reported average (2002: $3,200 at 115K; 2005: $3,700 at 70K) | Two single-year averages from owner reports, not a repair-shop price list. Check fluid color and condition and feel for flares between gears on the test drive. |
| about 90K miles or 9 years (3.0L 1MZ-FE V6, 2002-2004) | Timing belt on the 3.0L V6 (1MZ-FE) | $628 average (YourMechanic: $208 parts, $420 labor); RepairPal range $633-$1,081 | The interval is Toyota's for the 1MZ-FE; for the 3.3L V6 fitted from 2004, confirm the belt interval in the owner's manual. No receipt on a V6 this old means treat the belt as due. |
| any | Crankshaft pulley recall (2004-2005 1MZ-FE V6) | No charge at a Toyota dealer if the recall is open (campaign 11V539000) | The pulley can separate. Confirm by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls that it was completed. |
This generation is where almost every 'Camry years to avoid' list lands, and for one reason: the 2007-2009 four-cylinder uses oil. Toyota's own bulletins confirm the problem and the fix (new pistons and rings), but neither bulletin gives a price. The V6 and the 2010-2011 2.5L are separate engines with their own histories. Our own NHTSA-per-listing rate peaks at 8.8 complaints per listing in 2007 and drops each year to 1.8 by 2011.
| Miles | Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| about 95K-110K miles | 2.4L four-cylinder (2AZ-FE) oil consumption, 2007-2009 | $1,200-2,700 owner-reported (2007: $2,400 at 97K; 2008: $2,700 at 107K; 2009: $1,200 at 96K); one service-manager quote of about $2,000 for pistons and rings | Toyota's bulletin T-SB-0094-11 says the piston assembly was changed to reduce consumption, and T-SB-0030-15 gives the repair: pull the engine and replace the piston and ring set. CoverageX says owners add oil every 1,000-2,000 miles, some as often as a quart every 500. Ask how often the seller tops up the oil and whether the pistons were already replaced. |
| age driven (owner average about 100K miles) | Dashboard turns sticky or melts, 2007-2011 | $500 owner-reported average at about 100K miles (2007); Toyota's free warranty enhancement program has expired | The dash surface goes tacky or melts. Toyota ran a warranty enhancement program for 2007-2011 Camrys, but it has ended. Look at the dash in sunlight; a cracked, sticky or covered dash tells you how the car lived. |
| typically 8-12 years in service | Hybrid battery replacement (Camry Hybrid, 2007-2011) | From about $1,600 installed for a remanufactured pack (HybridRestoration); $1,599 reman or $3,599 new OEM (Illinois shop) | Two independent shops, similar reman pricing. Ask for the battery's replacement history and a hybrid-system scan. |
| about 78K miles | Transmission failure on some 2011 cars | $3,700 owner-reported average (2011) | A single-year owner-reported average; treat it as a prompt to check fluid and shift quality, not as a pattern. |
A quieter ownership story than Gen 6. Owner complaints centre on a torque-converter shudder in 2012-2014 cars, and mold or musty smells from the A/C on 2012-2014. NHTSA complaints per listing decline from 2.0 (2012) to 0.7 (2017). A note on our own data: NHTSA files 2014 Camry complaints under two names, 'CAMRY' and 'CAMRY HV'; we combine them (480 complaints) so the 2014 rate isn't understated.
| Miles | Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| about 50K-75K miles (owner-reported: 53K, 72K) | Torque-converter shudder / transmission hesitation, 2012-2014 | $1,900-2,500 for the converter job at independent and some dealer prices (Bogleheads $2,057 with fluid; CarComplaints $1,900 at 72K; ToyotaNation $2,500); other owners report quotes of $2,800 to $5,000, and one was quoted almost $6,000 for a full transmission swap | Symptom owners describe is a shudder when accelerating. Owner-reported prices span a wide range, so get two quotes. CarComplaints also has a 2012 owner reporting transmission failure at 53K miles for $5,200. |
| age driven | A/C musty or moldy smell, 2012-2014 | $100 (a 2014 owner-reported musty-A/C fix at 15K miles) to a $1,200 compressor at 56K miles (2014) | CarComplaints lists a foul A/C smell for 2012 and mold for 2013, and CoPilot reports a class action over A/C mold. Toyota's recall 13V442000 (2012-2013) is a separate A/C condenser drain hose problem that can wet the airbag module; confirm by VIN it was done. |
| any | Recalls on specific years | Free at a Toyota dealer when the recall is open | 13V505000 (2013-2014 wiper switch), 14V576000 (2014 fuel delivery pipe leak), 14V715000 (2014 front lower control arm, 16/17-inch wheels), 15V144000 (2015 electric power steering ECU), 16V215000 (2016 occupant classification), 16V906000 (2017 knee airbag). Confirm by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. |
Owner reports on the 2018 and 2019 cars centre on the 8-speed: rough shifting at low speed, plus some owner-reported transmission failures. Toyota issued software bulletins that most sources say help. Our NHTSA data shows 3.04 complaints per catalog listing for 2018, which is 2.3 times the generation median of 1.31. Our rule needs ads to mention a problem more often than the generation median as well, and for 2018 they don't (5 of 198 ads, 2.5%, against a 3.2% median), so 2018 is not flagged. The same is true of 2019 (2.5 complaints per listing, 1 of 108 ads).
| Miles | Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| from new; owner reports at 3K-50K miles | 8-speed automatic: rough or hesitant low-speed shifting (2018-2021) | Software update price: not verified (Gearbox Insider says it is often covered under powertrain warranty). Owner-reported failures: $4,900 at 50K miles (2018) and $9,400 total failure at 119K miles (2019) | The UA80 8-speed hesitates, hunts for gears and downshifts abruptly at low speeds. Toyota issued bulletins T-SB-0330-17 and TSB-0043-19, both involving ECM and transmission reprogramming. CarGurus, Gearbox Insider and Rohnert Park Transmission all say the update resolves most complaints. Ask the seller whether it has been applied, and feel the 2nd-to-3rd shift on the test drive. |
| any | 2018: 2.5L engine pistons recall (18V200000) | Free at a Toyota dealer when open | Pistons may be larger than specified, which can damage the engine. Confirm by VIN it was done on any 2018 four-cylinder. |
| any | Other recalls on specific years | Free at a Toyota dealer when open | 18V108000 (2018 V6 fuel delivery pipes), 21V890000 (2018-2019 vacuum pump for brake assist), 25V028000 (2018 low-pressure fuel pump), 20V012000 and 20V682000 (2018-2020 fuel pump), 20V064000 (2020 2.5L engine casting porosity), 19V567000 (2019 occupant classification), 23V432000 (2023 loose lug nuts), 24V128000 (2023-2024 rear seat head restraint brackets). |
Two model years old, so there is no year-to-year hardware change to track, and not enough ownership history to tell a pattern. What exists is recalls: four NHTSA campaigns so far. We have no NHTSA complaint-per-listing rate for this generation yet.
| Miles | Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| any | Hybrid inverter bolt (25V869000) | Free: inverter assembly replacement under the recall | A bolt inside the inverter may not be torqued correctly, which can cause loss of motive power or an electrical short. Applies to 2025-2026 Camry Hybrid. |
| any | Instrument cluster can go dark at start-up (26V511000, August 2026) | Free: dealer software update | The cluster display can fail at start-up, taking the hazard lights, turn signals, seat-belt reminder and smart-key chime with it. The buyer's guide cites 508,354 vehicles built December 2023 to July 2026. |
| any | Other recalls: rear camera and rear seat belt | Free at a Toyota dealer | 25V744000 (Panoramic View Monitor can freeze or blank), 25V059000 (2025 second-row centre seat belt webbing). |
| Variant | Years | What it means for a buyer |
|---|---|---|
| Camry Hybrid | 2007-present | Same body as the gas Camry. Hybrid-specific items (battery, inverter) are priced in the generation sections. In the US the 2025 Camry is hybrid only. |
| Camry Solara | Built alongside Gens 4-6 | Shares the Camry platform but has its own body (per PartsAdvisory). It shares the Camry's engines, so the 2AZ-FE oil-consumption bulletin covers it too (T-SB-0094-11 names 2007-2008 Solara). |
the story above, validated by two independent sources: federal complaints (NHTSA) + what sellers mention in 3916 real ads from our catalog
| Issue | Ads mentioning | Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| rust | 117/3916 | 3.0% | |
| electrical | 111/3916 | 2.8% | |
| hybrid battery | 51/3916 | 1.3% | |
| suspension | 36/3916 | 0.9% | |
| engine replaced | 26/3916 | 0.7% | |
| timing chain | 23/3916 | 0.6% | |
| transmission | 12/3916 | 0.3% | |
| head gasket | 9/3916 | 0.2% | |
| oil consumption | 7/3916 | 0.2% | |
| ac failure | 7/3916 | 0.2% | |
| egr | 4/3916 | 0.1% |
complaint volume spikes show where problems cluster — higher bars, more owner pain
| Year | Complaints | Top components | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 330 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Air Bags, Engine And Engine Cooling | |
| 1996 | 476 | Engine And Engine Cooling, Service Brakes, Hydraulic,... | |
| 1997 | 587 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Engine And Engine Cooling, Suspension | |
| 1998 | 647 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Engine And Engine Cooling,... | |
| 1999 | 621 | Engine And Engine Cooling, Air Bags, Service Brakes, Hydraulic | |
| 2000 | 538 | Vehicle Speed Control, Engine And Engine Cooling,... | |
| 2001 | 334 | Vehicle Speed Control, Engine And Engine Cooling, Air Bags | |
| 2002 | 1,043 | Vehicle Speed Control, Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Engine... | |
| 2003 | 818 | Vehicle Speed Control, Engine And Engine Cooling,... | |
| 2004 | 799 | Vehicle Speed Control, Steering, Air Bags | |
| 2005 | 721 | Vehicle Speed Control, Power Train, Steering | |
| 2006 | 435 | Vehicle Speed Control, Air Bags, Structure | |
| 2007 | 3,616 | Vehicle Speed Control, Structure, Engine | |
| 2008 | 1,178 | Visibility, Structure, Engine | |
| 2009 | 1,413 | Vehicle Speed Control, Engine, Structure | |
| 2010 | 614 | Vehicle Speed Control, Unknown Or Other, Structure | |
| 2011 | 625 | Unknown Or Other, Visibility/wiper, Air Bags | |
| 2012 | 645 | Power Train, Unknown Or Other, Air Bags | |
| 2013 | 301 | Power Train, Unknown Or Other, Air Bags | |
| 2014 | 480 | Power Train, Unknown Or Other, Electrical System | |
| 2015 | 271 | Steering, Service Brakes, Power Train | |
| 2016 | 189 | Air Bags, Unknown Or Other, Steering | |
| 2017 | 148 | Unknown Or Other, Air Bags, Vehicle Speed Control | |
| 2018 | 754 | Power Train, Service Brakes, Unknown Or Other | |
| 2019 | 400 | Power Train, Unknown Or Other, Fuel/propulsion System | |
| 2020 | 275 | Electrical System, Air Bags, Engine | |
| 2021 | 158 | Air Bags, Unknown Or Other, Power Train | |
| 2022 | 65 | Air Bags, Visibility/wiper, Power Train | |
| 2023 | 65 | Unknown Or Other, Electrical System, Service Brakes | |
| 2024 | 52 | Unknown Or Other, Structure, Tires |
total: 18,598 complaints on file · source: NHTSA complaints database (api.nhtsa.gov)
Own a Toyota Camry, or pricing one? See what they're actually selling for →
We don't tell you to skip a year; we flag it by a fixed rule (see 'Years flagged' under each generation), and no Camry year trips it. Two come close on the first test and fail the second. 2007: 3,616 NHTSA complaints across 412 catalog listings (8.78 per listing against a Gen 6 median of 3.99, 2.2x), but ads mention a problem in 28 of 277 cases (10.1% vs a 12.5% median). 2018: 3.04 complaints per listing against 1.31 (2.3x), and 5 of 198 ads (2.5% vs 3.2%). Owners' reports still concentrate in two places: the 2007-2009 four-cylinder's oil consumption, and early 8-speed shifting in 2018-2019. Check those on any year in range.
It depends on the generation. Gen 5 (2002-2006): head-bolt thread pull-out on the 2.4L and the V6 timing belt. Gen 6 (2007-2011): 2.4L oil consumption in 2007-2009, dashboards that go sticky, and the hybrid battery on Hybrids. Gen 7 (2012-2017): a torque-converter shudder on 2012-2014 cars and musty A/C. Gen 8 (2018-2024): rough shifting from the 8-speed on 2018-2021 gas cars. Each is priced, with sources, in the generation sections above.
The 2007-2009 four-cylinder (2AZ-FE) does. Toyota's bulletin T-SB-0094-11 says the piston assembly was changed to reduce oil consumption, and T-SB-0030-15 lists the fix as replacing the piston and ring set with the engine out. Owner-reported repair costs run $1,200 (2009) to $2,700 (2008) on CarComplaints, with one service-manager quote near $2,000. Our own ad data shows oil consumption mentioned in 7 of 3,912 enriched Camry ads; ad mentions are not failure counts.
The 3.0L V6 (1MZ-FE; the 1994-1996 and 2002-2004 cars covered above) has a belt; Toyota's 2005 maintenance log lists 90,000 miles or 108 months. YourMechanic puts the job at about $628 ($208 parts, $420 labor) and RepairPal at $633-$1,081. The 2AZ-FE four-cylinder uses a chain (JDM Engine's guide). For the 3.3L and 3.5L V6s we have no sourced answer, so check the owner's manual.
For a 2007-2011 Camry Hybrid: from about $1,600 installed for a remanufactured pack (HybridRestoration), or $1,599 reman and $3,599 new OEM at one Illinois shop. Greentec says Camry Hybrid batteries typically last 8-12 years. Prices are from shop listings, not a quote for your car.
Early 8-speed (UA80) cars hesitate and shift roughly at low speed. Toyota issued bulletins T-SB-0330-17 and TSB-0043-19 and several sources say the software update fixes most cases. Owner-reported failures exist ($4,900 at 50K miles on a 2018, $9,400 total failure at 119K on a 2019) but they are individual reports, not a rate. Ask the seller whether the update was applied.