What ownership is like, what breaks at what mileage, what the repairs cost, and what to check before you buy one.
← All Toyota Camry generations
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). |
No year in this generation was flagged. A year is flagged by our rule only when all three hold: (1) its NHTSA complaints per catalog listing is at least 2.0x the median for its generation, (2) the share of ads that mention a problem is above the generation median, and (3) we track at least 30 listings for that year. The cutoff was fixed before we looked. Ad mentions are not failures, and a flag is a reason to inspect harder, not a verdict on any one car.
| Year | Complaints | Top components | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
source: NHTSA complaints database (api.nhtsa.gov). Complaints are owner reports, not confirmed failures.
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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.