The Camry is one of the safest bets in used cars, but three stretches need a closer look: 2007-2009 four-cylinder cars that burn oil, 2018-2019 cars covered by fuel pump and brake vacuum pump recalls, and early eight-speed cars with rough-shift complaints. Check the VIN for open recalls, then check the dipstick.
A Camry is usually the car people buy when they want to stop thinking about their car. RepairPal rates it 4.0 out of 5, third of 24 midsize cars, with about $388 a year in unscheduled repairs and an 11 percent chance in any year that a repair will be severe. Those are averages across a huge fleet, and in Palm Beach County that fleet includes plenty of Camrys with 180,000 miles still doing school runs on Military Trail.
What changes the math is the specific year and engine. The 2.4-liter cars from 2007-2009 have a known oil appetite, the 2012 cars draw A/C smell and transmission complaints, and the first 2018-2019 cars of the current platform collected several recalls in their first years. The 2025 redesign made every Camry a hybrid, which changes what wears out and what a shop needs to fix it.
Toyota Camry generations
Ninth generation (XV80)
2025-presentNo gas-only or V6 version is sold in the US. Trims are LE, SE, XLE and XSE, with a Nightshade edition added for 2026. Too new for a reliable problem pattern; check recall status before buying one used.
Eighth generation (XV70)
2018-2024All-wheel drive arrived on the four-cylinder for 2020. Facelift for 2021. The early 2018-2019 cars carry most of the recalls, and the eight-speed drew shift-quality complaints.
Seventh generation (XV50)
2012-2017The 2AR-FE replaced the oil-burning 2.4 and has a much better record. A big restyle was shown in April 2014. The 2012 cars have the most owner complaints of this run.
Sixth generation (XV40)
2007-2011The 2007-2009 four-cylinder cars are the ones with oil consumption. V6 cars from 2007-2010 needed a VVT-i oil hose campaign. These are the cars with the softening dashboards.
Known Toyota Camry problems by year
Oil consumption on the 2.4-liter four
CarComplaints lists excessive oil consumption as the top problem for 2007, 2008 and 2009 Camrys and rates 2008 the worst year of the whole nameplate. The cause is piston rings that stop sealing, so the engine loses oil between changes without any visible leak. A car that needs a quart every month is still drivable if you keep it topped up. One that has run low repeatedly is likely to have worn bearings or timing chain trouble on top of the rings.
Guide: Blue smoke from the exhaust: is my car burning oil?V6 VVT-i oil hose rupture
Toyota ran Limited Service Campaign 90K because the rubber section of the oil supply hose to the VVT-i actuator degrades with age. When it lets go, oil sprays from the front of the engine, you hear abnormal noise and the oil pressure light comes on. The extended campaign ended on December 31, 2021, so a car that never got the all-metal line is now an owner expense. If the light comes on, shut the engine off immediately.
Guide: Oil pressure light came on while driving: what to do right nowMusty A/C and water in the cabin
Foul smell when the A/C comes on is one of the top three complaints on 2012 Camrys. The same cars were recalled under 13V-442 because a clogged A/C condensate drain can let water reach the airbag control module. A blocked drain plus Florida humidity means mold on the evaporator and damp carpet. Check the passenger floor after a long A/C run.
Guide: Why does my car A/C smell musty, like mildew or old socks?Transmission complaints, 2012 and 2018
Transmission is a top-three category on CarComplaints for both years. The 2018 complaints are mostly rough or hesitant shifting at low speed, often reported within the first few thousand miles, plus a smaller number of failures around 50,000 miles. On a test drive, pay attention to the 1-2 and 2-3 shifts in stop-and-go traffic.
Guide: Why does my car shift hard or late?Fuel pump that can stall the engine
The in-tank low-pressure pump can fail and stall the car while driving. It is covered by recalls 20V-012 and 20V-682, and a small group of 2018 cars missed in the first round was added under 25V-028. A stumble at highway speed or a long crank is the warning. The pump replacement is free at any Toyota dealer.
Guide: Check engine light on but the car drives fine: what does it mean?Sudden loss of brake assist
A vane in the engine-driven vacuum pump that feeds the brake booster can break. The pedal gets hard and the car takes much longer to stop. This is recall 21V-890, and an earlier recall, 18V-211, covered a machining fault in the same area on some 2018 cars. If the pedal ever feels like stepping on a brick, stop driving and have it towed.
Guide: Why does my brake pedal feel soft or spongy?Notable recalls
- 20V-682 (2018-2020): Expansion of 20V-012. The Denso low-pressure fuel pump in the tank may fail, causing the engine to stall. Free pump replacement.
- 21V-890 (2018-2019): Non-hybrid 2.5-liter cars. A vacuum pump vane cap can break, causing a sudden loss of brake power assist.
- 18V-200 (2018): A small batch of four-cylinder cars was built with oversized pistons, which could make the engine stall.
- 13V-442 (2012-2013): A clogged A/C drain hose can drip water onto the airbag control module, which could disable the airbags or set one off.
- 23V-865 (2020-2022): The front passenger occupant classification sensor can short, so the passenger airbag may not deploy.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised Toyota dealer. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, since this list is not complete.
Maintenance that matters
| Every 5,000 miles | Rotate tires and look at the oil level on the dipstick. On a 2007-2009 four-cylinder, check oil at every fill-up instead. |
| Every 10,000 miles or 12 months | Synthetic oil and filter in the grade printed on the oil filler cap. Short-trip Boca driving is a good reason to stay closer to 5,000-7,500 miles. |
| Every 15,000-20,000 miles | Cabin filter. In a Camry it sits behind the glovebox and takes five minutes, and a fresh one helps the musty A/C problem. |
| Around 60,000 miles | Drain and refill the automatic transmission with Toyota WS fluid. Inspect the serpentine belt and the coolant hoses. |
| 100,000-120,000 miles | Spark plugs and the first coolant change. On the V6, budget for the water pump at about the same time if the pulley shows any pink crust. |
Confirm against your owner's manual or maintenance minder for your exact year and engine.
Typical Toyota Camry repair costs
| Job | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Synthetic oil change | $75-$125 | |
| Front brake pads, one axle | $300-$420 | RepairPal's national range is $304-$368; add rotors for $150-$250 more. |
| Water pump, 2.5-liter four-cylinder | $650-$900 | V6 pumps take more labor and run higher. |
| A/C compressor | $1,350-$2,300 | 2010-2012 cars price higher, up to about $3,100. |
| Alternator | $600-$950 | |
| Spark plugs, four-cylinder | $170-$280 | |
| Transmission fluid drain-and-fill | $260-$360 | |
| Used engine installed, 2.4-liter oil burner | $3,000-$4,800 | Often cheaper than rebuilding rings on a car worth $5,000-$7,000. |
Typical South Florida ranges for parts and labor, for budgeting only. Your quote depends on the vehicle and the shop.
Buying a used Toyota Camry
- Best value: 2012-2017 four-cylinder cars and 2015-2017 especially. The 2.5-liter 2AR-FE does not have the 2.4's oil problem, the six-speed is well proven, and prices are reasonable. Check that the A/C drain recall 13V-442 was done on 2012-2013 cars.
- Approach 2007-2009 four-cylinder cars with care. Ask how much oil it uses, pull the dipstick before the test drive, and look for blue smoke at startup. On a V6 from 2007-2010, ask for proof the VVT-i oil line was replaced with the metal one.
- For 2018-2020 cars, print the NHTSA recall report from the VIN and make sure the fuel pump and brake vacuum pump recalls show as completed. Later 2021-2024 cars have had fewer complaints and are the better buy if the budget stretches.
- Hybrid Camrys from 2018 on are excellent city cars for Boca traffic, but get the hybrid battery health checked during a pre-purchase inspection, especially on cars that lived in a hot garage or sat for long periods.
The Florida factor
The 2012-2013 drain recall is a Florida story. That A/C drain runs nearly constantly from May to October here, and leaves, sand and wasp nests clog its outlet under the passenger side. Once it backs up, water pools in the HVAC box, the cabin smells like a wet towel, and on those years it can reach the airbag module. If you see a puddle under the car after driving with the A/C on, that is normal. No puddle on a humid afternoon is the warning sign.
Camrys from 2007-2011 parked outside in Boca had their dashboards turn soft and shiny, and the fix today is a used dash or a cover. Today's Camry lives with a different heat problem: stop-and-go on Glades Road and Palmetto Park Road keeps the cooling fan and A/C working hard at idle. Fan relays and condenser fans fail more often in this climate. A Camry whose temperature gauge creeps up at a long light but drops on the highway is telling you the fan is weak.
If you buy a Camry that was a snowbird's car, ask how long it sat. Months of storage over a Florida summer leave the 12-volt battery dead and the tires flat-spotted, and old fuel can worsen a weak pump on 2018-2020 cars that never got the recall.
Repair shops near Boca Raton
- Boca Auto Fix4301 Oak Circle, Boca Raton, FL, 33431
- Element, Pickup trucks and trailer repair3120D Northwest 16th Terrace, Pompano Beach, FL, 33064
- Europen Auto Service CentreParkland, FL
- Ferrari of Boca Raton6403 W Rogers Cir, Boca Raton, FL, 33487
- FirestonePompano Beach, FL
- Firestone1259 North Federal Highway, Boca Raton, FL, 33432
Toyota Camry FAQ
Which Camry years should I avoid?
The 2007-2009 four-cylinder cars are the main ones to approach carefully because of oil consumption. On the current platform, 2018 draws the most transmission complaints and carries the most recalls. Nearly every other year is a good car if the maintenance records are there.
Is the V6 Camry less reliable than the four-cylinder?
Not by much. The 3.5-liter V6 is strong, but plugs and the water pump cost more to replace, and 2007-2010 cars needed the VVT-i oil line campaign. The V6 was dropped after 2024, so later cars are four-cylinder hybrids only.
Does the 2025 hybrid-only Camry cost more to maintain?
Routine maintenance is similar, and brake pads last longer because the hybrid recovers energy when you slow down. The long-term unknowns are the hybrid battery and inverter cooling, which Toyota covers for 10 years or 150,000 miles on recent models.
My Camry stalled once on the highway. What should I do?
If it is a 2018-2020 car, run the VIN through the NHTSA recall lookup before paying for diagnosis. A stall is the classic symptom of the recalled fuel pump, and the fix is free at a Toyota dealer.
Guides for Toyota Camry owners
More for Toyota owners: Toyota owner's guide
- NHTSA recall 21V-890: Camry brake vacuum pump
- NHTSA recall 13V-442: A/C drain and airbag control module
- Toyota LSC 90K extension bulletin: 2GR-FE VVT-i oil hose
- CarComplaints: Toyota Camry problems by model year
- RepairPal: Toyota Camry reliability and repair costs
General information, not a diagnosis. A car problem can have causes a guide cannot see, so have anything safety-related inspected in person. Read our editorial policy.