Toyota Camry: Years to Avoid & Common Problems

The 2007 Toyota Camry is the model year to avoid, with 3,669 complaints filed with NHTSA — a complaint rate 9.81 times the Camry's historical average. Across all Camry model years since 1995, NHTSA data shows 23,490 total complaints, 66 recalls, and 89 investigations, with speed control and engine issues topping the list of concerns.

Key Takeaways

• The 2007 Camry logged 3,669 complaints at a rate 9.81 times the model average, the highest of any Camry year, including 10 recalls issued that year alone.
• Four other model years show elevated complaint rates: 2009 (4.31x), 2002 (3.16x), 2008 (3.05x), and 2018 (2.89x).
• Speed Control is the largest complaint category across all Camry model years, with 3,188 complaints, followed by Engine (2,783), Brakes (2,319), and Body & Structure (1,813).
• Since 1995, the Camry has accumulated 23,490 complaints, 66 recalls, and 89 investigations across all model years combined.
• The 2009 Camry's 1,611 complaints represent the second-highest complaint rate of any model year in the dataset.

Which Camry Model Years Should You Avoid?

Ranked by complaint rate relative to the Camry's overall average, five model years stand out for disproportionately high complaint volume. The table below lists each year's total complaint count and how many times higher its rate runs compared to a typical Camry model year.

Full detail for each year, including complaint breakdowns and recall history, is available on the 2007 Camry, 2009 Camry, and 2002 Camry verdict pages, or on the Toyota Camry hub page for every model year on record.

Why Does the 2007 Camry Have Such a High Complaint Rate?

The 2007 Camry's 9.81x complaint rate is driven largely by speed control and engine complaints, the two largest categories tracked across the model overall. NHTSA also logged 10 recalls tied to the 2007 model year, more than any other single Camry year in the dataset, which likely contributed to owners filing complaints as issues came to light.

What Role Did the 2009-2010 Unintended Acceleration Recalls Play?

This period coincides with the widely reported 2009-2010 unintended-acceleration and "sticky pedal" and floor-mat-entrapment recalls, which involved the accelerator and speed-control systems across multiple Toyota models of that era, including the Camry, and were among the largest and most publicized vehicle recalls in U.S. history. This context plausibly helps explain why Speed Control is the single largest complaint category model-wide and why the 2007 through 2009 Camry years show elevated complaint rates, though the precise link between any individual complaint and these recalls can't be confirmed from complaint totals alone.

What Are the Most Common Camry Problems?

Speed Control, Engine, Brakes, and Body & Structure account for the largest share of complaints across all Camry model years combined. Engine-related complaints (2,783 total) and brake-related complaints (2,319 total) are common enough across the model's history that they're worth checking against the worst engine problems ranking and worst brakes problems ranking to see how the Camry compares to other vehicles.

What Made 2002, 2008, and 2018 Stand Out?

The 2002 Camry's 1,183 complaints (3.16x the model average) fall in a similar range to the 2008 model year's 1,139 complaints (3.05x), suggesting a comparable, if smaller, concentration of issues relative to 2007 and 2009. The 2018 Camry's 1,082 complaints (2.89x) stand apart as a more recent model year with an elevated rate, indicating that complaint concentration on this model isn't limited to the mid-2000s era alone.

How Does VehicleVerdict Calculate "Years to Avoid"?

VehicleVerdict ranks model years by comparing each year's complaint volume against the model's overall average complaint rate, rather than by raw complaint counts alone, since that accounts for differences in production volume and time on the road. The full calculation, including how recalls and investigations factor in, is explained on the methodology page. It's also worth understanding what an NHTSA complaint actually represents before drawing conclusions from any single year's numbers, since complaint counts reflect unverified reports submitted by vehicle owners rather than confirmed defects.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2007 Toyota Camry unsafe to drive?

A high complaint count doesn't mean every 2007 Camry is unsafe. It means NHTSA received a disproportionate share of consumer complaints for that model year relative to how many are on the road. The 2007 Camry accumulated 3,669 complaints and 10 recalls that year, the highest complaint rate of any Camry model year, which is worth researching before buying a used unit from that year.

Which Toyota Camry model year has the fewest complaints?

VehicleVerdict's years-to-avoid ranking highlights the highest complaint-rate years, not the lowest, but by comparison the 2007, 2009, 2002, 2008, and 2018 model years stand well above the Camry's typical complaint rate. Years outside this list generally sit closer to or below the model average, meaning they haven't shown the same concentration of complaints, recalls, or investigations relative to their time on the road.

Does the number of complaints prove the Camry has confirmed defects?

No. NHTSA complaint counts reflect unverified reports submitted directly by vehicle owners and are not confirmed defects, engineering findings, or proof of a systemic problem. They indicate where consumers reported issues, which NHTSA and manufacturers may investigate further. A high count is a signal worth researching, not a verdict on the condition of any single vehicle.

What is the difference between a complaint and a recall?

A complaint is a report filed by a vehicle owner describing a suspected problem, while a recall is a formal manufacturer or NHTSA action requiring a fix. The Camry has 66 recalls across all model years combined, compared to 23,490 total complaints, since most individual complaints never result in a recall. Complaints often surface potential issues before regulators take formal action.

What should I check before buying a 2007-2009 Camry?

Because the 2007, 2008, and 2009 model years show above-average complaint rates and speed control ranks as the top complaint category model-wide, it's worth confirming that all outstanding recalls have been completed by checking the vehicle's VIN. Reviewing maintenance records and requesting a pre-purchase inspection focused on the accelerator and braking systems is a reasonable precaution for any of these three model years.