One of the worst Camry years
Owners filed about 2.7 times as many complaints as a typical Camry year. The main thing to watch is the transmission and drivetrain, which half of owners reported by about 10,000 miles. Years with fewer complaints: 2016, 2017 and 2021.
Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Camry years from 2012 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.
Owners have filed 754 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Toyota Camry. The most reported problem area is the transmission and drivetrain (200, 27% of complaints), followed by the brakes and stability control and the engine and cooling. That is the most complaints of any Camry year from 2012 to 2024. It has 8 recalls.
2 of these complaints came from Utah owners.
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Start my car searchMost reported problems
Problem areas ranked by how many complaints mention them. One complaint can name more than one area. Open an area to see what to check on a 2018 Toyota Camry before you buy.
Transmission and drivetrain
200 complaintsHarsh or delayed shifts, slipping, shuddering, CVT whine, and drivetrain clunks.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 10,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
- Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
- Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
- If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.
Tools that help
What owners said
Not sure if i'm reporting this correctly. my camry started making noise and it was a transmission issue. i went online and it seems to be a common complaint for 2018 and 2019 toyota camry's, when they reach approx 125k to 135 k. don't know if anything can be done but it would be nice to find out if this is more common then expected and…Owner complaint, filed 2026
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle was jerking and hesitating. The failure was a recurring failure. The dealer was contacted and was able to reproduce the failure. The vehicle was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 69,000 miles
Brakes and stability control
172 complaintsBrakes that feel soft or grab, grinding, ABS and stability control faults.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 50,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
- The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
- Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while parking on two occasions, a "brake pressure low, stop at a safe place" message appeared and an unknown warning light. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where she was informed that there was an unknown recall associated with the failure and it was diagnosed…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 60,184 miles
The Vacuum Pump for the Power Assist Brake System failed on my vehicle, the dealership would not provide me with the failed unit as they "have to send it back to Toyota". My brake assist was very inconsistent, sometimes barely had any which lead to very poor braking, accompanied with a KNOWN problematic knocking noise with an active TSB.…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Engine and cooling
142 complaintsStalling, misfires, oil consumption, leaks, overheating and engine failure.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 19,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
- Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
- Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
- Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.
Tools that help
What owners said
My 2018 Toyota Camry LE went into Limp mode while drive on the highway causing jerking while driving and tons of error codes on the dash, and issues with safety systems shutting off and accelration. After towing to a dealership, dealership gave me the following description of the defect: Coolant is coming through the cylinder walls due…Owner complaint, filed 2026
On September 6, my 2018 toryota camry just stoopped all of the suddden in the middle of a 6 lane road. No warning lights or such until that exact moment. The car went into safe moode as I was driving. The water pump and associated parts failed. The electrical part of the water pump went and took the pump, thermostat, gaskets, etc. to be…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Fuel system
105 complaintsHesitation, stalling, fuel smell, fuel pump and injector failures.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 27,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
- On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
- Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.
Tools that help
What owners said
I am filing a formal complaint regarding a severe safety recall compliance violation and predatory conditional repair tactic committed by an authorized Toyota dealership. My vehicle exhibited severe engine sputtering and stalling symptoms. This vehicle had an active, federally mandated safety recall for a defective low-pressure Denso…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Toyota has recognized a problem with the low pressure fuel pump on some 2018 Camry cars which causes a hesitation when driving from a stop creating a rear danger of a rear-end collision. It has been happening intermitantly everysince car was new.. Toyota claimed that my vin was not one of the ones recalled even though I experienced the…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Cruise control and acceleration
75 complaintsHesitation, loss of power, sudden acceleration and cruise control problems.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 5,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
- Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.
Tools that help
What owners said
My toyota camry 2018 se have a delayed acceleration. I .e when you go on a highway and press the gas pedal it will increase the rpm but not the car speed and seems like car is not in d but on n. Lot of people complaining about this issue with 2018 and above models. Toyota needs to look into this matter.Owner complaint, filed 2020
When driving with the pre collusion system cruise control activated the car slams on it's brakes dropping up to 19 MPH instantly and can come to a complete stop per toyota. It almost got me run over by a semi. I filed via the toyota lemon law website to no avail. In 2018 the pre-collusion sensor was tied into the pedestrian sensor. Hence…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 4,800 miles
Electrical system
68 complaintsDead batteries, warning lights, failed screens and cameras, and electrical shorts.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 18,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
- Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
- Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.
Tools that help
What owners said
I brought my 2018 Camry in because of check engine light and was told it was due to the vsv purge valve ($372) and the coolant bypass valve ($1100)- *note I later found out due to my own research that Toyota has an National Warranty Extensions on this part due to failure on 2018-2023 models! After agreeing to replace the costly bypass…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Hazard lights turn on by there self once turned off they will turn back on. When I try to use a turn signal the hazard lights will turn on instead of my turn signalOwner complaint, filed 2026
Steering
61 complaintsLoss of power steering assist, wandering, play in the wheel and noises when turning.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 48,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
- On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
- A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.
Tools that help
What owners said
Tsb-0028-22 - car diagnosed at dealership with issue stated within the service bulletin and as noted in the civil action suit. However, specific VIN is not included in the covered list by [VIN]. Customer will escalate until resolution *intermediate steering shaft assyOwner complaint, filed 2026
The steering has become hard. There are no lights showing on my dashboard. The steering is hitching, catching, and hard to return to the center during slow and fast speeds. I feel it is very unsafe to drive. I have called the toyota service and they said there is an active warranty/recall for this specific issue (customer service program…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Driver assist systems
59 complaintsPhantom braking, false collision warnings, and lane keeping or backup sensors that act up.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 22,000 miles. Parts named most: Automatic emergency braking (27), Warnings (22), Adaptive cruise control (7).
What to check before you buy
- Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
- Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
- Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.
Tools that help
What owners said
Dashboard Indicator states Intelligent Clearance Sonar (ICS) System Malfunction and associated symbol indicates non-functional accident avoidance system. Appointment set up with Toyota for diagnosis and repair.Owner complaint, filed 2025
Front rear camera has failed. multiple codes pop up including headlight system malfunction, LDA malfunction, Pre-collision malfunction. Codes pop up after clearing cant see digital speedometer. Confirmed by dealer camera needs replaced. Costs are over 2,000 USD.Owner complaint, filed 2025
Lights, wipers and visibility
35 complaintsHeadlights that dim or fail, wiper and washer failures, and windshield cracks.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 12,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
- Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.
Tools that help
What owners said
I own a 2018 Toyota Camry XSE with a sunroof that is currently stuvck in tilt/ open position and will not close. Multiple independent mechanics have refused to attempt repair due to the high likelihood of the glass or mechanism breaking, and have advised that only Toyota dealership should handle the issue due to liability concerns. This…Owner complaint, filed 2026
The panoramic roof on the 2018 Camry XSE is stuck in the vented position and will not close. This is a known issue with this car and year, as well as other years. Window makes loud noises when trying to close and just remains open with no other way to manually close it.Owner complaint, filed 2026
Air bags
22 complaintsAir bag warning lights, air bags that did not deploy, and inflator recalls.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 64,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
- Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Camry. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the driver’s side air bag warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the warning light illuminated intermittently but had since remained illuminated consistently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who confirmed that there was no recall on…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 130,000 miles
The contact owned a 2018 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while his son was driving at approximately 50 MPH he fell asleep and the vehicle left the roadway. The contact stated that the vehicle crashed into a tree head-on. The contact stated that the vehicle's front end was crushed by the tree, however, the driver's side air bag had…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 216,000 miles
Wheels and tires
20 complaintsTire failures, wheels and lug nuts, and tire pressure sensor faults.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 13,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
- Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
- The tire pressure light should go out after startup.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Camry equipped with Nokian Tires, Tire Line: Encompass AW01, Tire Size: 235/45/R18, DOT Number: 03B431937. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, it was discovered upon inspection that all four tires had experienced tread separation. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The tires…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Camry equipped with Hankook Tires, Tire Line: Kinergy GT, Tire Size: 235/45/R18, DOT Number: 5MN91BH. The contact stated that during a routine tire rotation, the tire technician advised the contact that she needed to replace all four tires due to premature treadwear. The vehicle was taken to the dealer…Owner complaint, filed 2023, at 95,000 miles
Body, doors and structure
16 complaintsRust, doors and liftgates that will not latch, leaks, and frame or structure concerns.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 5,000 miles. Parts named most: Body (15).
What to check before you buy
- Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
- Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
- Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.
Tools that help
What owners said
I am not sure why Toyota decided to set the front bumper quite low compared to other similar sized sedans from different brands out there. In the almost 4 years since I've owned this car I have had multiple scratches and scrapes on the underside of the front bumper; it's ridiculous. A very small dip in the road most of the time leads to…Owner complaint, filed 2021
At around 1,800 miles, headliner above driver side door pillar began intermittently buzzing like a bee, causing distracted driving, noise occurs on all types of road service for varying lengths of times. Buzzing noise may persist for hours on a long drive. The buzzing can be stopped by pressing on the headliner. An additional noise…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 1,800 miles
Suspension
10 complaintsClunks over bumps, broken springs, worn struts and uneven tire wear.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
- Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
- Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.
Tools that help
What owners said
I have a 2018 Toyota Camry XSE with 67,000 miles. The car started making a clinking noise when driving over small bumps, increasingly getting louder over the course of a few days. I took it in to a mechanic and both the left and right strut mounts and coils were rusted and fully cracked . When lifted, both front tires fell to the sides.…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Brought my vehicle to Costco to have the tires replaced. After the vehicle was put on the lift, the wheel broke off. Fortunately no one was underneath at the time. Costco did no further work because of this so car was then towed to dealership. They confirmed that the strut mounts were rusted so badly that it caused it to just break away…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Seats and seat belts
10 complaintsBelts that will not latch or retract, seat adjusters and passenger occupancy sensors.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 20,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
- Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.
Tools that help
What owners said
A complaint was filed on 08/07/2025 with NO response from NHTSA (complaint #116789863) about the part which Toyota is still not able to provide to ensure the safety of individuals in the car if an accident were to occur. This has been an ongoing issue since March 19,2025. Toyota just sent another update stating the part will possibly be…Owner complaint, filed 2025
While driving my car it showed an SRS Airbag System Malfunction contact your dealership message. On March 19,2025 we took our car into the dealership, and they stated the car was drivable, but if we were in a head on collision the seatbelt would not tighten to keep us from hitting the steering wheel/dashboard/windshield. The part was not…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Toyota Camry complaints by year
Compare the 2018 with other years before you choose one. Tap a year to see its problems.
Compare with similar 2018 midsize cars
Each car is rated against its own other years, since popular models always get more complaints than rare ones.
| Car | Vs. its other years | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 Toyota Camry | Among the worst years | 8 |
| 2018 Honda Accord | Among the worst years | 6 |
| 2018 Hyundai Sonata | One of the better years | 1 |
| 2018 Kia Optima | One of the better years | 2 |
2018 Toyota Camry recalls
Fuel system Fuel pump
- Risk
- Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Camry, 2019 Lexus NX300, and 2019 RX350L vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Brakes Vacuum
- Risk
- A sudden loss of braking assist can increase the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will repair or replace the vacuum pump, as necessary, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Camry vehicles. The vane cap inside the vacuum pump may break, causing the pump to fail, which could result in a sudden loss of braking assist.
Fuel system Fuel pump
- Risk
- If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 4Runner, 2019-2020 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2017-2019 Highlander, 2018-2020 Camry, 2020 Corolla, 2018-2019 Land Cruiser, 2017-2020 Tacoma, 2019-2020 RAV4, 2019-2020 Sequoia, 2017-2020 Sienna, 2019-2020 Tundra, 2018-2020 Lexus ES350, 2017 Lexus GS200t, 2017-2019 Lexus GS350, 2019 Lexus GS300, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500h, 2019-2020 Lexus LS500, 2018-2019 Lexus GX460, 2017 Lexus IS200t, 2019 Lexus IS300, 2019 Lexus IS350, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500, 2018 Lexus LS500, 2019 Lexus LS500h, 2018-2019 Lexus LX570, 2017 Lexus RC200t, 2019 Lexus RC300, RC350, 2017 and 2019-2020 Lexus RX350, 2018-2020 RX350L, 2019 Lexus UX200, 2018-2019 Lexus NX300 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Fuel system Fuel pump
- Risk
- If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on January 13, 2020. On March 4, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include certain 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser, 2018 Avalon, Corolla, 2014 FJ Cruiser, 2017 Sienna and Lexus 2018 ES 350, 2018-2019 GS 300, 2013-2014 GS350, 2014-2015 GX 460, IS 350 and LX 570, 2014 IS F, 2018-2019 IS 350, LC 500H and LS 500H, 2013-2015 LS 460, 2015 NX 200T and RC350, 2017 RC 200T and RX 350. Toyota also removed the 2018-2019 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser and 2018-2019 Lexus GX 460 and LX 570 and 2019 NX300 from inclusion in this recall. On March 19, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include 2015 Lexus GS350 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Equipment Labels
- Risk
- An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- SET will notify owners and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Toyota Camry, Corolla, Rav4, Sienna, and Yaris iA vehicles equipped with factory-installed floor mats. The load carrying capacity modification label may be incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Brakes Vacuum
- Risk
- A sudden loss of braking assist can increase the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake booster vacuum pump, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Toyota Camry and Highlander vehicles, 2017 Toyota Sienna and Tacoma vehicles and 2017 Lexus RX350 vehicles. During the manufacturing process, the oil galley in the rotor for the brake booster vacuum pump assembly may have been improperly machined possibly resulting in a sudden loss of brake assist.
Engine and cooling
- Risk
- An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the production date codes of the pistons and, if an engine contains a piston from the affected production period, the engine assembly will be replaced, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Toyota Camry vehicles equipped with a 2.5L, four-cylinder engine. The pistons on these vehicles may be larger than specified, possibly causing the engine to stall.
Fuel system
- Risk
- The improperly connected hoses may leak fuel, which, in the presence of an ignition source, can increase the risk of a fire.
- Fix
- Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel pipes for the correct installation, correcting them as necessary, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Toyota Camry vehicles equipped with V6 engines. These vehicles have fuel delivery pipes that may not be properly connected to the fuel hoses in the engine compartment.
2018 Toyota Camry questions
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Toyota Camry?
The most reported problem areas on the 2018 Toyota Camry are the transmission and drivetrain (200 complaints), the brakes and stability control (172 complaints) and the engine and cooling (142 complaints).
Is the 2018 Toyota Camry a good year to buy?
One of the worst Camry years. Owners filed about 2.7 times as many complaints as a typical Camry year. The main thing to watch is the transmission and drivetrain, which half of owners reported by about 10,000 miles. Years with fewer complaints: 2016, 2017 and 2021. Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Camry years from 2012 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.
How many recalls does the 2018 Toyota Camry have?
NHTSA lists 8 recalls for the 2018 Toyota Camry. The most recent, from Jan 2025, covers the fuel pump. Recalls cover the whole model year, so check the VIN of the car you are looking at to see which are still open.
At what mileage do 2018 Toyota Camry problems start?
Half of the owners who reported a problem with the transmission and drivetrain gave a mileage of about 10,000 miles or less. Half of the owners who reported a problem with the brakes and stability control gave a mileage of about 50,000 miles or less. Plenty of cars have these problems later or never, so ask for service records.
Which Toyota Camry years should I avoid?
The Camry years with the most complaints compared with the rest are 2012 and 2018. Years with clearly fewer complaints are 2016, 2017 and 2021. Years from 2022 on are too new to rate fairly yet.
Check the exact car
These problems are for the model year as a whole. Here is how to find out about the one you are looking at.
Looking at a 2018 Toyota Camry?
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