VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE

Toyota Camry20072026

Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.

TOP PICK
2026
Buyer Score 76/100
20
Years Analyzed
78
Total Recalls
10611
Total Complaints
813
Reported Injuries

Best Years to Buy a Toyota Camry

Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.

#1 PICK0yr old
2026
Strong Buy · 76/100
Reliability100/100
Value window30/100
Recalls0
Complaints0
#2 PICK4yr old
2022
Good Buy · 68/100
Reliability61/100
Value window82/100
Recalls1
Complaints45
Top issue: AIR BAGS
#3 PICK12yr old
2014
Good Buy · 66/100
Reliability80/100
Value window40/100
Recalls3
Complaints5
Top issue: POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Toyota Camry Years to Avoid

#1 WORST
2007

10 recalls · 3610 complaints

199 reported injuries

Top issue: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

#2 WORST
2009

10 recalls · 1405 complaints

90 reported injuries

Top issue: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

#3 WORST
2008

8 recalls · 1174 complaints

71 reported injuries

Top issue: VISIBILITY

Toyota Camry — Year-by-Year Comparison

Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.

YearRecallsComplaintsInjuriesReliabilityValueBuyer ScoreVerdict
202600
100
30
76
Excellent
20251987
62
42
55
Excellent
20241372
64
58
62
Excellent
20232485
58
72
63
Excellent
20221459
61
82
68
Excellent
2021114115
50
88
63
Excellent
2020325122
45
84
59
Excellent
2019635918
31
74
46
Good
2018868845
20
62
35
Good
2017314429
45
50
47
Excellent
2016217833
50
40
47
Excellent
2015126413
51
40
47
Excellent
201435
80
40
66
Excellent
2013229929
42
40
41
Excellent
2012264179
50
40
47
Good
2011561688
35
40
37
Good
2010960859
15
40
24
Good
200910140590
0
40
14
Caution
20088117471
20
40
27
Good
2007103610199
0
40
14
Avoid

Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.

Known Toyota Camry Problems

Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
939
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
804
ENGINE
792
STRUCTURE
779
POWER TRAIN
655
VISIBILITY
585
SERVICE BRAKES
583
AIR BAGS
487

Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.

Shopping by Era

How each generation of the Camry compares — best year within each era shown.

2018–Present

Modern safety tech, refreshed platforms, updated powertrains. Higher purchase price but lower reliability risk. Best pick in this era: 2026 (Buyer Score 76).

Best: 2026

2013–2017

Mid-decade models in the depreciation sweet spot — typically 35–55% below original MSRP. Inspect carefully for powertrain wear and recall completion. Best: 2014 (Buyer Score 66).

Best: 2014

Pre-2013

Older Camry models are deeply depreciated but carry higher wear and repair risk. High mileage is common. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and verify full recall history.

Proceed with Caution

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best year Camry to buy?+

The 2026 Toyota Camry scores highest on our Buyer Score (76/100) — combining a reliability score of 100/100 with a value score of 30/100. It has 0 recalls and 0 NHTSA complaints on record.

Which Camry years have the most problems?+

The 2007, 2009, 2008 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2007 Camry leads with 10 recalls and 3610 owner complaints.

What is the Buyer Score?+

The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.

What are the most common Camry problems?+

The most frequently reported Toyota Camry issues involve: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ENGINE, STRUCTURE. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.

Deep-Dive Research

Found the right year? Verify the specific car.

A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.

Run a VIN Check →