Problems · by component
2018 Toyota Camry engine problems
137 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2018 Toyota Camry cite engine, 18% of all 754 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
137
18% of all complaints
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the engine
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“This vehicle is experiencing the same problems since 2022 despite multiple attempts to have the vehicle repaired. The fuel pump was part of the recall and it was replaced in 2020. When these problems started in 2022, I was told they need the codes to figure out what’s going on but yet they still couldn’t give me an answer. There was only one code that they addressed which was to replace an engine coil but the car continues breaking down. This most recent time, I fueled the vehicle and it would not start when I was finished. This had happened at least 3 times, all after fueling the vehicle. The car will also shut down while driving, and it is extremely dangerous when power steering fails and there is no acceleration even with the pedal pushed down all the way to the floor in the middle of traffic. I am terrified that I will not only hurt myself but others when this failure causes an accident. One time, the vehicle broke down on a major highway during rush hour, but I was able to get to safety. Other times I had to call a tow because the car was inoperable. The dash lights up with “check engine” and “ics malfunction visit your dealer” each time. I have called…”
“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 to a hairline fracture in the cylinder causing 2 of the 4 cylinders to misfire and coolant to mix with usual contents. We aren't able to identify where the cause of this problem is but it makes the most economical sense to replace the engine with a lower mileage engine and replace the neighboring parts to support the less old engine. I was quoted $8300 approximately. the same vehicle just a few years older are recalled already for the exact same thing - NHTSA Recall 20V064000. The NHTSA Recall states: "The subject vehicles are equipped with a 2.5L 4 Cylinder engine (A25A) and may have been produced with engine blocks containing higher porosity levels. Higher levels of porosity could create cracks in the cooling passages, resulting in coolant leaking internally and/or externally. This may lead to engine noise, engine smoke,…”
“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 repaired after just dying on the road. The car had only 32465 miles at the time of the breakage. The car is out of warranty, but with such low milage this is and unusual repair to be made on a car only8 years old with low milage. It was a $1700 dollar repair. The company has not made any assitance availble, i have called and spoke with someone, have written a letter and now I felt that it was important enough to come here. There are Facebook pages with "broken camry water pumps" up so this is to my way of thinking an ongoing problem. I was lucky I was not hit when the car "stopped" on the road with no warning. The car has been well maintained at an authorized Toyota dealer the whole time I have had it. I am concerned that this is an ongoing problem with the camry.”
“My panoramic sunroof has a defect , my sunroof stopped working only a few months after having my car , I’ve Spoke with many other people with the same car and it’s common. I had a warranty on my car but they wouldn’t cover the cables for the setup to the roof , and it’s $10,000 at Toyota to get it fixed and I’m having transmission problems . I keep my maintenance up to date on my car , I’ve also done my research and transmission failure is also common on this vehicle ! My car is barely over 100,000 miles . I’m very disappointed in Toyota and I won’t be purchasing another ! Can honestly say this is the worse car I’ve had !”
“After taking the car on a short drive: Pre-collision malfunction; parking brake malf; ICS malf; chk eng reduced power; secondary collision brake malf; rough idle and driving; sometimes won't accelerate (revs only); cruise control won't work; battery drained when off (12.5 v to 10.5 in one day; battery just under 3 years old); after replacing battery: OBD 2:P0302”
“When driving, the car would go into limp mode and wouldn’t get out of 2nd gear. it was super jerky as well. when taken to a mechanic, it was diagnosed with malfunctioning transmission among some other things such as brakes and tires. we take fairly great care of our vehicles and get them seen for regular maintenance. once the car started acting up, the check engine light came on. it is now unsafe to drive and two mechanics have confirmed an issue with the transmission, which is now also in a class action lawsuit for transmission failures. it’s had hiccups before over the past two years (started around 85000 miles) but never to that extreme and every time we took it into a mechanic they never saw the issue before until now. the hiccups we just delayed shifting and simultaneous RPM increase but stoped after a few seconds and letting off the gas, and then would correct itself. mechanics chocked it up to just needing a tune up and never saw the issue themselves, it happened randomly and just every once in a while.”
Showing 6 of 137 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.