NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 158 owner complaints for the 2021 Toyota Camry. Most complaints involve air bags (78) and service brakes (13). The EPA rates it 25–32 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each Camry model year we’ve synced.
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 421 |
| 1997 | 558 |
| 1998 | 610 |
| 1999 | 590 |
| 2000 | 530 |
| 2001 | 330 |
| 2002 | 1,039 |
| 2003 | 818 |
| 2004 | 799 |
| 2005 | 721 |
| 2006 | 435 |
| 2007 | 3,617 |
| 2008 | 1,178 |
| 2009 | 1,413 |
| 2010 | 614 |
| 2011 | 625 |
| 2012 | 645 |
| 2013 | 301 |
| 2014 | 480 |
| 2015 | 271 |
| 2016 | 189 |
| 2017 | 148 |
| 2018 | 754 |
| 2019 | 400 |
| 2020 | 275 |
| 2021 | 158 |
| 2022 | 65 |
| 2023 | 65 |
| 2024 | 52 |
“The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, a second vehicle T-boned the vehicle while driving approximately 60 MPH and crashed into the driver’s side of the vehicle. During the crash, no air bags had deployed inside the vehicle, including the side curtain air bags. Police and Emergency Services were called to the scene. The contact had to be extracted from the vehicle and was transported to a nearby hospital. During the crash, the contact sustained a concussion and left hip and left torso injuries. A Police report was filed at the scene, and the vehicle was towed to a nearby salvage yard. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 83,000.”
“Vehicle Information: • Year/Make/Model: 2021 Toyota Camry • VIN: [XXX] Incident Date: May 4, [2025] Incident Time: Approximately 9:45 AM Incident Location: [XXX] toward [XXX] Description of Incident: While driving at approximately 25 MPH, multiple dashboard warning lights suddenly illuminated simultaneously. Immediately after, the vehicle began to accelerate on its own without any input from the driver. The driver applied the brakes repeatedly and forcefully, but the vehicle did not respond to braking. The car continued to accelerate uncontrollably until it abruptly stopped directly in front of another vehicle, narrowly avoiding a serious collision.”
“I took it to a repair shop for a transmission issue, the technician noted the transmission fluid degraded or burnt fluid or And it is causing the torque converter shudder and transmission rpm to slip”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camry LE/SE Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 28 | 39 | 32 | $2,000 | 279 |
| Camry XLE/XSE Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 27 | 38 | 31 | $2,050 | 284 |
| Camry AWD LE/SE Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L · All-Wheel Drive | 25 | 34 | 29 | $2,200 | 309 |
| Camry AWD XLE/XSE Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L · All-Wheel Drive | 25 | 34 | 28 | $2,300 | 315 |
| Camry Auto (S8), 6 cyl, 3.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 33 | 26 | $2,450 | 338 |
| Camry XSE Auto (S8), 6 cyl, 3.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 32 | 26 | $2,450 | 345 |
| Camry TRD Auto (S8), 6 cyl, 3.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 31 | 25 | $2,550 | 354 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
1 safety recall as of Nov 3, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 158 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are air bags (78), service brakes (13), power train (12). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2021 Toyota Camry at 25–32 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (7 versions rated).
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2021 Toyota Camry 5 out of 5 stars overall.