7th generation (XV40) · XV40 · 7,967 complaints, 5,795 with mileage
Owners filed 7,967 complaints with NHTSA about the 2007–2011 Toyota Camry, and 5,795 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
This generation has two distinct failure patterns rather than one, which is the most useful thing on this page. 18% of failures occur before 12,000 miles, which looks like a manufacturing defect, and a further 22% occur after 100,000, which looks like wear. Two different problems share one name in the complaint data — and an average of the two describes neither.
The most-reported areas are throttle and speed control (14.3% of complaints, typically around 20,774 miles), body structure (11.2% of complaints, typically around 60,000 miles), the engine (10.0% of complaints, typically around 97,160 miles).
12 recall campaigns cover this generation.
| System | Complaints | Share | Typical mileage | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1,137 | 14.3% | 20,774 | 5,200–50,000 |
| Structure | 893 | 11.2% | 60,000 | 37,000–92,000 |
| Engine | 794 | 10.0% | 97,160 | 70,000–136,000 |
| Unknown Or Other | 716 | 9.0% | 86,000 | 50,000–118,304 |
| Visibility | 588 | 7.4% | 55,000 | 39,000–76,000 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 564 | 7.1% | 79,950 | 54,000–105,000 |
| Power Train | 455 | 5.7% | 9,800 | 565–42,600 |
| Electrical System | 422 | 5.3% | 75,232 | 35,000–114,306 |
| Service Brakes | 391 | 4.9% | 94,700 | 60,000–129,968 |
| Air Bags | 378 | 4.7% | 60,000 | 25,000–93,000 |
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 3,669 | 2,701 |
| 2008 | 1,140 | 836 |
| 2009 | 1,612 | 1,156 |
| 2010 | 766 | 563 |
| 2011 | 780 | 539 |
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 55,255 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
Throttle and speed control accounts for 14.3% of complaints (1,137 reports, 912 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 20,774 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 5,200 and 50,000 miles.
Body structure accounts for 11.2% of complaints (893 reports, 587 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 60,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 37,000 and 92,000 miles.
The engine accounts for 10.0% of complaints (794 reports, 544 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 97,160 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 70,000 and 136,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 9.0% of complaints (716 reports, 327 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 86,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 50,000 and 118,304 miles.
Visibility equipment accounts for 7.4% of complaints (588 reports, 487 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 55,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 39,000 and 76,000 miles.
Visibility/wiper accounts for 7.1% of complaints (564 reports, 380 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 79,950 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 54,000 and 105,000 miles.
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2007 model year drew the most — 3,669 complaints — while 2010 drew the fewest at 766. The median year sits at 1,140.
That makes 2007 an outlier: roughly 3.2 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.
NHTSA records 12 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around seats (3), equipment (3), visibility equipment (2). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Of the 7,967 complaints filed against this generation, 1,004 reported a crash; 142 reported a fire; 657 reported an injury; 7 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 12.6% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
For a buyer, the two-peak pattern is the useful part. The early cluster — 18% of failures below 12,000 miles — will already have happened on any example you are looking at today, and either been repaired under warranty or not. Ask what was done. The late cluster, 22% above 100,000 miles, is the one still ahead of you if the car has lower mileage than that.
On inspection, throttle and speed control and body structure are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. Throttle and speed control in particular shows a median failure mileage of 20,774, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
2AZ-FE excessive oil consumption caused by undersized oil-return holes beneath the oil control rings, letting oil accumulate and burn. Toyota's Warranty Enhancement Program ZE7 extended coverage to 10 years / 150,000 miles and replaced pistons and rings on engines failing the oil-consumption test.
Unintended acceleration from floor mat pedal entrapment and, separately, sticking accelerator pedal assemblies; the subject of Toyota's 2009-2010 recalls.
Dashboard material degrades and becomes sticky/shiny with heat exposure; Toyota ran a warranty enhancement for affected vehicles.
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 16V396000 | 2016-07-14 | Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/Cooler |
| 15V689000 | 2015-11-25 | Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls |
| 14V743000 | 2015-01-29 | Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/Cooler |
| 14V732000 | 2014-12-16 | Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Arm |
| 13V123000 | 2013-05-28 | Equipment:Other:Labels |
| 13V014000 | 2013-03-21 | Seats |
| 12V491000 | 2012-11-05 | Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls |
| 12V091000 | 2012-04-12 | Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch |
| 10V036000 | 2010-05-27 | Equipment:Other:Labels |
| 10V035000 | 2010-05-27 | Equipment:Other:Labels |
| 10V040000 | 2010-03-04 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic |
| 10V017000 | 2010-02-05 | Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal |