MileageCurve What breaks, and at what mileage

Toyota Camry 2018–2024

9th generation (XV70) · XV70 (TNGA-K) · 2,475 complaints, 871 with mileage

Owners filed 2,475 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018–2024 Toyota Camry, and 871 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.

49% of failures fall within the first 12,000 miles. Failures clustered that early usually indicate a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear.

The most-reported areas are the transmission and driveline (14.5% of complaints, typically around 8,000 miles), the engine (11.5% of complaints, typically around 14,200 miles), problems owners could not categorise (10.4% of complaints, typically around 5,000 miles).

14 recall campaigns cover this generation.

When failures happen

0–5k: 263 complaints (30.2%)0–5k5–10k: 135 complaints (15.5%)10–20k: 100 complaints (11.5%)10–20k20–30k: 70 complaints (8.0%)30–40k: 68 complaints (7.8%)30–40k40–50k: 62 complaints (7.1%)50–60k: 35 complaints (4.0%)50–60k60–70k: 22 complaints (2.5%)70–80k: 19 complaints (2.2%)70–80k80–90k: 20 complaints (2.3%)90–100k: 12 complaints (1.4%)90–100k100–120k: 18 complaints (2.1%)120–140k: 21 complaints (2.4%)120–140k140–160k: 13 complaints (1.5%)160–200k: 5 complaints (0.6%)160–200k200k+: 8 complaints (0.9%)2630

10% of failures occur by 250 miles · a quarter by 3,000 · median 13,000 · three quarters by 42,000 · 90% by 82,000. Based on 871 complaints that record mileage.

What fails, and when

SystemComplaintsShareTypical mileageMiddle half
Power Train35914.5%8,000999–30,000
Engine28411.5%14,2003,500–40,000
Unknown Or Other25810.4%5,0001,000–12,221
Service Brakes2018.1%14,0004,800–58,000
Air Bags1957.9%37,00010,000–68,000
Electrical System1817.3%12,0002,347–39,750
Fuel/Propulsion System1807.3%18,0006,300–35,674
Forward Collision Avoidance1355.5%12,0007,000–39,360
Vehicle Speed Control1184.8%5,5771,500–16,500
Steering873.5%46,4059,500–57,000

By model year

YearComplaintsWith mileage
20181,088500
2019559203
2020383105
202119522
20228813
20239119
2024719

Which systems, and when

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 13,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.

The transmission and driveline accounts for 14.5% of complaints (359 reports, 128 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 8,000 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 999 and 30,000 miles.

The engine accounts for 11.5% of complaints (284 reports, 115 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 14,200 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 3,500 and 40,000 miles.

Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 10.4% of complaints (258 reports, 75 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 5,000 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 1,000 and 12,221 miles.

The brakes account for 8.1% of complaints (201 reports, 60 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 14,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 4,800 and 58,000 miles.

The airbag system accounts for 7.9% of complaints (195 reports, 47 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 37,000 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 10,000 and 68,000 miles.

The electrical system accounts for 7.3% of complaints (181 reports, 71 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 12,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 2,347 and 39,750 miles.

Differences between model years

Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2018 model year drew the most — 1,088 complaints — while 2024 drew the fewest at 71. The median year sits at 195.

That makes 2018 an outlier: roughly 5.6 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.

Recalls and what they cover

NHTSA records 14 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 the fuel system (4), the airbag system (2), the hydraulic brake circuit (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.

Reported severity

Of the 2,475 complaints filed against this generation, 212 reported a crash; 18 reported a fire; 180 reported an injury; 1 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 8.6% 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.

What this means if you are buying one

For a buyer, an early-failure pattern is comparatively good news on a used example: 49% of the reported failures occur in the first 12,000 miles, which on a car of this age means they have already happened or they were never going to. Service history matters more than mileage here.

On inspection, the transmission and driveline and the engine are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The transmission and driveline in particular shows a median failure mileage of 8,000, 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.

Documented problems

Fuel system 2018-2020

Denso low-pressure in-tank fuel pump impeller cracks from excessive fuel absorption, deforming and contacting the pump housing; causes rough running, no-start and stalling at speed. Subject of NHTSA recalls 20V-012 and 20V-314.

Transmission 2018-2019

Low-speed hesitation and harsh engagement complaints on the 8-speed automatic, particularly early builds.

Recalls (14)

CampaignDateComponent
25V0280002025-03-12Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
23V8650002024-10-31Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification
24V1280002024-04-19Seats
23V4320002023-07-14Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
21V8900002022-05-16Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum
20V6820002021-01-21Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
20V0120002020-05-01Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
20V0640002020-04-03Engine And Engine Cooling
19V5670002019-08-27Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification
19V5030002019-08-23Equipment:Other:Labels
19V2440002019-05-24Equipment:Other:Labels
18V2000002018-05-25Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
18V2110002018-05-09Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum
18V1080002018-03-09Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings

What owners reported

2018 · 4 miles · Exterior Lighting
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS MOISTURE AT THE TOP PART OF THE TAIL LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (BOCH TOYOTA IN NORWOOD, MA, 781-769-8100) WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS UNUSUAL AND THE LIGHT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE TECHNICIAN CALLED THE CONTACT BACK LATER AND STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED…
2018 · 5 miles · Power Train
THE TRANSMISSION HAS HARSH SHIFTS. MULTIPLE TIMES COMING THROUGH THE CITY WITH STOP SIGNS IT WILL HAVE A DELAY AND JERK WHEN I START TO GO AGAIN. SOME TIMES WHEN I GO TO CROSS AN INTERSECTION THERE WILL BE A DELAY WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS IF I'M CROSSING WHILE YIELDING TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I TOOK TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY STARTED ITS FUNCTIONING AS IT SHOULD ACCORDING TO THE COMPUTERS AND RECOMMENDE…
2018 · 8 miles · Fuel System, Gasoline
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Camry. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked while the accelerator pedal depressed. The “Low Braking Power” message was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact then received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V682000 (Fuel System, Gasoline), and the vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be repaired. Upon return of th…
2018 · 8 miles · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Camry. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked while the accelerator pedal depressed. The “Low Braking Power” message was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact then received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V682000 (Fuel System, Gasoline), and the vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be repaired. Upon return of th…

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