Toyota remains one of the most popular brands in the automobile market, and in Nigeria. There’s no telling if there will ever be a time when Toyota vehicles stop being popular in Nigeria.
A 2021 report from Brand Finance Automotive Industry shows that Toyota overtook the Mercedes-Benz brand as the Most Valuable Automobile Brand in the world with an estimated brand value of about $59.5 billion.
However, Toyota vehicles are popularly known for their reliability and dependability; they don’t show signs of issues. The Toyota Camry is currently regarded as one of the top 5 mid-size sedans produced to the highest quality standard.
In fact, a 2020 J.D. Power mid-size car award placed the Toyota Camry in the 5th position (along with the Honda Accord), with a Quality and Reliability Score of 82/100.
Irrespective of the high rating Toyota Camry enjoys, there are still issues commonly associated with the mid-size sedan that car owners should know about, especially as most Nigerians can only afford to buy fairly used cars.
So before deciding on what year model of the Toyota Camry to buy, take a look at these most common Toyota Camry problems highlighted in this article.
The Most Common Toyota Camry Issues
Some of the most common Toyota Camry problems are usually centred around the following areas listed below. We will now explore these issues in detail, even as we highlight the Camry models most affected.
- Engine Problems
- Transmission issues
- Problems with Interior Accessories
- Toyota Camry Engine Problems
Toyota is one auto brand that takes the reliability and dependability of their cars very seriously. That’s why their cars, including the Toyota Camry, always receive the highest possible ratings in that regard. However, the famous Toyota Camry still suffers from some engine-related issues like.
- Excessive oil consumption
- Oil burning
For excessive oil consumption, the Toyota Camry model years 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012 are the most prone to this issue. In fact, the 2007 model had the most complaints of excessive oil consumption, closely followed by the 2009 model. Owners of these models complained bitterly about how the engine oil was running out after about 1,200 miles of usage.
Furthermore, the 2007 models mainly were plagued with burning oil issues. Experts believe that defective piston rings are behind these issues. Other issues are unintended acceleration while braking and speed control issues. Owners of 2007 to even 2020 models of the Camry have complained of these issues. A situation where the cars accelerate on their own even when the brake is pressed down. Others complain of slow or delayed acceleration, even when the accelerator is fully engaged.
If you’re getting any of these models of the Camry, be informed that you may likely experience some of these issues. It’s best to either avoid these model years or to beware of the issues before purchase.
- The Toyota Camry Transmission Issues
There have been several complaints about transmission-related issues (automatic transmission) with the Camry. Several owners have reported instances where the vehicle’s gear stick shifted erratically on its own without the driver doing so.
Others have complained of their vehicle shaking uncontrollably while in motion, as well as an unexpected surge in acceleration. Other transmission issues reported include,
- Transmission slippage
- The vehicle rolls even after being shifted into the park gear
- Unexpected drop into a lower gear
As a result of these issues, some reported that their vehicle’s transmission failed and had to be replaced. The models most affected by this problem range from 2007 up to 2018 models. So, look out for these transmission issues during your test drive before making a purchase decision.
- Toyota Camry Interior Accessories Issues
This issue is very much common to (2006 – 2015) models of the Camry. The most common of these interior accessories problems is the issue of melting and sticky dashboard materials. More than that, users of models of Camry complained that the melting dashboard gave off a shiny glare that made it challenging to see clearly while driving.
Other interior accessories complaints by owners of a Camry include the following,
- Dashboard Cluster Malfunction
- Broken Sun Visor
- Defective auto-door locks
Malfunctioning dashboard cluster issues were reported in (2007 – 2008) models while broken sun visors were noticed in every model from 2006 to 2011. The issue of defective door locks was also noticed in (2007 – 2009) models.
Ensure to look out for these issues when you’re checking a used Toyota Camry car. However, it’ll be best if you can avoid these models entirely.
Conclusion
The above-listed are some of the major issues you could encounter in a used Toyota Camry model. Knowing about these common Toyota Camry problems helps you stay alert and inspect these issues more carefully before making a purchase.
