Best & worst years to buy a used Toyota Camry

Not every Toyota Camry is created equal — the same model can have a very different track record depending on the year. Using official NHTSA owner-complaint data, here's how each Toyota Camry model year we track stacks up, cleanest to worst.

Toyota Camry — used car reliability by year
Representative photo of a Toyota Camry. Credit: User3204 via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0).
Cleanest record ✓11 owner complaints · 3 recalls
Most complaints ⚠726 owner complaints · 8 recalls
Read this as a starting signal, not a verdict. Complaint volume is also driven by how many were sold and how old the car is. A first-year redesign often shows the most complaints. Always check the exact VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.

Every Toyota Camry year, ranked

Owner complaints and recalls on file with NHTSA for each model year. Click any year for its full free report.

YearComplaint volumeComplaintsRecalls
2013
301 2
2014 Best pick
11 3
2015
268 1
2016
182 2
2017
148 3
2018 Avoid
726 8
2019
385 6
2020
263 3
2021
152 1

Check a specific Toyota Camry

Model-level data tells you what to expect; a VIN check tells you what actually happened to that car. Both are free.

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Frequently asked

What is the best year to buy a used Toyota Camry?

Among the model years we track, the 2014 Toyota Camry has the fewest owner complaints on file with NHTSA (11). Complaint volume isn't the whole story — always check the specific VIN and get an inspection — but it's a strong starting signal for the cleanest year.

Which Toyota Camry year should I avoid?

The 2018 Toyota Camry has the most owner complaints in our data (726). That partly reflects how many were sold and how long they've been on the road, so treat it as a "look harder here" flag rather than an automatic no.

How many recalls does the Toyota Camry have?

Recall counts vary by year — see the table above, where each year links to its full recall and complaint report. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer, so always ask the seller whether the work was completed.

← See all models ranked by reliability

Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA.gov). Informational only — not mechanical or purchase advice.