Toyota Camry brake problems, 2016–2026
312 of the 2,441 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Toyota Camry 2016–2026 name the brakes (NHTSA’s “Service Brakes” heading — the hydraulic brakes, ABS and brake assist). The loudest years: 2018 (180), 2019 (42), 2017 (22). Filed under the same heading across these years: 2 recall campaigns. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Toyota Camry brake problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the brakes | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8 | 6% | — | — | the year → |
| 2025 | 11 | 7% | — | — | the year → |
| 2024 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2023 | 6 | 9% | — | — | the year → |
| 2022 | 7 | 11% | — | — | the year → |
| 2021 | 16 | 10% | — | — | the year → |
| 2020 | 0 | — | — | 13 TSBs | the year → |
| 2019 | 42 | 10% | 16k | 12 TSBs · 1 recall | the year → |
| 2018 in depth | 180 | 23% | 53k | 17 TSBs · 2 recalls | the record → |
| 2017 | 22 | 14% | 32k | 7 TSBs | the year → |
| 2016 | 20 | 11% | 14k | — | the year → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the brakes. Nothing here is a rate.
When the brake complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2016: 6 · 2017: 6 · 2018: 29 · 2019: 22 · 2020: 22 · 2021: 37 · 2022: 67 · 2023: 35 · 2024: 35 · 2025: 27 · 2026: 26
Across the model years, half of the 140 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the brake problem between 6,000 and 75,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the brakes, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Very loud screeching sound brakes make every time I reverse my 2018 Toyota Camry xse. The sound is so loud my entire neighborhood knows when I leave my home. Dealership said it was normal. Not sure I can't trust my brakes
Car cannot seem to determine which gear it should be in. When in stop and go traffic on freeway and pedal is not depressed, car lurches forward and a clunk is heard as the vehicle downshifts. Clunking sound is made worse in cold, humid, or cloudy weather.
On 5 separate occasions the brake pedal went almost completely to the floor board when trying to stop. I had to pump the brakes 2 to 3 times to build pressure to come to a stop. I've taken it to the dealer several times, only for them to tell me they can't duplicate my concerns. Even though I told them it happens randomly.
The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Camry. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle attempted to move forward and brake simultaneously. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired.
Rear back brakes are not safe they lock up. Toyota 2017 Camry purchase 9/2016. 8/2018 , had 5 pt inspection brakes were good 8mm all 4 at 27000 miles. Then 10/2018, left rear wheel screeching noises & wheel became extremely hot to touch after driving15-20 minutes.
What is on file about the brakes, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall campaigns filed under this heading, any model year
- 21V890000 HighNov 17, 2021 · 227,490 vehicles
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Camry vehicles. The vane cap inside the vacuum pump may break, causing the pump to fail, which could result in a sudden loss of braking assist.
- 18V211000 HighApr 3, 2018 · 6,046 vehicles
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Toyota Camry and Highlander vehicles, 2017 Toyota Sienna and Tacoma vehicles and 2017 Lexus RX350 vehicles. During the manufacturing process, the oil galley in the rotor for the brake booster vacuum pump assembly may have been improperly machined possibly resulting in a sudden loss of brake assist.
Other systems with a record on the Toyota Camry
Source: the same filesEvery system, every model year: Toyota Camry problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Toyota Camry years have the most brake complaints?
2018, 180; 2019, 42; 2017, 22. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2018 (23%).
Is there a recall for the brakes on the Toyota Camry?
Yes — 2 campaigns are filed under this heading across these model years: 21V890000 (2019), 18V211000 (2018). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do brake problems show up on the Toyota Camry?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 30,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 6,000 and 75,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Service Brakes" heading cover?
The hydraulic brakes, ABS and brake assist. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.