2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes1235.3%
- Electrical411.8%
- Engine38.8%
- Other / unspecified38.8%
- Driver assistance38.8%
- Steering38.8%
- Powertrain (other)25.9%
- Fuel system25.9%
- Tires & wheels12.9%
- Suspension12.9%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, there was an abnormal beeping sound coming from the vehicle. The message "Low Braking Power - See dealer" was displayed. The contact stated that the beeping sound continued, and several messages were displayed. The contact stated that the messages were displayed while the vehicle was being driven or when the brake pedal was depressed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V890000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 286,000.
FOR FIRST MINUTE OR TWO AFTER STARTING VEHICLE, THE BRAKES PREVENT SMOOTH OPERATION CAUSING "LURCHING" ESPECIALLY DURING SLOW SPEED BACKING. TOYOTA DECLARES "NORMAL" BEHAVIOR OF THE BRAKES.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
ISSUE #1 RADIO/BLUETOOTH FAILS TO SYNC WITH PHONE FORCING ME TO HAND HOLD THE PHONE IN VIOLATION OF STATE LAW. ISSUE #2 RADIO/BLUETOOTH/MICROPHONE HAS SO MUCH BACKGROUND NOISE THAT IT'S DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO HEAR/UNDERSTAND ME. THIS IS AN ISSUE IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT OR OTHER SITUATION WHEN HANDS FREE COMMUNICATION IS REQUIRED.
RODENTS CHEWED ELECTRICAL WIRING WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY OF OUR HOME. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WANTS TO REPLACE ENGINE HARNESS WIRING, BUT INSURANCE COMPANY REFUSES AND INSISTS ON REPAIRS ONLY. TOYOTA DOES NOT WANT TO DO REPAIRS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE IN MOTION GETTING ONTO FREEWAY. PRESSING GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE CAR NOT ACCELERATING BEYOND 40MPH AND FELT LIKE IT WAS BEING FORCED TO ACCELERATE LIKE THERE WAS DRAG AND PULL. CAR JERKED FORWARD A FEW TIMES AS IF IT WAS BEING CHOKED ON GAS. THE HYBRID DIAL WAS BOUNCING ERRATICALLY AS IF IT WAS CONFUSED AND CAR WAS NOT ACCELERATING BEYOND 40 MPH. TOOK IT TO DEALER 1X THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE ISSUE, CALLED TOYOTA CARE AND WAS TOLD ERROR NEEDED DUPLICATING TO BE ADDRESSED. BOTH INCIDENCES HAVE OCCURED WHILE GETTING ONTO A FREEWAY AND PRESSING GAS PEDAL TO MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY. THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE BOTH TIMES WAS ABOVE 90 DEGREES AND THE CAR HAD BEEN AT REST FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR. I TURNED OFF THE A/C TO REDUCE AMOUNT OF POWER CAR WAS USING UP IN ORDER TO HELP WITH ACCELERATION. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2019. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO 50 MPH AFTER ABOUT 15-20 MINUTES AND WAS DRIVING WITH HAZARDS ALL THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE SECOND TIME WHEN GETTING ON THE FREEWAY IT WAS NOT BUSY AND WAS TRYING TO ACCELERATE TO 65 MPH, GOT IT UP TO 40 MPH FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES THEN HIT TRAFFIC AND WAS GOING ABOUT 17 MPH THEN EXITED THE FREEWAY AND TOOK THE STREETS.
WHEN I COME TO A FULL STOP AND ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE SORT OF "STALLS" THEN EVENTUALLY THE GEARS CATCH AND IT STARTS TO DRIVE. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS WHEN TRYING TO PICK UP SPEED IN A HIGHWAY OR SOMETHING. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS AT A STOP SIGN. UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE DID NOT PICK UP SPEED, IT SLOWLY ROLLED FORWARD. AFTER ABOUT 5-10 SECONDS, THE VEHICLE THEN SEEMED TO "CATCH GEARS" AND PICKED UP SPEED. I ALSO NOTICED THE HYBRID BATTERY WASN'T CHARGING VERY WELL AND SEEMED TO BE HOT AS THE BATTERY FANS WERE CONSTANTLY ON.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
2018 TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID HAS ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS SINCE NEW. HAD IT ALIGNED FROM TOYOTA 2 TIMES AND STILL WEARING OUT THE TIRES.
MY DRIVER REAR TIRE STARTED WOBBLING AND I HAD A COMPLETE BLOW OUT WITHIN 3 SECONDS. I WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. MY CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 7500 MILES. THE VEERED LEFT AND HAD TO REDIRECT IT RIGHT TO GET OFF FREEWAY.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE IN MOTION GETTING ONTO FREEWAY. PRESSING GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE CAR NOT ACCELERATING BEYOND 40MPH AND FELT LIKE IT WAS BEING FORCED TO ACCELERATE LIKE THERE WAS DRAG AND PULL. CAR JERKED FORWARD A FEW TIMES AS IF IT WAS BEING CHOKED ON GAS. THE HYBRID DIAL WAS BOUNCING ERRATICALLY AS IF IT WAS CONFUSED AND CAR WAS NOT ACCELERATING BEYOND 40 MPH. TOOK IT TO DEALER 1X THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE ISSUE, CALLED TOYOTA CARE AND WAS TOLD ERROR NEEDED DUPLICATING TO BE ADDRESSED. BOTH INCIDENCES HAVE OCCURED WHILE GETTING ONTO A FREEWAY AND PRESSING GAS PEDAL TO MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY. THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE BOTH TIMES WAS ABOVE 90 DEGREES AND THE CAR HAD BEEN AT REST FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR. I TURNED OFF THE A/C TO REDUCE AMOUNT OF POWER CAR WAS USING UP IN ORDER TO HELP WITH ACCELERATION. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2019. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO 50 MPH AFTER ABOUT 15-20 MINUTES AND WAS DRIVING WITH HAZARDS ALL THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE SECOND TIME WHEN GETTING ON THE FREEWAY IT WAS NOT BUSY AND WAS TRYING TO ACCELERATE TO 65 MPH, GOT IT UP TO 40 MPH FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES THEN HIT TRAFFIC AND WAS GOING ABOUT 17 MPH THEN EXITED THE FREEWAY AND TOOK THE STREETS.
THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND PROPERLY TO THE DRIVER PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. WHEN THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AFTER IT HAD BEEN PARKED FOR A FEW HOURS, WITH NO PROBLEMS PREVIOUSLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD BARELY ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE FELT VERY SLUGGISH AND EVEN WITH THE ACCELERATOR FULLY PRESSED IT WOULD NOT EXCEED 25 MPH. THE DRIVER PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND TURNED IT BACK ON BUT THIS DID NOT IMMEDIATELY RESOLVED THE ISSUE. THE DRIVER DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR A FEW BLOCKS TO A SAFER PARKING LOCATION AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AGAIN TO BETTER INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND NO OBVIOUS SIGNS OF MECHANICAL ISSUES. THE DRIVER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE IT AGAIN THE ISSUE DID NOT RE-APPEAR. THIS VEHICLE HAD NOT YET BEEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALERSHIP SINCE THE INCIDENT BUT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A TRAGIC COLLISION AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid. The contact stated that the plastic trim on the steering wheel would reflect a glare while driving. The contact stated that the glare would obstruct his vision while driving. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed him that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000. The VIN was not available.
THE STEERING STIFFENS UP TREMENDOUSLY AND THEN LOOSEN. TOOK CAR TO TOYOTA FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD A STEERING SHAFT (BELIEVE THAT WAS WHAT HE CALLED IT) IS THE PROBLEM AND IT IS GOING TO BE $770. THE GENTLEMAN AT THE DEALERSHIP ALSO INFORMED ME THAT I AM THE 3RD PERSON IN A MONTH WITH A 2018 CAMRY TO COME IN WITH THIS ISSUE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN I COME TO A FULL STOP AND ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE SORT OF "STALLS" THEN EVENTUALLY THE GEARS CATCH AND IT STARTS TO DRIVE. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS WHEN TRYING TO PICK UP SPEED IN A HIGHWAY OR SOMETHING. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS AT A STOP SIGN. UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE DID NOT PICK UP SPEED, IT SLOWLY ROLLED FORWARD. AFTER ABOUT 5-10 SECONDS, THE VEHICLE THEN SEEMED TO "CATCH GEARS" AND PICKED UP SPEED. I ALSO NOTICED THE HYBRID BATTERY WASN'T CHARGING VERY WELL AND SEEMED TO BE HOT AS THE BATTERY FANS WERE CONSTANTLY ON.
I PARKED MY CAMRY AND LET MY WIFE OUT OF THE CAR. I HAD LEFT THE SHIFT LEVER IN DRIVE AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. ALTHOUGH THE DASH WARNING SAID FOR ME TO SHIFT INTO PARK I DID NOT DO IT THAT INSTANCE. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE STARTED MOVING WITH THE ENGINE OFF. THERE WAS NO INCLINE OR HILL. I TRIED THIS SEVERAL TIMES, AND EVEN WITH THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, ENGINE OFF, FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, THE VEHCILE STARTED MOVING IN REVERSE, EVEN STARTING TO GAIN SPEED. MY WIFE HAS MY OLD 2015 CAMRY HYBRID AND TRIED THIS EXPERIMENT. THAT TOYOTA DID NOT DO WHAT THE 2018 DID.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN AUGUST 2018 UNTIL NOW, I HAVE BEEN DRIVEN IT IN NORMAL CONDITION, BUT HAVE NEVER GOTTEN FUEL CONSUMPTION ABOVE 41 MPG. THE STICKER ADVERTISED AT 48 MPG OR HIGHER FOR HWY/LOCAL. TOYOTA DEALER HAS RAN DIAGNOSTIC ON THE VEHICLE BUT REFUSE TO ADMIT THE FALSE ADVERTISEMENT. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF OTHER OWNERS HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP ME GET THIS PROBLEM INVESTIGATED.
VEHICLE IN MOTION GETTING ONTO FREEWAY. PRESSING GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE CAR NOT ACCELERATING BEYOND 40MPH AND FELT LIKE IT WAS BEING FORCED TO ACCELERATE LIKE THERE WAS DRAG AND PULL. CAR JERKED FORWARD A FEW TIMES AS IF IT WAS BEING CHOKED ON GAS. THE HYBRID DIAL WAS BOUNCING ERRATICALLY AS IF IT WAS CONFUSED AND CAR WAS NOT ACCELERATING BEYOND 40 MPH. TOOK IT TO DEALER 1X THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE ISSUE, CALLED TOYOTA CARE AND WAS TOLD ERROR NEEDED DUPLICATING TO BE ADDRESSED. BOTH INCIDENCES HAVE OCCURED WHILE GETTING ONTO A FREEWAY AND PRESSING GAS PEDAL TO MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY. THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE BOTH TIMES WAS ABOVE 90 DEGREES AND THE CAR HAD BEEN AT REST FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR. I TURNED OFF THE A/C TO REDUCE AMOUNT OF POWER CAR WAS USING UP IN ORDER TO HELP WITH ACCELERATION. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2019. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO 50 MPH AFTER ABOUT 15-20 MINUTES AND WAS DRIVING WITH HAZARDS ALL THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE SECOND TIME WHEN GETTING ON THE FREEWAY IT WAS NOT BUSY AND WAS TRYING TO ACCELERATE TO 65 MPH, GOT IT UP TO 40 MPH FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES THEN HIT TRAFFIC AND WAS GOING ABOUT 17 MPH THEN EXITED THE FREEWAY AND TOOK THE STREETS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY DRIVER REAR TIRE STARTED WOBBLING AND I HAD A COMPLETE BLOW OUT WITHIN 3 SECONDS. I WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. MY CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 7500 MILES. THE VEERED LEFT AND HAD TO REDIRECT IT RIGHT TO GET OFF FREEWAY.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
2018 TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID HAS ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS SINCE NEW. HAD IT ALIGNED FROM TOYOTA 2 TIMES AND STILL WEARING OUT THE TIRES.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .