2020 Toyota CAMRY

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2020 Toyota CAMRY has 373 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 4.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (16% of all complaints), specifically: car smells like coolant when exiting after driving. can not find visible leak, but overflow reservoir is empty after 3000 miles. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 16 crash reports 24 injuries

373

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

4.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

61 complaints

16%

• CAR SMELLS LIKE COOLANT WHEN EXITING AFTER DRIVING. CAN NOT FIND VISIBLE LEAK, BUT OVERFLOW RESERVOIR IS EMPTY AFTER 3000 MILES
• OIL SMELL ON HARD ACCELERATION.
• ENGINE SERIAL NUMBER D243692 LARGE LETTERS UNDERNEATH NUMBER A25A. SAFETY RECALL NOTICE NUMBER 20TA04. DUE TO THE MEDICAL EMERGENCY CORONAVIRUS IN THE UNITED STATES I AM REQUESTING A LIST OF SERIAL NUMBERS FOR THE ENGINE BLOCKS 2020 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE DEALER I CONTACTED REFUSE TO TELL ME IF MY ENG

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“CAR SMELLS LIKE COOLANT WHEN EXITING AFTER DRIVING. CAN NOT FIND VISIBLE LEAK, BUT OVERFLOW RESERVOIR IS EMPTY AFTER 3000 MILES”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

61 complaints

16%

• RODENTS APPEAR TO BE ATTRACTED TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHERE THEY ARE EATING CRITICAL WIRING. THE WIRING IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. I HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED WITH THE DEALERSHIP, COSTING ME $600. AFTER RETURNING THE VEHICLE FROM THESE REPAIRS AT THE DEALERSHIP, I PARKED THE
• THE CAR CAN SIT FOR 1 DAY WITHOUT DRIVING OR NOT STARTING IT AND IT WILL NOT START THE NEXT DAY. IT HAS TO BE JUMP STARTED.
• DAYTONA TOYOTA DISCONNECTED MY DCM DATA CONTROL MODULE BECAUSE IT WAS DRAINING THE BATTERY AND CAUSING IT TO GO DEAD. HOWEVER NOW MY AUDIO ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM EMTINE 3.0 WILL NOT WORK. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“RODENTS APPEAR TO BE ATTRACTED TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHERE THEY ARE EATING CRITICAL WIRING. THE WIRING IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. I HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED WITH THE DEALERSHIP, COSTING ME $600. AFTER RETURNING THE VEHICLE FROM THESE REPAIRS AT THE DEALERSHIP, I PARKED THE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

49 complaints

13%

• OUR VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE - REAR AT AN ESTIMATED 60MPH SPEED DIFFERENCE. (IT IS THOUGHT WE WERE SLOWED TO APPROX 25MPH, OTHER CAR WAS PROBABLY 80MPH OR MORE). THIS HAPPENED ON I95 IN LUMBERTON NC. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS IN LEFT LANE, WE WERE IN RIGHT LANE. THE OTHER VEHICLE SWERVED
• The contact owned a 2020 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 50 MPH, he crashed into another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. The contact suffered injuries to both shoulders and his back but did not seek medical treatment. The other driver was injure
• The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Camry XLE. The contact stated while driving approximately 26 MPH, an 18-wheeler vehicle crashed into the rear of his vehicle twice. The air bags failed to deploy and the seat belts failed to engage. The message "Air Bag System Malfunction" was displayed. The contact s

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 9 crashes

“OUR VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE - REAR AT AN ESTIMATED 60MPH SPEED DIFFERENCE. (IT IS THOUGHT WE WERE SLOWED TO APPROX 25MPH, OTHER CAR WAS PROBABLY 80MPH OR MORE). THIS HAPPENED ON I95 IN LUMBERTON NC. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS IN LEFT LANE, WE WERE IN RIGHT LANE. THE OTHER VEHICLE SWERVED”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

43 complaints

12%

• SLOW ACCELERATION DURING 1ST 1 OR 2 GEARS. ALMOST HAD MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS IN HIGHWAY DUE TO SLOW ACCELERATION WHEN CHANGING LANES. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT IMMEDIATELY RESPOND TO ACCELERATION WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS USED. THE VEHICLE HAS A COUPLE OF SECONDS DELAY UNTIL IT CHANGING INTO NEXT GEAR. DEAL
• MY 2020 CAMRY /TOYOTA IS BUILT SO LOW IT KNOTTED THE CLAPS A LOOSE FROM UNDER THE FRONT PART OF THE VEHICLE... DUE TO HOW LOW THE VEHICLE WAS BUILT ANY SLIGHT UNEVENNESS IN THE ROAD YOU CAN HEAR AND FEEL THE FRONT OF THE CAR SCRAPE THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. *TR
• THE DAY WAS PARTLY CLOUDY. THE LOCATION WAS MARYLAND. THE VEHICLE WAS A NEW 2020 TOYOTA CAMRY SE 4DOOR. WHILE DRIVING WITH MY SUNROOF EXTERIOR FLAT GLASS AND INTERIOR DOOR ASSEMBLY BOTH COMPLETELY CLOSED, MY DAUGHTER AND I SUDDENLY HEARD A BOOM EXPLOSION. WHILE DRIVING TRYING TO SAFELY EXIT, HUGE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“SLOW ACCELERATION DURING 1ST 1 OR 2 GEARS. ALMOST HAD MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS IN HIGHWAY DUE TO SLOW ACCELERATION WHEN CHANGING LANES. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT IMMEDIATELY RESPOND TO ACCELERATION WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS USED. THE VEHICLE HAS A COUPLE OF SECONDS DELAY UNTIL IT CHANGING INTO NEXT GEAR. DEAL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

36 complaints

10%

• SLOW ACCELERATION DURING 1ST 1 OR 2 GEARS. ALMOST HAD MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS IN HIGHWAY DUE TO SLOW ACCELERATION WHEN CHANGING LANES. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT IMMEDIATELY RESPOND TO ACCELERATION WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS USED. THE VEHICLE HAS A COUPLE OF SECONDS DELAY UNTIL IT CHANGING INTO NEXT GEAR. DEAL
• FUEL PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACE. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON MY CAR SINCE JANUARY AND TOYOTA TOLD ME THIS YESTERDAY. FUEL PUMP IS DEFECTIVE AND CAN CAUSE THE CAR TO STALL WHILE IN OPERATION. TOYOTA STATED THEY CANNOT OFFER A LOANER OR REPLACEMENT VEHICLE AND CANNOT GIVE A ETA FOR THE REPLACEMENT P
• THE CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER NOT USING THE VEHICLE FOR 2 DAYS. THE DASHBOARD LIT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE/FLASHING NOTICE THAT SAID SMART KEY FAB MALFUNCTION. MY CAR WOULD NOT START COMPLETELY DEAD. CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE THEY TOLD ME TO HOLD THE KEY FAB TO THE START BUTTON AND TRY TO START THE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 373 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: CAR SMELLS LIKE COOLANT WHEN EXITING AFTER DRIVING. CAN NOT FIND VISIBLE LEAK, BUT OVERFLOW RESERVOIR IS EMPTY AFTER 3000 MILES
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: RODENTS APPEAR TO BE ATTRACTED TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHERE THEY ARE EATING CRITICAL WIRING. THE WIRING IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. I HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED WITH THE DEALERSHIP, COSTING ME $600. AFTER RETURNING THE VEHICLE FROM THESE REPAIRS AT THE DEALERSHIP, I PARKED THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: OUR VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE - REAR AT AN ESTIMATED 60MPH SPEED DIFFERENCE. (IT IS THOUGHT WE WERE SLOWED TO APPROX 25MPH, OTHER CAR WAS PROBABLY 80MPH OR MORE). THIS HAPPENED ON I95 IN LUMBERTON NC. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS IN LEFT LANE, WE WERE IN RIGHT LANE. THE OTHER VEHICLE SWERVED
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: SLOW ACCELERATION DURING 1ST 1 OR 2 GEARS. ALMOST HAD MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS IN HIGHWAY DUE TO SLOW ACCELERATION WHEN CHANGING LANES. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT IMMEDIATELY RESPOND TO ACCELERATION WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS USED. THE VEHICLE HAS A COUPLE OF SECONDS DELAY UNTIL IT CHANGING INTO NEXT GEAR. DEAL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)