Is the 2011 Toyota Camry a bad year?
602 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Camry years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2011 Toyota Camry are in line with other Camry years. Visibility and wipers and body structure stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2011 Camry owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 65,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility and wipersSTANDS OUT | 120 (20%) | 50k–89k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structureSTANDS OUT | 63 (10%) | 38k–83k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bags | 72 (12%) | 24k–80k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 49 (8%) | 3k–65k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Engine | 44 (7%) | 34k–98k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Wheels | 24 (4%) | 10k–77k miles · around this mileage | Wheel bearing / hub assembly replacement (one wheel) $230–$750 |
| Fuel system | 18 (3%) | 5k–74k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Seat belts | 8 (1%) | 40k–85k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed controlSTANDS OUT | 70 (12%) | 5k–46k miles · mostly behind | — |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 49 (8%) | 4k–43k miles · mostly behind | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| SuspensionSTANDS OUT | 44 (7%) | 16k–57k miles · mostly behind | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Electrical system | 32 (5%) | 13k–56k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Steering | 31 (5%) | 28k–56k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Tires | 12 (2%) | 18k–48k miles · mostly behind | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 65,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 602 complaints: 107 mention a crash · 7 mention a fire · 72 report an injury · 42 say the car was towed.
16 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
I was sitting in the car with my twin 2YRS old daughters when I heard a sound; I looked only to see that one of the baby pull the gear stick out of park, into drive and the keys were in my pocket!
2011 Camry with 27,373 miles entered traffic on fwy at 50+ MPH started to shimmy violently engulfing me from all sides it was if car was possessed.
Transmission will appear to disengage between 2nd and 3rd gear when first starting off in cold or after setting for long periods (9-10 hrs.).
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 65,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2011 Toyota Camry: 5
The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring. Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
In the affected vehicles, the rubber boot on the front suspension lower arm ball joint may have been damaged during manufacturing. The damage could cause the boot to leak lubricant grease which could then cause the ball joint to wear and loosen prematurely. A loosened ball joint may separate from the knuckle and could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight added. An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which may result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage.
During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed. If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position.
These vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels. A driver may overload a vehicle which may increase the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Toyota: 197
Repair instructions Toyota sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2011 Toyota Camry. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Non-electric water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips for some 2008 - 2025 model year Toyota vehicles
Some vehicles may exhibit a MIL ON condition with Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P0138 (Oxygen Sensor Circuit High Voltage [Bank 1 Sensor 2])
The vehicle may be difficult to start or have an abnormally low or rough idle after the battery has been disconnected or power to the Engine ECM has been…
TechTip: Condition - There has been some concern with 3 Piece Piston Ring installations for 2AZ-FE and 2AZ-FXE engines
Neighbouring years
2010 Camry: 604 complaints, keep it · 2012 Camry: 591 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission.
Every Toyota Camry year
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Questions
Is the 2011 Toyota Camry a bad year?
602 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Camry years. At 65,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Toyota Camry?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: visibility and wipers (120), body structure (63), air bags (72), transmission and drivetrain (49), engine (44).
How many recalls does the 2011 Toyota Camry have?
5 recall campaigns list this model year: Seats (NHTSA 14V-743), Suspension (NHTSA 14V-732), Equipment (NHTSA 13V-123), Seats (NHTSA 13V-014) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.