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Toyota Camry HybridModel year report

2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid Problems

Compared with other Toyota Camry Hybrid years

Typical for this model

62/100 1.3× a typical year · 50 = typical

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
162filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
73,700miles, 136 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
34 mpgcombined, 2.4L 4-cyl · hybrid FWD · 33 city / 34 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Complaints on this model year center on two patterns: a brake system warning that appears with the 'Check VSC System' message and can leave the brake pedal hard or unresponsive, and a dashboard surface that goes sticky and reflective. Sun visors that fall and block the driver's view, and engine oil consumption in the 2AZ-FE engine, also come up repeatedly. Most reports arrive between roughly 50,000 and 130,000 miles, and the brake condition often appears suddenly rather than gradually.

  1. Brakes

    Brake actuator / 'Check VSC System' with hard pedal

    • 56 complaints (35%)
    • median 96,500 mi at 6.5 yrs old (51 state mileage)
    • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $2,263 (median of 17 quotes)
    • filed 2010–2019

    Owners describe several dash lights coming on at once — brake, ABS, slip and master warning — with 'Check VSC System' displayed, followed by a brake pedal that needs heavy pressure or feels weak. Some reports say the change came on suddenly while driving, and in a few cases braking returned after restarting the car. Complaints commonly mention the dealer identifying the ABS actuator or accumulator (sometimes with code C1391 or a speed-sensor code), with repair quotes ranging from roughly $1,700 to $3,000 or more; some owners say the warning returned after a repair or reset. Mostly reported between about 40,000 and 130,000 miles, with several owners noting it began on a cold morning or after the car sat in low temperatures.

    What to check: Ask for the service history on the ABS actuator and brake accumulator, and whether any extended warranty or reimbursement program applied. During a test drive, note any flicker of brake, ABS or VSC warnings and whether the pedal feels firm and consistent.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Vsc check engine error came on display along with check engine light, ABS, parking brake, traction control, and something else. I was coming off the highway and exiting the off-ramp when the car binged, all the lights came on, the check vsc came on and the brakes hiccuped. I was already pulling off the highway, so I turned onto a side street. Parked, and then restarted the car. The error came on again, but then went out.”

    NHTSA complaint #10721998, filed 2015-05, 75,300 miles

    “I have a 2008 tch with 53k miles and the vsc warning light, brake light and several others first appeared on a cold morning during a cross country trip from ca to nc. A complete loss of breaking at 40 MPH is a scary thing!!! Brought it to dealer. Cleared the code. Well, about a week later in raleigh the vsc warning light was on when we arrived and the dealer recorded code c1391, abnormal pressure inside the accumulator. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10599064, filed 2014-06, 57,000 miles
  2. Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

    Sun visor drops and blocks the view

    • 16 complaints (10%)
    • median 56,000 mi at 3.9 yrs old (15 state mileage)
    • filed 2011–2017

    Complaints describe the driver or passenger sun visor losing its friction and hanging down or falling in front of the windshield. Owners report the dealer treating it as a normal wear item or quoting around $120 to $200 to replace, and some say the second visor failed the same way. A few mention the visor will not stay up once it has failed. Mostly reported between roughly 23,000 and 71,000 miles.

    What to check: Flip both visors down and up a few times and check they hold position; ask whether either side has been replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I have a 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid. The driver's side sun visor broke on my wife while she was driving creating a very dangerous situation. Fortunately she was able to tie the sun visor up as not to obstruct her view. I plan on going to the dealership tomorrow to address this issue. The car is at 60,000 miles.”

    NHTSA complaint #10403743, filed 2011-05, 60,200 miles

    “The driver side sun visor on my Toyota Camry Hybrid broke loose and it's just hanging there. I took it to the dealership to have it replaced and they said it would cost $120.00 to get it replaced. I went online and found other people had the same issue and who said that this was a manufactured defect. I would like to get my visor replaced at no cost to me as I see this as a safety issue.”

    NHTSA complaint #10422117, filed 2011-08, 23,200 miles
  3. Body and structure

    Sticky, melting dashboard and glare

    • 23 complaints (14%)
    • median 84,000 mi at 7.1 yrs old (13 state mileage)
    • filed 2014–2019

    Owners describe the dashboard top becoming soft, sticky and shiny, often after sun exposure, with some saying nothing removes the residue. The most common consequence mentioned is reflection or glare on the windshield that makes driving harder. Several complaints say the dealer acknowledged a prior customer-support program or extended coverage for the dash and that it has since expired, with replacement quoted around $2,700 plus labor. Reported from very low mileage up to over 150,000 miles, most often in warm, sunny climates and on vehicles kept outdoors.

    What to check: Look at the dashboard in direct sunlight for shine and tackiness, press it lightly for softness, and ask whether the dash was ever replaced under the earlier customer-support program.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “My dashboard has been melting for the last 2 month and now is a sticky and has an awful glare that is making driving very difficult for me. The dashboard is melting under the sun.”

    NHTSA complaint #10662952, filed 2014-12, 50,000 miles

    “My car has the sticky dash issue that many toyotas have. I first noticed a 'plastic / rubber' smell in the car a month after I bought it; however, the Toyota dealership said that it was the 'new car smell'. Later I was told it was an ongoing issue with my cabin inlet filter. Finally the dash started becoming soft and gooey. I later found out that my car was part of a recall and Toyota agreed to replace the dash - 9 years later. I have been breathing the toxic fumes from the melting dash for 9 years, 150k plus miles.”

    NHTSA complaint #11024617, filed 2017-09, 1,000 miles

Buying note. Have a pre-purchase inspection pay particular attention to the brake system — warning lights, pedal feel and any actuator or accumulator service history — and check the dashboard and sun visors in daylight. Ask for maintenance records covering oil consumption and any work done under Toyota programs before agreeing on a price.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 162 consumer complaints for the 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid. 136 of the complaints include a mileage, and 24% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 73,700 miles. Of all complaints, 13 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 7 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 258 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 5 Toyota Camry Hybrid model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 62 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Electrical system (2), Engine cooling (2), Equipment (2), Exterior lighting (2), Fuel system (2), Transmission and drivetrain (2), Latches, locks and linkages (1).

Example complaints

Brakes: “The ABS actuator failed. My local dealership seems unaware this is a know issue with my car. The repair cost so far is $1800. It seems from all research that there are options, but my dealership has not offered me any nor have the communicate well. Trying to get to the service manager today. They have had my car for 5 business days.”

NHTSA complaint #10631805, filed 2014-09, 75,000 miles

Vehicle speed control: “For several months, the cruise control had only been working intermittently and my brakes seemed rough. The night before I brought my car in, all the lights on the instrument panel came on. On aug 1, 2017, I got a diagnostic and it was the ABS actuator, but I was told I also needed a brake job and an alignment so I went ahead with that $1,000 job. They could not diagnose the cruise control since it was functioning at the time. …”

NHTSA complaint #11045555, filed 2017-11, 168,000 miles

Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “The driver side sun visor of my 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid fell down and blocked my view suddenly this afternoon while I was driving on I-70. The mechanics inside the visor is broken and there was no way to move it back to the position that did not blocking my view. It is extremely dangerous! Toyota should issue another recall for their lousy quality!!”

NHTSA complaint #10409287, filed 2011-06, 21,587 miles

Body and structure: “I'm having a glare on my windshield (when I'm driving and particularly in sunny conditions) from my dashboard that has melted. It's become very shiny and makes it difficult to see when driving. I have tried cleaning it but because of the substance it is not possible to clean it.”

NHTSA complaint #11204420, filed 2019-04, 140,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

24% of the 136 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 51,000 and 100,000 miles.

4%0–106%10–2515%25–5027%50–7523%75–10017%100–1509%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (136 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 73,700 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

20092011201355201520172019
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Camry Hybrid · sedan FWDnot rated5 / 5———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Camry Hybrid FWD2.4L 4-cyl · hybridCVT333434$1,950

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 258 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 258 bulletins →

Other model years of the Toyota Camry Hybrid

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20261455,00035—Too new to compareToo new
20251758,52065—Too new to compareToo new
20218—1552—Not enough data
20209115,0002552—Not enough data
2019117,0002552—Not enough data
2018287,600055223 · FewerFalling
201758,4001540—Not enough data
2016529,0001540—Not enough data
20151553,0000540—Rising
20142523,1101—4032 · FewerStable
2013277,0501—4034 · FewerStable
20125527,0001—4062 · TypicalStable
20112360,0002—33—Falling
201010120,0002—34—Not enough data
200911874,7504—3468 · MoreFalling
200816273,7002—3462 · TypicalStable
200760295,0003—34Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Toyota Camry Hybrid model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid?

Complaints on this model year center on two patterns: a brake system warning that appears with the 'Check VSC System' message and can leave the brake pedal hard or unresponsive, and a dashboard surface that goes sticky and reflective. The issues reported most often: Brake actuator / 'Check VSC System' with hard pedal; Sun visor drops and blocks the view; Sticky, melting dashboard and glare.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid have?

NHTSA recorded 162 consumer complaints for the 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid is reported most often?

Brakes is named most often, in 67 complaints (41% of the total), followed by vehicle speed control with 39.

Has the 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid get?

The EPA rates the 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid (Camry Hybrid, 2.4L 4-cyl · hybrid) at 34 mpg combined, 33 city and 34 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,950 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid reported?

Among the 136 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 73,700 miles and the middle half falls between 51,000 and 100,000 miles; 24% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.