2007 Toyota Camry Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2007 Camry most often describe excessive engine oil consumption that requires frequent topping up between changes, and a dashboard that becomes sticky, shiny and cracked with age and heat, throwing glare onto the windshield. Sun visors that will not stay stowed, intermittent ABS/brake-actuator trouble and reports of unintended acceleration or odd shifting round out the most common themes.

1. 1
   Engine

   Excessive engine oil consumption

   • 363 complaints (13%)
   • median 90,000 mi at 7.6 yrs old (254 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,100 (median of 28 quotes)
   • filed 2007–2026

   Owners describe the car using large amounts of oil between changes with no visible leak or smoke, sometimes a quart or more per tank of fuel, and several report the oil level reading low or dry on the dipstick. Some say the dealer called the rate normal, while others were told the engine needed internal work or replacement. A few link the oil loss to knocking, misfires or engine failure. Mostly reported between roughly 45,000 and 180,000 miles, often noticed gradually over years of ownership.

   What to check: Check the oil level and condition at every fill-up during a test period, and ask for service records showing how often oil has been added between changes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The ABS sensor/module has gone out again. I spent several thousands in repairs and diagnostics years ago for the same issue. Now it has gone crazy again. The dash has been replaced due to being sticky. The car itself burns oil, we are constantly checking and adding to it. It seems several have had these issues and Toyota should be fixing them.”

   NHTSA complaint #11327259, filed 2020-06, 143,000 miles

   “Burns too much oil. Friends with camrys and scions both have complained about same issue. I barely make it to 2000 mile mark and have to add oil. Even different dealerships have told me that these engines are known to burn through too much oil. If they know this and it's a problem for many then it should be fixed.”

   NHTSA complaint #11299967, filed 2020-01, 90,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   ABS and brake actuator warnings, hard pedal

   • 377 complaints (13%)
   • median 84,500 mi at 7.7 yrs old (320 state mileage)
   • 47 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,217 (median of 55 quotes)
   • filed 2006–2025

   Owners report the ABS, brake and VSC lights coming on together, sometimes with a continuous beep, and the brake pedal going hard or soft with reduced stopping ability. Several say a mechanic identified the ABS actuator or module as the cause, and some describe the part being replaced and failing again later. Reported from roughly 60,000 to 200,000 miles, often while driving at ordinary speeds.

   What to check: Start the car and confirm no ABS, brake or VSC lights stay on, and ask for records of any ABS actuator or module replacement.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vsc, ABS, air lights are on. Makes a peak sound when I start my car. It stays for a long time and goes away. During this time break does not work as normal. Feels hard to press break and unable to stop the car. Yesterday when I'm driving suddenly sound came on and I was unable to stop the car as I normally can. When I try to press the break. Break does not apply.”

   NHTSA complaint #11328751, filed 2020-06, 4 miles

   “ABS Brake Actuator failed, this malfunction came out of nowhere, making me unable to stop my car and putting my life at risk. I have not seen any official recall on this from Toyota, but I’ve seen many people have this same specific issues on Toyota forums. The ABS, brake, and slip light came on all at once while my car made a continuous beeping sound. This all happened as my brakes went out.”

   NHTSA complaint #11515407, filed 2023-04, 118,000 miles
3. 3
   Body and structure

   Sticky, melting or cracked dashboard

   • 480 complaints (17%)
   • median 75,000 mi at 7.5 yrs old (274 state mileage)
   • 15 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,400 (median of 20 quotes)
   • filed 2007–2026

   Owners report the dashboard surface turning shiny, sticky and gooey, cracking or peeling over time, and reflecting sunlight onto the windshield so the road is harder to see. Several say a dealer or manufacturer program covered replacement at some point, while others were told the coverage period had expired or parts were unavailable. Reported from roughly 50,000 to 170,000 miles, often after years in hot or humid climates.

   What to check: Inspect the dashboard in direct sun for shine, stickiness or cracks, and ask whether any dashboard replacement or warranty enhancement work was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “About a year ago, I noticed that the dashboard was not firm. It dented very easily. This year, I did not drive much, but when I did, the dashboard was melting and shiny, reflecting in the windshield, making visibility dangerously insufficient while driving. The problem is much worse on sunny days. Dashboard can not be cleaned, since it is gooey. Precise date is hard to say, because of covid restrictions and cautions.”

   NHTSA complaint #11374098, filed 2020-11, 60,000 miles

   “The auto was originally kept year round in minnesota. We have a place in alamo tx 2 years ago we drove the Camry down to texas and flew back to minnesota. We left the car in a garage. The fall of 2020 is when we discovered we had a sticky dash. We called Toyota in pharr tx they said there was a recall for this but the time had expired for us to get it fixed under the recall about 2 years age. Because the Camry was in mn for the majority of its life, the problem wasn't discovered until the fall of 2020, 2 years after the rebate expired. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11397472, filed 2021-02, 180,000 miles
4. 4
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Sun visor will not stay up

   • 296 complaints (10%)
   • median 68,500 mi at 4.9 yrs old (245 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2025

   Owners describe the driver or passenger sun visor drooping out of its stowed position, hanging down over the windshield and blocking the view, sometimes after a clip or lock bar breaks. Some say a dealer declined to repair or replace it, citing an expired campaign, and others were quoted a replacement cost. Reported from about 30,000 miles upward, often noticed over bumps or when driving into the sun.

   What to check: Fold both visors up and down and check they stay stowed and the clips hold; ask whether either visor has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driver side visor flaps down to forehead level when stationary. Flaps down pointing down when in motion going over bump. Visor does not stay tucked in its stow away position. Caused injury to right temple getting into the car. Caused forehead injury at a sudden stop. Dealt we refused to replace or repair. Toyota claims the the recall ended in 2018 so the part is not eligible for replacement.”

   NHTSA complaint #11385592, filed 2020-12, 153,611 miles

   “Driver side sun visor will not stay in the folded up position and obscures forward vision. It was pulled down to hold up an accordion style sunshade in the windshield and would not fold back up. The failure has not been repaired yet.”

   NHTSA complaint #10351861, filed 2010-08, 30,000 miles
5. 5
   Vehicle speed control

   Unintended acceleration or stuck pedal feel

   • 647 complaints (22%)
   • median 20,000 mi at 2.4 yrs old (491 state mileage)
   • 144 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $6,000 (median of 19 quotes)
   • filed 2006–2025

   Owners describe the car accelerating on its own or the pedal feeling sticky at low speeds, at stops or while parking, with some reporting revving and lurching. A few say the dealer could not reproduce the problem or found no stored codes, and some mention having the pedal recall work done without the feeling going away. Reported from very low mileage up to about 200,000 miles, often at low speeds or when easing off the throttle.

   Recall 10V017000Recall 09V388000

   What to check: Ask whether the accelerator pedal recalls (10V017000 and 09V388000) were completed, and check that the floor mat is the correct one and properly secured.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I own 2-2007 Camry. 1. Already when to the dealer for the recall for one of the cars. I still feel stick pedals and some acceleration, not too mayor but I feel it in highway as well in stop sign. The other car (this one have a big problem I feel more the problem in this one more than the other)will be in the dealer 3/17/2010 to try to fix the problem. I hope and this will work cause we're afraid of driving this cars. A).-gas pedals and brakes.”

   NHTSA complaint #10318544, filed 2010-03, 40,000 miles

   “The Camry started revving up to 1500 RPM at stop lights or when pulling into parking spots almost causing accidents, local dealer could not find issue after having car for a month. There is no check engine light or saved codes, I just notice the engine coolant temperature drop while its doing it so its an electrical issue. It happens every other day usually when warm out. I am too scared to have my wife drive the vehicle anymore and cannot justify selling. Hopefully Toyota will help figure this out. Dealer replaced fuel pump but it did not fix the issue. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11407875, filed 2021-04, 104,522 miles

Buying note. On a used 2007 Camry, check the oil level and service history for oil-use complaints first, since that is the most frequently described problem, then look over the dashboard and visors and scan for ABS or brake warning lights. Ask for recall completion records, particularly the accelerator pedal campaigns.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 80 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.