The 2018 Camry on the TNGA platform is generally solid, but the 2.5L I4 (A25A-FKS) had catastrophic early failures from oil dilution and low-speed pre-ignition causing bearing/piston damage, plus widespread fuel pump recalls. Hybrids dodge the engine drama but share some transmission cooler issues.
Catastrophic Engine Failure from Oil Dilution / LSPI
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 30,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Knocking/ticking from lower end, especially on cold starts, Oil smells like gasoline on dipstick check, Sudden loss of power, metal shavings in oil, Check engine light with cylinder misfire codes
Fix: Complete engine rebuild or short block replacement required. Involves removing engine, replacing pistons, rings, bearings, sometimes crankshaft. Toyota extended warranty to 10yr/150k on some VINs but not all. 25-35 hours labor plus parts.
Estimated cost: $6,000-10,000
Fuel Pump Failure (Recall 20TA02/20TA06/21TA07)
Common · high severity
Symptoms: No-start condition or stalling at highway speed without warning, Engine stumbles or loses power during acceleration, Fuel pressure codes or low fuel pressure at rail
Fix: Denso low-pressure pump impeller cracks from density issue. Three separate recall campaigns. Dealer replacement free under recall, otherwise 2.5 hours to drop tank and swap pump module.
Estimated cost: $800-1,200
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Leaks
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid puddles under vehicle near radiator, Pink/red fluid dripping from cooler line connections, Low transmission fluid warning or erratic shifting, Fluid on radiator support or undercarriage
Fix: Cooler lines at radiator corrode or connections crack, especially in salt states. Replace lines and top off ATF, flush if contaminated. 2-3 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $400-700
Brake Booster Vacuum Pump Failure (Recall 21V906)
Occasional · high severity
Symptoms: Hard brake pedal requiring excessive force, Brake warning light illuminated, Hissing noise from under hood near firewall, Increased stopping distances
Fix: Electric vacuum pump for brake booster can seize or fail, losing power assist. Recall covers replacement. DIY not recommended due to brake system involvement. 1.5-2 hours at dealer.
Estimated cost: $600-900
Lower Engine Mount (Transmission Mount) Deterioration
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 70,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking when shifting into drive or reverse, Excessive engine movement visible from engine bay during acceleration, Vibration through chassis at idle or during throttle tip-in
Fix: Hydraulic lower mount wears from start-stop cycles and normal use. Front mount also suspect. Replace both lower mounts while you're in there. 2-3 hours with subframe support.
Estimated cost: $400-650
Head Gasket Seepage (2.5L Non-Hybrid)
Rare · medium severity
Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Coolant weeping from head/block joint, visible as crusty residue, Slow coolant loss without external leaks elsewhere, Sweet smell from engine bay after drive, No overheating or mixing into oil (external seep only)
Fix: External head gasket seepage at front or rear of head. Not the old 2AZ problem, but happens. Head gasket replacement: 12-16 hours labor, machine shop for head resurfacing.
Estimated cost: $2,500-3,800
Owner tips
Check oil every 2,000 miles and smell it — gasoline odor means trouble brewing; address immediately
Verify your VIN was covered under fuel pump recalls and confirm repair was done
Use Toyota WS ATF only; aftermarket fluids cause valve body issues in this 8-speed
Cold-start knocking is NOT normal on this engine despite what some forums say — investigate immediately
Buy the hybrid if you want one — skip the 2.5L gas unless you confirm it's not a grenade with full service records and oil analysis history.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Camry, 2019 Lexus NX300, and 2019 RX350L vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Consequence: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 12, 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TA01 and 25LA01.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM · 21V890000
2021-11-17
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Camry vehicles. The vane cap inside the vacuum pump may break, causing the pump to fail, which could result in a sudden loss of braking assist.
Consequence: A sudden loss of braking assist can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will repair or replace the vacuum pump, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 16, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
Consequence: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were available starting January 21, 2021. Owners of other models will be notified as remedy parts become available. Remedy parts should be available for all affected vehicles by late March 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-012. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA01.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on January 13, 2020.
On March 4, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include certain 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser, 2018 Avalon, Corolla, 2014 FJ Cruiser, 2017 Sienna and Lexus 2018 ES 350, 2018-2019 GS 300, 2013-2014 GS350, 2014-2015 GX 460, IS 350 and LX 570, 2014 IS F, 2018-2019 IS 350, LC 500H and LS 500H, 2013-2015 LS 460, 2015 NX 200T and RC350, 2017 RC 200T and RX 350. Toyota also removed the 2018-2019 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser and 2018-2019 Lexus GX 460 and LX 570 and 2019 NX300 from inclusion in this recall. On March 19, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include 2015 Lexus GS350 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Consequence: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB02 and 20TA02 for Toyota vehicles and 20LB01 and 20LA01 for Lexus vehicles.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS · 19V503000
2019-06-28
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Toyota Camry, Corolla, Rav4, Sienna, and Yaris iA vehicles equipped with factory-installed floor mats. The load carrying capacity modification label may be incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Consequence: An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began August 23, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. SET's number for this recall is SET19A.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM · 18V211000
2018-04-03
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Toyota Camry and Highlander vehicles, 2017 Toyota Sienna and Tacoma vehicles and 2017 Lexus RX350 vehicles. During the manufacturing process, the oil galley in the rotor for the brake booster vacuum pump assembly may have been improperly machined possibly resulting in a sudden loss of brake assist.
Consequence: A sudden loss of braking assist can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake booster vacuum pump, free of charge. The recall began on May 9, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371, or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J0K/JLD.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE · 18V200000
2018-03-28
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Toyota Camry vehicles equipped with a 2.5L, four-cylinder engine. The pistons on these vehicles may be larger than specified, possibly causing the engine to stall.
Consequence: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the production date codes of the pistons and, if an engine contains a piston from the affected production period, the engine assembly will be replaced, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin May 25, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J1M/J0M.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS · 18V108000
2018-02-14
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Toyota Camry vehicles equipped with V6 engines. These vehicles have fuel delivery pipes that may not be properly connected to the fuel hoses in the engine compartment.
Consequence: The improperly connected hoses may leak fuel, which, in the presence of an ignition source, can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel pipes for the correct installation, correcting them as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 30, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0G.
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