4. 8th Gen Toyota Camry
The eighth-generation Toyota Camry remains one of the best all-around midsize sedans, combining excellent practicality, comfort, efficiency, and generally strong long-term reliability. However, emerging eight-speed transmission problems and potentially serious rust around the front strut towers have knocked it down a few spots on our reliability rankings, making a careful inspection especially important on used examples.
The eighth-generation Toyota Camry represents a more modern evolution of the formula that made the nameplate so successful: comfortable, practical, efficient, and exceptionally easy to live with. Built on Toyota’s TNGA platform, the Camry offers a composed ride with noticeably better handling than previous generations, while retaining the spacious interior and straightforward functionality that buyers expect. Powertrain options include a 2.5-liter four-cylinder, a highly efficient hybrid system using Toyota’s proven eCVT, and a 3.5-liter V6 that delivers surprisingly strong performance. Toyota’s D-4S fuel-injection system also combines direct and port injection, helping reduce the carbon-buildup concerns associated with many modern direct-injection engines.
Despite its strong reputation, the eighth-generation Camry isn’t without its weaknesses, and its reliability ranking deserves some nuance. The 2.5-liter engine is generally robust but can develop oil consumption, water-pump, PCV, and timing-chain tensioner issues if maintenance is neglected, while the 3.5-liter V6 is particularly durable but has known water-pump and oil-leak concerns. The hybrid system and eCVT are generally excellent when properly maintained, but the conventional eight-speed automatic found in many non-hybrid Camrys—particularly early 2018 models—has generated more concern, including harsh shifting, gear whine, and, in some cases, premature transmission failure. Infotainment glitches, problematic driver-assistance behavior on earlier Toyota Safety Sense systems, panoramic sunroof issues, and a large fuel-pump recall are also worth checking. More recently, rust developing around the tops of the front strut towers has become another concern, as severe corrosion in this area can compromise the structural integrity of the suspension mounting point. For these reasons, the eighth-generation Camry remains an excellent used car, but I have moved it several places down my reliability rankings. Later examples—particularly 2020 and newer models—are generally the ones I’d favor, provided the vehicle has a strong maintenance history and passes a thorough inspection for transmission problems and structural rust.