Free. Instant. No signup. Pulls recalls and complaints for your exact vehicle.
Couldn't find that VIN. Check the digits and try again.
severe 39 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
No new NHTSA brakes complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
A brake tube perforation may result in brake fluid leakage. A leak in brake fluid may impact braking performance increasing the risk of a crash.
Buyer takeaway: A 2010 Camry with brake issues is a serious gamble: master cylinders fail without warning, ABS actuators wear out and recur even after warranty repair, and rotors warp prematurely. Get a pre-purchase brake inspection, especially fluid condition and actuator function; many owners report dealers dismiss real problems as normal, and warranty coverage is narrow.
Owners describe brake failures striking without warning, often catastrophically. Many report the brake pedal sinking to the floor with little stopping power—one at just 31,000 miles despite regular maintenance. The master cylinder and power booster have failed, requiring $2,000 repairs that Toyota denied outside the 36-month warranty despite the early mileage.
ABS actuator problems appear repeatedly. Owners report creaking or thumping sounds when braking, warning lights illuminating across the dashboard, and loss of braking assist. One owner had the part fail twice within two years; a second actuator failure occurred just two days after fresh brake pads. Dealers acknowledge the part is defective but cite the one-year warranty coverage as a barrier.
Brake rotors warp prematurely—some as early as 23,000 miles—causing violent steering-wheel shimmy. Owners resurfaced rotors only to have them warp again 8,000 miles later. Dealers won't cover the work under factory warranty.
ABS performance troubles appear in multiple reports: brakes locking up unexpectedly, the car lurching forward instead of stopping smoothly, clicking or hopping on loose pavement. One owner describes being unable to control the vehicle during panic stops.
Brake-pedal behavior is unpredictable. Owners report soft pedals, delayed response, sudden disengagement mid-stop requiring hard re-pressing, and jerky stops at low speeds. Some narratives reference earlier brake-fluid recalls on their specific vehicles that were never repaired.
Several incidents describe cars accelerating when brakes were applied, though causation—brake system versus accelerator control—remains unclear in the narratives.
Same Toyota Camry brakes reports on nearby years: 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2011 · 2012
Complete loss of braking ability; brake pedal sinks to floor with minimal stopping force. Replacement costs around $2,000. Occurred on a vehicle with only 31,026 miles despite regular maintenance.
When: 31,026 miles; August 2019
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal goes all the way to floor; Vibrating noise when pedal depressed; Brake warning light illuminates red; Severe loss of stopping power
Repairs/costs cited: Master cylinder and power booster replaced; cost approximately $2,000
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota customer service declined reimbursement citing the vehicle's age (10 years old) despite mileage being only 31,000. Emergency brake also found non-functional after repair, suggesting incomplete service.
ABS actuator malfunction causing creaking/thumping sounds, dashboard warning lights, and loss of braking assist. One customer experienced failure, repair under warranty, then failure again within 2 years. Second failure denied coverage citing one-year parts warranty despite dealer manager acknowledging defect.
When: 2017 and 23 July 2019 (recurrence); also December 2017 at highway speed
Symptoms owners cite: Creaking or thumping sound when brakes applied; Random chiming sounds before sudden failure; All dashboard lights illuminate; High-pitched steady sound; Complete loss of braking power; Brake warning lights stay illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Actuator replacement initially covered under warranty; later failures denied coverage despite one-year warranty limit. Brake fluid service recommended but often not performed during first repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Initial replacement covered as 'warranty'; subsequent failure denied due to one-year coverage limit expiring. Dealer acknowledged part is 'obviously defective.'
Rotors warp at low mileage, causing violent steering-wheel vibration and shimmy. Owners report rotors warping again shortly after resurfacing, indicating a systemic durability problem. Dealers refuse warranty coverage for brake components.
When: 23,000 miles; recurring 8,000 miles after repair
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel vibrates violently when braking; Steering wheel shakes during braking; Loud grinding sounds from brakes
Repairs/costs cited: Rotors resurfaced; warp recurring within 8,000 miles. Toyota offered partial credit toward replacement with same-type rotors as goodwill, not full warranty coverage.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers denied warranty coverage for rotor problems. Toyota offered partial credit on replacement as goodwill gesture only.
ABS system locks wheels during light braking or panic stops, causing loss of control and car hopping or lunging. Vehicle unable to stop smoothly; clicking and hopping on gravel or loose pavement reported. Brakes lurch car forward instead of halting.
When: Various, including early mileage (3,399 miles); 2009–2015 timeframe
Symptoms owners cite: ABS locks up when brakes applied; Car lunges forward when brakes tapped; Clicking noise and car hopping on loose surfaces; Vehicle does not stop smoothly or predictably; Jerking, sudden stops at low speeds; Loss of vehicle control during braking
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs completed in most narratives; one ABS actuator replacement performed after brake warning lights and loss of assist.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer in one case stated there is 'no fix at this moment' for ABS actuator noise; owner told to 'live with it.' Another dealer attributed normal sounds to brake-calipers and denied issue.
Brake pedal feels soft or delayed on initial application, requiring harder pressing to stop. One owner reports pedal contacting floor mat during emergency braking. Hybrid models frequently mentioned.
When: From purchase (2009–2010); throughout ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal lag or delay when applied; Soft or spongy pedal feel; Near-misses rear-ending vehicles ahead; Pedal reaches floor in emergency stops; Requires harder pressing to achieve braking
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented in most narratives; dealers told owners the behavior was normal.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers dismissed concerns as normal operation, saying 'no issue.' Owner of hybrid model reported dealer said vehicle can still be driven with check engine light on (not blinking).
Bolt securing brake hose to caliper found loose, causing brake fluid to leak and complete brake failure. Occurred on a vehicle with only 4,000 miles serviced exclusively at dealer per schedule.
When: 4,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Complete brake failure; Brake fluid leak
Repairs/costs cited: Bolt tightened to secure hose to caliper.
Rear brake pads corrode and wear prematurely due to road salt, often on one wheel only. One narrative reports outside left rear pad worn out while other pads retained 65% tread. Dealer charged for caliper bracket replacement.
When: 28,130 miles (corrosion wear); varies
Symptoms owners cite: Squeaking sound from rear brakes at 45 mph; Uneven pad wear across wheels; Corrosion on brake pads
Repairs/costs cited: Brake pads and rotors replaced on rear wheels. Pad corrosion attributed to heavy road salt. Bracket replacement charged to owner.
Various brake-related noises reported: popping when releasing pedal, clicking when shifting from reverse to drive, creaking, knocking, thumping, and random chiming. Dealers often deny problem, citing normal operation, though specialist later agreed to investigate.
When: From new vehicle ownership; 11,000+ miles; recurring
Symptoms owners cite: Creaking or thumping sounds when brakes applied; Popping sound when brake pedal released; Clicking when shifting from reverse to drive; Knocking sound when starting and putting in drive; Random chiming sounds (no indicator light); Loud noise from braking system
Repairs/costs cited: Toyota field specialists determined problem to be ABS actuator defect with 'no fix at the moment.' Most dealers initially refused to investigate, saying noises are normal.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota customer service said clicking is normal when shifting gears due to 'mechanical adjustment of brake calipers.' Later, Toyota technical assistance acknowledged multiple complaints and identified ABS actuator as the source but stated no fix available.
Brakes fail to engage despite pedal being pressed hard. In multiple cases, vehicles collided because brakes did not respond. Some occurred at low speeds (5–25 mph); others at higher speeds. One collision resulted in helicopter evacuation and vehicle destruction.
When: Various (17,000 miles; 18,000 miles; highway driving)
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes do not engage when pedal pressed; Brake pedal pressed hard but car continues moving; Unable to stop vehicle; No warning prior to failure
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles involved in collisions; repairs not completed or documented.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealerships declined to take responsibility. One owner reported being told dealer would investigate but had no confidence the investigation would be impartial.
Synthesized from 39 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
On 2 occasions the car's brakes failed and caused a collision. The brake pedal was pressed all the way down to avoid a collision but instead the car shook and continued moving causing a collision. the car 2010 camry was previously involved in a recall due to leaking brake fluid but repair was never done
It's a meaningful issue. 39 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
Across the 28 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 6,349 and 52,500 miles, with the median around 23,367. A quarter of owners report trouble before 6,349; a quarter make it past 52,500. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover brakes issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.