TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2011 Toyota Camry brakes problems
severe Owners of the 2011 Toyota Camry have filed 35 NHTSA complaints about the brakes, typically surfacing around 36,724 miles at roughly $450 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
35
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
| Model year | brakes complaints |
|---|---|
| 2007 Camry | 394 |
| 2008 Camry | 91 |
| 2009 Camry | 97 |
| 2010 Camry | 39 |
| 2011 Camry (this page) | 35 |
| 2012 Camry | 31 |
| 2013 Camry | 17 |
| 2015 Camry | 24 |
15crashes
8injuries
What stands out
Owners have filed 35 brakes complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗DL: Toyota has received reports regarding the Brake Booster and Brake Booster Pump Assemblies on certain 2012 - 2014 model year Camry Hybrid vehicles and certain 2013 - 2015 model year Avalon Hybrid Vehicles. These reports have indicated certain internal malfunctions of the Brake Booster Assembly. Although the Brake Booster and Brake Booster Pump Assemblies are covered by Toyota?s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 3 years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers? ownership experience. Toyota is providing coverage for repairs related to certain internal malfunctions of the Brake Booster and Brake Booster Pump Assemblies in some of the subject vehicles.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report brake system failures across multiple failure modes. The most severe complaints involve total brake loss—pedal depressed but vehicle does not stop—often at low speed in parking situations or moderate highway speeds. Some drivers felt full pedal pressure yet the car continued forward or accelerated, requiring emergency maneuvers or collision to stop. Diagnostic codes C1249 (stop light switch circuit) and U0129 (ABS/traction actuator assembly and skid control ECU) appeared in at least one case, yet the dealership declined repair despite evidence.
A second pattern involves unintended acceleration with traction lights and engine roaring when the brake is applied. One owner's traction light illuminated, then five minutes later the car lurched forward repeatedly at a traffic light, unable to slow for an intersection.
Stuck or hanging rear brakes appear frequently: wheels locked solid after a cold soak and car wash, uneven pad wear, pulling to one side, and rear brake grinding noise. Owners report wheels completely immobilized hours after exposure to near-zero temperatures.
Other documented failures include brake pedal sinking toward the floor (one case at 600 miles, dealership called it normal), pulsing and vibration during braking with steering wheel shake, a detached rear brake pad at 50,000 miles, and performance loss in cold weather requiring excessive pedal pressure. Burning brake odor appears in multiple narratives. Many owners took vehicles to dealerships, where technicians either could not replicate problems, attributed them to normal operation, or completed inspections but made no repairs.
Same Toyota Camry brakes reports on nearby years: 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2012 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Complete brake loss / no stopping power
Brake pedal depressed but vehicle does not slow or stop; in some cases owner felt pedal pressure but brakes unresponsive; occurs at various speeds and can lead to collision or emergency maneuver to avoid crash
When: Multiple instances reported from 3,316 miles to 146,708 miles; some early (under 5,000 miles), others at higher mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal depressed but car continues forward; Pedal goes to floor with no effect; Vehicle accelerates or maintains speed when brakes applied; No slowing even with hard brake pressure; Burning smell noted in some cases
Codes mentioned: C1249 (stop light switch circuit opening), U0129 (ABS/traction actuator assembly / skid control ECU / CAN communication)
Repairs/costs cited: Toyota dealership unable to replicate in some cases and refused repair despite codes; one case mentioned ABS brake actuator or brake pedal stroke sensor; warranty enhancement program POL14-04 mentioned for brake actuator assembly and skid control ECU in one complaint
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty enhancement program (ZE-1) POL14-04 for brake actuator assembly and skid control ECU/brake pedal stroke sensor exists; manufacturer sent inspectors in some cases but declined repair despite diagnostic codes; some owners told problem is normal or unreplicable
Unintended acceleration with brake pedal depressed
Engine revs, vehicle lurches forward, or accelerates despite driver applying brake; traction and ABS lights often illuminate; may occur intermittently
When: Reported from under 2,000 miles to higher mileage; some very early in vehicle life
Symptoms owners cite: Engine revs while brake pedal depressed; Traction control light illuminates; Vehicle lurches or jerks forward; Engine roars when brake applied; Loud noise accompanying acceleration
Codes mentioned: C1249, U0129
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership performed 'protocol for unintended acceleration' but did not correct problem; master cylinder and brake light switch replaced in one case but failure recurred
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota completed investigation in some cases and 'released car' with no repairs; technician research test drove 55 miles without replicating or fixing; dealerships directed owners to corporate; corporate directed back to dealers
Stuck or hanging brake caliper
Rear brake (or brakes) stick or hang up, causing uneven pad wear, pulling to one side, or brake binding that locks wheels
When: Reported at various mileages; detected during routine service or owner-noticed pulling/noise
Symptoms owners cite: One brake pad totally worn, other shows normal wear; Wheels locked and will not turn after car wash or cold soak; Pulling to one side during braking; Rear brakes making grinding/rubbing noise intermittently; Discolored brake pads and black material inside calipers
Repairs/costs cited: Brake pads and calipers replaced; some owners report wheels locked tight after cold soak (near-zero temps) following car wash
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota dealership told owner stuck brake is normal; refused warranty repair; independent mechanics confirmed defective brake; some owners claim Toyota says this is normal wear
Brake pedal sinking or excessive travel
Brake pedal sinks farther toward floorboard during braking or at stop; feels soft or loses pressure; may recur with each brake application
When: Reported early in vehicle life (under 1,000 miles); sitting on incline
Symptoms owners cite: Pedal independently moves farther into floorboard; Excessive pedal travel required; Soft or spongy pedal feel; Defect recurs whenever brakes fully applied
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanics identified defective master cylinder; dealership told owner failure is normal
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota dealership advised this is normal; no repairs made
Brake noise, pulsing, and vibration
Pulsing, vibration, shaking, grinding, or knocking from brakes during braking; ABS system makes loud knock when vehicle starts; brake rotors wear prematurely
When: Occurs from new; reported at various mileages; some noted since purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Strong pulsing and vibration when applying brakes; Loud knock from ABS system on startup; Rubbing/grinding noise from rear brakes intermittently; Steering wheel shakes when brake pedal depressed; Slowing feels unstable
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer inspected brakes, said they were fine; rotors replaced in some cases; owner reports rapid rotor and tire wear as common Camry problem
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership attributed noise to ABS system resetting and rapid wear to suspension tuning; no defect acknowledged
Detached rear brake pad
Rear driver-side brake pad detaches from brake assembly, causing abnormal noise during braking
When: Reported at 50,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal noise from rear tires when brake pedal depressed; Brake pad has separated from vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: No repair made
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified and stated vehicle would not be repaired
Cold-weather brake performance loss
Brakes require excessive pedal pressure in winter (below 30°F); brakes do not apply properly in cold conditions; led to accident in snowy conditions
When: Occurs during winter period below 30 degrees F
Symptoms owners cite: High pedal pressure needed in cold weather; Feels like brakes not applying properly; Loss of braking in snow/ice
Brake burning smell
Strong burning odor from brakes, continuous or recurring after short drive
When: Reported after routine driving; started a few weeks into ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Very strong burning smell from brakes; Smell present every time driver exits vehicle; Burning odor noted after parking lot incident
Synthesized from 35 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had brakes trouble with your 2011 Toyota Camry?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2011 Toyota Camry?
It's a meaningful issue. 35 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 29 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 6,500 and 50,000 miles, with the median around 36,724. A quarter of owners report trouble before 6,500; a quarter make it past 50,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
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.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Toyota/Camry.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.