The contact's wife leased a 2021 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while his wife was pulling into a parking space, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to respond. He stated that his wife continued to depress the brake pedal but it would not respond, causing the vehicle to crash into trees. The air bags failed to deploy. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact's wife was…
2021 Toyota Camry brakes problems
severe 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
4crashes
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 10 brakes complaints filed for the 2021 Toyota Camry, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA brakes complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 4 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: Multiple 2021 Camry owners report brake pedal failures that caused collisions at very low mileage (under 15,000 miles), and dealers cannot consistently diagnose the root cause or confirm repairs. The parking brake system also fails to hold the vehicle on inclines, and the auto emergency braking system has not engaged when needed.
Ten 2021 Camry owners report critical brake failures. Most alarming: brake pedal loss of pressure at low mileage. One owner's brake pedal failed completely while parking at 3,922 miles, causing a crash into trees and injuring the driver. Another reported the pedal going to the floorboard at 9,000 miles with extended travel needed to stop. A third experienced brake failure in reverse at 14,284 miles while parking.
The auto emergency braking system (part of Toyota Safety Sense 2.5) failed to engage during near-collision scenarios in at least two incidents, including one rear-end collision at 10 mph. One owner specifically noted the AEB enabling switch never activated.
Parking brake failures are widespread: the brake fails to hold the vehicle on inclines, and owners report the vehicle rolling or moving forward even with the brake set and the car in gear. One owner got a "Parking brake malfunction" error code at 8,060 miles.
Dealerships have struggled with diagnosis. Some mechanics ran computer codes but could not pinpoint the cause. Quoted repairs ranged from $1,760 to $3,300 for parking brake actuators and fuel pumps—with no consensus on what actually needs fixing. One owner reported a dealership service technician confirmed the brake pedal felt abnormal but the dealer still did not repair it.
One owner in Iowa experienced intermittent brake system codes tied to extreme cold weather (11°F), with codes clearing as temperature rose.
Same Toyota Camry brakes reports on nearby years: 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Brake pedal loss of pressure and stopping power
Brake pedal depresses but fails to slow or stop the vehicle. Owners report pressing the pedal without the car responding or responding inadequately, leading to collisions. In some cases the pedal goes to the floorboard with extended travel time needed to achieve braking.
When: Low-mileage failures reported: 3,922 miles, 9,000 miles, 14,284 miles; also at 39,000 miles with intermittent codes in cold weather
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal depresses with no vehicle response; Extended brake pedal travel distance before stopping; Pedal goes to floorboard; No warning lights illuminated in some cases
Codes mentioned: Secondary Collision Brake System Malfunction, Pre-Collision Brake System Malfunction
Repairs/costs cited: Dealerships unable to diagnose root cause on multiple visits; one quoted parking brake actuator replacement ($1,760) and low-pressure fuel pump replacement ($3,300); vehicle not repaired in several cases
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified in multiple complaints; advised no recall; one case received external engineering inspection that did not fully address the failure
Auto Emergency Braking (AEB) system failure
The Auto Emergency Braking component of Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 fails to engage when the vehicle approaches an obstacle or imminent collision. Owners report the system did not activate during parking scenarios or collision avoidance situations.
When: Reported at low mileage; one failure February 12, 2022
Symptoms owners cite: Auto Emergency Braking system does not activate; Vehicle does not slow down in near-collision scenarios; AEB enabling switch does not activate
Codes mentioned: C059746 (calibration memory failure)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership-contracted engineering firm conducted inspection but report did not address AEB failure; no repair completed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota Legal Claims department issued incomplete report; manufacturer did not fully investigate AEB malfunction
Brake power assist failure
The brake power assist system fails to function, requiring excessive pedal pressure to stop the vehicle. Owners report the brakes do not perform as normal when power assist is lost.
When: Reported at 39,000 miles; one specific incident February 12 at 10 mph vehicle speed
Symptoms owners cite: Brake power assist stops working; Brakes do not perform as normal; Extra pressure and effort needed to stop vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs completed; vehicle in dealership custody
Parking brake failure to engage or hold
Parking brake fails to hold the vehicle stationary. Vehicle will roll when parked on an incline or move when parked in gear even with the parking brake engaged.
When: At 8,060 miles; also reported at 39,000 miles (intermittent codes); 2021 model year
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolls when parked brake is engaged on incline; Vehicle moves when parked in gear with parking brake set; Parking brake does not hold vehicle stationary; Error code displayed: 'Parking brake malfunction/Hold brake malfunction'
Codes mentioned: Parking Brake Malfunction, Hold Brake Malfunction
Repairs/costs cited: One quote for parking brake actuator replacement at $1,760 to $3,300
Intermittent brake system error codes and warning lights triggered by cold weather
Vehicle displays multiple brake-related error codes in cold weather conditions (11 degrees below zero), codes disappear as weather warms. Codes include brake system malfunctions, AWD system malfunction, and check engine light. Cruise control fails when codes appear.
When: January 25, 2026 at 39,000 miles in Iowa winter conditions; codes intermittent depending on temperature
Symptoms owners cite: Multiple error codes appear in extreme cold; Codes clear when weather warms; Cruise control disabled when codes present; Check Engine light illuminates; AWD System Malfunction code; 2WD Engaged warning
Codes mentioned: AWD System Malfunction, 2 WD Engaged, Secondary Collision Brake System Malfunction, Pre-Collision Brake System Malfunction, Parking Brake Malfunction, Check Engine, C059746 (calibration memory failure)
Repairs/costs cited: Owner purchased new battery after research; original battery tested OK but no load test performed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership ran computer codes but did not conduct in-depth diagnostics; no root cause investigation completed
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had brakes trouble with your 2021 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 2021 Toyota Camry?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, brakes issues most often appear around 9,069 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2021/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.