My GarageIs the 2007–2011 Toyota Camry reliable?
Verdict rates it 4.5/5 for reliability and 4.3/5 as a buy. The faults that decide a given car are listed below — check those, not the badge.
Generation Guide · 2007–2011 Toyota Camry · Midsize sedan
2007–2011 Toyota Camry Review: Should You Buy It?
4 min read
Also worth reading: 2012–2017 Toyota Camry Buying Guide, Toyota Camry Buying Guide and Best Toyota Camry Years.
The 2007–2011 Toyota Camry covers the XV40 generation from start to finish. Mechanically these years are the same car — same platform, same engine family, same failure points — so shop the individual car's condition and service history rather than chasing a specific model year. A high-mileage classic. The V6 cars are the sweet spot; the four-cylinder can burn oil.
Quick Verdict
- ⭐ Overall verdict
- 4.3/5 · Very good
- Reliability
- 4.5/5 · Excellent
- Known problems
- 2AZ-FE oil consumption on high-mileage cars, Occasional VVT-i actuator noise on cold start, Dashboard peeling/melting in hot climates on 2007–2011 cars
- Recommended?
- Yes — a strong used buy
- Better alternatives
- The 2012–2017 generation brings newer powertrains and driver assistance at a higher price.
- Maintenance
- 4.6/5 · Excellent
Bottom line: Recommended — a safe, defensible used purchase with the right pre-purchase inspection.
Buy Score
★★★★★4.3/5
Recommended — a safe, defensible used purchase with the right pre-purchase inspection.
Reliability
★★★★★4.5/5
Maintenance
★★★★★4.6/5
Ownership cost
★★★★★4.5/5
Parts availability
★★★★★4.9/5
Model-year changes
What's New in the 2007–2011 Camry?
This generation launched in 2007: All-new platform with a stiffer body, revised suspension, and available 3.5L V6. Mid-cycle updates landed in 2010, so later cars in the span pick up interior and tech revisions. Powertrain and core hardware carry over across the span, which is exactly why we cover the whole generation on one page instead of splitting near-identical years apart.
Engines
- • 2.4L 2AZ-FE I4
- • 3.5L 2GR-FE V6
- • 2.4L hybrid (2007+)
Transmissions
- • 5-speed automatic (I4)
- • 6-speed automatic (V6)
Reliability
How Reliable Is the 2007–2011 Camry?
Across 2007–2011, reliability tracks the generation as a whole rather than any one model year. Early-build cars (2007–2008) carry the usual first-run risk, and late-run cars have had years of TSB and running fixes applied. The issues that actually decide whether a car is worth buying: 2AZ-FE oil consumption on high-mileage cars; Occasional VVT-i actuator noise on cold start; Dashboard peeling/melting in hot climates on 2007–2011 cars; Aging suspension bushings past 120k miles.
Known issues
Common Problems
Bring this list to your pre-purchase inspection.
- ✓2AZ-FE oil consumption on high-mileage cars
- ✓Occasional VVT-i actuator noise on cold start
- ✓Dashboard peeling/melting in hot climates on 2007–2011 cars
- ✓Aging suspension bushings past 120k miles
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Ownership
Maintenance Expectations
Expect Camry maintenance costs typical of the XV40 generation. Engines: 2.4L 2AZ-FE I4 / 3.5L 2GR-FE V6 / 2.4L hybrid (2007+). Transmissions: 5-speed automatic (I4) / 6-speed automatic (V6). Budget for the usual service intervals (oil, brakes, cooling, transmission fluid) plus preventative work on the known-weak items above. Parts for a 2011 Toyota Camry are cheap and widely available.
Before you buy
Inspection Checklist
Focused on what tends to fail on the XV40 generation.
Engine
Cold-start smoke, oil level and color, valve cover / cam-cover leaks, timing components if due.
Transmission
Shift quality from a cold start, TCC lockup smoothness, fluid color and smell.
Suspension
Bushings, ball joints, shocks/struts; listen for clunks over bumps.
Rust
Rocker panels, wheel arches, frame and suspension mounts; critical on trucks and SUVs in salt-belt states.
Cooling System
Coolant color, pressure test, radiator condition, water-pump seepage.
Electronics
Infotainment boot time, cameras, driver-assist calibration, power seats and windows.
Interior
Dashboard cracks in hot climates, seat bolster wear, headliner sagging.
Service Records
Verify recall completion, timing-belt/water-pump history, transmission service intervals.
The Verdict
Should You Buy a 2007–2011 Camry?
Within 2007–2011, condition and maintenance history beat model year almost every time. Later cars in the span are typically the most sorted; earlier cars are the cheapest way into the generation. If a 2007–2011 Toyota Camry passes a pre-purchase inspection with the known weak points checked, it's a defensible used buy. Strengths in this generation: Bulletproof V6, Cheap parts, Simple electronics.
Best for: Buyers cross-shopping the whole XV40 generation of the Toyota Camry rather than one specific model year.
Better alternatives
Consider Instead
The 2012–2017 generation brings newer powertrains and driver assistance at a higher price.
People Also Ask
What engine does the 2007–2011 Toyota Camry use?
The XV40 generation offered 2.4L 2AZ-FE I4, 3.5L 2GR-FE V6 and 2.4L hybrid (2007+). Which one you buy matters more for long-term cost than trim level does.
What are the most common 2007–2011 Toyota Camry problems?
The issues owners report most are 2AZ-FE oil consumption on high-mileage cars, occasional VVT-i actuator noise on cold start and dashboard peeling/melting in hot climates on 2007–2011 cars. Every one of them is checkable before you hand over money.
Is the 2007–2011 Toyota Camry worth buying today?
It scores 4.3/5 as a used buy, with running costs at 4.5/5. Worth buying when the car has records and clears an inspection covering its engine, transmission and suspension.
Is the 2007–2011 Toyota Camry expensive to maintain?
Maintenance scores 4.6/5 and parts availability 4.9/5. Routine servicing is the predictable half; the model-specific repairs above are where the real money sits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2007–2011 Toyota Camry reliable?
Reliability comes out at 4.5/5 in our scoring for this generation. Treat that as the starting point and let the car’s own records and inspection result decide the rest.
Should I buy a 2007–2011 Toyota Camry?
Buy one when it comes with records and passes an independent inspection. On this year the deciding factors are condition and history, not mileage or trim.
What are the common problems on the 2007–2011 Toyota Camry?
2AZ-FE oil consumption on high-mileage cars; Occasional VVT-i actuator noise on cold start; Dashboard peeling/melting in hot climates on 2007–2011 cars; Aging suspension bushings past 120k miles
Is the 2007–2011 Toyota Camry expensive to maintain?
Running costs rate 4.5/5 for this generation, with parts easy enough to source. Budget for the generation-specific repairs listed above rather than for routine servicing.
What's new in the 2007–2011 Camry?
It sits in the XV40 generation (2007–2011). The generation section above covers what changed and when.
What engines and transmissions did the 2007–2011 Toyota Camry come with?
Engines: 2.4L 2AZ-FE I4, 3.5L 2GR-FE V6, 2.4L hybrid (2007+). Transmissions: 5-speed automatic (I4), 6-speed automatic (V6).
What should I inspect on a used 2007–2011 Toyota Camry?
Engine: Cold-start smoke, oil level and color, valve cover / cam-cover leaks, timing components if due. Transmission: Shift quality from a cold start, TCC lockup smoothness, fluid color and smell. Suspension: Bushings, ball joints, shocks/struts; listen for clunks over bumps. Rust: Rocker panels, wheel arches, frame and suspension mounts; critical on trucks and SUVs in salt-belt states.
Who is a 2007–2011 Toyota Camry best for?
Buyers who want this generation's specific combination of 2.4L 2AZ-FE I4 or 3.5L 2GR-FE V6 and midsize sedan practicality, bought on records rather than on the lowest odometer reading.
Should I consider a different year instead?
Worth comparing against the adjacent years in this generation and 2012 — pricing often moves more than the mechanical difference does.
Generation guide
Toyota Camry Generations
Jump straight to the generation you're shopping.
- Generation 1
XV40 · 2007–2011
All-new platform with a stiffer body, revised suspension, and available 3.5L V6.
- Generation 2
XV50 · 2012–2017
Ground-up redesign with a larger, quieter cabin, better crash structure, and new 2.5L I4.
- Generation 3
XV70 · 2018–2024
New TNGA-K platform, direct-injected 2.5L, 8-speed automatic, standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0.
- Generation 4
XV80 · 2025–2026
Hybrid-only lineup, revised interior, new infotainment; drops the V6.
You may also want to research
- 2012–2017 Toyota Camry Buying GuideReliability, common problems, and what to inspect.
- Toyota Camry Buying GuideFull midsize sedan buying guide.
- Best Toyota Camry YearsWhich generations to target.
- Toyota Camry Years to AvoidModel years that reward extra scrutiny.
- Toyota Reliability GuideHow Toyota holds up long-term.
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