2021 Toyota Camry
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 157 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 20th highest complaint count among 25 Camry model years with reports.
Of the 2021 reports, 21 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 16 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, sensor, occupant classificationDec 20, 2023
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying.
An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue to be mailed in phases through January 2026. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB15/23TA15 Lexus 23LB03/23LA03.
Campaign 23V865000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: power train
12 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Sep 24, 2026
I took it to a repair shop for a transmission issue, the technician noted the transmission fluid degraded or burnt fluid or And it is causing the torque converter shudder and transmission rpm to slip
Power train, Mar 24, 2026
I bought this car a couple of years ago. I didnt think much of it because I never owned a Toyota. I noticed that the transmission was doing some weird hesitation when going from 1st to 2nd gear. There is an intermittent lag on when the transmission kicks in. You can actually feel the car stutter into the 1st and 2nd gear. Also, while driving on the highway at a steady pace, the transmission has a delayed gear that kicks in out of nowhere. It feels like it goes up a gear without accelerating. It feels like a gear is catching up to where it is supposed to be. I plan on having the transmission looked at by the Toyota dealer.
Power train, Mar 11, 2026
My transmission is making a whining noise that starts round 20 mph and gets louder the faster I drive.
Power train, Mar 7, 2026
Transmission is staying in a higher gear at lower speeds and making vehicle shutter. You have to push on gas quite a bit to finally get it to downshift.
Power train, Feb 6, 2026
2021 Camry, original owner. Maintained through lot through Toyota Care, whining noise began at 67k miles, after 3-4 years of ownership.(with in timeframe, but outside of 60k warranty) Toyota Vacaville quoted 12k for total transmission replacement.
Power train, Dec 23, 2025
My 2021 Toyota Camry Se at 79,000 miles threw a PO705 code, neutral safety switch. I replaced it with a new part and it worked for about 10 minutes and then proceeded to throw code again and slip in the transmission
Power train, Jul 16, 2025
Was driving in a FastTrack/commuter lane on the Interstate at 65MPH, all of a sudden my car would not accelerate forward. It coasted a bit. I was able to stop between the Fastrack lane and an exit space, in the triangular median. I easily could have gotten hit, especially if I had been where there was no painted median I decided to walk behind the sand filled garbage cans that were infrint of the guardrail. I feared people might miss their exit and kill me. Behind those cans seemed safer. I was told by Toyota Dealer my transmission needs replacement. It's covered under manufacture warrenty. I bought car in August 2021 new from dealer.it has 51808 miles.
Power train, Oct 14, 2024
The transmission on this vehicle has a delayed shifting between 1st and 2nd gears when accelerating. I am concerned that there is a transmission issue happening.
Power train, Oct 10, 2024
Transmission when shifting at lower gears
Power train, Other or unspecified, Aug 2, 2024
2021 Camry only 24k miles received an engine maintenance required light pop up on my car. Took it to the Toyota dealer and was told i needed REPLACE ENGINE COOLANT BYPASS VALVE-CODE P268115 ENGINE COOLANT BYPASS VALVE. Car is only 3 years old and should not be having this issue. Was told warranty does not cover definitely is a manufacturing issue. There should be a recall.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Jun 24, 2022, crash
A couple Monday’s ago, I was backing my 2021 Camry LE out of the driveway when I felt the car lurch and continue in reverse until I crashed into a car down the street. I have literally backed out of that driveway thousands of time since 2006, hundreds of times with the Camry LE, and several times since the accident. I have never had this experience. While I cannot dismiss that I might have hit the accelerator, the backing out of the driveway usually requires that I ride the brake into the street, especially since I am right off the corner where cars tend to cut around quickly. (Initial estimate attached)
Power train, Electrical system, Apr 18, 2022, crash
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while attempting to park her vehicle in her apartment complex parking lot, her vehicle continued to lurch forward without warning despite multiple attempts to stop. Due to the failure, the contact hit a gate as the vehicle continued to independently accelerate. The contact then placed the vehicle into reverse(R) and as the vehicle continued to accelerate in a different gear. The contact then hit the vehicle behind her which then caused that vehicle to hit another vehicle located next to the original vehicle that was hit. The vehicle continued to accelerate with her brake pedal depressed to the floorboard. The contact then placed the vehicle back into driver(D) which sent the vehicle into another gate which then finally stopped the vehicle. The contact stated that property damage to both gates occurred as a result of the failure. The matter had been reported to the property owner and remained under investigation; no decision had been made. The air bags did not deploy at any time during the failure. The police were called to the scene and a police report was filed (22-030393). The contact suffered pain in her lower back and both shoulders; she did not seek medical attention. The vehicle remained in her possession and had yet to be towed or diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was filed. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 21,000.