The Lemon Index2008 Toyota Camry.
The 2008 Toyota Camry is about average by owner complaints: 370 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 86, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about visibility, it has 8 recalls, and it gets 21 to 34 mpg combined. The best Toyota Camry year is 2022.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 1,178 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every Toyota Camry year. 2008 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 33K to 89K miles on the car (890 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- visibility complaints mostly came at 36K–62K miles
- body structure complaints mostly came at 38K–90K miles
- speed control complaints mostly came at 12K–66K miles
Recalls 8
- seats 2016
The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
- seats 2014
Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
- visibility 2012
The power window master switch assemblies in some of these vehicles were built using a less precise process for lubricating the internal components of the switch assemblies.
Show all 8 recalls
- equipment 2010
GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD BETW…
- equipment 2010
SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE S…
- speed control 2010
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 AVALON, MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 CAMRY, MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 COROLLA, COROLLA MATRIX, RAV4, MODEL YEAR 2010 HIGHLANDER, MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 SEQUOIA, AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 …
- speed control 2009
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 PASSENGER VEHICLES.
- equipment 2007
CERTAIN ALL WEATHER FLOOR MATS (AWFM) SPECIFICALLY SOLD AS AN OPTIONAL ACCESSORY FOR USE ON THE 2007 AND 2008 MODEL YEAR LEXUS ES350 AND TOYOTA CAMRY VEHICLES.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Toyota told dealers about
Toyota sent dealers 432 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Automatic transmission/transaxle torque converter shudder in 2007-2009 camry and 2008 avalon
- Condition with multiple warning lights illuminated, vehicle not shifting
- The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide information regarding the installation of…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedPedestrian alert sounds2023
- ClosedBrake actuator malfunction2014
- ClosedPower window master switch fire2012–2013
- ClosedPower window master switch fire2012
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★★ · side ★★★★★ · rollover ★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $1900–3050 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.4L 4-cyl, 3.3L 6-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
2008 Toyota Camry drivers sun visor will not say up and blocks drivers view of roadway.
2008 Toyota Camry owner · NHTSA complaint 10421635
More owner reports
Driver-side sun visor will not stay up. My car is three years (3) old, and the dealership advised using velcro (if I didn't want to pay the $178 to fix it.)
NHTSA complaint 10424137
Driver side sun visor no longer stays up. The visor hangs and blocks my field of vision while driving.
NHTSA complaint 10424558
Quick answers
Is the 2008 Toyota Camry reliable?
About average by government complaints. It drew 1.2× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 86; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Toyota Camry year by this measure is 2022.
What are the most common 2008 Toyota Camry problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are visibility (37%), speed control (32%) and transmission & drivetrain (8%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2008 Toyota Camry have?
8 safety recalls (latest: seats). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2008 Toyota Camry get?
21 to 34 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2008 Toyota Camry problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 33,100 and 89,800 miles. The middle report was at 57,900 miles, from 890 complaints.
Does the 2008 Toyota Camry have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 8% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2008 Toyota Camry cost in fuel a year?
About $1900 to $3050 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2008 Toyota Camry have?
2.4L 4-cyl, 3.3L 6-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
What Toyota Camry year is better than the 2008?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2022, 2017 and 2016.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works