7.9

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$2,720
Average Mileage:
107,350 miles
Total Complaints:
139 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (84 reports)
  2. replace piston and rings (45 reports)
  3. replaced engine (7 reports)
  4. the car's engine still runs abnormally (2 reports)
  5. toyota replaced rings and bearings (1 reports)
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This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Toyota dealer.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #39

Jul 152012

Camry 4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

Please help! I have noticed several complaints about the Toyota Camry 4 cylinder engines burning oil. My car is in the middle of the oil consumption testing now to get this problem fixed! The dealership at Toyota sealed my oil lid and stick so we could not check how much oil my car was burning...we were putting oil in the car every 2 weeks! My son was driving the car over the weekend and it starting making a "knocking" sound like rocks stuck in the bumper, smoking and he tried to give it gas to get off the road and it just died. Got the car towed and it's sitting back at the dealership AGAIN...do you think the car didn't have oil and the engine is dead!?? There was no way we could check the oil since it was sealed by Toyota. Disappointed consumer and now I'm afraid I will be out thousands of dollars to replace the engine. Please help!

- Melissa B., Covington, KY, US

problem #38

Apr 302012

Camry LE 2.4L (2az-Fe)

  • Automatic transmission
  • 30,000 miles

I've been told by my dealer that oil usage of one (1) quart per 1000 miles is acceptable! I've owned Toyota vehicles continuously sine 1982 and have never experienced such a problem. I am burning/loosing a quart every 3,000 to 3,500 miles. The vehicle only has 65,000 miles on it. I have a 1995 Toyota Pickup (i.e. pre-Tacoma) that has 279,000 original miles and it uses a lot less oil than that!

- jay burkett, Fairhope, AL, US

problem #37

Jan 102014

Camry LE 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,000 miles

I am writing this on behalf of my dad who has had a constant oil burning problem with his Camry. I am a mechanic by trade and I can tell you this is not acceptable nor normal oil consumption by any means. My dad should not have to top the oil off(which by 2k miles is usually down a quart and a half and by 3k there is barely anything showing on the dipstick) as frequently as he does on a modern engine. He refuses to fix it as the car has had other issues(hanging throttle, erratic random downshifting, cheap flimsy interior etc) and he just wants to get rid of it.

Before, all Toyota issued was a TSB stating that there was an internal engine design flaw and the expense would come out of the owners pocket if not under warranty. The powertrain warranty only covers 60k miles and the failures seem to start to happen after that, almost as if it was by design. He recently got a letter saying Toyota is extending the warranty, however, the extension is very limiting and has quite a few loopholes in it. Toyota just issued the letter to make nice with the class action lawsuit against them to seem like they made an effort, when in reality it is nowhere near sufficient a resolution.

My family primarily drives GM as do I, and my dad says he will be returning to GM after this horrible experience with Toyota. Toyota needs to understand and remember history, you are NEVER too big to fail. You can try to cover up your lies, poor designs, and deceptive business practices but in the end, people will figure you out and skating on your reputation will only get you so far without putting out a quality product.

- gary21, Exeter, RI, US

problem #36

Sep 092009

Camry

  • Automatic transmission
  • 31,069 miles

Contact Toyota. They need 3 months to finalize. I sold my car.

- villody, Owensound, ON, canada

problem #35

Dec 012012

Camry LE 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

I bought and own a 2008 Toyota Camry 2.4L 4 cylinder engine. At about 60K miles, the engine began to consume oil and I began to notice a burnt oil smell in the cabin. The engine bay was examined and there are no fluid leaks of any kind. I do the oil changes on my own cars so the car has been maintained very well with premium oil and brand of oil filter.

As time went by, I had to replenish the burned-off oil more often. As of today, the vehicle has 123k miles and it consumes about a quart of oil every 1,000 miles. If you are considering purchasing a Camry, note that the 6 cylinder engine does not have this problem, just the 4 cylinder engine. The 1.8L 4 cylinder engine used in the Corolla also has this problem, specially for the years 2002-2003.

My research has revealed that the 2.4L engines used in this generation of Camrys has a defective design in the piston rings which eventually fails the engine. While searching the internet, I also discovered that this generation of Camrys also has the following mechanical failures in common: Bad water pumps, bad struts and bad rear bearings. It has been my bad luck that I have had to replace all of the above as well.

- camrynomore, Plainfield, IL, US

problem #34

Dec 012013

Camry LS 4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,000 miles

This is my 3rd Camry & the worst of them. I noticed it was burning oil & I was constantly taking it back to Jiffy Lube in between the 5k oil change. I was told that it was because of my high mileage and that I should use synthetic oil. Changed the type of oil & the problem still occurred. I stopped going to Jiffy Lube & tried Merchants. They refused to change my oil because the level was too low.

Went to dealer... They told me to come back every 1k miles to do an analysis. That was ridiculous & obsessive....considering I could do 1k miles in 2-3 weeks because of my work commute. The problem continues & it's worse. I'm adding oil weekly. It's a headache & after researching, it's a common problem that Toyota should fix. I'm researching other vehicles because this is my last Camry.

- jeezie, Baltimore, MD, US

problem #33

Jul 282012

Camry SE 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 41,000 miles

When the problem started, I had just changed the oil from the dealer. I was told when the car was acting up from another source, that I had no oil, lucky that this was caught in time. The car since had not been as much as a problem, until today. I started my car and a loud knocking noise came from my car and rough idling turned off the car. I checked the oil to find out it was just about empty. I always had my car in for servicing when your suppose to and the dealer never told me about the oil problems. This sucks.

- Charlene O., Harrison, OH, US

problem #32

Aug 112014

Camry ES

  • Automatic transmission
  • 105,000 miles

I have recently noticed that my car is buring an excessive amount of oil in between oil changes. Enough that I have to have it topped off every month or so. I am afraid of my car stalling out or causing more damage if my oil gets low and I don't notice it. It is becoming a pain to keep track of.

- Michelle T., Glendale Heights, IL, US

problem #31

Nov 012014

Camry SE 2.4L V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,778 miles

I was always sure Toyota is the most reliable car make, but not anymore. Now I'm consistently worried about the oil in the engine :(

- Igor K., Thornhill, Ontario, canada

problem #30

Jun 012014

Camry XLE 2.4L I4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 83,550 miles

I bought a used 2008 Toyota Camry XLE. It looks like it was well documented with oil change receipts. I bought the car in September 2013 with 78k miles on it. The car runs great and this is first semi luxury car I owned with leather interior. I love it. I have always driven old cars so I was very excited to buy this car. My 15 year old, 1998 corolla was total loss in a fender bender so I got good replacement value from the insurance. I added $8k from my savings and decided to buy a Camry. How can I go wrong with a reliable Toyota? I was so wrong and now I have no faith in any manufacturer. This is a dog eat dog world.

I loved my Camry until one day only few months after buying the car there was a low oil pressure light showed on the display. I could not believe it. I thought there was oil leak so looked where I had parked the car to see any oil. There was none. I opened the hood to check for any oil around the engine. There was nothing. Everything looked very dry. I researched internet and I came to find out that 2008 Camry's have excessive oil consumption problem due to design defect. I have found two reasons: one is the piston rings are not designed correctly and other is oil pump does not have the capacity to pull enough oil to lubricate all engine parts which results in piston problems and eventually complete failure. The only solution is to replace the rings but if there is damage to other parts, which is very likely, then piston or the whole engine needs to be replaced. The cost can be $2500 for a used engine plus installation. After spending close to $5k you probably still won't have a complete fix. The used engine you buy most likely have the same problem. So you will be chasing your tail trying to fix a problem that is not fixable. The best solution is to sell it to a dealer or at a auction and go buy a Nissan or a VW.

My car is out of Warranty and I am stuck with this junk. I hope it keeps running as long as I keep the oil topped off. However, I think it's wishful thinking. I did not except this from Toyota. I am doing my part by letting anyone I know to stay clear of Toyota and even Lexus.

- Fanz F., Rock, MD, US

problem #29

Dec 132014

Camry LE 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles

I bought the Toyota Camry zero miles on Jan 2008. I have been taking the car always to the same dealership and always on time for the oil and filter change. I cannot believe that the car in good shape, never had any problems will need to replace the oil pistons and rings because is burning oil. The car is only 70,000 miles, it should be giving that kind of issues at this point.

The price to fix it $4,500. This is incredible.

I will never, ever, ever buy another Toyota in my life. Ever ...

- Jose S., Aldie, VA, US

problem #28

Oct 202014

Camry SE 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 330,000 miles

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE OIL PUMP AND THE SOURCE LINE THAT FEEDS THE MOTOR OIL WAS MANUFACTURED ENTIRELY TO SMALL TO ACCOMMODATE THIS SIZE ENGINE AND CAR.

THE DEALER TOLD ME I NEEDED THEM TO REBUILD MY ENGINE. AFTER GETTING ON THIS WEBSITE NOW I REALIZE WHY. IT'S BECAUSE THE DEALERS WERE ALREADY AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE CONSUMING TOO MUCH OIL.

I HOPE THIS CAN BE RESOLVED, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

BY THE WAY THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I NEED ANOTHER ENGINE. ahhhhh WHAT A FEELING.

:( Toyota):

- built2please@gmail, Vacherie, LA, US

problem #27

Sep 182014

Camry

  • Automatic transmission
  • 47,379 miles

Driving home the daily 30 minute/10 mile run in my 2008 Camry with 47,379 miles on it, my check engine light goes on. Since I hadn't met the 3000 mile mileage requirement for an oil change I wasn't concerned about that. WRONG!!! On the way home I stopped to get an engine diagnosis. My car had consumed all but 1 quart of the 4.3 quarts it held . There were no indications by engine sounds or performance that anything was wrong.

Come to find out that this is a "common occurrence "in Camrys with my engine model. The diagnosis alone is $250+, just to check what might be the problem, I will be charged $2000 for the breakdown of the engine not including repairs. They are doing an excessive oil use check that I pay for, to prove to the dealer/manufacturer it really is using oil excessively. They have sealed the unit so it can't be tampered with so I can't even add oil for 1200 miles.

Repair estimates are around 3,500. I thought I had invested in a reliable car- buyers beware!!!

- Linda B., Fullerton, CA, US

problem #26

Mar 012013

Camry SE 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

This has been such a pain in the ass to constantly spend money on oil changes and buying excessive oil just to keep my vehicle working.

- Joy J., Tampa, FL, US

problem #25

Aug 072014

Camry LE 2.4L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 56,000 miles

Let me be brief and concise when I say I will NEVER buy another Toyota product again and I will NEVER recommend this car to ANYONE. My car just hit 56,000 miles and it's been completely burning through its entire supply of oil between oil changes. I have to add a quart every month just to keep the car running. This is ridiculous! I've taken the car back to the dealer for an oil consumption test just for them to say this is normal. Just look at all the complaints online Toyota for the 2AZ-FE engine. is that normal?? This is pure rubbish and I'm joining a class action lawsuit.

Please, Please share this link with everyone you know that has this car and has this problem. Its about time this issue gets addressed.

http://www.chimicles.com/toyota-scion-engine-oil-consumption-class-action-lawsuit

- Ukay C., Baltimore, MD, US

problem #24

May 012012

Camry LE 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,000 miles

On 10/16/2010 I purchased a Toyota Camry with 24,713 miles on the odometer. This was to be the car that would last me through my retirement years. All my friends advised me that a Camry would be the best car for me and I loved the car. It drove like a dream.

In the spring of 2012 I started having problems with my oil light coming on. My car had reached about the 55,000 mile mark when I first knew something was wrong, I could not believe it when my oil light came on and I drove to the nearest station for them to check it. There was no oil showing on the dip stick. They filled it up with oil and I took it back to the shop that had last changed my oil to check for leaks. They found no leaks and it was not smoking but the oil was just disappearing. The mechanic just could not figure it out. I contacted the dealer where I purchased the car (since I had an extended warranty for 7yrs or 100,000 miles) They advised me that it was acceptable for the car to use oil and that unless it used more than 1.1 quarts every 6oo miles then they could not do anything. I even had several oil consumption tests run and it was not losing enough oil by their standards and I was told that there was nothing they could do.

Now I am a nervous wreck trying to keep oil in my car. I don’t even see why I should have to change the darn oil if I am having to put new oil in it every 600 – 800 miles. I just feel like giving up. I don’t have the money to hire a lawyer and I don’t have the money to buy a new car. I owe too much to trade it. I feel like I have royally been ripped off! If you can help me please email me with advice. I am 63 years old and don’t need this stress in my life! My car now has approx 94000 miles on it and nearing the end of my extended warranty.

- loosinit2, Fletcher, MC, US

problem #23

Jan 152012

Camry XLE 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles

my 2008 toyota camry has been consuming about 2quarts of oil in between oil changes. Took it to the dealer and asked them if it was a recall and they stated that this was normal. I told them i have a Tundra and i dont have to keep adding oil to that truck. Never have i heard that you have to add oil to any car before your service date.

- dcortez, Ontario, CA, US

problem #22

May 252012

Camry LE 4s

  • Automatic transmission
  • 46,000 miles

My Toyota Camry I purchased due to expected reliability. I bought it used with very low mileage expecting it to last to well over 100,000 miles. It has been eating oil ever sine I purchased it. I only drive it 20 miles a day during the work week and it uses 1 quart in only 1000 miles. I though I had a leak, but Mechanics have not been able to find any source of leakage. Why is my car with such low mileage, using so much oil. This should not be happening until near 200,000 miles or greater. Will Toyota come to their senses or will they follow GM???

- Zoya S., Snellville, GA, US

problem #21

May 012014

Camry LE 2az-Fe

  • Automatic transmission
  • 82,000 miles

Hello everyone,

We are Toyota fans and have only purchased Toyota cars and trucks. For the most part, there are no complaints - everything worked as they should have.

However, it all changed when I purchased the 08 Camry for my wife. Since the last 5 years, we have being adding almost a 1/4 and oil every month on the month [1000mi]. I am afraid that we will miss one month and ruin the engine.

Toyota needs to address this problem with the 2AZ-FE engines.

Note. I am using Royal Purple Oil and Filter

Thank you, Adrian

Update from Jul 4, 2017: RESOLVED!

Toyota has a service bulletin out there - the dealership did an Oil Consumption test and determined that the Rings and Bearings should be replaced and two cylinders. Possibly after doing a compression test. After the rings were replaced, we have put 5K mi and "0" [i mean "0"] oil loss. Couldn't have been happier with the work, which was all covered under Toyota's service bulletin.

Hope this helps.

- Adrian M., Englewood, NJ, US

problem #20

Jul 302013

Camry V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 76,000 miles

Car drinks oil as much as humans drink water, contacted Toyota and it's normal a car that is over 5 years old. They suggested that in order to stop this I should replace my engine which cost around $ 7000 or replace my pistons for around $ 5000.WHO IN THE WORLD CAN AFFORD THIS? NONE OF THE MILLIONS OF HARD WORKING CITIZENS IN THE US WORKING OVER 40 HOURS A WEEK JUST TO MAKE END MEET.

- Zenia D., st Petersburg, FL, US

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