10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
96,433 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #41

Dec 032014

Camry Hybrid

  • 165,000 miles
While driving home from work my dash brake light went on. At the next stoplight I checked to see if the E brake had been depressed, it had not. One blck later while going about 35mph my dash lit up like a christmas tree, the ABS, slippery conditions light, red warning light and check engine light all came on as well as a warning to "check vsc" also my breaks went down to the floor and I was unable to stop right away luckily I was able to quickly pull into a, parking lot and coast to a stop. Had I needed to stop soon or been going faster there is no doubt in my mind this would have resulted in a crash.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #40

Nov 222014

Camry Hybrid 4WD 4-cyl

  • 170,000 miles
As the vehicle was being driven on 11/20/2014, "check vsc system" showed up on the multi-information display, and the master warning light, ABS light, slip indicator light, and brake system warning light (yellow indicator) came on. Vehicle braking performance seemed slightly diminished but still safe to drive. On 11/22/2014 I had to make a trip to town, and not knowing the severity of the warnings, used the Camry. While driving northbound at approximately 50 miles per hour, I indicated a right hand turn, and a westbound vehicle at a stop sign started turning from the road I was turning onto to drive North on the road I was turning off of. While attempting to slow down to make my turn, the brake performance was extremely poor. I was unable to slow down to a reasonable speed to make the turn and had to make my turn at a much higher than normal rate of speed to avoid colliding with the driver that was turning out in front of me. I finished my trip to town, allowing far more braking distance than normal, and returned home and left the vehicle in the garage. I checked the brake fluid level and it was within the normal range between min and max. This morning I contacted a local Toyota dealer for a service appointment.

- Topeka, KS, USA

problem #39

Nov 112014

Camry Hybrid 4WD 4-cyl

  • 145,000 miles
Check vsc system displayed and ABS, traction control, emergency brake and caution lights are on and the brakes are very slow to respond.

- Denver, CO, USA

problem #38

Nov 032014

Camry Hybrid

  • 94,500 miles
While driving in city traffic, a number of indicator lights within the dashboard instrument cluster illuminated including the "brake" indicator, the yellow brake system warning indicator, the ABS indicator, and one other (master warning light?). at the same time a message displayed in the status screen within the instrument cluster showed "check vsc system." I immediately tried to pull off the road and slow down, and had to apply significantly more pressure to the brake pedal then typical. I could not slow as quickly as I expected. To avoid running into the car in front of me I pressed extremely hard on the brake pedal and was finally able to stop. I parked the car and turned it off, then restarted it. The same indicator lights and message displayed. I was able to drive the car home very slowly, but continued to experience difficulty braking during that drive home. Later that day when I restarted the car, the indicator lights and warning message did not display, and the brakes operated normally. I will contact the local dealership this week.

- Portland, OR, USA

problem #37

Nov 032014

Camry Hybrid

  • 140,000 miles
Hard to press the brake pedal, warning lights, potential brake failure.

- Sryacuse , UT, USA

problem #36

Sep 032014

Camry Hybrid

  • 75,000 miles
The ABS actuator failed. My local dealership seems unaware this is a know issue with my car. The repair cost so far is $1800. It seems from all research that there are options, but my dealership has not offered me any nor have the communicate well. Trying to get to the service manager today. They have had my car for 5 business days.

- Martiinez, CA, USA

problem #35

Oct 152013

Camry Hybrid 4-cyl

  • 96,000 miles
Original actuator had been replaced. Now, having more braking problems than before! dealership reset twice, problem is returning and dealership refuses to replace again, or reset. Brakes will grab and/or make loud 'clunking' sounds. Intermittent.

- Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

problem #34

Nov 252013

Camry Hybrid 4-cyl

  • miles
On Nov 25th, 2013 around 9:30pm I was driving home from work. A couple of minutes in to my driving my brake stopped functioning. I tried to slam the brake, but the car didn't stop. Thankfully, there weren't lots of car on the road. I drove on the side grass for few hundred yards and finally managed to stopped the vehicle. The next day, I took it to the near by shop and they suggested that I should replace the brake since the car wasn't able to stop. After spending $650 to replace the brakes and brake pads, I left the shop. After 6 months the check vsc system light came on. I took it to Toyota dealership and they told me that I've to replace ABS brake actuator and quoted me around $3700. I didn't have that much money to spend, so I started searching for alternative on the internet. That is when, I ran in to this site where people are reporting the issues that their 2007-2008 Toyota Camry hybrid are having. I would like Toyota to resolve this issue and fix my car. I need a way to get around and go to work. This is my only source of transportation and I need it on the road again as soon as possible. Thank you!

- Beltsville, MD, USA

problem #33

Apr 112014

Camry Hybrid 4-cyl

  • 42,000 miles
I have really good driving record with no accident & not even 1 ticket in the past 20 years before these 2 accidents & we've had the car for 6.5 years. 1st accident happened on 4/11/14 at 9:14am. Traffic was bad during the morning rush hour so all cars were travelling slowly. I was on fwy 5 heading S to the fwy 55 S ramp in ca. Matrix (1st car) suddenly stopped while all other cars were still moving forward. Equinox (2nd car) stopped & I immediately slammed my foot on the brake pedal. However, I didn't feel the car stopping at all & I thought I heard the engine roaring, but then thought it was only my illusion. Since the damage was only bumpers & headlights we just let insurance handled it & moved on with our life. However, I did start driving extra carefully after this incident. 2nd accident happened on 6/23/14 at 8:40am. Again, traffic was bad during morning rush hour. I was on jamboree in irvine, ca heading towards newport beach. I was waiting for the red light on jamboree at the 405 N bound exit intersection in the 2nd lane from left (total 4 lanes). There were already 2 accidents around there & light had just turned green. All cars were moving very slowly due to accidents nearby. Yukon had already pulled into the intersection & suddenly stopped. I was still behind the line with some distance & slammed on brake immediately but didn't feel the car stopping until hitting Yukon. I heard brake sound and engine roaring again while my foot was on the brake pedal. This time the roaring sound was clear compare to April accident. It was at over-path of fwy 405 so the road was a bit going uphill. Hybrid does not start fast at all so I am sure my speed was very slow. Car is determined as totaled because engine went under Yukon's spare tire hanging in the back. Toyota said hybrid has a black box that records data. Want to get access to the encrypted data if possible.

- Irvine, CA, USA

problem #32

Jul 022014

Camry Hybrid 4-cyl

  • 85,088 miles
I purchased a 2008 Toyota Camry hybrid with 85,000 miles in July 2nd of 2014. Since I got this car from dealer in a auction first I went closes Toyota service center to change the oil and do the 85000 mile service so I can keep the car protected. And they tall me perform the maintain on it but they is waning light for ABS and another waning check vsc system they assume may be fault in computer system witch repair cost around $3000 and the advice me to return the cart dealer. I spend all my money in the buying the car so can't spend any more money. Then I contact the dealer but to return the car but they don't accept the car back. Since I didn't have any choice I start driving the car back to home. Suddenly nonstop buzzer sound came up along with the "check vsc system" /brake, hazard, warning, and ABS lights its middle of the freeway and I noticed that the brakes did not function properly. I try to push the brake pedal; it was just like a rock not moving a bit I thought I gone die. Luckily I able bring it to safe place. Now car is sitting in my home don't know what to expect next. I research the problem in the internet, notice so many-many 07- 08 Toyota Camry hybrid customers have the experience the same problem. Since many 07- 08 Toyota Camry hybrid customers experience this problem so I hope Toyota recall the ABS accumulator and fix before anybody get die or be critically injured. Thank you

- Burbank, CA, USA

problem #31

Dec 212013

Camry Hybrid 4-cyl

  • 101,511 miles
I applied brakes, all the warning lights came on and the car would not brake. I pressed the brake pedal as hard as I could an finally came to a stop. I got the car to walnut creek Toyota, California. They charged $150 and said there was nothing wrong...bring it in if it happens again (they failed to notify me that there were several other instances reported)..5-12-14. Same thing happened as I came down a freeway offramp. It took all my strength to stop the car just inches from another car. Walnut creek Toyota said nothing wrong and their regional Toyota technical team said the same...neither of them mentioned the numerous complains to the NHTSA. I could have been killed, or killed another driver. These cars should have been recalled and compensation to the owners...I wasn't going to drive, I was forced into "trading" it in for a not so great deal!!

- Alamo, CA, USA

problem #30

Mar 052012

Camry Hybrid 4-cyl

  • 57,000 miles
I have a 2008 tch with 53K miles and the vsc warning light, brake light and several others first appeared on a cold morning during a cross country trip from ca to nc. A complete loss of breaking at 40 mph is a scary thing!!! brought it to dealer. Cleared the code. Well, about a week later in raleigh the vsc warning light was on when we arrived and the dealer recorded code C1391, abnormal pressure inside the accumulator. The fix, a new ABS accumulator- with parts labor and tax just under $2700- because the part is not under warranty- only up to 3/36000! seems like it should be since this is a common issue with tch's. now I don't know what to do or who to believe!!! because I had no choice, I shelled out and had Toyota of apex, nc replace the part. Man was I mad! Toyota didn't step up and own this clearly defective part. Smartly, K I also purchased an extended warranty from a vendor. Well wouldn't you know about 14 months later my wife is driving with the kids and almost wrecked when the brakes went out, this time with no warning! diagnosis? C1931 again!!!! I couldn't believe. The same dealer Toyota of apex, nc told me the part was now $3200. I had them pull the history. They seemed genuinely shocked. Even put me in a loaner for several days and promised Toyota would take care of this one. Ha! shame on Toyota again- they said sorry. Part out of 12 month warranty... here's your bill for 3200. At this point, I knew it was time to get rid of this defective car before someone got seriously injured or even worse, killed. Two times Toyota refused to accept any responsibility, I'm sure it will catch up to them eventually.

- Garner, NC, USA

problem #29

Jun 142014

Camry Hybrid 4-cyl

  • 186,718 miles
Applied brakes in a panic stop on I-95, pedal dropped and check vsc light came on. Pedal was hard to manage for several miles after 1st incident. Pedal feel would rise and drop feeling like the car would not stop. When arriving home and pulling in the driveway brake pedal would drop and car felt like it was not going to stop going into the garage. Once inside garage I could hear what sounded like a pump constantly running. This is the first time I have heard this noise for this long since I bought the car. Whenever I approach the car with the key or open a door, this noise is heard for about 20 seconds, sometimes repeatedly. The car is currently unsafe to drive and parked in our garage! not sure what to do...

- Palm Bay, FL, USA

problem #28

Oct 152013

Camry Hybrid 4-cyl

  • 89,000 miles
Have a 2008 Toyota Camry hybrid. 6 months ago I brought it in to right Toyota for service due to an issue with my brakes. After $6200, $2587 of with was for a 'brake accuator' the car was 'fixed'. two weeks ago my brakes acted up again with the same issue. The brakes catch or grab without warning, and sometimes I have to press the pedal to the floor boards to stop the car. I have almost had 2 incidents where an accident could have occurred. I feel unsafe in the vehicle an the dealer nor Toyota usa has responded to my complaints. Now the dealer is stated it is a different problem and not the accuator. My lite came on recently about the vsc needs to be checked.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #27

Jun 102014

Camry Hybrid

  • 74,800 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Camry hybrid. The contact stated that while attempting to park, the brakes failed to engage. The contact mentioned that immediately after the failure the vsc light warning illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 74,800.

- Plantation, FL, USA

problem #26

Jul 192013

Camry Hybrid 4-cyl

  • 97,000 miles
I was on the highway and all of the warning lights came on "check vsc system" was displayed on the dashboard. I had to push very hard on the breaks to make the car stop and luckily I did not crash into anyone. It's happened in the middle of driving in the neighborhood, on the freeway, even when I was parked in the garage! I turned the engine on and before I put it in drive or reverse, all the warning lights would display and the breaks would fail. Now the new problem is every time I step on the breaks, my car 'barks' or 'chirps' repeatedly at me. I can push lightly and get less of a bark but for the most part, it takes a great deal of effort to stop the vehicle. My father is a mechanic and he's hooked up the computer to the car but since the 'check vsc system" is not displayed when it's hooked up, he can't tell what the problem is. In an unrelated complaint, when the weather gets hot, around 80 degrees, the stereo system goes blank and spits out all of my cds and will not turn on. Then it will have lines across the screen and display "scan" on the upper right hand corner. It will not turn off or on unless I use the controls on the steering wheel. After it cools, it will work again.

- Centennial, CO, USA

problem #25

May 262014

Camry Hybrid 4-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
Vsc and ABS warning lights and buzzer came on upon just starting car. Front drivers side brake caliper locker up. Drivers side brake locked up. Dealer wants 2800 for repair. In searching the internet, it appears that this has happened to lots of other 07 -11 Camry hybrid owners.this should be covered by warranty. How do I file a formal complaint with Toyota"?"

- Waldport, OR, USA

problem #24

May 152014

Camry Hybrid 4-cyl

  • 114,700 miles
While leaving work noticed that brakes were not working properly and it was very hard to stop. I had to leave a lot of room in order to come to a full stop. There were several warning lights on including "check vsc system". took the car to the dealer and was told that the brake actuator needed to be replaced. Cost of the part and repair was $3400.

- Long Beach, CA, USA

problem #23

Mar 172014

Camry Hybrid 4-cyl

  • 83,790 miles
First incident: When in reverse, about 5 warning lights came on (ABS light, caution light and red triangle and others) and braking required hard depressing. I took to Toyota dealer; they reset the warning lights and said car was ok. When I was driving home from dealer, multiple warning lights came on again and it took full pressure to brake, while car also seemed difficult to control. I would classify it as catastrophic failure, and was fortunate to be driving slow in the city. I returned to dealer. They diagnosed as C1247 error and recommended replacing skid control computer for $1,800. When I complained that this should be covered under a hybrid warranty, regional Toyota offered $500 "towards repair as goodwill assistance."

- Kansas City, MO, USA

problem #22

Jan 292013

Camry Hybrid 4-cyl

  • 102,000 miles
I was driving down the road at 40mph and was coming upon a red stoplight. I started to brake and nothing happened. There were no brakes, I looked down and the message center said check vsc system. I was able to swerve into the turn lane to avoid hitting the cars that were stopped at the light and was able to coast to a stop. After leaving the car off for 5 minutes all was normal.

- Simla, CO, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »