2021 Toyota Camry Safety Report
2021 TOYOTA CAMRY Safety Analysis
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2021 Toyota Camry
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2021 Toyota Camry. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | Moderate (1) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (145) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 22 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Air Bags | Compare air bags issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2024 | Compare against the 2024 Toyota Camry with 39 complaints and 1 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2018 | Check the 2018 Toyota Camry before buying across this generation. |
Toyota Camry Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Toyota Camry years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Toyota Camry | 46 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2020 Toyota Camry | 254 | 3 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2023 Toyota Camry | 49 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2019 Toyota Camry | 359 | 6 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2024 Toyota Camry | 39 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2018 Toyota Camry | 695 | 8 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
2021 Toyota Camry Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2021 Toyota Camry, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Air Bags
66 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Air Bags issues Toyota onlyUnknown Or Other
12 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Toyota onlyPower Train
8 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Toyota onlyEngine
6 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Toyota onlyService Brakes
4 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Service Brakes issues Toyota onlyStructure
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Structure issues Toyota onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2021 Toyota Camry
Reliability Score
The 2021 Toyota Camry receives a reliability score of 85 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates above-average reliability relative to comparable vehicles.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2021 Toyota Camry
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2021 Toyota Camry
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2021 Toyota Camry:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags Recalled due to sensor problems, affecting occupant classification. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Transmission Issues include staying in a higher gear at lower speeds and causing the vehicle to shutter. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Service Brakes Minor issues reported, but not widespread. |
Low | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
| Panoramic Sunroof Problems with the sunroof getting stuck and making a clicking sound. |
Low | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2021 Toyota Camry:
Issues with air bag sensors and occupant classification.
Transmission malfunctions causing higher gear engagement at lower speeds.
Minor issues reported with service brakes.
Problems with the sunroof mechanism.
Recall Details for the 2021 Toyota Camry
The following 1 recall has been issued for the 2021 Toyota Camry by NHTSA:
Summary: 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.
Consequence: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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 Le...
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2021 Toyota Camry
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2021 Toyota Camry with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 4 complaints involved crashes. 1 involved fires. 3 reported injuries or fatalities.
The panoramic sunroof gets stuck in the open position and also the motor makes a clicking sound. It is not opened all the way hardly at all, maybe 5 times a year if that. The problem is all over the internet and the dealerships routinely denies any knowledge of it and wants anywhere from 7k to more to fix the entire roof. This is very unprofessional and should not be swept under the rug. Repor...
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Camry. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stat...
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 ha...
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Camry. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (AIR BAGS). The local dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and conf...
My transmission is making a whining noise that starts round 20 mph and gets louder the faster I drive.
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Camry. While the contact’s wife was inside the parked vehicle and attempting to open the sunroof, there was an abnormal sound coming from the sunroof while attempting to close it. The motor to open the sunroof was covered and made a sound; however, the sunroof failed to close. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagn...
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.
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Camry. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags). The contact had been calling the local dealer for more than two years after the air bag warning illuminated. The warning light remained illuminated while driving. The contact was advised by the dealer that the part for the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated t...
2021 Toyota Camry Transmission failure. On November 28th, 2025, my car started doing a hard shudder. I pulled over, then turned my car off. When I started my car back up, it would only drive in reverse but not forward. I had my car towed to a Toyota dealership and explained to the man at the front desk what happened. The guy went to talk to the mechanic then came back and told me that the mechanic...
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.
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Camry. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer twic,e and the recall repair was not performed. The contact stated that the dealer had brushed him off. The m...
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that after starting the engine, the warning message "Engine Maintenance Required" was displayed. The local dealer was contacted and informed that there were no recalls or extended warranties related to the failure. The cause of the failure was not determined, and the vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The fail...
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
I was 165 mph and someone hit me and threw me into a sign that had big huge poles on it all the ones in California do I went right through it got banged all around I have to say the car is a tank because it got me home but it never deployed airbags when I know that it should have I’m pretty sure any other car would have the way that mine was wreck
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Camry. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted several times. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact ha...
There is an airbag recall with no remedy available. I’m very concerned about driving my car without this being fixed. Toyota shows the parts should have been available by now. How can they allow this to go unfixed when they are putting lives at risk? I called my dealer and they said it wasn’t fixable yet.
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Camry. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a fail...
Purchased this vehicle at a big dealership and driving noticed glaring across the windshield try washing not helping took vehicle to glass shop that told me windshield damaged from rock chips and was pitted all the way through and could not be repaired has to be replaced dealership refuses to replace even though it has glare in sunlight and impairs my vision when driving The custom relation manage...
I own a 2021 Toyota Camry XSE (VIN: [XXX] ) with a malfunction in the SRS airbag system related to the front passenger seat frame Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor. The airbag warning light remains on, and diagnostics indicate a failure in the OCS sensor that could prevent the passenger airbag from deploying correctly, or could deploy it at the wrong time during a collision. I contacted ...
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Camry. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, parts for the recall repair were not yet available. In addition, the contact stated that several times the vehicle was taken to the dealer for a scheduled service appointment, and the contact was informed that the parts were still not available for the recall repair. The...
Showing 20 of 145 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2021 Toyota Camry
Has the 2021 TOYOTA CAMRY been recalled?
Yes, the 2021 TOYOTA CAMRY has 1 recall on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2021 TOYOTA CAMRY have?
The 2021 TOYOTA CAMRY has 145 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 20 involved crashes. 15 injuries and 1 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2021 TOYOTA CAMRY?
The 2021 TOYOTA CAMRY received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 5/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 5/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 TOYOTA CAMRY?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2021 TOYOTA CAMRY involve air bags (66 complaints), unknown or other (12 complaints), power train (8 complaints). Other affected components include engine, service brakes, structure.
How many crash reports does the 2021 TOYOTA CAMRY have?
There are 20 crash reports associated with the 2021 TOYOTA CAMRY out of 145 total complaints (13.8% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2021 TOYOTA CAMRY have?
There are 2 fire reports for the 2021 TOYOTA CAMRY out of 145 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2021 TOYOTA CAMRY?
Yes, 1 death has been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2021 TOYOTA CAMRY. These are self-reported by complainants and do not imply the vehicle caused the death.
How many injuries are reported for the 2021 TOYOTA CAMRY?
15 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2021 TOYOTA CAMRY. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2021 TOYOTA CAMRY?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2021 TOYOTA CAMRY is acceptable with caveats. It has 145 complaints, 1 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Note: 1 death(s) have been reported. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2021 TOYOTA CAMRY?
The components with the most failures on the 2021 TOYOTA CAMRY are: 1. AIR BAGS (66 complaints), 2. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (12 complaints), 3. POWER TRAIN (8 complaints), 4. ENGINE (6 complaints), 5. SERVICE BRAKES (4 complaints). AIR BAGS is the single most-reported problem area with 66 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2021 TOYOTA CAMRY?
Be cautious of air bag and transmission issues, as they are the most frequently reported problems. Ensure these systems are functioning properly before purchasing. The 2021 TOYOTA CAMRY has 145 NHTSA complaints and 1 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2021 TOYOTA CAMRY?
The 2021 TOYOTA CAMRY receives a reliability score of 85/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 145 owner complaints, 1 recalls, and 22 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Air Bags and Transmission.
What are the known issues with the 2021 TOYOTA CAMRY?
Known issues with the 2021 TOYOTA CAMRY include: Air Bags, Transmission, Service Brakes, Panoramic Sunroof. These are based on patterns found across 145 NHTSA complaints. 1 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
Are there any recalls for the 2021 Toyota Camry?
Yes, there are recalls related to air bag sensors. Ensure the air bags are functioning properly.
What transmission issues have been reported?
The transmission has been reported to stay in a higher gear at lower speeds, causing the vehicle to shutter.
Are there any known issues with the sunroof?
Yes, the sunroof can get stuck and make a clicking sound.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of air bag and transmission issues, as they are the most frequently reported problems. Ensure these systems are functioning properly before purchasing.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2021 Toyota Camry
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2021 Toyota Camry. The data includes 145 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 1 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 20 reported crashes, 2 fire incidents, 15 reported injuries, and 1 fatalities associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2021 Toyota Camry an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 5 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 5 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16