Although subject to seven recalls for issues affecting the fuel pump and filler pipe, along with passenger detection and brake system failures, the low number of complaints demonstrate that the 2019 Toyota Camry is still a largely reliable used purchase.
Key Points
- The 2019 Toyota Camry is subject to six recalls, although the NHTSA has only received 181 complaints for it. Some 2019 Camry Hybrid models are subject to one additional recall, but the Hybrid has received just 10 complaints.
- Fuel pump issues affected many Toyota models around this time, and the 2019 Camry is no exception. Fuel pump failure could cause the vehicle to stall unexpectedly, which prompted two separate recalls.
- Laggy throttle response is a common complaint of some owners, with the accelerator pedal failing to respond until several seconds after being pressed.
- A failure within the brake system vacuum pump on the 2019 Toyota Camry could cause the vehicle to lose braking assistance, making it incredibly difficult to safely bring the vehicle to a stop.
- 2019 Camry Hybrid models were immune from the wider Camry range’s problems, with the two recalls issued for it affecting only particular batches of vehicles.
Widespread Fuel Pump Issues Plague the 2019 Toyota Camry, Prompting Two Separate Recalls
The Toyota Camry may have earned a reputation for reliability over the years, but one issue plagued 2019 models. Of the 181 total complaints the NHTSA received for the 2019 Camry, 68 of them relate to the fuel system.
Owners complain of the vehicle unexpectedly stalling when pulling out into traffic or setting off from the lights. This could be particularly dangerous if the vehicle stalls in the path of another vehicle.
This issue, while clearly the most prominent the model suffers from, is actually widespread across 2019 Toyota models. An initial fuel pump recall was issued in January 2020, with 1,830,752 vehicles affected including numerous Toyota and Lexus models including the Camry.
Due to ongoing problems, a second recall was issued in November 2020, once again concerning 2019 Camrys among 1,525,742 total vehicles. In the instance of both recalls, the remedy was to replace the vehicle’s fuel pump.
2019 Toyota Camry Owners Complain of Incredibly Laggy Throttle Response
The next most common complaint 2019 Toyota Camry owners have is unusually poor throttle response. Of the 37 engine complaints and 29 powertrain complaints, most pertain to this.
Whether it’s pulling out of a side street, setting off from a stop light, or occasionally while already moving and speeding up, owners state that when stepping on the vehicle’s accelerator pedal, there was a lag of around five seconds or so before the vehicle started to accelerate at all.
Some claim a message appeared on the dashboard advising them to release the throttle.
Unlike the fuel pump issues, the engine doesn’t stall with this problem. Rather, the engine keeps running but the accelerator pedal does nothing briefly. So far, no recall has been issued to address this.
Brake Assist could be Lost on 2019 Camrys due to Faulty Vacuum Pumps
The most recent recall for the 2019 Toyota Camry was issued in November 2021 and details what’s perhaps the model’s most concerning problem.
In up to 227,490 vehicles, the vacuum pump that provides braking assistance could malfunction due to a broken vane cap inside of it.
If the vehicle loses braking assist, it will make it incredibly difficult to slow or stop the vehicle, which greatly heightens the risk of an accident occurring.
The simple solution was to replace the brake system vacuum pump. Given this essential fix is free of charge, it’s incredibly important for 2019 Camry owners or potential buyers to ensure this work was completed. Performing a free VIN check is the easiest way to find out.
Passenger Airbags could Fail to Deploy on Some 2019 Camrys due to Improperly Calibrated OCS
Certain batches of the 2019 Toyota Camrys suffered from issues that didn’t plague all examples, but one recall targeted at such an issue is worth highlighting.
In August 2019, 680 Camrys were recalled due to an improperly calibrated Occupant Classification System. This system, which detects whether a passenger is in the front seat or not, would fail to detect when someone was sitting there. This means the front airbag nor the knee airbag would deploy in the event of an accident.
A simple recalibration was all that’s required, and while it’s fortunate that more vehicles weren’t affected, it’s an important fix for these 680.
Two other batch-specific recalls were also issued; however, these were far more minor. Both pertained to safety labels. One had incorrect load carrying information on 1,325 vehicles. The other was for 3,634 examples of the same label that had text which could easily fade off.
Some 2019 Camry Hybrids had Leaky Fuel Filler Pipes that Increased Fire Risk
Unlike the rest of the range, 2019 Toyota Camry Hybrid models were affected by just two recalls. One of those was the latter of the two dodgy labels mentioned above. The other affected just 205 vehicles, but was more serious.
On these vehicles, the fuel filler pipe may not have been connected to the fuel tank properly. This fuel that may have leaked out could potentially catch fire with disastrous results. Fortunately, the fix was simply a replacement of the fuel filler pipe.
This is the only notable issue with the Camry Hybrid, though. Just 10 complaints have been registered with the NHTSA for it, indicating it’s problem-free for the vast majority of owners.
The 2019 Toyota Camry may have its Issues, but a Low Number of Complaints Indicate it’s a Safe Choice
There’s no denying the fuel pump and brake system issues the 2019 Camry suffers from are big issues affecting millions of cars out on the roads. However, the former issue isn’t specific to the Camry, and both were addressed with recalls that have clear, free fixes.
But while so many vehicles were recalled, the mere 191 total complaints received for both regular and Hybrid models indicates most owners have a problem-free ownership experience.
If you’re worried about the big-ticket issues, though, consider the 2019 Toyota Camry Hybrid. With it only affected by two recalls concerning a very small number of vehicles, and with a mere 10 complaints on record, the Hybrid proudly flies the flag for Toyota reliability.
Photos: Toyota
