Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2018 Toyota Camry owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My 2018 Toyota Camry (VIN [redacted] ) crashed and burned completely on Nov 16, 2025. while driving on the Freeway the vehicle stopped suddenly without any notice on dashboard all electrical turned off steering wheel locked and lost control hit left fwy barrier which caused car to spun couple times and when it came to a complete stop was not able to turn car or even turn emergency lights on and couple seconds later was rear ended by another vehicle which caused vehicle to catch on fire and vehicle was fully in flames after reviewing history of vehicle I never received notification of Toyota Recall 18V-200, which addresses defective pistons that can cause engine stalling, rough running, loss of power, or sudden failure. Based on VIN and production date, my car likely falls within the recall. Police and fire reports are available.
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while parking the vehicle, the steering wheel was firm and difficult to maneuver. The contact stated that he used excessive force to maneuver the vehicle. The message "Low Power Steering - See Dealer" was intermittently displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the electronic rack and pinion system failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not yet been repaired. An undisclosed dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was advised to contact the manufacturer for assistance. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact received no further assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel would make an abnormal squeaking noise without warning. Over time, the steering wheel had stiffened which caused the contact to use excessive force to steer the vehicle. The contact had initially taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where he was informed that the steering shaft needed to be replaced. The contact then took the vehicle to a dealer where they repaired the steering shaft under his extended warranty. The manufacturer was notified of the matter and offered no assistance. The vehicle had been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
Brake malfunction on my 2018 Toyota Camry and steering wheel malfunctioned causing my vehicles to spend on the freeway hitting a barrel and landing the car into a ditch. The car is not available for inspection it's still at the tow yard. The safety was at risk for me as the driver was tremendously overwhelming and fearful. The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by anyone. There hasn't been any inspection to the vehicle that I know of. Yes there was warning sign; power steering malfunction, secondary collision brake system malfunction, antilock brake system malfunction, ICS malfunction, pre collision system malfunction. They first appeared 12-01-2024.
I have had issues with the breaks since I purchased the vehicle. The first recall I got the vacuum pump replaced. I still have the same issue. I have been having the break issue but recently had an issue slamming on my breaks after someone was coming around the corner too fast in my garage and feeling pushback from the break petal and not breaking fully. I actually did hit her care but she only had scratches and decided not to file a claim (I have the date and pictures as well). I bought this Camry feeling confident and I actually worry about my breaks I even got them replaced thinking they were worn out but I still have the same issue.
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he became aware that the electronic power steering was not functioning properly, requiring increased effort to maneuver the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Customer Support Program: 22TE02. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 50,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the power steering malfunctioned, causing the steering wheel to become very difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the steering linkage was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the Manufacturer's extended coverage for the failure. The failure mileage was 63,500.
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that extra effort was needed while turning the steering wheel, and for the steering wheel to return to center. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and a diagnostic test was performed. The dealer confirmed that the vehicle was outside the production date for a Customer Support Program. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The failure recurred several times. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 110,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the steering wheel was stiff. While driving at various speeds, the steering wheel was difficult to turn. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the steering shaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Camry. The contact stated while driving, especially at slower speeds, the steering when is difficult to returned back to the center. The vehicle was taken to an independent, mechanic where it was not diagnosed or repaired; however, the steering shaft was sprayed with WD-40. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 95,000.
Steering complaints in other Camry years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2018 Toyota Camry?
NHTSA has 61 complaints about the steering of the 2018 Toyota Camry, 8% of the model year's 750 complaints. The component named most often is column (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2018 Toyota Camry steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for the 2018 Toyota Camry, though it has 8 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2018 Toyota Camry steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 49,000 miles, and 29% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 1 fire and 12 injuries to steering problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.