Scotty Kilmer shocked his followers by buying a 2026 Toyota Camry Hybrid, breaking his decades-long rule against new cars. The veteran mechanic justified the purchase based on Toyota's hybrid longevity and value proposition, though he jokingly called himself a hypocrite for finally going new.

Kilmer's criticisms focus on three areas: build quality issues like a rattling hood prop rod, modern technology intrusions such as the electronic parking brake and rear-seat reminders, and long-term ownership concerns including Toyota's use of ultra-thin 0W-8 engine oil. He plans to switch to thicker 0W-16 oil despite factory recommendations, reflecting his skepticism toward efficiency-driven engineering.

His biggest concern involves a recall affecting roughly 55,000 units of 2025-2026 Camry and Corolla Cross Hybrids due to an improperly torqued bolt in the hybrid inverter assembly. While Kilmer still considers the Camry one of the few modern cars worth buying new, his criticisms highlight the growing tension between Toyota's durability reputation and industry pressures from electrification and globalized production.