Some cars just seem to carry bad energy. At least that’s what one woman thinks after watching her dream 2024 Toyota Camry meet disaster after disaster—from rogue Teslas to flying freeway shrapnel—in less than a year. In a recent TikTok clip, distraught former Camry owner Lupe Rodriguez (@lupsgee) spells out the run of bad luck she had with her first major car purchase. Rather than mechanical problems of any kind, the outside world just had a score to settle with her Camry and was ready to take as many shots at it as possible. “Bad car juju. Like, it was my dream car. I've always wanted a Camry,” she says in the clip that’s been viewed more than 68,500 times. “It was my first big girl purchase. First auto loan and all for damn nothing.” Rodriguez, who previously worked at a dealership, told viewers that she deliberately skipped the redesigned 2025 Camry and opted for the 2024 model instead. “I didn’t like the model, the 2025, so I was like, ‘No, let me buy the 2024,’” she says. Less than a month into ownership, the vehicle was hit by a Tesla that scraped the rim and damaged the rear left panel, she says. A few weeks later, a chunk of metal launched from a truck and pierced the front end, narrowly missing the windshield. And within six months, the car was rear-ended on the freeway, resulting in a total loss. Rodriguez’s decision to choose the 2024 model over the 2025 refresh ties into an ongoing discussion among enthusiasts. Many 8th-generation Camry fans preferred the styling and layout of the earlier iteration. That sentiment highlights how even small design shifts can influence buyer psychology in this segment. OWNERSHIP STORIES Viral stories from across the web Our team of experts tracks what owners are saying about car-shopping, repairs, the daily driving experience and more on social media. The 2024 Camry carries over largely unchanged from previous years, with options ranging from a 2.5-liter four-cylinder to a V-6, plus available all-wheel drive, and continues to combine solid performance with excellent feature value. Whether that has ever mattered to what Rodriguez calls “bad car juju” is another question entirely. Are Some Cars Just Unlucky? The string of incidents prompted dozens of comments from fellow drivers who insisted the car was cursed. One commenter wrote, “Bad vibes car get rid of it.” Another admitted to a similar experience: “I got a Camry in September ’24 as well … so many bad things happened within the month … had to let it go.” The mix of sympathy and superstition caught attention, turning her story into a social media moment. What makes the story stick is the very contrast between the car’s reputation and what unfolded. The 2024 Toyota Camry is widely regarded as among the most reliable midsize sedans. It earned a Quality & Reliability score of 83 out of 100 from J.D. Power. RepairPal rates it as “above average” with a 4.0 out of 5 reliability rating and annual average unscheduled repair cost just under $400—well below the average for midsize vehicles. Consumer feedback is also positive: Kelley Blue Book reports 68 % of owners would recommend the 2024 Camry, and more than half rated it a perfect five stars. The problems Rodriguez experienced fall outside the realm of “reliability” in the traditional sense. These were not mechanical or design failures; rather, they were collisions, flying debris, and what the owner describes as “car juju.” While the Camry continues to live up to its reputation from a technical standpoint, hers clearly didn’t escape the whims of fate. Gallery: 2024 Toyota Camry XSE Next Gen NASCAR Cup Series The Psychology Behind the ‘Cursed’ Car Rodriguez isn’t the first driver to joke about owning a “cursed” car, but there’s real psychology behind that idea. Behavioral researchers say people often project emotion and identity onto vehicles, especially their first major purchase. A study on consumer attachment from the University of Michigan found that buyers who view their car as part of the self experience stronger emotional reactions to accidents or damage than those who see it as a simple tool. It’s the same impulse that leads many owners to name their cars, hang good luck charms from the mirror, or, as Rodriguez’s TikTok commenters advised, seek a limpia (a spiritual cleansing) or carry an ojo talisman for protection. Anthropologists note that such rituals help people impose meaning on random misfortune, offering a sense of control when luck turns bad. That mix of emotion and pragmatism runs through the comments on Rodriguez’s video. When one viewer asked if she at least had gap insurance—the optional coverage that bridges the difference between what a totaled car is worth and what’s still owed—she replied, “omg yes I did have Gap thank godddddd!” Data show new cars can lose around 10% of their value the moment they leave the lot and up to 20% within a year. For Rodriguez, that simple yes may have been the only good luck her Camry ever brought. In the end, Rodriguez’s tale is a reminder that a car purchase is never just about specs and reliability; it’s emotional, psychological and very human. You can buy the model that tops every chart. You can research every rating. But that doesn’t protect you from what’s waiting outside the driver’s seat. For Rodriguez, the 2024 Camry was the car she’d always wanted. It was the first big purchase, the first auto loan, a milestone. And yet in less than a year, it was gone. For many drivers, our first new car is a rite of passage. For Rodriguez, it’s become a cautionary tale about that moment when the “dream car” meets the road—and that sometimes, the road fires back. Motor1 reached out to Rodriguez via email and direct message. We’ll be sure to update this if she responds. We want your opinion! What would you like to see on Motor1.com? Take our 3 minute survey. - The Motor1.com Team