Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
2009 Toyota Camry — Known Issues & Recalls
Complaints from Jan 2015 to Dec 2014
The most reported issue is vehicle speed control problems (208 complaints). 160 complaints involved crashes. 22 involved fires.
Open Safety Recalls (10)
NHTSA Campaign: 16V396000
Component: SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
Risk: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.
NHTSA Campaign: 15V689000
Component: VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
Toyota Motor Company (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tundra, Sequoia, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and Scion xB, 2008-2011 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2007 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2009 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2006-2011 RAV4, 2006-2010 Yaris, and 2009-2010 Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles. During the manufacturing of the Power Window Master Switch (PWMS), grease lubricant may have been inconsistently applied to the sliding electrical contacts.
Risk: If the sliding electrical contacts are not protected by lubricant, debris and moisture that get into the switch may cause a short circuit and the switch assembly may overheat and melt, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the switch, applying a lubricant if no abnormality is found. If abnormality is found, the PWMS circuit board will be replaced, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 20, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is C0M.
NHTSA Campaign: 14V743000
Component: SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring.
Risk: Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in January 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.
NHTSA Campaign: 12V091000
Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 CAMRY VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 1, 2008, THROUGH FEBRUARY 28, 2009, AND MODEL YEAR 2009-2011 VENZA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 20, 2008, THROUGH JANUARY 4, 2011. DURING ASSEMBLY OF THE CONTACT-TYPE STOP LAMP SWITCH, SILICONE GREASE MAY HAVE COME IN CONTACT WITH THE SURFACE OF THE SWITCH WHICH COULD CAUSE CONTACT RESISTANCE. IF THIS OCCURS, WARNING LAMPS COULD ILLUMINATE, A NO START CONDITION COULD RESULT, THE SHIFT LEVER MAY NOT SHIFT FROM THE PARK POSITION, OR THE VEHICLES BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE.
Risk: INOPERATIVE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT WARN OTHER DRIVERS THAT THE VEHICLE IS SLOWING OR STOPPING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 12, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
NHTSA Campaign: 12V491000
Component: VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 Camry, Camry Hybrid, RAV4, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Tundra, Sequoia, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Yaris, Scion xB, Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles. The power window master switch assemblies in some of these vehicles were built using a less precise process for lubricating the internal components of the switch assemblies. Irregularities in this lubrication process may cause the power window master switch assemblies to malfunction and overheat.
Risk: If the switch overheats, it may melt, possibly resulting in a fire.
Fix: Toyota will notify its owners, and dealers will inspect the switch and apply a special grease that inhibits heat build up or replace any switch damaged by the defect, free of charge. Toyota owners that experience a problem with a switch should not attempt to make repairs, but should contact their Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331. General Motors will contact the Pontiac Vibe owners affected by this recall and GM dealers will inspect and repair switches as necessary. Those owners may contact Pontiac Customer Care at 1-800-762-2737.
NHTSA Campaign: 13V014000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.
Risk: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.
Fix: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
NHTSA Campaign: 09V388000
Component: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAN GET STUCK IN THE WIDE OPEN POSITION DUE TO ITS BEING TRAPPED BY AN UNSECURED OR INCOMPATIBLE DRIVER'S FLOOR MAT.
Risk: A STUCK OPEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN VERY HIGH VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
Fix: TOYOTA FILED AN AMENDED DEFECT REPORT ON NOVEMBER 25, 2009, STATING THAT DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND, ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, ALTER THE SHAPE OF THE FLOOR SURFACE UNDER THE PEDAL. THESE CHANGES ADDRESS THE RISK OF PEDAL ENTRAPMENT DUE TO INTERFERENCE WITH THE FLOOR MAT. REDESIGNED ACCELERATOR PEDALS WILL BECOME AVAILABLE BEGINNING IN APRIL 2010 AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY MODIFIED PEDAL WITH THE NEW PEDAL IF DESIRED. ALSO, DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY GENUINE TOYOTA OR LEXUS ALL-WEATHER FLOOR MATS WITH REDESIGNED ALL-WEATHER MATS, OR REPURCHASE THE PREVIOUS MATS FROM OWNERS WHO DO NOT WANT THE NEW ONES. ADDITIONALLY, SOFTWARE MODIFICATIONS WILL BE INSTALLED ON CAMRY, AVALON AND LEXUS ES 350, IS 350 AND IS 250 MODELS THAT WILL ENSURE THAT THE BRAKE OVERRIDES THE ACCELERATOR IN THE EVENT BOTH BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS ARE APPLIED. TOYOTA WILL BEGIN MAILING LETTERS TO OWNERS ON DECEMBER 31, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331, LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
NHTSA Campaign: 10V035000
Component: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 AND JUNE 2, 2008 WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.
Risk: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.
Fix: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. DEALERS WILL ALSO CORRECT THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GULF STATES TOYOTA AT 713-580-3300.
NHTSA Campaign: 10V036000
Component: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.
Risk: A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.
NHTSA Campaign: 10V017000
Component: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 AVALON, MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 CAMRY, MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 COROLLA, COROLLA MATRIX, RAV4, MODEL YEAR 2010 HIGHLANDER, MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 SEQUOIA, AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 TUNDRA VEHICLES. DUE TO THE MANNER IN WHICH THE FRICTION LEVER INTERACTS WITH THE SLIDING SURFACE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL INSIDE THE PEDAL SENSOR ASSEMBLY, THE SLIDING SURFACE OF THE LEVER MAY BECOME SMOOTH DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. IN THIS CONDITION, IF CONDENSATION OCCURS ON THE SURFACE, AS MAY OCCUR FROM HEATER OPERATION (WITHOUT A/C) WHEN THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY IS COLD, THE FRICTION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS OPERATED MAY INCREASE, WHICH MAY RESULT IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECOMING HARDER TO DEPRESS, SLOWER TO RETURN, OR, IN THE WORST CASE, MECHANICALLY STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION.
Risk: THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY BECOME HARD TO DEPRESS, SLOW TO RETURN TO IDLE, OR, IN THE WORST CASE, MECHANICALLY STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REINFORCEMENT BAR IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHICH WILL ALLOW THE PEDAL TO OPERATE SMOOTHLY. GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS FOR THE PONTIAC VIBE PLEASE SEE 10V-018. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON FEBRUARY 5, 2010 AND WILL BE COMPLETED ON MARCH 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Owner-Reported Issues (20 of 1407)
Unknown Or Other →4 issues
Your dashboard is sticky and reflects light in a way that caused a distraction leading to an accident. The owner also reports that safety recall notices were mailed to an incorrect address (an assisted living facility where mail wasn't received), and the vehicle has already had significant damage requiring engine replacement.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Your dashboard has become glossy and reflective due to material degradation, creating intense glare on your windshield when driving in sunlight. This glare significantly reduces your visibility of the road, especially during sunrise and sunset, creating a genuine safety hazard. The dashboard's matte finish has worn away over time, turning it into a mirror-like surface. Fixing this typically involves replacing the dashboard or applying a non-reflective dashboard cover to restore safe visibility.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Your dashboard has developed a sticky residue that creates glare and makes it difficult to see while driving. This glare has nearly caused accidents. Toyota has refused to replace the dashboard under recall warranty coverage, even though you believe it's a safety hazard. Fixing this would involve replacing the entire dashboard assembly.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Your dashboard has melted and become sticky to the touch, creating a glare across the windshield. The melted material emits a chemical smell inside the car. Fixing this will likely require replacing the dashboard panel.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Structure →4 issues
Your dashboard has become sticky and is creating a shiny glare that reflects onto your windshield, making it hard to see through. This sticky buildup is likely from the dashboard material deteriorating over time. Cleaning or replacing the dashboard cover may resolve the glare issue.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Your dashboard is sticky and melting, with the coating degrading after moving to the desert. The deteriorating coating creates a shiny glare that reflects onto your windshield, making it difficult to drive safely at night. The dealer told you this is just an aesthetic issue and that the warranty has expired, so they won't cover it. You may need to have the dashboard refinished or replaced to eliminate the glare and restore its appearance.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Your dashboard has become sticky and shiny, and the reflection of sunlight off its surface is glaring into your eyes while you drive, making it hard to see the road. This happened at around 60,000 miles and makes the windshield appear cloudy or reflective. The manufacturer was notified but offered no help, and your extended warranty had expired so it wasn't covered.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Your dashboard has developed cracks in several places. You contacted the dealer and scheduled an appointment, but haven't taken the car in yet. Toyota is aware of the issue and has opened a case to investigate it. Fixing this will likely involve replacing the dashboard panel or having it professionally repaired.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Engine →3 issues
Your engine burned excessive oil over time, which eventually caused the piston rings and head gasket to fail. This led to misfiring and ultimately engine breakdown at 186,000 miles. The fix will likely require a complete engine rebuild or replacement, along with new piston rings and a head gasket.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Your 2009 Toyota Camry is consuming engine oil very quickly — after adding fresh oil, it's gone within 400 miles with no visible leaks or damage that you or the dealership can find. This rapid oil loss could cause your engine to fail while driving, which poses a serious safety risk. The fix will likely require the dealership to diagnose the internal cause of the oil consumption, which could involve checking the engine's piston rings, valve seals, or gaskets.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Your car's engine is burning through oil much faster than normal — you're having to add several quarts every 1,000 miles. The check oil warning light came on while your daughter was driving, and the dealer confirmed through testing that the engine has excessive oil consumption. This typically indicates internal engine wear or damage, and repairing it would likely involve engine work such as replacing piston rings, valve seals, or a complete engine rebuild.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Air Bags →2 issues
Your daughter was hit on the driver's side at about 40 mph, but the airbags didn't deploy when they should have. She was injured in the crash and needed medical attention. The manufacturer couldn't determine why the airbags failed to protect her.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Your car was involved in a serious rollover crash at 60 mph that struck a tree and crushed the back seat area. The front airbags did not deploy even though the crash severity should have triggered them, and there were no warning lights about the airbags before the crash. The owner sustained injuries that might have been prevented if the airbags had deployed as designed. The vehicle is available for inspection by safety experts.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Visibility/wiper →2 issues
Your dashboard is melting and creating a glare on the windshield that's blocking your view of the road. This glare has nearly caused you to have accidents because you couldn't see traffic clearly. Even though your dashboard was already replaced once for the same reason, it's happening again. The fix will likely involve another dashboard replacement and possibly investigating why the replacement part is also failing.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Your dashboard has become soft, sticky, and is now melting in the sun, creating a serious safety problem. The melted dashboard is reflecting sunlight onto your windshield so severely that it's difficult to see while driving, especially toward the sun. Toyota offered a 10-year warranty to cover this known defect, but you missed the deadline by 5 days, and the manufacturer has refused to cover the $1,500 repair cost after that period ended.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Unknown Or Other,lane Departure →1 issue
Your dashboard has become very sticky and creates excessive glare that makes it difficult to see and drive safely. You've been in a crash related to this visibility issue, and while there was a safety recall issued during the previous owner's time, the warranty period has expired. Addressing this will likely involve dashboard replacement or resurfacing to restore visibility and eliminate the sticky coating.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Steering,service Brakes,engine →1 issue
Your engine is consuming oil very quickly — after adding fresh oil and driving just 400 miles, the oil level drops significantly with no visible leaks. This excessive oil loss could cause engine damage or failure while driving, and may affect your braking system's ability to function. The issue needs immediate diagnostic inspection to find where the oil is going and prevent potential engine damage.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Structure,unknown Or Other,engine →1 issue
Your car is consuming oil faster than normal, requiring frequent top-ups between oil changes. You may also notice the dashboard is sticky to the touch, and the power window switches may not be responding properly or feel stuck when you try to operate them.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Unknown Or Other,visibility/wiper →1 issue
Your dashboard has become sticky because the adhesive underneath is seeping through the surface. This creates a shiny, reflective coating that causes glare when sunlight hits it, making it difficult to see while driving. The fix would likely involve replacing the dashboard pad or applying a protective coating to reduce the glare.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Seats →1 issue
Your seat squeaks while you're driving, as if the bolts holding it in place might be loose. This is likely a minor annoyance rather than a safety issue, but the squeaking suggests the seat may need tightening or adjustment.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Get notified when any of these become free repairs
We'll alert you if a new recall is issued for your vehicle — that means a free fix at the dealer.
Related Vehicles
Other Toyota Camry years: