Component or System Failed: Unibody structural frame / Front chassis suspension and crumple zone architecture. Description of the Incident and Safety Risk: A structural repair was executed on this vehicle involving an improper "rough pull" on a frame rack/jig rather than replacing the compromised structural components to OEM specification. The auto body facility failed to restore the vehicle's unibody structural integrity. Misaligned body lines and underlying unibody damage remain uncorrected, severely degrading the vehicle's engineered crumple zones. This creates an immediate, severe safety risk. Because the high-strength steel and structural collision-energy management features have been altered and weakened without proper sectioning or component replacement, the vehicle's structural performance in a subsequent impact is entirely compromised. This significantly elevates the risk of severe cabin intrusion and catastrophic structural failure in a future accident, endangering the safety of all occupants. Confirmation and Documentation: The underlying structural and unibody deficiencies have been identified and documented via visual inspection, initial estimates, subsequent supplement records, and detailed parts lists
The worst 2009 Toyota Camry problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Acceleration266
- Engine252
- Body225
- Visibility126
- Brakes107
- Electrical82
- Suspension70
- Airbags66
- Transmission51
- Steering47
- Tires23
- Fuel system21
- Lights19
- Driver assistance14
- Seat belts12
- Seats11
- Wheels11
- Locks2
Specific symptoms reported on the 2009 Toyota Camry
Oil consumption 120Sudden acceleration 105ABS 54No deployment 32Adaptive cruise 26Stalling 24Engine failure 23Fire or smoke 22Jerking 22Brake failure 18Check engine light 17Pulling 17Headlights 16Overheating 13Airbag light 12Knocking 11Hesitation 10Won't start 9Harsh shifting 8Loss of power 8Steering noise 8Wipers 8Grinding brakes 7Coil spring 7Tire blowout 7Misfire 5
Recalls 10
Seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 16V396000 · Recall details
Visibility: power window devices and controls
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 15V689000 · Recall details
Seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 14V743000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 13V014000 · Recall details
Visibility: power window devices and controls
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 12V491000 · Recall details
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 12V091000 · Recall details
Equipment: other: labels
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 10V035000 · Recall details
Equipment: other: labels
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 10V036000 · Recall details
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 10V017000 · Recall details
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 09V388000 · Recall details
See all 10 recalls for the 2009 Toyota Camry
Defect investigations
Power Window Master Switch Fire
On October 10, 2012, Toyota initiated a safety recall of approximately 2.5 million U.S. vehicles involving the following models and model years:2007-2009 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2009 Corolla and Corolla Matrix, 2008 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2007-2009 RAV4, 2008-2009 Scion xB and xD, 2008-2009 Sequoia, 2007-2008 Tundra, 2007-2008 Yaris, and 2009 Pontiac Vibe.See the federal safety agency recall number 12V‑491 for more details, including the affected vehicle manufacture dates for each vehicle model.Note that only early-production 2009 model year vehicles are included in the recall.Toyota and GM dealers will inspect the power window master switch (PWMS) assemblies and apply a specialized grease that inhibits heat build-up.The circuit board in the PWMS may be replaced with a new one if notchy or sticking feeling is observed during the inspection.The failure report summary above shows counts for the vehicles identified at the start of this Engineering Analysis, specifically the approximately 1.4 million vehicles that share an identical PWMS assembly design including, model year 2007-2009 Camry, Camry Hybrid, RAV4, and Yaris built from September 2006 through August 2008, as well as all 2008 Highlander Hybrid.Toyota subsequently identified approximately one million additional vehicles that have a slightly different PWMS design but contain the same defect condition.Note that the totals for complaints and fires shown above may include duplicative reports (between ODI and manufacturer reports).This Engineering Analysis is closed.See attached report for additional information.The ODI reports cited above can be viewed at www-odi.the federal safety agency.dot.gov/owners/Searchreference under the following identification numbers: 10323848, 10360414, 10392622, 10394453, 10411328, 10429983, 10436663, 10446699, 10447416, 10447417, 10447419, 10447444, 10447515, 10447845, 10447947, 10449270, 10450133, 10450568, 10450606, 10450641, 10451821, 10455540, 10455614, 10456353, 10456438, 10457854, 10457955, 10459730, 10460166, 10460691, 10461220, 10462140, 10462200, 10462247, 10462404, 10462705, 10462761, 10464451, 10464769, 10465421, 10466279, 10466667, 10468126, 10468265, 10475230, 10470313, 10470684, 10471551, 10471824, 10472336, 10472910, 10473753, 10473967, 10473969, 10476921, 10477469, 10478563 and 10478657.
EA12006
Power Window Master Switch Fire
ODI has identified certain Toyota vehicles experiencing a higher rate of fire and thermal event incidents among all Toyota vehicles that use the same power window master switch design.They include a total of approximately 1.4 million model year (MY) 2007 through 2009 Camry, Camry Hybrid, RAV4 and Yaris vehicles built from approximately September 2006 through August 2008, as well as all MY 2008 Highlander Hybrid vehicles.This Preliminary Evaluation has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA12-006) to further study the alleged defect and its consequences.The ODI reports cited above can be viewed at www-odi.the federal safety agency.dot.gov/owners/Searchreference under the following identification numbers: 10461220, 10460691, 10460166, 10459730, 10457955, 10457854, 10456438, 10456353, 10455614, 10455540, 10451821, 10450641, 10450606, 10450568, 10450133, 10449270, 10447947, 10447845, 10447515, 10447444, 10447419, 10447417, 10447416, 10446699, 10436663, 10429983, 10411328, 10407290, 10394453, 10392622, 10360414, 10323848.
PE12002
Technical service bulletins for the 2009 Toyota Camry 425
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Condition in which a musty odor is present
- Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical...
- To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used...
- The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix...
- Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal...
- Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad...
- Condition in which a musty odor is present
- This Service Bulletin provides updated non-electric water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips for...
- Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal...
- This is to advise of various price adjustments that will affect Toyota Genuine Motor Oil and Long Life...
2009 Toyota Camry fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4‑cyl | FWD | 21 | 31 | 25 |
| 3.5L 6‑cyl | FWD | 19 | 28 | 23 |
What 2009 Toyota Camry owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
I'm not even sure this is the right form for this complaint, but it has to do with non-compliance from Toyota. It's the master window switch recall 12V491. I had to schedule 2 separate appointments for this vehicle at Florence Toyota (Florence, SC), only to have them tell me the first time that they didn't have the part, and the second time that it wasn't covered under "warranty" due to the vehicle having been issued a salvage title. This isn't a warranty issue, rather a safety recall that should be addressed and fully reimbursed by Toyota anyway, so I don't understand the problem? Nothing has happened with the switch, thankfully, in all these years. But they keep sending regular alerts that the recall was issued and that I should make an appointment to have it remedied at no cost.
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that the vehicle jerked while accelerating from a complete stop. Additionally, the vehicle intermittently failed to start, with the ABS warning light displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for repairs, but the failure reoccurred shortly after the repair. The contact stated that while attempting to shift into drive(D), the transmission remained stuck in neutral(N) with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle rolled forward while the vehicle was parked, turned off, with the parking brake engaged. The contact placed trash bins in front of the vehicle to prevent the vehicle from rolling. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure, and the vehicle remained unrepaired. The failure mileage was 127,990.
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, there was a glare coming from the dashboard, making it difficult to see out the windshield while driving. The contact stated that the dashboard was sticky to the touch and sunglasses were needed while driving the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was determined that the dashboard needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to the same dealer for maintenance, and the contact inquired if there was a recall associated with the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 116,995.
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the glare from the melted dashboard impaired visibility while driving. The contact stated that the glare from the melted dashboard was reflecting onto the front windshield. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not inspected. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under the recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact stated that the failure was a known failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.
The HV battery cooling fan on the 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid has no protective filter and no cleaning or inspection interval in Toyota’s published Scheduled Maintenance Guide. Toyota acknowledged this exact problem in TSB T-SB-0087-13 (July 2013) for 2012–2016 Camry HV vehicles, stating the cooling fan ‘may exhibit an excessive buildup of dust, lint, or other debris that can reduce the efficiency of the HV Battery Cooling System.’ However, Toyota excluded the 2007–2011 generation — which has the same unfiltered cooling fan design — from this TSB. My 2009 Camry Hybrid (VIN: [XXX] , 208,000 miles) has now failed with code P0A80, requiring full battery replacement. The failure is consistent with the cooling fan clogging defect Toyota acknowledged for later model years but never addressed for this generation. I am requesting the federal safety agency investigate whether Toyota should extend TSB T-SB-0087-13 or issue a recall covering the 2007–2011 Camry Hybrid. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
While driving my seat squeaks as if the bolts are loose.
Excessive oil consumption, a sticky dash and power window switch
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that the dashboard was sticky, causing a shiny glare on the windshield, preventing the driver from seeing through the windshield. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
The contact owned a 2009 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at approximately 40 MPH, another vehicle ran a stop sign and collided with the drivers front side of the vehicle and the air bags did not deploy as intended. The contact's daughter sustained chest, knee, and right wrist injuries, and she received medical attention. The contact added that the driver's door was not able to open fully after the collision. The fire department arrived, and a police report was filed, but the report number was not available at this time. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot, where it was later deemed totaled. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a complaint was filed. In addition, the contact was told that they could not determine what caused the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
Compare the 2009 Toyota Camry
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Other model years
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Questions about the 2009 Toyota Camry
Is the 2009 Toyota Camry reliable?
Owners have filed 1,294 complaints about the 2009 Toyota Camry, 2.8 times a typical Camry model year. It is one of the years we flag to avoid.
What is the 2009 Toyota Camry year score?
The 2009 Toyota Camry scores 31 out of 100 (poor). The score compares it with the other model years of the Toyota Camry: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2009 Toyota Camry?
Acceleration and speed control, with 266 complaints, typically around 17,000 miles. Next is engine (252).
How many recalls does the 2009 Toyota Camry have?
10 recalls, covering seats, visibility and air bags.
Was there a recall on the 2009 Toyota Camry acceleration?
Yes, 2 recalls: 10V017000, 09V388000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Toyota Camry have the most acceleration problems?
The Toyota Camry model years with the most acceleration complaints are 2007 (511 complaints), 2002 (281 complaints) and 2005 (272 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2009 Toyota Camry get?
Official estimates for the 2009 Toyota Camry range from 23 to 25 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.4L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 21 city and 31 highway.
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