2009 Toyota Camry: headlights failing or too dim

Filed Jan 1, 2024 · CA

I am not complaining about my vehicle, but about the many vehicles on the road today with headlights that are not focused enough, or just TOO BRIGHT. Especially vehicles like pickup trucks that have headlights mounted at about the same height as my windshield and rear window. These vehicles headlights are so bright that they hit all my mirrors and blind me at night from behind. In addition many newer vehicles with "modern style" extra bright and auto dimming headlights as oncoming traffic also blind me to the point where I cannot safely see the road ahead. I appreciate that seeing ahead is important, but with oncoming traffic it is also important that I can see ahead safely as well. Thank You.

Filed May 3, 2022 · Acceleration, Brakes · VA

The BRAKE & ABS lights started coming on although there was no apparent problem. Then, when those lights illuminate on the instrument panel, the speedometer & tachometer stop working. Often, the needles will bounce or they will just set at zero. This can occur at any speed & on all road conditions. This does not affect cruise control in anyway. I can set & stop the cruise control at any time. Eventually, it starts working again but it is totally random. Now, the Air Conditioning stops working when the ABS & BRAKE lights are on. The High Beam instrument panel lights are also affected. The headlights work but the instrument panel does not always reflect this or it shows that High Beams are on when they are not & vice versa. My mechanic could not identify the source of the problem. My research shows that the ABS Module is defective & the problem occurs in 2007-2009 Camrys. Apparently, this problem can be bypassed by disengaging the ABS Module, but obviously, that creates other issues. I have video of this activity but I am unable to upload it here.

Filed Jul 31, 2020 · PA

The dashboard of the car is melting and is very shiny and sticky. When the sun or headlights hit the windshield it is blinding and I can't see. I have tried to clean it with hot soapy water, as I was instructed, but it will not come off.

Filed Sep 24, 2018 · Lights · WI

I own a 2009 toyota camry which I purchased new. I noticed that my headlights in the low beam function are very dim, to the point of being dangerously dim. The toyota dealer stated that the lens in the headlight housing has clouded due to uv damage and use. The light bulb itself functions perfectly fine, but the lens engineered to magnify the low-beam light is what is causing the decrease of visible light. I stated that I also own a 2003 toyota camry that has no problems with the headlights and it provides enough light. The solution is to replace both light housings to the tune of $400.00 each. The service manager said this is a regular operating expense, like replacing the alternator. With labor, this expense will be closer to $1000.00 instead of changing two headlamps for $30.00 each. It seems to me that this technology doesn't work, and is dangerous. These headlights are still being used on new toyota models.

Filed Apr 14, 2017 · Body, Lights · 87,000 miles · VA

My trunk is leaking on the right side during heavy downpours. I went to get our fabric shopping bags from the trunk and they were soaked. The car is smelling musty, not great for my sinuses and asthma. Headlight seal is allowing moisture to enter or the plastic has become porous. During a recent inspection, the headlights did not pass. We paid the gas station $32 to clean and polish the headlights to pass inspection. They looked great afterwards and passed inspection. Then my husband took the car to the car wash. Now the headlight casing is clouded again. I can see the soap drippings from the carwash on the inside of the plastic. The car is parked on the street or in a driveway, since we don't have a garage. The vehicle was stationary.

Filed Jan 31, 2017 · Lights · 183,000 miles · TN

Both headlights on my car on the dim lights the mirror that reflects light has fell down and covered the lens half way and my mechanic told me if I don't replace the whole headlight it could cover the whole light dim and bright lights if I put them on dim you can't see at all I almost wrecked.

Filed Sep 18, 2015 · Electrical · 35,000 miles · IN

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 toyota camry. The contact stated that the headlights failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was informed that the heat caused the headlight lens and plastic covering to soften and scratch causing the headlights cover to become cloudy. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 35,000.

Filed Feb 1, 2015 · Body, Driver assistance · 74,000 miles · MS · crash · 1 injury

My 2009 camry dashboard is melting. The leather console between seats has cracked.the electrical system keeps shorting out. All cigarette lighters/charger locations have shorted out including the aux. A week after buying my car the safety feature to lock place mat in place broke. Nearly causing a car wreck as the place mat lodged in between the gas and brake. The radio, location where speedometer, clock, and service lights locations are fogged up and getting worse daily. When I took my car to the dealership about the dashboard I was told,"it was my fault. Probably caused by a cleaning product." which I knew was entirely not true. Cigarette lighter covers have dry rot and broken, plastic/leather has dry rot under all 4 windows leaving scratch looking marks, dry rot paint by stick shift is peeling. Headlights fog up easily with water in them. I was in a car wreck a couple of years ago.when I was going about 10 MPH and a vehicle ran the red light hitting the right side of vehicles front area. They were going at least 45 MPH. No airbag deployed. Underneath front of car is a plastic piece that keeps falling down. Some days I am unable to take car out of park unless I turn the wheel,"hard". I have never received anything via mail about any recalls on my vehicle. I still live at the same address! Took car to dealer again about front passenger window and driver side window not being able to roll down or up windows. I had to pay quite a bit of money to have fixed. Passenger window switch is broken and still is just like drivers side was. Was told" it was most likely because someone tried to break into my car." which I knew was not the case. I am very disgusted and considering filing a lawsuit against toyota. I bought a lemon car! I keep my oil changes up to date, fluids, filters, etc.I have never felt so disappointed in a vehicle purchase in my life. I'd like a full refund.

Filed Aug 18, 2014 · Body, Lights · FL

Paint is fading in areas, some areas looks like there is no paint color left at all. Headlamps have had to be restored twice in less than 4 years. Dashboard is sticky, small pieces/chunks are coming off, at times the sun shade sticks to the dashboard.

Filed Aug 1, 2014 · Electrical, Lights · 114,306 miles · FL

On july 18, 2014 while traveling out of town, I smelled a burning while driving on the interstate. Pull over at the next rest stop to look the car over and I notice the headlight cover had burned. On july 22, 2014, back in town, I took the car to toyota dealership and was informed that 51 previous bulb melted and discolored headlight housing. Please note that the bulb was replaced at the dealership two months ago. I was also advised that no light is escaping from housing which may cause it to overheat over a period of time and estimate cost to replace housing - $499.75 (includes all labor and taxes). My concern is that this bulb melted and cause a burn on the headlight cover, this is a defect and consumers should not be paying for a defective part that cost almost $500.00. This requires the complete housing to be replaced and not the cover nor does it repair the problem since this can happen again.

Filed Jun 21, 2014 · Seat belts · FL

Ignore the seat belts above I had to put a date and something to get this to go through. I am just complaining about my dashboard being so sticky that when lay something on it and lift it up it pulls part of the dashboard up with it. I am also complaining about the headlights. They are so yellow and I can get it fixed for around $100. Are they just trying to make money to fix these things. I have had three toyotas and never ever had these problems. Toyota won't do a recall for these. I won't buy anymore of them.

Filed Jun 9, 2014 · Lights · NC

2009 toyota camry. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle headlights replacement issues. *smd the consumer stated the headlight lens covers faded and turned yellow.