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Toyota Camry headlights problems

218 of the 17,932 owner complaints about the Toyota Camry describe headlights failing or too dim, most of them for the 2007 model year.

owner complaints
218
worst model year
2007
typical repair cost reported
$1,000
typical mileage
49,000
Is there a fix? There are 2 recalls for this area of the car. See below

By model year

What owners say

Filed Nov 3, 2026 · Visibility · AL

Car just recently reached 60k miles. For the past 2 weeks or so, the windshield wipers will activate without user input. One time it happened while accelerating from a stopped state, another time when activating car headlights. Last time they activated they did so at the max setting available and did not stop until I had to "override" by activating the on-demand wipers. Worried it might damage vehicle or cause an accident.

Filed Oct 4, 2026 · Lights · NJ

I am reporting a serious nighttime visibility and roadway-safety concern involving excessive glare from modern LED headlights while driving my 2003 Toyota Camry. When vehicles equipped with extremely bright LED headlights approach from the opposite direction or follow behind me, the glare can temporarily impair my vision and make it difficult to see the roadway, lane markings, pedestrians, hazards, and other vehicles. The effect is especially severe when the headlights are very high intensity, have a high color temperature, or are mounted on taller vehicles such as SUVs and trucks. This is not simply a complaint about brightness or personal preference. The glare creates periods of significantly reduced visibility while I am actively operating the vehicle. At nighttime driving speeds, even a brief loss of clear forward vision presents a meaningful safety risk.My 2003 Toyota Camry was designed in an era when vehicle lighting was substantially different from today's increasingly common high-output LED systems. I am concerned that current federal lighting standards and testing procedures do not adequately account for the real-world glare experienced by drivers of older, lower vehicles. I ask the federal safety agency to investigate whether current headlamp standards adequately control glare from modern LED lighting, including headlamp intensity, color temperature, aiming, mounting height, and the effects on drivers of lower/older vehicles. I also ask whether existing testing accurately reflects real-world nighttime conditions. The purpose of this complaint is to bring attention to a growing safety issue: lighting intended to improve one driver's visibility can, when excessively glaring to others, reduce another driver's ability to see the road safely.

Filed Jul 15, 2026 · Body · 108,000 miles · TN

The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that the dashboard was shiny. The contact was unable to drive due to the reflection from the sun. While driving at night, the headlights from other vehicles caused a glare, making it difficult to drive the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was contacted and referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the Warranty Enhancement Program (ZE6) had expired. The contact was referred to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.

Filed May 26, 2026 · CA · crash · 1 injury

On Friday, December 5, 2025, I was coming out of the driveway at the Jack In The Box on the corner of El Camino & Nobili Avenue in Santa Clara. My foot was on the break as I was going to stop at the end of the driveway to check to see if there was any traffic coming down Nobili before I exited the Jack In The Box driveway. All of a sudden before I even hit the end of the driveway while I had my foot on the brake, the car started to speed up (unintentional acceleration)and I continued to press my foot down harder on the brake, but nothing could stop it. A lot of black smoke came up out of the steering wheel area where it attached to the dashboard & all of the air bags around the car deployed. Then my car completely turned itself around and the front of my car was now facing the driveway that I had just come out of. This torque of acceleration and braking is why my car spun around 180 degrees. The vehicle had sustained damage to the front end, the hood, front bumper cover, right front head lamp was cracked, and the Toyota emblem was missing. (See attached photos taken at the time of the accident) Since all of the air bags in the whole car had completely deployed, I found that the only way I could get out of the car was to slide myself under the air bag that surrounded the driver side door. As I got out of the car, the rib that is directly under my right breast began to hurt very badly and it was hard for me to take a breath with the pain from that rib. I also had a bad headache, too. Plus, the top of my left hand was all red and felt like something had scratched the whole back of my hand. It hurt to touch it. I was also light-headed.The car, I was told, looked like I had hit a wall. The whole left front side of the car was severely mangled - the hood, the fender, and the tire was flat. The shocking thing was that I had not had an encounter with any car, nor had they hit me, to account for this damage.The Police & Fire Dept.& EMT's were called.

Filed Mar 30, 2026 · Engine, Lights · CA

Vehicle runs low of engine oil quickly. I've gotten oil changes by dealer and always explain i have to purchase oil every 3 weeks to top off. Was told its a leak but I never see oil on the ground where I park.Its been like this since I've purchased the vehicle. The headlights are not bright no matter if i change the bulb or the actual headlight

Filed Mar 16, 2026 · CA

purchased a 2017 Toyota Camry from CarMax in Ontario, CA, with a $12,000 down payment. I chose this vehicle for its reliability and fuel efficiency. After the first week, I noticed poor gas mileage—only 17 mpg. CarMax checked it but found no issues. On September 25th, 2024, I purchased another 2017 Camry with 81,000 miles. After a short test drive, I noted squeaky brakes, a burned-out headlight, and a small windshield chip. CarMax replaced the bulb and promised to address the brakes and chip. However, a few months later, I saw the mileage increasing faster than I was driving, despite maintenance like oil changes, spark plugs, and tire replacements. I am now facing significant financial strain, as I relied on CarMax to provide a trustworthy, economical vehicle. This discrepancy in mileage is unlawful, and I trusted CarMax to deliver a car in good faith. I ask for immediate investigation and resolution to this matter."

Filed Feb 19, 2026 · AZ

The "incident" is not a fault or flaw of my car in any way, but rather is caused by the auto industry's general shift to LED/HID headlights. In my opinion, they make driving unsafe for external observers because they are too bright and create a lot of glare, so that keeping my eyes focused and perceptive of features I need to see in the road directly ahead of me is becoming increasingly difficult, and therefore, by definition, more unsafe. Technology must be improved so that headlights can alter spectral output according to background illumination (dimmer means cooler,) and light output should have finer, adaptive directional control so that more light gets to objects in front that need to be illuminated, and less to oncoming drivers whose visual contrast range may be overwhelmed. I'm [XXX] , and I have the beginnings of cataracts. Older, halogen-based headlights don't interfere much with my vision, but modern headlights do, and quite badly so. This has to improve! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Dec 1, 2025 · Lights · NJ

The headlights do not project far enough down the road making it difficult to see at night. It almost appears as if the headlights are pointing down. This is a hugh safety issue. I brought my car in to the dealer and was told that my headlights match all other 2024 camry's and there is nothing that can be done unless Toyota issues a safety recall. I have researched this issue and found many complaints online.

Filed Oct 30, 2025 · NC

I got my license back last Thursday. I had noticed before I started driving how shiny and sticky the dash area was/is. I was already thinking of having it covered. Since Thursday, twice, I have been driving after dark, and lights reflecting off of the shine of the dash nearly blinded me. Tonight, I almost lost control and ran off the road. I have discoved that this was an issue with several years and models of your vehicles. I am a 53 year old disabled American single woman. I have no help, no money and too much stress. This issue not only adds stress, but has also endangered my health and the health of other motorists. I do not know if you did anything to fix these issues, but obviously, the previous owner did not care about the dangers, I DO.PLEASE contact me ASAP and tell me when and how Toyota will fix this dangerous model defect. I do not want the flaw to cause an accident and I can tell, IT WILL! Calli Atwell [XXX] I just got my liscense back last Thursday. Since I have been driving, twice, headlights reflecting off of the shiny sticky dashboard has nearly blinded me...it is a problem every time a light hits it. Tonight, I nearly lost control and was forced to run off the shoulder, rather than swerve into the other lane! It was scary and dangerous, not just to me, but also to other drivers. I know this was recalled, obviously the last owner didn't care about the dangers, Ido! I am a [XXX] , disabled woman with no money nor help. Please contact me ASAP REGARDING FIXING THIS DANGEROUS HEALTH RISK. CALLI ATWELL By the way,just Googled, there was even a recall! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Sep 19, 2025 · Driver assistance · PA

Front rear camera has failed. multiple codes pop up including headlight system malfunction, LDA malfunction, Pre-collision malfunction. Codes pop up after clearing cant see digital speedometer. Confirmed by dealer camera needs replaced. Costs are over 2,000 USD.

Related recalls

Exterior lighting: brake lights: switchReported March 7, 2012 · 186,798 vehicles affected
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 vehicle’s 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

Exterior lighting: tail lightsReported February 20, 1996 · 756 vehicles affected
What is wrong
The plastic material of the bulb holders of the rear tail light assembly does not have sufficient heat resistance. When the bulb is illuminated, the resulting high temperature can cause the bulb holder to deform.
Risk
As the bulb holder deforms, the bulb can lose electrical contact, resulting in an inoperative lamp, increasing the risk of a vehicle accident.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the rear combination lamp bulb holder to see if it is the defective material. The defective bulb holder together with the wiring harness will be replaced with a correct bulb holder and harness.

Recall number 96V037000 · Recall details

Questions about the Toyota Camry headlights

Which Toyota Camry years have headlights failing or too dim problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2007 (23 complaints), 1998 (16 complaints) and 2009 (16 complaints).

How much does it cost to fix headlights failing or too dim on the Toyota Camry?

Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $1,000 (median of 18 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.

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