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.
Toyota Camry wipers problems
71 of the 17,932 owner complaints about the Toyota Camry describe windshield wiper failure, most of them for the 2018 model year.
- owner complaints
- 71
- worst model year
- 2018
- typical mileage
- 34,000
Is there a fix? There are 3 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
Often reported together
Headlights 6Windshield crack 2Stalling 2Loss of power 2Lane assist 2Fire or smoke 2Door locks 2Grinding brakes 2
What owners say
The windshield wipers are too slow in heavy rain. It is impossible to see in front of you and can cause wrecks.
Wipers are turning on without me doing it. I took it to the dealer and they cannot see nothing I was told that there are no recalls, but I herd of at lest another Camry with the same issue.
We bought our 2023 Camry brand new off the lot and had no idea until the first rainstorm we were in that there was an issue with the wiper motor. Anytime there is moderate to hard rainfall and we turn the wipers on high they run at a low speed causing poor to no visibility. We have to pull over every time wait out the rain. We’ve mentioned our concern many times to the dealership where we have our Toyotas serviced and they just tell us they don’t see a recall for this problem. This is incredibly dangerous and hazardous and it needs to be fixed - we just don’t know how to go about it at this point.
My 2019 Toyota Camry LE has just started about 2 weeks ago. My windshield wipers go on by itself. I have seen a recall on this exact point but now can't find it now. A short somewhere.
My wife was on the interstate and was caught in a storm. She turned on the wipers and slowed down to a crawl. The wipers barely worked in a thunderstorm and they were on high. She couldn't see anything and I had to pull off because visibility was zero. The wipers were very slow on high and it can cause a serious accident especially on a interstate and ur in traffic and going speed limit. The car was just bought brand new and only in my possession and 2 months. Be careful out there.
The engine quit running whenever the headlights, turn signals, or wipers were turned on. This was obviously a serious safety problem when driving! It began intermittently on 6/30/25, but it became a consistent problem by 7/7/25, so I took the car to the closest Toyota Dealership for evaluation. I can provide their service report to you if requested. It took them 6 hours and $1000 to diagnose the problem as bad electrical grounding points (high resistance), which were only revealed after they removed the front bumper. In my opinion, it is an unsafe design to have poor grounding for headlights cause the engine to die.
The wiper doesn’t operate fast enough in the fastest setting to move the rain from the drivers view in heavy rain. Driver is forced to reduce speed to 40 mph which is dangerous on an interstate. Also, the passenger side wiper pushes the water from 3/4 of the windshield into the drivers view. This is widely discussed on Toyota forums but no motor upgrade is offered that make the wipers move faster. Florida storms require faster settings to see vehicles and the roadway.
i live in Florida. We get a lot of rain. My Toyota Camry 2018 is unsafe and actualy dangerous to drive in the rain as the wiper speed, even on high, is too slow. Most of the time I HAVE TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDEOF THE ROAD AND HOPE THAT NO ONE CRASHES INTO ME. THIS Iis EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THE DEALERS ARE ALL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. WHY HASNT THERE BEEN A RE-CALL TO FIX THIS? THANK-YOU.
The speed of the windshield wipers is drastically slower than any other vehicle that I have ever driven, and I have no visibility during heavy rain. It is extremely dangerous for long Southeast Texas commutes.
Related recalls
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
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: switch/wiring
- What is wrong
- Toyota Motor Engineering & manufacturing North America, Inc. (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Camry and Camry HV, model year 2013 Avalon and Avalon HV and model year 2014 Corolla vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the windshield wiper switch assembly may short circuit. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard, No. 104, "Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems."
- Risk
- A short circuit could cause inoperative windshield wipers, reducing driver visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wiper switch assembly, free of charge. The recall began on November 8, 2013. Owners may contact Toyota at 1‑800‑331‑4331.
Recall number 13V505000 · 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
Questions about the Toyota Camry wipers
Which Toyota Camry years have windshield wiper failure problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2018 (11 complaints), 2009 (8 complaints) and 1996 (4 complaints).
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