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Toyota Camry HybridModel year report

2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid Problems

Compared with other Toyota Camry Hybrid years

More complaints than typical for this model

68/100 1.5× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with a typical complaint level and no open NHTSA investigation: 2008, 2012

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
118filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
74,750miles, 102 complaints with mileage
Recalls
4campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
34 mpgcombined, 2.4L 4-cyl · hybrid FWD · 33 city / 34 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of this model year write most often about the brakes, especially a sudden loss of power assist where the pedal goes hard and the car takes much longer to stop, usually with a "CHECK VSC SYSTEM" warning and several dashboard lights. A second common theme is a sticky, melting dashboard that becomes highly reflective; complaints also mention sun visors that will not stay up, and a smaller group describes unexpected surging or acceleration. Many of the brake reports come in at higher mileage, while the dashboard complaints appear across a wide mileage range and often in hot climates.

  1. Brakes

    Brake pedal goes hard, warning lights, longer stopping

    • 46 complaints (39%)
    • median 96,500 mi at 6.4 yrs old (44 state mileage)
    • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $3,250 (median of 6 quotes)
    • filed 2012–2021

    Complaints describe a sudden loss of brake assist: the pedal becomes hard or the brakes feel soft, the car takes far longer to stop, and warning lights including "CHECK VSC SYSTEM", ABS, and brake indicators appear. In some cases restarting the car restores normal operation, and several owners say the warning recurred later. Complaints report dealers diagnosing the brake actuator, skid control computer, brake master cylinder, stroke sensor, or an ABS fault, with some repairs not covered or quoted at high cost. Reported from roughly 40,000 to over 160,000 miles, with many reports in the 90,000-140,000 range; some owners link it to cold weather or early-morning starts.

    What to check: Ask for service records on the brake actuator, master cylinder, and ABS components, and have a mechanic scan for stored brake/VSC codes. During a test drive, note whether the pedal feels firm and whether any brake or VSC lights appear.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “This is the 3rd time that my check vsc system has come on. I was driving on the street and came to a light and my brakes locked and I couldn't stop right away. Lucky there was no car in front of me because I would have hit them. I had press hard on the brakes which causes the car to start bucking. This is very dangerous. I am looking to purchase another car because I don't feel safe in this car.”

    NHTSA complaint #10823891, filed 2016-02, 83,000 miles

    “When I driving back yesterday jan 1st 2019 from friends house suddenly the check vsc system turned on and other icons turned on in the car dashboard. I tried to press the brakes at a stop sign and they do not engage or they would engage on a delay, vehicle took long time to stop. It was hard driving back and I was scared of an accident happening even after turning on emergency blinkers on my drive back home. Toyota needs to investigate it as it is a safety issue.”

    NHTSA complaint #11164523, filed 2019-01, 118,368 miles
  2. Body and structure

    Sticky, melting dashboard and windshield glare

    • 12 complaints (10%)
    • median 77,810 mi at 5.5 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2014–2019

    Owners describe the dashboard surface becoming tacky and shiny, to the point that it reflects strongly onto the windshield and makes it hard to see out, particularly in warm weather and sun. Complaints say the material sticks to anything placed on it and that cleaning does not help. Several owners report contacting the dealer or manufacturer and being told the warranty period had passed or that no repair would be offered. Reported from around 30,000 to 110,000 miles, often in hot, sunny climates.

    What to check: Inspect the dash top in daylight for shine, tackiness, or cracks and check for glare across the windshield. Ask whether the dashboard was ever replaced or refinished.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “My dashboard is melting, since it is melting it is causing the dashboard to be really shiney, which is causing a huge reflection on my windshield, which is making it hard to see out. The dashboard is also really sticky from melting, and im also concerned about the airbags because of this.”

    NHTSA complaint #11233757, filed 2019-07, 105,000 miles

    “The dashboard on my Toyota camry is melting leaving a very shining effect that makes it difficult to see due to the glare. I have tried to clean it but nothing works and everthing sticks to it. I understand Toyota is aware of the problem but will not do anythng to repair it.”

    NHTSA complaint #10627556, filed 2014-08, 120,000 miles
  3. Vehicle speed control

    Sudden acceleration or unintended surging

    • 9 complaints (8%)
    • median 40,500 mi at 4.4 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
    • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2010–2018

    Some owners describe the car surging or lunging forward without their foot on the accelerator, sometimes while braking or after selecting drive, and in a few cases the brakes did not slow the vehicle. Complaints report the condition could not be reproduced at the dealer, and one owner notes the floor mat recall had already been performed. Reported from around 13,000 to 107,000 miles, in varied conditions including parking-lot speeds and highway driving.

    Recall 09V388000

    What to check: Confirm the accelerator pedal and floor mat recall work was completed, and make sure the driver's floor mat is the correct retained type. Note any hesitation or surging during a low-speed test drive.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I am driving our 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid which my husband and I purchased new. I was approaching the city of anacortes wa. I had been driving on sr 20 which goes from 55mph to 35 MPH and from two lanes to one.I am approaching a light I have my foot on the brake when suddenly my car accelerated as if I had floored it, hitting a pickup truck in front of me. Upon impact it moved forward and then with my foot still on the brake I hit it again. I have no idea how fast I was going but for that brief time I felt as if I was in a rocket. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10703014, filed 2015-03, 56,658 miles

    “2009 Toyota camry while on the state highway I set the cruise control to 70 MPH, during the exit of the highway on my way home I stopped at a stop sign in back of others cars, switch the car on neutral while looking for some documents on my briefcase, when the light changed to green once again the transmission was switch to the drive position and without touching the accelerator pedal there was uncontrolled sudden acceleration incident of the car, and the tires start squealing, brake were depressed hard but the vehicle would not slow down …”

    NHTSA complaint #10463004, filed 2012-06, 38,500 miles
  4. Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

    Sun visor will not stay in the up position

    • 7 complaints (6%)
    • median 75,000 mi at 5.9 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2013–2019

    Owners report the driver-side sun visor gradually losing the ability to stay up and eventually hanging down in the field of view while driving. Complaints describe it as a long-standing annoyance that worsens over time, with dealers contacted without a resolution in some cases. Reported from about 40,000 to 100,000 miles, with owners noting the visor weakened over several years.

    What to check: Fold both visors up and down and check whether they hold position. Replacement visors are a relatively simple part to source.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Sunvisor is not holding up. After contacting several of Toyota dealerships with no avail I am finally complaining. I have noticed that there are many other Toyota customers who have had similar issues with camry and camry hybrids sunvisors in models 2007-2011. Many thanks”

    NHTSA complaint #10629948, filed 2014-09, 37,000 miles

    “Melting dashboard and driver's side visor does not stay up. The melting dash causes a glare on the windshield causing visibility to be obstucted. I was told that I missed the warranty period but have never been sent anything about this problem.”

    NHTSA complaint #11230204, filed 2019-07, 100,120 miles

Buying note. Have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the brake system and stored brake/VSC codes, since brake-assist complaints are the most common theme here, and check the dashboard and visors for wear. Confirm that open recalls, particularly the power window switch and accelerator pedal campaigns, were completed.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 118 consumer complaints for the 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid. 102 of the complaints include a mileage, and 31% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 74,750 miles. Of all complaints, 10 involved a crash, 3 a fire, 4 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 272 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 5 Toyota Camry Hybrid model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 68 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (more complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Engine cooling (2), Latches, locks and linkages (2), Transmission and drivetrain (2), Wheels (2), Exterior lighting (1), Seats (1), Suspension (1), Tires (1).

Example complaints

Brakes: “I was driving on the interstate (395n into dc) and the car's brakes failed. The car immediately displayed vehicle control system (vcs) failure and a number of other warnings. I was forced to swerve out of traffic and to utilize the emergency brake to stop the car.”

NHTSA complaint #11171527, filed 2019-01, 163,000 miles

Vehicle speed control: “In the five years I have owned the car, four times it has accelerated rapidly for no reason. The car just jumps forward by 5 or 6 feet. The last time, I was parking the car, with my foot barely on the accelerator. It suddenly leaped forward. I would have hit a pedestrian on the sidewalk, except that the car got stuck on a snowbank. I have reported these incidents to Toyota, which investigated and said there was nothing wrong with the car.”

NHTSA complaint #10595992, filed 2014-06, 50,000 miles

Body and structure: “Re: TSB-l-sb-0144-11 sticky/melting dashboard the car is 6 months beyond the date of the warranty enhancement period. Since the condition of shiny stickiness of the dashboard did not come to my attention until after the enhancement period, I believe that I am nevertheless entitled to the repair of the dashboard by Toyota and that coverage should be also extended to the replacement of certain ancillary parts related to the replacement that might be damaged as a result of the warranty repair. …”

NHTSA complaint #11231368, filed 2019-07, 47,000 miles

Electronic stability control: “I have 2 complaints. 1) I was driving in local traffic when 5 warning lights appeared: master warning light, brake warning light, electronically controlled brake warning, ABS, slip indicator. I was surprised but my brakes continued to work on the drive home & to the dealership the next day. The lights never went off (some other owners have reported the lights go on & off). I do not have cold weather conditions (50s in dec). …”

NHTSA complaint #10662236, filed 2014-12, 128,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

31% of the 102 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 45,757 and 112,000 miles.

6%0–103%10–2523%25–5019%50–7513%75–10026%100–15011%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (102 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 74,750 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

20102012201435201620182021
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Camry Hybrid · sedan FWDnot rated5 / 5———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Camry Hybrid FWD2.4L 4-cyl · hybridCVT333434$1,950

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 272 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 272 bulletins →

Other model years of the Toyota Camry Hybrid

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20261455,00035—Too new to compareToo new
20251758,52065—Too new to compareToo new
20218—1552—Not enough data
20209115,0002552—Not enough data
2019117,0002552—Not enough data
2018287,600055223 · FewerFalling
201758,4001540—Not enough data
2016529,0001540—Not enough data
20151553,0000540—Rising
20142523,1101—4032 · FewerStable
2013277,0501—4034 · FewerStable
20125527,0001—4062 · TypicalStable
20112360,0002—33—Falling
201010120,0002—34—Not enough data
200911874,7504—3468 · MoreFalling
200816273,7002—3462 · TypicalStable
200760295,0003—34Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Toyota Camry Hybrid model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid?

Owners of this model year write most often about the brakes, especially a sudden loss of power assist where the pedal goes hard and the car takes much longer to stop, usually with a "CHECK VSC SYSTEM" warning and several dashboard lights. The issues reported most often: Brake pedal goes hard, warning lights, longer stopping; Sticky, melting dashboard and windshield glare; Sudden acceleration or unintended surging.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid have?

NHTSA recorded 118 consumer complaints for the 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid as of Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid is reported most often?

Brakes is named most often, in 59 complaints (50% of the total), followed by vehicle speed control with 19.

Has the 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid been recalled?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid get?

The EPA rates the 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid (Camry Hybrid, 2.4L 4-cyl · hybrid) at 34 mpg combined, 33 city and 34 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,950 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid reported?

Among the 102 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 74,750 miles and the middle half falls between 45,757 and 112,000 miles; 31% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.