2009 Toyota Camry Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2009 Camry most often describe a melting, sticky dashboard that produces a blinding glare on the windshield, and excessive engine oil consumption with no visible leaks. Complaints also cover power-brake and ABS/VSC warnings that reduce braking assist, and a smaller group of body and accessory failures such as door handles and sun visors. Many of these reports come in at moderate to high mileage, though the dashboard problem appears across a wide mileage range, including very low-mileage cars.

1. 1
   Body and structure

   Melting, sticky dashboard and windshield glare

   • 257 complaints (20%)
   • median 65,000 mi at 6.1 yrs old (146 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,500 (median of 11 quotes)
   • filed 2013–2026

   Complaints describe the dashboard surface becoming soft, sticky and shiny, often after years of sun exposure and heat, to the point that cleaners and fingers stick to it. Owners say the glossy surface throws a bright reflection onto the windshield during daytime driving, making it hard to see the road, and some report cracking or a strong odor. Several owners state that a dealer or manufacturer campaign (referenced as ZE6 or a temporary dash replacement program) either had expired or was not applied to their vehicle, and that they were told the repair was not covered. Reported from very low mileage (under 25,000 miles) up to about 150,000 miles, most commonly on cars kept outside in hot, sunny climates.

   What to check: Inspect the top of the dashboard in bright sunlight for stickiness, shine, cracks or a tacky residue, and note whether the windshield reflects badly. Ask the seller whether the dashboard campaign (ZE6) was ever performed on this VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have just purchased this vehicle for my daughter. The dashboard is very sticky and seems to stay that way. I have other complaints on here as well. I believe there has been a recall on this but the date to repair has expired? Is there anyway I can get this issue resolved? Thank you very much.”

   NHTSA complaint #11317118, filed 2020-03, 144,000 miles

   “My dashboard is melting. The glue is oozing through the top and now restricts my forward visibility when driving during the day. It is very sticky/reflective and I am concerned that now I cannot see all objects in front of me. If the sun is at the right angle it is blinding.”

   NHTSA complaint #11338656, filed 2020-07, 80,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Excessive engine oil consumption

   • 193 complaints (15%)
   • median 98,191 mi at 7.9 yrs old (124 state mileage)
   • 12 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,750 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 2009–2026

   Owners report the engine using large amounts of oil between changes, sometimes a quart every few hundred to a thousand miles, with no drips or stains under the car. Many describe blue-gray smoke at startup after the car sits overnight, and some say the oil pressure light came on with the level very low, leading to diagnoses of worn piston rings and, in a few cases, engine replacement. Owners report that dealers either performed an oil consumption test, cited a warranty enhancement program (referenced as ZE7), or said the vehicle was out of coverage. Mostly reported between roughly 60,000 and 160,000 miles, though a few complaints note it as low as 45,000 miles; often noticed at startup or during routine checks.

   What to check: Check the oil level and condition before and after a test drive, look for smoke at cold startup, and ask for service records showing oil consumption tests or any engine work under the ZE7 program.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “All engine services were done always in toyotas center, now car is 154329 km(95,895miles) and I started to check oil by myself in the last year and I noticed excessive motor oil consumption. Actually I need to add 1qt oil every 3 weeks (1 qt every 350 miles aproximately). The motor is not dripping the oil on the floor, so it must be going somewhere.”

   NHTSA complaint #11308701, filed 2020-02, 90,000 miles

   “Excessive oil consumption started in 2016 & it is getting worse. Adding a bottle of engine oil twice a month. My car only has 103k miles and is 2009. I bought it brand new & is in great condition. The dealership won't do anything about this issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #11300752, filed 2020-01, 82,000 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Reduced power braking with ABS/VSC warnings

   • 256 complaints (20%)
   • median 28,000 mi at 1.8 yrs old (222 state mileage)
   • 59 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,016 (median of 16 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2026

   Complaints describe the ABS, VSC and brake warning lights coming on, sometimes with a continuous chime, and the brake pedal becoming hard to press so much more effort is needed to slow the car. Some owners report the speedometer and tachometer dropping out or the air conditioning stopping at the same time, and one owner links the symptom to the brake actuator assembly. A few say the actuator was replaced once and the warnings returned. Typically reported between about 100,000 and 150,000 miles, often appearing suddenly while driving.

   What to check: With the car running, confirm no ABS, VSC or brake lights stay on and that the pedal feels normal; ask whether the brake actuator or ABS system has been replaced and request related service records.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vsc warning appeared on dashboard. Abs warning light and ps light is on too. I had the ABS actuator replaced in february 2019 when the vsc warning first appeared. I am having the same issue plus the power steering warning light. Vehicle was parked at the store, when I returned to my car and turned car on, the lights started flashing and will not turn off.”

   NHTSA complaint #11366775, filed 2020-10, 148,768 miles

   “While driving, my brakes have gone out (as in I have no brakes) several times intermittently. At the same time my (ABS, check vsc system) light illuminate and my brake light is always illuminated. I very carefully drove it home and was forced to purchase another vehicle until I can figure out what to fix.”

   NHTSA complaint #11317355, filed 2020-03, 213,799 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Engine stalling, misfire and coolant loss

   • 60 complaints (5%)
   • median 70,000 mi at 5.8 yrs old (53 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2025

   Some owners report the check engine light staying on, a burning oil smell inside the cabin, and the engine stalling, with a dealer diagnosing excessive oil consumption. Others describe sudden shuddering at highway speed with the oil pressure light on, or a heater that stopped working because the coolant reservoir ran empty with no visible leak, leading to a diagnosis involving the engine. Reported from about 45,000 to 200,000 miles, with several cases above 100,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Scan for stored engine codes, check the coolant level and look for residue around the water pump, and ask whether the water pump has been inspected or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving, on braking, the vehicle started making a grinding/rubbing noise appearing to come from the front passenger side of the vehicle. The noise seemed as if the vehicle engine/motor was going to seize up or something would break inside. Slowly took it to a local tire kingdom repair shop who would not do anything once they started the vehicle and were alarmed by the engine noise. Advised to take it to an engine repair shop. Slowly, cautiously drove home and parked. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11408685, filed 2021-04, 196,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Camry. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle started shuddering. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled to the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure persisted upon restarting the vehicle. The oil pressure warning light was illuminated. The contact checked the oil level and noticed that there was no oil in the engine. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11513991, filed 2023-03, 104,000 miles

Buying note. Given the dashboard glare reports, inspect the dash in direct sun and confirm any campaign work was done, and treat oil consumption as the main mechanical item by checking the dipstick and startup smoke. A pre-purchase inspection that scans for codes and checks the brake system is worthwhile on a car of this age.

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.