2009 Toyota Camry Exterior lighting Problems

At about 60,000 miles, the turn signal popped out making it unsafe to drive. I had the turn signal replaced, then at about 66,000 miles, the horn quit working and the Airbag light came on. This was not only a safety issue but caused the vehicle to fail state inspection. I contacted Toyota to reimburse me for the expense incurred for replacing the Spiral Cable but they refused based on the reason that the 36000 miles warranty had expired. In my opinion, the issue I faced was due to a faulty Spiral Cable and the 36000 miles warranty clause should not apply. There are other Toyota owners who have reported the same issue to NHTSA. 2009 Toyota Corolla was recalled for the same defect but Camry was not. Based on the complaints I have seen, Camry should have been recalled too.

NHTSA ID

11457779

Incident

Mar 5, 2022

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.

NHTSA ID

11130980

Incident

Sep 24, 2018

MY CAR WAS PARKED AT WORK IN MARCH, 2017. THE VEHICLE NEXT TO ME WAS A BMW SUV. ABOUT ONE HOUR AND FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER THE BMW BURST INTO FLAMES CAUSING FIRE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY FOR THE BMW HAS CLOSED THE CLAIM SAYING THE FIRE WAS NOT INTENTIONAL THEREFORE THEY ARE NOT PAYING ANYTHING FOR MY CLAIM. MY INSURANCE COMPANY IS PAYING FOR REPAIRS TO MY CAR, HOWEVER, I HAVE TO PAY THE DEDUCTIBLE AND COST OF A RENTAL CAR. AFTER THIS HAPPENED I SAW SEVERAL NEWS REPORTS OF BMW'S BURSTING INTO FLAMES AFTER BEING TURNED OFF FOR A WHILE. THEY SAID I WAS 0% AT FAULT (OBVIOUSLY), BUT IT DOES NOT SEEM FAIR THAT I HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING FOR THIS INCIDENT. ALL I DID WAS PARK MY CAR; MY CAR DID NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT. I HOPE YOU WILL CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL SEVERAL INCIDENTS ARE FAR TOO MANY FOR BMW TO IGNORE. THEY CERTAINLY HAVE MORE MONEY THAN I DO. I HAVE PHOTOS, VIDEO, ETC.

NHTSA ID

11002479

Incident

Mar 13, 2017

Mileage

90,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10978532

Incident

Mar 25, 2017

Mileage

87,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10948606

Incident

Jan 25, 2017

Mileage

183,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF THE PARK POSITION WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,500. UPDATED 6/25/15*CN THE STOP LIGHT SWITCH WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 01/27/16.*JB

NHTSA ID

10703310

Incident

Mar 28, 2015

Mileage

26,500 mi

GLARE DUE TO MELTED DASHBOARD CAUSE DELAY REACTION DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY RESULTING IN DOUBLE IMPACT. THE DASHBOARD ISSUE LOOKS TO BE A COSMETIC ISSUE BUT IT REALLY SHOULD BE A RECALL AS IT IS CLEARLY A POOR MANUFACTURING PRODUCT THAT WHEN IN CONTACT WITH THE SUN TURNS INTO A SHINNY STICKY RESIDUE THAT REFLECTS THE DIRECT LIGHT RIGHT INTO DE DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S FACE. TOYOTA SHOULD STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT AND REPLACE THE POORLY DESIGNED DASHBOARDS BEFORE A FATALITY OCCURS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10653595

Incident

Aug 27, 2014

Mileage

77,000 mi

BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC DURING RUSH HOUR; DODGE TRUCK W/TRAILER HITCH STOPPED ON A DIME; I RAN INTO BACK OF TRUCK; BUT THEN MY CAR LUNGED FORWARD ON ITS OWN ACCORD AND I HIT THE TRUCK A SECOND TIME. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND IT LUNGED! CAR IS IN THE SHOP BUT I STILL HAVE NOT FOUND OUT WHAT THE COST OF DAMAGE WILL BE OR THE TIME FRAME FOR REPAIRS. IT HAS LUNGED BEFORE; BUT I HAVE NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BEFORE THIS BECAUSE OF THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10643460

Incident

Oct 3, 2014

Mileage

162,000 mi

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10626200

Incident

Nov 15, 2013

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10618067

Incident

Jul 18, 2014

Mileage

114,306 mi

CONTACT STOP LAMP SWITCH IN BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY FAILED CAUSING SHIFT LEVER TO BECOME LOCKED IN "PARK" POSITION AND VEHICLE BRAKE LIGHTS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. APPEARS TO BE AN IDENTICAL PROBLEM TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 12V091000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10605739

Incident

Mar 27, 2014

Mileage

30,249 mi

2009 TOYOTA CAMRY. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS REPLACEMENT ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEADLIGHT LENS COVERS FADED AND TURNED YELLOW. *JB

NHTSA ID

10596148

Incident

Jun 2, 2014

THE BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS WENT ON, THE SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER STOPPED WORKING. I HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. I HAD THE CAR DIAGNOSED AND THE ELECTRICAL HAS FAILED. I NEED TO CHANGE THE INTERIOR COMPUTER. COST $2,100. *TR

NHTSA ID

10587481

Incident

May 3, 2014

Mileage

26,300 mi

LAST YEAR ON AUGUST 2012, MY CAR STOP RUNNING AND I BROUGHT TO ONE OF THE MECHANIC THAT TOWED AND FIXED MY WATER PUMP. THIS YEAR, I BROUGHT MY CAR TO TOYOTA DEALER FOR SOME RECALLS AND FIND OUT THAT MY ANTIFREEZE IS ENTERED TO MY WATER PUMP AGAIN AND NEED TO REPLACE WITH NEW ONE... TOTAL COST WILL BE MORE THAN 650.00 DOLLARS. I WONDER IF THERE ANY RECALL FOR THIS MATTER BEFORE OR DO I HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM EVERY YEARS!!! PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM. THANKS *TR

NHTSA ID

10521188

Incident

Jun 17, 2013

Mileage

83,720 mi

PARKED CAR IN DRIVEWAY TWO HOURS LATER MY NEIGHBOR TOLD ME MY LIGHTS WERE ON. LIGHT SWITCH WAS OFF COULD NOT GET LIGHTS TO GO OFF. CALLED TOW TRUCK THEY COULD NOT GET LIGHTS TO TURN OFF, SO THEY PULLED THE FUSES FOR THE LIGHTS. THREE HOURS LATER THE HORN STARTED BLOWING,,HAD TO DISCONNECT TO GET IT TO STOP. TOOK INTO TOYOTA DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT, A YEAR AGO. THEY SAID THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A AFTER MARKET ALARM SYSTEM THAT WAS INSTALLED PREVIOUSLY TO MY OWNERSHIP. THEY DISCONNECTED IT, THREE WEEKS LATER SAME THING STARTED HAPPENING, EXCEPT THIS TIME THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. TAKE IT BACK TO TOYOTA AND NOW THEY SAY IT IS AN INTERNAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT MAY CAUSE OTHER PROBLEMS IF NOT FIXED. AROUND $825. *TR

NHTSA ID

10490955

Incident

Dec 1, 2012

Mileage

69,000 mi

2009 TOYOTA CAMRY. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEMS WITH HEADLIGHTS AND UNRESOLVED MATTERS REGARDING VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED IT APPEARED THAT THE HEADLIGHT LENSES WERE NOT CAPABLE OF ACCEPTING HEAT FROM THE BULBS OF THE HEADLIGHTS WHICH CAUSED THE HEADLIGHT LENSES TO MELT.*JB UPDATED 09/29/11.*JB

NHTSA ID

10412694

Incident

Mar 1, 2011

THE DESIGN OF THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE CAMRY IS AWFUL. YOU CANNOT SEE THE OVERHEAD SIGNS ON THE HIGHWAYS AT NIGHT WITHOUT TURNING ON THE BRIGHT LIGHTS WHICH WILL BLIND OTHER ONCOMING CARS. YOU CANNOT EVEN SEE THE STREET SIGNS WITHOUT TURNING ON THE BRIGHT LIGHTS. IT'S LIKE THE TOP OF THE LIGHTS ARE CUT OFF. THE DEALER SAID THE LIGHTS ARE CORRECT; THEY CHECKED THE AIM AND SAID THAT IS THE WAY THEY ARE MADE. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10286625

Incident

Sep 2, 2009

Mileage

1 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH AT NIGHT, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS DID NOT PRODUCE ENOUGH LIGHT. HE WAS UNABLE TO SEE A GROUP OF PEOPLE STANDING IN THE ROAD, BUT MANAGED TO AVOID A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 16,000. UPDATED 09/11/09 *BF UPDATED 09/15/09.*JB

NHTSA ID

10276494

Incident

Jul 11, 2009

Mileage

16,000 mi