2011 Toyota Camry

The contact's wife owns a 2011 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the sun was reflecting off the dashboard, which caused a glare onto the windshield. The glare obstructed the driver's vision and caused a dangerous driving condition. The dashboard became sticky, and there were bubbles on the dashboard from the damage caused by the sun. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that a TSB associated with the failure had expired. The contact was provided a case number. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 37,000.

NHTSA ID

11755875

Incident

Apr 1, 2026

Mileage

37,000 mi

My son and daughter were involved in a really bad car accident and the air bags on my son side which was driver side of the vehicle and he smashed his left side of his face off the seat belt compartment. All other air bags seemed to deploy normally except for the driver side canopy type airbag that should have come out. But failed and my sons jaw in out of place.

NHTSA ID

11748304

Incident

Jun 24, 2026

I am submitting this complaint to report a serious safety hazard involving my 2011 Toyota Camry. The vehicle's dashboard has deteriorated and is melting, creating a sticky surface that reflects sunlight onto the windshield and significantly impairs visibility while driving. The dashboard continuously emits a residue that transfers to the windshield, making it difficult to keep the glass clear and further reducing visibility. The resulting glare can be severe, especially during daylight hours, creating dangerous driving conditions and increasing the risk of an accident. I understand that Toyota previously acknowledged this defect and offered a customer support program for affected vehicles. However, Toyota has denied assistance because it claims I missed a deadline for repairs. I never received any notification regarding the program or any deadline. As a result, the safety hazard remains uncorrected. This issue is not cosmetic. The melting dashboard directly affects the driver's ability to see the roadway clearly and safely operate the vehicle. The condition continues to worsen over time and presents an ongoing risk to vehicle occupants, pedestrians, and other motorists. I respectfully request that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration review this matter and determine whether additional action is warranted to address this known safety-related defect. I believe affected vehicle owners who did not receive notice of the repair program should not be left with an unresolved safety hazard that compromises safe vehicle operation.

NHTSA ID

11745519

Incident

May 5, 2024

I am reporting a safety issue with my 2011 Toyota Camry. The dashboard (instrument panel) has significantly melted and degraded due to heat exposure, creating a sticky and highly reflective surface. This condition causes sunlight to reflect off the dashboard and into the windshield, creating glare that interferes with driver visibility. This directly affects my ability to see the road safely, especially during daytime driving. This appears to be a known defect affecting similar Toyota vehicles. I was never notified of any extended coverage or repair program before it expired. When I contacted Toyota, I was told no goodwill assistance would be provided and no help is available, leaving me with a potentially unsafe vehicle and no reasonable repair option. I am concerned this is a widespread material defect that creates a driving hazard by reducing visibility due to glare and distracting reflections. I am requesting that this issue be reviewed for potential investigation or manufacturer action.

NHTSA ID

11745356

Incident

May 5, 2024

The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the sun was reflecting on the dashboard, causing a glare on the windshield, which obstructed the driver's vision. The dashboard was disintegrating and was bubbling. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that a recall for the failure had expired. There was no assistance provided. The vehicle was not repaired; however, the dealer was awaiting the part to arrive to repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that a TSB associated with the failure had expired, and no additional assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 104,000.

NHTSA ID

11725542

Incident

Dec 8, 2025

Mileage

104,000 mi

Upon looking to purchase another vehicle I ran the vin on my 2011 Toyota camry and noticed when looking at NHTSA it showed an incident that someone reported under my vin number, So I figured I would try vin # with 0 (zero) instead and nothing came up. So now I'm wondering what's going on with vin #? Is it possible for 2 toyotas to have same vin?

NHTSA ID

11720689

Incident

Jan 26, 2026

Dear NHTSA Investigators, I am writing to formally report what I believe is a significant safety defect in certain 2007–2011 Toyota Camry vehicles, specifically related to excessive engine oil consumption in models equipped with the 2AZ-FE 2.4L four-cylinder engine (primarily 2007–2009, with some reports extending to later years). This issue causes the engine to burn oil at an abnormally high rate—often 1 quart or more every few hundred to 1,200 miles—without any visible external leaks. Owners frequently report no adequate warning from the dashboard oil light or other indicators before the oil level drops critically low. If the engine runs out of oil while driving, it can lead to rapid overheating, internal component damage (such as scored bearings or cylinder walls), and sudden engine seizure or catastrophic failure. Such a failure while the vehicle is in motion poses a serious safety risk, including: potential for crashes, including rear-end collisions if the vehicle stops abruptly without warning, or veering into other lanes/obstacles. Sudden loss of engine power. Increased likelihood of loss of control etc. This problem has been widely documented through thousands of owner complaints (e.g., hundreds on sites like CarComplaints.com for the 2007 model alone), NHTSA ODI reports, and Toyota's own Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) and Warranty Enhancement Programs (such as ZE7 for certain models). While Toyota addressed it via a warranty extension (not a full recall) involving piston/ring replacements for qualifying vehicles after an oil consumption test, many owners—particularly those outside the original coverage period or with higher mileage—have faced expensive engine repairs or replacements out of pocket. The lack of a mandatory recall means the issue persists in many vehicles still on the road. I am concerned that this defect creates an unreasonable risk to drivers, passengers, and other road users. I had an issue with this and I needed to fill up 4.5Q

NHTSA ID

11719381

Incident

Jun 14, 2022

Premature Ball Joint Wear A loosened ball joint may separate from the knuckle and could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. This recall is from 2014. I barely purchased it not long ago. I have been having the oil from my ball joint driver side wheel spray all over the car randomly. This recall says everything I experience with it. It makes a clicking noise while turning my wheel to the right but a softer clicking noise if turning left.

NHTSA ID

11719303

Incident

Jul 16, 2025

Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This Service Bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare and treat the interior of the vehicle for odor remediation. Refer to the applicable model and model year Repair Manual and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) website for the most up-to-date safety and precautionary guidelines.

Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfaces can occur. Acid rain damage can typically be identified on vehicles by the presence of stains on the paint surface that resemble hard water spots. Unlike water spots however, acid rain damage cannot be removed by regular washing procedures. Also, because acid rain can etch and soften the paint, normal buffing or polishing repair procedures should not be attempted. This can cause further damage and result in visible depressions in the paint surface. The following are the three major categories of acid rain damage: •Minor damage: requires only buffing to repair. •Moderate damage: usually requires neutralizing, color sanding, and buffing. •Severe damage: extending beyond 1/2 mil of clearcoat on a pearl, metallic, or solid color, requires neutralization, sanding, and repainting. In cases where acid rain damage is minor, neutralization and buffing with a liquid-type paint finessing product may provide an adequate repair. Only specially formulated products outlined in this bulletin should be used for that purpose. Unfortunately, other than minor damage, there is no simple method of determining the actual extent (depth) of acid penetration other than color sanding a representative affected area until there is no visible etching or depressions, followed by measuring the amount of paint removed with either a magnetic or digital-type film thickness gauge. The procedures in this bulletin are intended for use by qualified body/paint technicians and should not be attempted by inexperienced personnel. It is the dealer’s responsibility to protect and maintain the quality of the vehicle’s paint finish after receipt at the dealership prior to the first sale. Perform frequent vehicle washing, as often as daily, during high heat and humidity periods to minimize the potential for paint damage due to acid rain exposure. This is especially important in geographical areas known for high frequency and concentration of acid rain and industrial fallout.

The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage can occur. This damage is the result of actual etching of the paint and appears as pitting or water spots. As acid rain droplets on the vehicle surface evaporate, the concentration strength of the acid increases, causing deeper and more rapid damage. This evaporation and corrosive action also occur more rapidly on dark colored cars as direct sun heat increases. It is the dealer’s responsibility to protect and maintain the quality of the vehicle’s paint finish after receipt at the dealership prior to the first sale. In areas known for high frequency and/or concentration of acid rain, frequent vehicle washing during high heat or humidity periods will minimize the potential for paint damage caused by acid rain. It is further recommended that either reverse osmosis or deionized water be used to prevent water spotting.

To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer. Consequently, the film should remain on the wheel for as long as possible.

Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. Follow the Removal Procedure in this bulletin to remove the RapgardTM protective film within 90 days from initial application.

Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. This type of contamination can be identified by the presence of small, red or brown particles on the paint surface. These particles are often difficult to see on dark color paints but can be easily felt when brushing a hand across horizontal body surfaces such as the hood, roof, or deck lid. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to clean vehicles that may have been subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles such as rail dust during rail transportation or extended storage near industrial areas.