2011 Toyota Camry Visibility Problems

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

I started noticing a glare on my 2011 Toyota Camry on the inside on the dashboard. It appeared shiny and I figured I accidentally cleaned it with the wrong product. It started at the closet point of the windshield so I didn’t worry about it. Today (6/4/25) I went to clean it again and noticed the whole dashboard was extremely sticky and NOTHING would clean it off. Paper towels and microfiber towels stuck to it. I noticed the dash was coming apart when I tried to clean it. I called Toyota customer service and they informed me they sent a letter in 2018 about the class action lawsuit and that they were replacing the dashboard. I do not remember ever getting this letter. They woman tried to ask someone higher up about trying to help me since the cut off date was 2021. They said there was nothing they could do due to it not being done in 2021. This is a safety issue due to the glare when driving. I believe this needs to be a recall and that customers should be able to have Toyota fix it. It’s continue to melt and it’s going to end up ruining the whole car. Please take cere of this, please check it as a recall. I would assume this would mess with the airbags as well. I cannot afford to have the whole dashboard replaced, when it should be a recall due to Toyota being at fault. It’s their responsibility to test these things and they failed big time with this. A dashboard should not melt.

NHTSA ID

11664971

Incident

Jun 4, 2025

I own a 2011 Toyota Camry. The dashboard has begun to melt and is causing potential glare issues, making the windshield turn into a mirror. Toyota is aware of the issue, and offered to replace the part through a special service campaign, once in 2018 and in 2021, however, they did not send the notice to the correct address - which we confirmed with them was an outdated address. Since we just began having the problem with the vehicle, we contacted Toyota, however they are stating that they are no longer offering the repairs and that we will have to pay nearly $3000 to fix it ourselves, more than the car's trade in value.

NHTSA ID

11610045

Incident

Jun 1, 2023

The dashboard has become very sticky and shiny creating a very bad glare on my windshield. It makes driving more difficult when I cannot see.

NHTSA ID

11604616

Incident

Jul 1, 2022

My car's VIN did not fall in the original recall of the sticky dashboard. Therefore, the dealership will not replace this without payment. I purchased the car from the dealership on a cloudy day, so I was not aware of this issue. I have increased light sensitivity and had to purchase polarized prescription sunglasses to see out my windshield every day, regardless of whether it is sunny or cloudy. If someone else drives my car, they can not see during daylight hours. It lessens during nighttime but is still a persistent issue otherwise. We've resorted to looking at coverlays to secure over the dash due to my inability to safely drive.

NHTSA ID

11574446

Incident

Feb 28, 2024

Visor blocking driving visibility making it a huge safety concern Other vehicles 2007 to 2011 were recalled but not this one Tpyota says. BUT the issue is exactly the same as the other ones.

NHTSA ID

11527340

Incident

May 29, 2023

I am having an issue with a sticky melting dashboard in my 2011 Camry. I recently noticed this as I was driving and there is this glare that puts me and my family at risk every day. I bought my Camry brand new in 2011 for which I paid 32k for it and now I am being left with a dangerous dashboard. Toyota should be forced to help its costumers .

NHTSA ID

11480377

Incident

Aug 1, 2022

My dashboard on my 2011 Camry has recently started melting & is extremely sticky. One spot on the driver's side is really bad & causing a glare on my windshield. I am very concerned this is going to cause visibility issues while driving. This is a clear defect. After doing extensive research to figure out why this is happening & what to do, I called my local dealership on 7-22-22, then called Toyota Corp same day. They refused to do anything to help me! The rep told me an extended warranty was offered for various Toyota models due to sticky dashboards including my car, but that mine expired May 2021. When I told her I never received anything in the mail, she replied they only send out notices for recalls & this wasn't a recall. She suggested to get an estimate from my local dealership, then call back, but that they still couldn't cover the repair. I asked to speak with a Supervisor, but no one ever answered. The rep told me a supervisor would call me back within 24 hours...4 days later...still nothing. This is absolutely ridiculous that Toyota would expect me to repair this obvious manufacturing defect out of my pocket! My dash is ugly & dangerous! This is my third Toyota & I always recommend Toyota vehicles to friends/ family. I was getting ready to purchase another Toyota, but I'm so disappointed in Toyota that I'm seriously reconsidering. I can't believe they don't seem to care about their customers anymore than this.

NHTSA ID

11475975

Incident

Jul 22, 2022

I have a 2011 Toyota Camry with 72,000 miles on it. The dashboard has a melting issue where it leaves a residue on anything it comes in contact with and is sticky. The major safety issue is the glare that reflects onto the windshield while driving and interferes with visibility. I prior owner, an elderly gentleman, was unaware of any recalls/repairs that Toyota was providing. I called Toyota and they said that they are aware of this issue but cannot repair or provide reimbursements for repairs because there is no recall for their dashboard.

NHTSA ID

11457154

Incident

Mar 17, 2022

The dashboard on my vehicle is sticky causing limited visibility when driving and is a distraction. I did not receive a recall on this.

NHTSA ID

11450613

Incident

Jul 7, 2021

My 2011 Toyota Camry has a deteriorating dash. It is sticky and very shiny in spots. The glare from this has made it very difficult to drive. I searched for info on this and discovered there had been a recall! I did not receive this notification, despite keeping my contact info current. My Camry has less than 83,000 miles. I am having trouble seeing through the glare, and no longer feel safe driving my Camry. Please help.

NHTSA ID

11443322

Incident

Dec 10, 2020

Over a period of time lately the dashboard has become shiny and sticky. The glare off of the shiny area from the sun blocks the drivers vision

NHTSA ID

11432245

Incident

Jul 1, 2021

The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the sunroof while driving at various speeds. The contact scheduled an appointment with the dealer to have the vehicle inspected. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

NHTSA ID

11424962

Incident

Jul 1, 2020

Mileage

100,000 mi

DASHBOARD HAS BECOME SHINY AND EXTREMELY STICKY. ON SUNNY DAYS OR AT KNIGHT LIGHT CAN REFLECT OFF THE DASHBOARD INTO THE WINDSHIELD. THIS CAUSES AN INTENSE GLARE MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE FORWARD. THIS EFFECT CAN BE SEEN STATIONARY OR IN MOTION IN CITIES OR ON THE HIGHWAY. TOYOTA ISSUED AN ENHANCED WARRANTY HOWEVER MANY OLDER CARS ARE NO LONGER COVERED AND THE ISSUES STILL PERSIST. I PURCHASED MY CAR USED FROM A THIRD PARTY AND WAS NEVER INFORMED ABOUT THE ENHANCED WARRANTY THAT COVERED THIS ISSUE. WHEN I LEARNED THAT THIS WARRANTY EXISTED IT WAS TOO LATE AND MAR CAR WAS NO LONGER COVERED.

NHTSA ID

11416586

Incident

May 14, 2021

THE DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR, WHILE POSITIONED IN TRHE RETAINING CLIP, CONTINUES TO ROTATE DOWNWARD, HAMPERING THE DRIVERS VIEW. CONDITION IS WORSENING WITH TIME.

NHTSA ID

11394628

Incident

Dec 3, 2018

Mileage

73,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER-SIDE SUN VISOR DROOPED DOWN AND COULD NO LONGER SUPPORT ITSELF. THIS SAFETY ISSUE RESULTED IN A DANGEROUS OBSTRUCTION OF VIEW. I'VE HAD TO REMOVE THE SUN VISOR UNTIL IT CAN BE REPAIRED.

NHTSA ID

11342543

Incident

Jul 31, 2020

Mileage

115,000 mi

PASSENGER SIDE SHADE VISOR SAGGED DOWN AND WILL NOT STAY IN PLACE. THIS HAPPENED ON MY 2011 CAMRY SE, SAME THING HAPPENED ON MY 2007 CAMRY SE AND A RECALL FIXED THAT. WHY IS THIS 2011 CAMRY TO BE REPAIRED BY TOYOTA AS WAS THE 2007? ALSO, THE SUN ROOF HAS BEEN NOISY SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR AUG 31, 2010. WHY IS THAT NOT RECALLED.? AM I THE ONLY ONE WITH THESE ISSUES? *TR

NHTSA ID

11324116

Incident

May 9, 2020

Mileage

163,825 mi

I WAS NOT SENT ANY NOTICE OF THE DEFECTIVE PLASTIC CLIPS HOLDING UP 2007-2011 TOYOTA CAMRYS. INSTEAD, OUR SUN VISOR LOST RESISTANCE IN 9/2019 AND STARTED OBSTRUCTING OUR VISIBILITY AND MAKING IT HARD TO SEE OUT THE WINDSHIELD. THE SUN VISOR WOULD NO LONGER STAY UP, BUT HANG ~2/3 OF THE WAY DOWN. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND PRINTED OUT THE COMPLAINTS AS WELL AS THE FACT THAT TOYOTA NEVER INFORMED US OF THE ISSUE WITH THE DEFECTIVE VISOR CLIPS WITHIN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY TIME FRAME -WHICH HAS HAPPENED TO MANY. WE ARE BEING TOLD TO REPLACE AND REPAIR IT OURSELVES FOR $195 THOUGH THEY AGREED IT'S A SAFETY HAZARD AS WELL AS THE CLIPS ARE DEFECTIVE. OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP WAS CORDIAL BUT SAID IT WAS OUT OF THEIR HANDS AND A TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS DECISION. PLEASE LOOK AT THE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS HERE: HTTPS://WWW.TOYOHEADQUARTERS.COM/THREADS/2007-2011-TOYOTA-CAMRY-AND-CAMRY-HYBRID-SUN-VISOR-WARRANTY-EXTENSION-ZTT.114/PAGE-5 HTTP://M.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/TOYOTA/CAMRY/2011/ACCESSORIES-INTERIOR/SUN_VISOR_WILL_NOT_STAY_UP.SHTML I BELIEVE TOYOTA IS IN THE WRONG AND SHOULD HAVE TO FIX ALL FAULTY CLIPS ESPECIALLY WHEN BLOCKING YOUR VISIBILITY. I WAS UNABLE TO SEE OTHER DRIVERS IN THE COURSE OF DRIVING. I COULD NOT SEE SAFETY SIGNS WHEN TURNING, ON THE HIGHWAY, ETC. BECAUSE OF THIS, I HAD TO RIP OFF THE LEFT SIDE SUN VISOR OUT OF CONCERN AN ACCIDENT WOULD OCCUR.

NHTSA ID

11281871

Incident

Oct 7, 2019

Mileage

74,000 mi

THERE IS SIGNIFICANT DISTORTION OF VISIBILITY THROUGH THE REAR WINDSHIELD DURING BOTH DAY AND NIGHT, MOVING AND STOPPED.THE BIGGEST ISSUE AT NIGHT IS THAT ONE VEHICLE APPEARS MULTIPLIED WITH MULTIPLE SETS OF HEADLIGHTS, MOSTLY UP AND DOWN WITH THE DEFOGGING LINES BUT ALSO IN A WAVY PATTERN BETWEEN DEFOGGER LINES. DURING THE DAYTIME, IT OBSCURES THE EDGES OF VEHICLES WITH THE WAVY PATTERN AND HAS THE SAME HEADLIGHT ISSUE AS NIGHTTIME DRIVING IF IT'S RAINING. THERE IS NO AFTER-MARKET TINT APPLIED AND THERE HAS BEEN NO DAMAGE TO THE WINDSHIELD. IT MAKES CHANGING LANES AT NIGHT OR IN THE RAIN DIFFICULT AND UNSAFE IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD BEHIND ME SINCE THE DISTORTION MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE DISTANCE AND WHICH LANE THEY MAY BE IN.

NHTSA ID

11278176

Incident

Oct 30, 2019

Mileage

68,000 mi

I HAD NOTICED THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2011 TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID BECAME VERY STICKY AND SHINY IN THE EARLY MONTHS OF 2019. THE SUNLIGHT SHINING THROUGH THE WINDSHIELDS MOST LIKELY CREATED THIS CONDITION. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CLEAN OR TO REMOVE THE VERY SHINY/STICKY EFFECT. SUBSEQUENTLY IT CAUSES A REFLECTIVE GLARE FROM THE SHINY SURFACE ONTO THE WINDSHIELD, POSSIBLY CREATING A DRIVING HAZARD. I CONSULTED A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHO QUOTED ME A PRICE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE DASH AS THEY DO NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO CLEAN THEM...SPEFICALLY STATING THEY HAD NOT SEEN ANY EVER SUCCESSFULLY CORRECTED BY REPAIR. CONSIDERING HOW EXPENSIVE IT WOULD BE TO HAVE THIS PART REPLACED BY A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, AND REPORTS ONLINE OF MANY OTHER SIMILAR EXPERIENCES BY OWNERS OF TOYOTAS OF SIMILAR MAKES AND MODELS, IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THE NHTSA SHOULD CONSIDER ISSUING A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11240673

Incident

Apr 1, 2019

Mileage

142,000 mi

INITIALLY THE SUN VISOR WILL FELL AND BLOCK SOME DRIVER SIDE VIEW. AFTER A YEAR OR 2 LATER, IT COMPLETELY FELL AND WILL BLOCK THE DRIVER SIDE VIEW. THIS IS A HAZARD CONDITION AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED, TOYOTA ISSUED WARRANTY BULLETIN(POL12-03) TO REPLACE CERTAIN VIN RANGE OF THE CAMRY 07~11, MINE IS THE 2011, HOWEVER I DO NOT SEE THE VIN IN THAT DOCUMENT. I'VE BOUGHT 3 NEW CAMRY IN THE PAST, ONLY THIS ONE HAS THE PROBLEM. LOOKING AT THE INTERNET, MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE.AND THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE TOYOTA.

NHTSA ID

11233497

Incident

Jan 1, 2018

A WHILE BACK I WAS PULLING IN MY YARD AND MY VISOR FLIPPED DOWN CAUSING ME TO PANIC AND BLIND MY VIEW THEN WHEN I PANICKED I ACCEDENTLY HIT THE GAS AND DROVE INTO MY MOBILE HOME CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY HOME AND ABOUT 2000 DOLLARS OF DAMAGE TO MY CAR I WROTE TOYOTA AND THEY REFUSED TO PAY FOR DAMAGE

NHTSA ID

11182216

Incident

Feb 9, 2017

Mileage

70,000 mi

DRIVER SIDE VISOR WOULD STAY IN PLACE

NHTSA ID

11171092

Incident

Jan 22, 2018

SUN VISORS SEEM TO HAVE NOT BEEN PROPERLY INSTALLED WITH CORRECT PARTS WENT ON LINE AND GOOGLE IT SEEMS THAT A LOT OF THIS YEAR HAS SAME PROBLEMS SO THEY WHERE HANGING AND IT MAKES HARD TO SEE THE ONE ON THE DRIVER SIDE FELL OFF EITHER WAY IT'S UN SAFE YO DRIVE LIKE THIS I DO NOT HAVE MONEY TO FIX IT I AM MAKING PAYMENTS AND ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 2 YEARS

NHTSA ID

11138769

Incident

Aug 1, 2018

BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SUN VISORS FELL DOWN AND WOULD NOT STAY UP. THEY EVENTUALLY ROTTED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE SUN BEAMS INTO MY EYES AS I AM DRIVING AND THIS COULD POTENTIALLY BE DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ID

11128746

Incident

Jan 2, 2017

Mileage

1,190,000 mi