2013 Toyota Camry Electrical Problems

This complaint has to do with Toyota's electrical steering. I will begin this complaint by explaining what I've learned about the new Toyota vehicles. I've been having electrical problems with my car for the past year. It started with the radio going in and out about eight months ago, and now it has been out completely for two months. The tire pressure sensor warning light cycled intermittently when the radio went out. When the radio finally quit working, the tire pressure warning light stays on constantly. When I researched replacing the radio with a non-Toyota radio, I had to replace all of the wiring harnesses (steering control and radio, and there is another harness that I can't remember -- this is from BestBuy). If you don't replace all of the wiring harnesses, you lose the functions of the electrical and warning system, for example, the tire pressure warning lights. In my research (on the internet), I found that the electrical steering can go out if the system receives a signal that the tires are out of alignment and tire pressure warnings. I check my tire pressure every week because the warning light is on. I do not have a tire pressure reset button on my car. The computer or the computer board on the radio periodically pings the sensors. I began hearing a humming noise from the front right side of my car. I originally thought it was a tension pully on the belt because of the cold weather and no warning light. I drove my car about ten miles with the humming noise. Then, the power steering came on, and the steering became almost impossible. (I learned to drive in vehicles without power steering.) Within minutes of the power steering light coming on, I had a catastrophic failure of all systems in my car. Every warning light on the dashboard was on. After about two minutes, the lights cycled off. About one minute later, they came back on. The difficulty driving without the power steering would have been a bad accident if I had been on the Interstate.

NHTSA ID

11566757

Incident

Jan 20, 2024

The panel that controls the interior lights, garage door operation, moon window and an SOS button appeared to have an electrical malfunction and part of that control panel which is on the ceiling between the moon window and mirror melted due a heat source. I do not know what caused the problem but took the vehicle to a dealer and they would not advise on what made the plastic melt. In my opinion that could have caused a fire as the vehicle is in the garage when not in use.

NHTSA ID

11543169

Incident

Sep 1, 2023

I had this car for 5 months, the dealer lied to me about the engine being repaired, the coverage he has on the vehicle. The electronic doesn't work front driver/ passenger doors, we have to unlock the back doors to get into the car and hop over to the front. The hood doesn't have a holder to keep the hood up on its own, the electrical sound blows out and I had to buy more wires and sound system to equip. The day it started tripping, first was when the car didn't start, it made an awful clicking noise. I got a jump it started. I decided to buy new battery; however, the check engine light is on, and check service soon light on. I checked to see if there was any oil, there's no oil. I called the dealership advise him of the problem and he blows me off as if it's not his concern. I'm extremely upset because I trusted that his word to sell me a good and no bad conditions car. I have me and my friends with me along driving, my friend said, "C car is smoking", I looked in the mirror, oh my God I see white thick smoke from the back. I immediately pull over to look at the problem. I can't drive. I called my insurance to get the car tolled to my home. I called the dealers, I had no good help from him at all. I'm out of a car what to do? My wife called Toyota company to tell them what going on and to get the Maintenace history (tune up, spark plugs and oil change). The dealer & the lender didn't want nothing to do with this car, I'm so hurt because I've been deceived for my money. He did the contract the way he wanted, and lenders company to continue to report a fraud contract on my credit report. I have less than time to turn the car back or continue to pay for a broken car. My wife side the car its safe anymore to continue to drive or put any more money into a car you didn't damage. Who is responsible, the manufacturers said they can't help me it's passed the mile; I have to pay out of pocket. This contract is all a lie the amount value and work. I need help with to🕳

NHTSA ID

11501558

Incident

Dec 26, 2022

MY CAR GOT 3 LIGHTS ON ( EMERGENCY BRAKE, TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS LIGHT ON) THEN AFTER THAT THE POWER FOR THE STEERING WHEEL STOP AND BECOMES VERY HEAVY AND NOT DRIVABLE.

NHTSA ID

11271387

Incident

Sep 2, 2019

Mileage

823,500 mi

MY BOYFRIEND WAS DRIVING MY 2013 TOYOTA CAMRY SE ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN OUT OF WITHOUT WARNING THE ABS, BRAKE AND TRACTION LIGHTS CAME ON; THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTENED AND HE COULD BARELY GET THE CAR TO TURN ONTO THE ON RAMP TO GET OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT. WE ALSO REALIZED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING IS NO LONGER WORKING AS WELL THE GAUGES ON THE DASHBOARD. CONSIDERING WE WERE DRIVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND THE POWER STEERING BASICALLY BECAME INOPERABLE, IT WAS VERY SCARY AND UNSAFE. I SPOKE WITH TOYOTA ABOUT THE RECALL ON THE 2013 VEHICLES FOR THE AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THAT PROBLEM. HOWEVER THE CAR WAS REPAIRED FOR THAT RECALL IN 2014, WHICH WAS PRIOR TO ME OWNING THE CAR. AFTER, THE CAR HAS BEEN REPAIR UNDER A RECALL, THERE'S A ONE YEAR WARRANTY ON THAT REPAIR. SO WE'RE BASICALLY OUT OF LUCK AND HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR OURSELVES.

NHTSA ID

11218440

Incident

Jun 6, 2019

Mileage

111,000 mi

MY WIFE HAS A 2013 CAMRY WITH 28,000 MILES. WE HAVE BEEN HAVING A ISSUE WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WHICH ALSO WORKS WITH THE ANTILOCK BRAKES AND THE SHIFTER. MY WIFE WAS AT WORK LATE AND COULD NOT GET IT OUT OF PARK. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THE SWITCH AND TAPPED ON IT AND IF FINALLY ALLOWED US TO GET IT HOME.

NHTSA ID

11156856

Incident

Dec 7, 2017

Mileage

27,000 mi

CAR WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND MY GRANDCHILDREN WERE UNABLE TO GET OUT THE BACK DOOR BECAUSE THE LOCKS WOULDN'T WORK, THIS IS HAPPENED WITH MY 2002 CAMRY ALSO THEY TAKE TURNS WORKING AND SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL I HAVE TO OPEN IT MANUALLY WHICH IT DOESN'T HAVE A KEY TO ENTER FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE

NHTSA ID

11128005

Incident

Sep 4, 2018

Mileage

104,000 mi

THREE OF FOUR CAR DOOR LOCKS, ALL OF WHICH SHOULD BE AUTOMATIC, HAVE STOPPED WORKING WHEN TRYING TO LOCK/UNLOCK THE CAR, BOTH WITH REMOTE AND INSIDE OF CAR USING DRIVER'S SIDE CAR LOCK BUTTONS. FORCES US TO MANUALLY LOCK/UNLOCK EACH DOOR LOCK WHEN USING THE VEHICLE AND LETTING ANY PASSENGERS IN. LOCKS HAVE TO BE MANUALLY LOCKED WHEN LEAVING THE VEHICLE AS WELL. I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY MANUFACTURER REPAIR/REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA ID

11118515

Incident

Aug 6, 2018

THE STEERING WHEEL GETS HARD TO MOVE AND APPEARS THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING, YET CAR CONTINUES GOING. BUT WHEN THIS HAPPENS, STEERING WHEEL IS HARD TO MOVE AND RADIO, A.C. GOES OFF WHILE EVERYTHING ELSE IS ON MOTION AND MAINLY WHILE TURNING, IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE FIRST TIMES ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO, BUT NEVER AGAIN, THEN IT STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN THIS LAST 2 WEEKS. HOWEVER, YESTERDAY IT HAPPENED MORE THAN 10 TIMES IN 1 HOUR, VERY SCARY. MY HUSBAND TOOK IT YO THE DEALER LAS WEEK AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NO RECALL YET, ON THE INTERNET WE FOUND HUNDREDS OF CARS CAMRY REPORTED WITH SAME PROBLEM. IS SCARY.

NHTSA ID

11093665

Incident

May 13, 2018

Mileage

90,080 mi

APRIL 13, 2018 MY 2013 TOYOTA CAMRY ENTIRE OVERHEAD CENTER ROOF CONSOLE BOX ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS REQUIRED DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT EXPOSURE CAUSING WARPING, CRACKING AND MELTING OF THE SMALL GREY PLASTIC FACING THAT HOUSES THE SMALL BLACK BUTTONS: 3 GARAGE DOOR BUTTONS, TWO INTERIOR INSIDE LIGHT BUTTONS FLANKED BY THE OPEN / CLOSE AND UP / DOWN BUTTONS. THIS WAS NEVER A PROBLEM IN ANY EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED AS A NEW CAR UNTIL APRIL 10, 2018. THE ISSUE OCCURRED DURING HOT WHETHER WHERE THE CAR WAS PARKED IN AN OPEN RESIDENTIAL LOT WITH AND WITHOUT A SUN SCREEN VISOR. THE TOYOTA DEALER INSPECTED THE ASSEMBLY AND STATED THAT IT WAS NOT ABLE TO DETECT AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION. THE DEALER SAID THIS SAME ISSUE OCCURRED IN 2 TO 3 OTHER TOYOTA CAMRYS AT THAT DEALERSHIP WHERE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO ESTABLISH AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. MY CONCERN IS / WAS THAT THE HEAT WAS SO INTENSE THAT THE PLASTIC FRAMING ABOUT 3' BY 5' WAS ACTUALLY MALLEABLE TO THE POINT THAT I COULD STRAIGHTEN OUT THE DEFORMED PIECES AND PUSH THE FRAME BACK INTO POSITION TO HOLD IN PLACE UNTIL THE NEXT TIME IT OVERHEATED AND FEEL OUT OF PLACE. THE CAR IS NOT UNDER EXTENDED WARRANT. BUT THE SAFETY CONCERN IS ABOUT SOME UNKNOWN CAUSE OF OVERHEATING THAT APPEARS TO BE FAR MORE THAN HOT WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE 2013 TOYOTA CAMRY ENTIRE OVERHEAD CENTER ROOF CONSOLE BOX ASSEMBLY PART NO. IS 63650-06432-B0. I PAID $223.90 FOR THE PART AND INSTALLATION OF THE FULL ASSEMBLY. NO WARRANTY OR GUARANTY IS OFFERED BY TOYOTA ON THE NEW INSTALLATION SHOULD THIS REOCCUR ANY TIME SOON. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THERE ARE / HAVE BEEN RECALLS FOR THE SAME ISSUE ON TOYOTA FORERUNNERS BUT NOT ON 2013 CAMRYS. I BELIEVE THAT A POTENTIAL ELECTRICAL RECALL SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FOR SAFETY REASONS. SEE 5 ATTACHMENTS

NHTSA ID

11084968

Incident

Apr 10, 2018

Mileage

26,000 mi

THE ELECTRICAL LOCKS HAVE NOT WORKED PROPERLY IN THE LAST YEAR. IT HAS BEEN A CONSISTENT ISSUE. IT STARTED WITH ONE LOCK AND THEN ANOTHER ONE HAD ISSUES UNTIL ALL FOUR DO NOT PROPERLY LOCK. THERE IS NO REASON WHY THIS SHOULD HAVE OCCURRED WHEN THE CAR WAS LESS THAN 4 YEARS OLD. THERE WAS A RECALL IN 2014 BUT I DID NOT RECEIVE A NOTICE ABOUT ISSUES WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. MOSTLY LIKELY BECAUSE THE RECALL CAMPAIGN DID NOT INCLUDE ALL CARS THAT WERE AFFECTED.

NHTSA ID

11084713

Incident

Mar 1, 2017

THE POWER DOOR LOCKS HAVE STOPPED WORKING EXCEPT FOR THE PASSENGER REAL DOOR.

NHTSA ID

11051852

Incident

Sep 1, 2017

Mileage

40,000 mi

TWO OCCURRENCES OF RODENT DAMAGE TO SOY BASED WIRING OF CAR ENGINE AND CHEWING ON AIR BAGS WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE.. FUTHERMORE, I HAVE A 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU THAT HAS BEEN PARKED IN THE GARAGE FOR 14 YEARS AND A 1996 TOYOTA COROLLA THAT WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE FOR 9 YEARS WITHOUT AND DAMAGE TO WIRING. COST OF TWO REPAIRS $3500. FIRST DAMAGE FEBRUARY 24, 2016 AND SECOND AUGUST 10, 2017

NHTSA ID

11014108

Incident

Feb 24, 2016

Mileage

9,501 mi

TWO OF THE DOOR LOCKS NO LONGER WORK WITH THE KEY FOB OR THE BUTTONS ON THE DOOR PANEL; THE KEY MUST BE USED TO UNLOCK THE DOOR OR YOU HAVE TO SLIDE THE LOCK MANUALLY. THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR STOPPED WORKING FIRST THEN THE DRIVERS SIDE PASSENGER DOOR STOPPED A MONTH OR SO LATER.

NHTSA ID

11011250

Incident

May 15, 2017

ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL WHEN HEAT IS ON. TAKING THE CAR TO TOYOTA DEALER.

NHTSA ID

10955400

Incident

Feb 16, 2017

I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS FOR THE LAST YEAR WITH THE 2013 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CAR WHILE DRIVER STARTS SPUTTERING ELECTRICAL WILL GO OUT. THIS OCCURS WHEN THE CAR GETS TO ABOUT 25 MPH. I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND THAT WAS REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ELECTRICAL. THE CAR CONTINUED TO PERFORM IN THE CAPACITY. I TOOK THE CAR BACK AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS ANOTHER RECALL AND THE CAR WAS REPAIRED. THE CAR CONTINUED AND I TOOK THE CAR TO ANOTHER MECHANIC. HE INFORMED ME THE TRANSMISSION WAS GONE. AT NO TIME DID ANY LIGHTS COME ON THE VEHICLE TO MAKE ME AWARE OF THE ISSUE. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CONFIRMED WHAT THE PREVIOUS MECHANIC STATED. I CONTACTED TOYOTA WHO OFFERED 1,000 TOWARDS REPAIRS. THE REPAIRS ARE OVER 6K. I STILL OWE TOYOTA 15K FOR THIS CAR AND THEY COULD NOT OFFER AN EXPLANATION ON WHY A TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AFTER 3 YEARS

NHTSA ID

10950226

Incident

Dec 27, 2016

PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATION THE CAR DOESN'T ACCELERATE MORE THAN 30M/H DAIGNOSED BU TOYOTA DEALER AS THROTTLE PEDAL POSITION SENSOR FAILURE .THE CAR HAS 94K ONLY ALTHOUGH I HAVE EXTENDED WARANTEE PURCHESED WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR BUT TOYOTA COMPANY REFUSE TO HONOUR IT SAYING IT'S ONLY COVERING ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ID

10945736

Incident

Jan 1, 2017

Mileage

94,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE EITHER ON A CITY STREET OR HIGHWAY OR TURNING THE VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP. NOTHING WORKS, CAR WONT START , KEY WILL NOT MOVE, GEAR IS STUCK. THIS HAS HAPPEN THREE TIMES WITHIN A YEAR. THE DEALER HAS CHECK IT OUT BUT HAS NO ANSWER TO WHY IT HAPPENS. MY AIR-CONDITION FOGS UP THE WINDOW, AS SO DOES THE HEATER MAKING THE VISIBILITY DIFFICULT. THERE WAS ALSO A STRONG ODOR OF GAS WHEN YOU MAKE A TURN. ALL MY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED BUT NOTHING DONE. MY FEAR IS A MAJOR ACCIDENT WILL BE CAUSE BECAUSE OF THIS.

NHTSA ID

10850471

Incident

Mar 7, 2016

Mileage

23,700 mi

I WAS DROVE THE CAR FOR SHOPPING 25 MILES AWAY FROM HOME AT 9:00 AM. AT 11:50 AM, ON THE WAY BACK, THE BACK SHOOK SLIGHTLY AND MADE SMALL NOISES THAT WERE UNFAMILIAR. I CHECKED TO SEE IF THE SHIFT GEAR WAS SET CORRECTLY AND WINDOWS WERE CLOSED, WHICH THEY WERE. THERE WAS NO UNUSUAL BLINKING OF DRIVER PANEL LIGHT INDICATING ANY TYPE OF WARNING. WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE DRIVE WAY AT 12:30PM, TURNING INTO THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE AS USUAL, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND MY CAR RAN INTO THE GARAGE DOOR AND SIDE OF THE HOUSE.

NHTSA ID

10845966

Incident

Mar 9, 2016

Mileage

37,369 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING WHEN THE CONTACT REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000.

NHTSA ID

10788582

Incident

Nov 3, 2015

Mileage

9,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE MODEM NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10713361

Incident

Jan 1, 2014

I WAS DRIVING ON M-80 ACROSS ILLINOIS, FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS ON CRUISE CONTROL, SET AT 69 MPH. I SUDDENLY REALIZED THAT THE CAR SEEMED TO BE GOING TOO FAST, AS I PASSED A COUPLE CARS RATHER QUICKLY. I GLANCED AT THE SPEEDOMETER AND SAW IT, IN ABOUT ONE SECOND, GO FROM 85 MPH TO 87 MPH AND I IMMEDIATELY BRAKED, THEREBY STOPPING THE CRUISE CONTROL (?) FROM CONTINUING TO ACCELERATE THE CAR. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, I DID NOT HAVE MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL OR MY HAND NEAR THE CRUISE CONTROL MECHANISM. THE CAR JUST SIMPLY ACCELERATED QUICKLY ON IT'S OWN. I TRIED TO CONTINUE TO USE CRUISE CONTROL TO DRIVE BACK TO MICHIGAN, HOWEVER SHORTLY THEREAFTER, IT BEGAN TO RAIN/SNOW SO I DIDN'T USE THE CRUISE CONTROL AFTER THAT. THIS IS A NEW CAR THAT I JUST BOUGHT IN SEPTEMBER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10586616

Incident

Nov 11, 2013

Mileage

2,600 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME ROUGH WHEN DRIVING OR WHEN ATTEMPTING A TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THERE WAS ALSO AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE INFLATED TO THE CORRECT PRESSURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS AT AS TOP SIGN WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER?S SIDE OF THE CONTACT?S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK, BACK AND HEAD INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V44200 (AIR BAGS , ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , EQUIPMENT) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE AIR BAG RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3000. UPDATED 05/12/14 MA THE CONSUMER STATED ANOTHER VEHICLE STRUCK THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT LEFT WHEEL AND DRAGGED HIS VEHICLE SIDEWAYS TOWARD A TELEPHONE POLE. HE APPLIED THE BRAKE, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. HE HIT THE WINDOW DURING IMPACT AND WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS. UPDATED 05/14/14

NHTSA ID

10573136

Incident

Dec 18, 2013

Mileage

3,000 mi

CPSC: I1420031A. 2013 TOYOTA CAMRY. CONSUMER STATES DOES THE FLAME RETARDANT MATERIAL IN THE HEATED SEATS WHEN THE HEATER IS IN USE GIVE OFF VAPOR OR FUMES THAT CAUSE EYE AND RESPIRATORY IRRITATION? *LN THE CONSUMER STATED A NEW RELEASE WAS PUBLISHED, TO STOP TOYOTA FROM SELLING 2013 AND 2014 TOYOTA CAMRY'S, DUE TO FLAME RETARDANT MATERIALS IN HEATED SEATS, NOT APPROVED BY THE FDA.

NHTSA ID

10563075

Incident

Oct 1, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V442000 (AIR BAGS , ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , EQUIPMENT) AND THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE REMEDY PART WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL FEBRUARY 13, 2014. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10557833

Incident

Dec 23, 2013