2018 Toyota Camry Visibility Problems

I own a 2018 Toyota Camry XSE with a sunroof that is currently stuvck in tilt/ open position and will not close. Multiple independent mechanics have refused to attempt repair due to the high likelihood of the glass or mechanism breaking, and have advised that only Toyota dealership should handle the issue due to liability concerns. This appears to be a common issue reported by other Toyota Camry owners with similar model years, suggesting a potential defect in the sunroof mechanism or design. The failure creates a safety concern because the vehicle is exposed to water intrusion, which can lead to electrical damage, mold, and reduced visibility while driving in rain. Additionally, the inability to secure the sunroof compromises the structural integrity and safety of the vehicle. The estimated repair cost exceeds $8,500 for parts alone, which is unreasonable for a sunroof failure and suggests a larger design issue rather than normal wear and tear. I am requesting that this issue be investigated as a potential defect and that Toyota be held responsible if a pattern is confirmed.

NHTSA ID

11726682

Incident

Mar 9, 2026

The panoramic roof on the 2018 Camry XSE is stuck in the vented position and will not close. This is a known issue with this car and year, as well as other years. Window makes loud noises when trying to close and just remains open with no other way to manually close it.

NHTSA ID

11723456

Incident

Aug 3, 2025

i live in Florida. We get a lot of rain. My Toyota Camry 2018 is unsafe and actualy dangerous to drive in the rain as the wiper speed, even on high, is too slow. Most of the time I HAVE TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDEOF THE ROAD AND HOPE THAT NO ONE CRASHES INTO ME. THIS Iis EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THE DEALERS ARE ALL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. WHY HASNT THERE BEEN A RE-CALL TO FIX THIS? THANK-YOU.

NHTSA ID

11615959

Incident

Sep 21, 2024

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that upon use of the sunroof, an abnormal clicking sound was coming from the sunroof. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the contact was provided an estimate for the repair. On one occasion, the sunroof remained stuck in the open position and failed to retract as needed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for repair and remained with the mechanic for a week. The mechanic was able to retract the sunroof; however, the sunroof track remained defective, and the contact was advised to not use the sunroof. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

NHTSA ID

11563131

Incident

Jul 1, 2023

Mileage

150,000 mi

Wipers are too slow to safely see during a downpour of rain - went to dealer - was told nothing was wrong with wiper speed. This is my 4th Toyota and 3rd Camry and all other cars had a faster speed. I noticed this before but thought it was me - but after a 9 hour drive during heavy rain storms - I realized it is the car,

NHTSA ID

11535443

Incident

Jun 26, 2023

Fuel\propulsion system, There was no power given to the engine when I turned a corner with an exorbitant amount of time. There was a car at least 100 yards away. When I put my foot on the gas pedal there was no power. It felt like the car did not switch gears for the fuel pump or Pistons just were not working correctly. The car almost rear-ended me and caused a major accident. This has happened multiple times.

NHTSA ID

11473805

Incident

Apr 8, 2021

When I got home from work in the early evening, I discovered my rear windshield was completely shattered but it is still together. On my way home, I noticed that I could not see thru my rear windshield and didn't think of it much because we had some rain today and I live in a high humidity city. I turned my rear windshield defroster ON hoping it will clear it but it did not. I turned it OFF and thought to myself maybe the poor visibility was due to dirt accumulation on the windshield after the rain. When I finally got home, I was shocked to discover the rear glass windshield had completely shattered with few pieces had fallen off from all four corners and some from the edges. I immediately started looking for any sign of any object that might have struck the glass and caused the breakage like a rock or hail from the rain earlier, I could not find any. There was no indentations or depression in the glass that would indicate that anything had struck it while it was parked in an open parking lot all day long at a secure site or while driving back home.

NHTSA ID

11463569

Incident

May 5, 2022

Adding on to my other entry of problems regarding the battery, I have never had to replace a windshield wiper more often in my life. I am convinced this is an issue with the way the wiper mechanism is manufactured. None of the brand new windshield wipers ever last me 3 months without hearing that dreading squeaking sound. My other relatives who have newer Toyotas never have an issue. Their wiping action is clean and quiet, while mine leaves huge streaks on the windshield no matter what. I've tried cleaning the wiper blades, slightly oiling them, even putting on a tiny bit of lotion. I avoid even using my windshield wipers now in the summer season and instead just resort to cleaning the entire car to improve visibility. The wiper blades continue to make that squealing sound unless it is POURING HEAVILY outside, AKA when there is a lot of water on the windshield. I try to limit the wiper intervals to mitigate the issue but nothing seems to help. Even tried out more expensive and better windshield wiping fluid/blades but they don't do anything. I'm thinking that the wiping mechanism was installed incorrectly and is placing too much pressure on the blades themselves. There is not much that the dealerships/repair shops can do as they are not being recalled at all, they can only tell me that the most I can do is to use them VERY sparingly.

NHTSA ID

11436077

Incident

Oct 8, 2021

The defroster failed to keep the wind shield clear. Their is no airflow to the defrost which cause no visibility on the windshield.

NHTSA ID

11418410

Incident

Mar 15, 2021

FRONT WINDSHIELD TOP AND BOTTOM EDGES ARE DELAMINATING. VEHICLE IS STATIONARY.

NHTSA ID

11416102

Incident

Sep 12, 2020

Mileage

12,000 mi

3/2/2021 30 MINUTES AFTER HAVING MY WINDSHIELD REPLACED ON MY 2018 TOYOTA CAMRY - MY WINDSHIELD CAUGHT FIRE ABOVE THE REAR VIEW MIRRIOR INSIDE MY CAR -WHERE THE WINDSHIELD ATTACHES TO THE CAR 2 INCHES FROM MY RIGHT ARM , I HAD BALLS OF FIRE DROPPING DOWN - I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY IN MORNING RUSH HOUR TRAFFICE MY INSURANCE PROVIDER HAS RETAINED THE SERVICE OF AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER

NHTSA ID

11403716

Incident

Mar 2, 2021

Mileage

124,500 mi

SUNROOF EXPLODED GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, NO IMPACT FROM ROCK OR DEBRIS IT MAD A VERY, VERY LOUD 'BOOM' AND AFTERWARD WE PULLED OVER FOR INSPECTION AND THE SUNROOF EXPLODED UPWARD. THE GLASS SPLIT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE GLASS PANEL

NHTSA ID

11350786

Incident

Aug 21, 2020

Mileage

45,000 mi

DURING MID 30'S AND BELOW, MY CAR DOES NOT GET UP TO OPERATING TEMPERATURE. IT SITS NEAR THE COLD MARK AND I HAVE INADEQUATE HEAT OUTPUT THROUGH MY VENTS WHICH MAKES IT VERY HARD TO SEE WHEN I'M DRIVING IN THE WINTER MONTHS. I HAVE HAD TO PULL OVER SEVERAL TIMES TO CLEAN MY WINDSHIELD BECAUSE THE DEFROSTER ISN'T STRONG ENOUGH TO MELT THE ICE. I'VE REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT (FORMER TOYOTA TECHNICIAN) AND IT STILL PRODUCES THE SAME RESULTS. I'VE TALKED TO SOME TOYOTA TECHNICIANS AND THEY HAVE NO EXPLANATION. PLEASE NOTE IN MY PICTURE I'VE ATTACHED THE 28 MINUTES OF DRIVE TIME WITH AN AVERAGE SPEED OF 39 MPH WITH MY NEAR COLD TEMP GAUGE.

NHTSA ID

11339483

Incident

Nov 1, 2019

Mileage

40,937 mi

YOU CAN NOT LIFT THE DRIVER SIDE WIPER IT HIT THE HOOD

NHTSA ID

11316527

Incident

Nov 5, 2017

I WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY GOING ABOUT 60 MILES AND IT WAS RAINING MEDIUM, MY WIPERS COULD NOT CLEAR THE VIEW FAST ENOUGH AND I WAS DRIVING BLINDLY FOR MILES. THE FAST WIPER SETTING WAS NOT FAST ENOUGH TO CLEAR MY VIEW.

NHTSA ID

11308071

Incident

Feb 8, 2019

Mileage

6,235 mi

THE DRIVER WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM CANNOT BE LIFTED UP BY DESIGN, THE PASSENGER SIDE IS OK AND LIKE IN ALL OTHER VEHICLES, BOTH WINDSHIELD WIPERS SUPPOSED TO LIFT UP COMPLETELY FOR CLEANING, SNOW REMOVAL ETC

NHTSA ID

11258225

Incident

Sep 25, 2019

THE WIPERS DO NOT CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD ON MODERATE HEAVY RAIN VISIBILITY IS VERY BAD. I OWN A 2002 CAMRY WHICH DOES A BETTER JOB. AS PER MY OBSERVATION THE WIPER FREQUENCY NEEDS TO BE INCREASED .

NHTSA ID

11241263

Incident

Jul 30, 2019

Mileage

13,000 mi

WINDSHIELD DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT OF WHILE DRIVING INTO THE SUN. THERE ARE LIGHT COLORED SPECKLES THROUGHOUT THE WINDSHIELD THAT MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THROUGH WHENEVER WE ARE DRIVING DIRECTLY INTO THE SUN. IT'S CALLED "WINDSHIELD DELAMINATION" BUT THEY FEEL THAT THIS COMES FROM ROCKS AND SAND HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. WE NOTICED IT THE VERY FIRST DAY WE DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND THE FIRST TIME WE BROUGHT IT IN FOR SERVICE, THE SERVICE WRITER SAID IT WAS NORMAL AND WOULDN'T EVEN WRITE IT ON THE INVOICE. WE FEEL THAT TOYOTA NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD INSTEAD OF MAKING EXCUSES THAT ALL WINDSHIELDS HAVE THIS SAFETY PROBLEM AFTER A LITTLE WHILE. THIS WAY WE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE MORE CLEARLY OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD WHENEVER WE MUST DRIVE INTO THE SUN.

NHTSA ID

11176221

Incident

Nov 11, 2017

Mileage

40 mi

THE ISSUES THAT I HAVE WITH THE POWER TRAIN IS THAT WHEN THE CAR SLOWS DOWN & HAS TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY OR WHEN YOU COME TO A COMPLETE STOP & TAKE OFF THE CAR HESITATES TO GO. IT SOMEWHAT STALLS & IS VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY IN CITY TRAFFIC TRYING TO CROSS A BUSY STREET & THEN YOU STALL WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC COMING TOWARDS YOU!! YOU CAN SOMETIMES PRESS THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR & IT STILL WON'T TAKE OFF LIKE IT SHOULD & THEN WHEN IT CATCHES THE CAR JERKS & THEN ACCELERATES. CRAZY HUH? I DON'T LIKE IT. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES & EVERY TIME THEY SAY IT'S THE WAY THE NEW TRANSMISSION IS MADE IN THE 2018 MODELS & IT'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO. BUT IT HAPPENS EVERYDAY AT SOME POINT OF MY DRIVING TRIP. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE & TOYOTA NEEDS TO FIX THE PROBLEM & TAKE THIS SERIOUS BEFORE SOMEONE REALLY GETS HURT. WITH THE VISIBILITY OR WIPERS, WHEN IT RAINS REALLY HARD THE VISIBILITY IS TERRIBLE...WIPERS ON HIGH & DEFROST ON IT'S STILL JUST TERRIBLE!! TOYOTA WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THIS NOW!!

NHTSA ID

11165306

Incident

Nov 1, 2018

Mileage

7,000 mi

I LIVE IN MA , APON A EARLY NOVEMBER SLEET MY CAR DASH LIT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE. DISABLING MY ANTI CRASH SYSTEM WITH LIGHTS GOING AND NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE I ALMOST CRASHED. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR SIX MONTH SERVICE AT 3850 MILES ON CAR SET FOR DAY AFTER VACATION. I TOOK CAR IN TO TOYOTA. EXPLAINED PROBLEMS AND TOLD THEM TRANSMISSION IS ROUGH. THEY CAME BACK TO ME TELLING ME THERE IS A RECALL FOR TRANSMISSION.. I LEFT CAR AT HYANNIS TOYOTA EXPECTING TO RECEIVE CAR BACK THAT DAY. SERVICE REP CALLED ME AT 530 TELLING ME THAT SINCE THE DAY I DROVE OFF THE LOT THERE ARE 9 PAGES OF DEFAULTS. CLAIMING DRIVER ERRORS. FIRST IT'S A RECALL, BUT LATER IN DAY DRIVER ERROR. I AM 60 YEARS OLD AND THIS IS MY 5TH LEASE WITH THEM. I DO KNOW HOW TO DRIVE AND ON CAPE COD IN SUMMER I SIT IN TRAFFIC MOST OF THE TIME . THE SITUATION WITH SLEET WAS DRIVING ABOUT 20MPH ON LOCAL STREETS. THAT WAS EXPLAINED BY SERVICE REP THAT SENSORS ARE SENSITIVE AND DIRT,HEAVY RAIN AND SNOW CAN CAUSE ANTI CRASH SYSTEMS TO DEACTIVATE. AND ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS TURN ENGINE OFF AND APON RESTART THE SYSTEM WILL REACTIVATE ITSELF.BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION SELF ACCLAIMED RECALL AND NOW CALLED DRIVER ERROR. WHEN YOU NEED ANTI CRASH SYSTEM,THE ODDS OF IT NOT WORKING ARE PRETTY GOOD AS EXPLAINED BY SERVICE REP. I JUST WANT MY CAN REPAIRED AND SAFE.THE DATE IS APPROX

NHTSA ID

11155429

Incident

Nov 16, 2018

Mileage

3,800 mi

THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. I AM REPORTING A DANGEROUSLY DISTRACTING CONDITION WITH REGARD TO THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS, ESPECIALLY BAD ON A SUNNY DAY. NAMELY, THE SHINY CHROME DASH BOARD AIR VENTS ARE REFLECTED ONTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW AND ARE SUPERIMPOSED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE VIEW MIRROR. THE SAME PROBLEM IS SEEN BY THE DRIVER WHEN VIEWING THE PASSENGER'S SIDE VIEW MIRROR.

NHTSA ID

11143059

Incident

Oct 24, 2018

Mileage

600 mi

BOTH SIDE VIEW MIRRORS PREVENT AN UNOBSTRUCTED VIEW BECAUSE OF INTERIOR SHINY METALLIC TRIM AROUND THE AC VENTS THAT REFLECT INTO THE FIELD OF VIEW OF BOTH SIDE VIEW MIRRORS

NHTSA ID

11131657

Incident

Sep 25, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WOULD ERRATICALLY DOWNSHIFT AND UP SHIFT, AND THE ENGINE RPMS WOULD REV VERY HIGH. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A SECOND VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (TOYOTA OF GRAND RAPIDS, 2555 28TH ST. SE, GRAND RAPIDS MI) AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPROGRAMMED, BUT THE FAILURES CONTINUED. IN ADDITION, WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ACTIVATED, THE WINDOWS INSIDE THE VEHICLE WOULD FOG UP AND CREATE A VISIBILITY HAZARD. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

NHTSA ID

11130986

Incident

Aug 1, 2018

Mileage

1,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, REAR VIEW MIRROR VISIBILITY ON BOTH SIDES OBSTRUCTS CLEAR VIEW FOR THE LENGTH OF THE CAR TO THE DRIVER. THE INTERIOR CHROME ON THE DASHBOARD CAST A SHADOW ON THE MIRRORS. AT NIGHT, VISIBILITY IS FURTHER IMPAIRED BY THE LIGHTS FROM CARS BEHIND THE 2018 CAMRY, FURTHER COMPLICATING MATTERS. ISSUES REPORTED TO DEALER ON 8/1/18. DEALER DID NOT DETECT PROBLEM. SERVICE REP. AT DEALER SUGGESTED THAT "I COVER THE CHROME WITH VELVET STRIPES." I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTORY IN PLANO, CASE. #1808070542 TEXAS. ISSUES REVIEWED AGAIN BY ARLINGTON, TOYOTA JACKSONVILLE, FL. AS REQUESTED BY SERVICE REP. FROM TEXAS, ON 8/07/18. ONLY RECEIVED A DECISION MADE ON 8/20/18. NOTHING WOULD BE DONE. FOR SAFETY REASONS, I AM NOT SATISFIED WITH THAT DECISION.

NHTSA ID

11124116

Incident

May 7, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE REARVIEW MIRRORS WOULD REFLECT THE INTERIOR VENTS, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ROSENTHAL ACURA (623 FREDERICK RD, GAITHERSBURG, MD 20879, (877) 300-4226), BUT NO FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11115895

Incident

Aug 6, 2018