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CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2009 Camry used to be adorned with our “Seal of Pretty Good” but that was before an alarming number of complaints started rolling in for excessive oil consumption.

Owners are being caught off-guard with how quickly their cars are running out of oil. No leaks, no spills, just 1 quart of vanishing oil in as little as 1,200 miles. Toyota maintains this is “normal” for the 2AZ-FE engine, even though they issued a TSB for the problem in August of 2011.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
56,637 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2009 Toyota Camry electrical problems

electrical problem

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2009 Toyota Camry Owner Comments (Page 1 of 4)

problem #71

Sep 302021

Camry

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I own a 2009 Toyota Camry the brake light abs light speedometer engine temp and rpm gauge all stop working or go crazy at random times, as well as my air conditioner when this happens. I have done some research and this is a reaccuring problem in many of the 2007-2009 Toyota models. I have also read that many have had oil consumption problems with this year also. I literally have to put atleast a quart in my motor every week or other week. No need for.an oil change when I-€™m consuming the new clean oil I-€™m putting in regularly. As far as the brake lights I replaced the entire brake module assembly with another one I got at junk yard. Problem was only fixed for 2 days and I-€™m back to square one. Their should be a recall on the brake system if this is a reaccurring issue with these cars.

- Calvert City, KY, USA

problem #70

Nov 012021

Camry

  • miles
The BRAKE & ABS lights started coming on although there was no apparent problem. Then, when those lights illuminate on the instrument panel, the speedometer & tachometer stop working. Often, the needles will bounce or they will just set at zero. This can occur at any speed & on all road conditions. This does not affect cruise control in anyway. I can set & stop the cruise control at any time. Eventually, it starts working again but it is totally random. Now, the Air Conditioning stops working when the ABS & BRAKE lights are on. The High Beam instrument panel lights are also affected. The headlights work but the instrument panel does not always reflect this or it shows that High Beams are on when they are not & vice versa. My mechanic could not identify the source of the problem. My research shows that the ABS Module is defective & the problem occurs in 2007-2009 Camrys. Apparently, this problem can be bypassed by disengaging the ABS Module, but obviously, that creates other issues. I have video of this activity but I am unable to upload it here.

- Winchester, VA, USA

problem #69

Mar 052022

Camry

  • miles
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.

- Carrollton, TX, USA

problem #68

Feb 122022

Camry

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Excessive oil consumption, I was not sent a recall notice on excessive oil consumption of my 2009 Toyota Camry that I purchased on 9/30/2009. Excessive oil consumption relates to the manufacturer defect of the 2009 and other model cars. The pistons and motor did not fit correctly which is causing excessive oil consumption along with other problems that relate to it. I bought my car in 2009, the problem was discovered between 2008-2015. I was not sent a recall notice so I could have brought my car in to fix it. The problem does not show up until the warranty expires or 60,000 later. I was not sent a recall because my car was new and it would be years before the problem starts to happen. I should have been notified regardless. I take good care of my car's maintenance. When I found out about the recall about 2 years ago from google the internet and I saw the class action lawsuits that was field. I still was not notified about the recalls. Now the problem is happening. Please help me I can not afford another car. Everyone should have been notified about the recall.

- Hartsdale, NY, USA

problem #67

Jul 242020

Camry

  • miles
My car keeps having problems. Toyota has rebuilt the engine in January 2018. Since then, I've had a new alternator three times. The last time was March 2020. A new radiator 2019, new spark plugs March 2020, new fuel pump April 2020. The passenger side window and passenger rear window will not come down. This happened a couple weeks ago. Scheduled a service appointment for, July 29, 2020. Yesterday, July 24, 2020, my car started shaking and cut off. There were no lights on (engine, oil or battery). In the process, the battery light flashed. Roadside assistance was called for service. Tow truck driver gave me a hotshot at my request so, I could roll the driver side windows up. My car needed a hotshot to drive off of the tow truck to park. Today, July 25,2020, roadside assistances was called to have it towed to jerry's Toyota belair rd., baltimore, md. I was advised that I need another alternator, again. This just makes no sense at all. This will be the third alternator in about two years. Further, I was advised that the mechanic 'thinks' that the master switch for the windows need to be replaced. For some reason, the alternator is not lasting in my car.

- Parkville, MD, USA

problem #66

May 082019

Camry

  • 109,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, extra effort was needed to depress the brake pedal to slow the vehicle. The contact stated that the ABS and vsc warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, after entering the vehicle, there was a continuous chime heard with several unknown warning lights remaining illuminated while the vehicle was driven. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer nor an independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 109,000.

- Katy, TX, USA

problem #65

Apr 302018

Camry

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Right mirror will not roll up or down.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #64

Oct 072017

Camry

  • 108,500 miles
ABS and brake light are on most of the time, rarely ABS and brake light goes off. When ABS and brake light are on, RPM and odometer go to zero, ac becomes warmer, sometimes engine cooling indicator also blinks. However, when ABS and brake light go off, everything works perfectly. I took the car to dealer, spent around $350 to diagnose, they told me that I have to replace the ECM which will cost $3000. Its really shocking

- Lexington, KY, USA

problem #63

Jun 192018

Camry

  • 171,758 miles
The dashboard gauges suddenly drop dead. ABS and brake light on. A/C is getting affected. All the needles start dancing. Car starts shaking and getting warm. It comes and goes. Similar year cars have the same complaint. Apparently it has to do with the ABS module short circuiting. This is a big life and safety concern and there should be a recal please. This happens anywhere and everywhere.

- Coral Springs, FL, USA

problem #62

May 202018

Camry

  • 110,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that the brake pedal had to be depressed with extreme pressure in order to stop the vehicle. In addition, the ABS and brake light indicators intermittently illuminated. The contact further stated that the speedometer gauge decreased to zero, the thermostat lever went to cold, and the tachometer fluctuated to zero. The vehicle was taken to legacy Toyota (3800 w Tennessee St, tallahassee, fl 32304, (888) 610-8309) where it was diagnosed that the ABS control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 110,000.

- Tallahassee, FL, USA

problem #61

Sep 232017

Camry

  • 101,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Problem description: 2009 Toyota Camry, brake light and ABS turn on, RPM and speedometer stop working intermittently, and A/C also seems to work intermittently. It is the same issue shown here: Https://www.youtube.com/watch?V=rdtgabjrfds it is dangerous because you have intermittent use of your dashboard sensors. The dealership wants to replace the entire ABS hydraulic system for the cost of $3000. This seems to be a well documented problem.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #60

Dec 152011

Camry

  • 82,500 miles
Engine operates with excessive oil usage. Consumes/loses 1 quart of oil in 700 miles as of this filing date. I went to Toyota service center at 12/2011 at 82,700 miles and they said no problem - 1 quart usage per 1000 miles is normal. Also, door locks stopped working at 45,000 miles or so.

- Marietta, GA, USA

problem #59

Dec 212017

Camry

  • 202,800 miles
Not sure if this issue has been addressed, but I thought I would report my near miss. Yesterday I did transmission flush on my 2009 Camry. After completing the trasmission service, I had my wife start the car, so I could check the fluid level (per owners manual); my 17 month old baby boy was also was in the car. I removed the transmission dipstick and cleaned it off. As I reinserted the dipstick there was an array of sparkes coming from the dipstick. I removed the dipstick and inspected what had occurred. It appears during the process the positive terminal on my battery got slightly exposed and when I reinserted the dipstick it touched the positive terminal of my battery and was grounded by the dipstick tube. The dipstick sustained electrical damage to the areas where it contacted the battery and dipstick tube. Luckily nothing caught fire during this incident, for my family was in the vehicle and the car was parked in my garage. I'm just passing my experience along. Thank you,

- Washington, UT, USA

problem #58

Oct 202017

Camry

  • 128,000 miles
Takata recall I never got notice that my 209 Camry had a problem with the takata airbag. When checking you sight, the only place I can get it replaced is over 2 hours away from Y home. I bought the vehicle new from sparks Toyota in myrtle beach and should be able to get it repaired there!

- North Myrtlebeach, SC, USA

problem #57

Jan 092017

Camry

  • 160,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Camry. While driving various speeds, the air bag warning indicator inadvertently illuminated and the horn inadvertently failed to function. In addition, when attempting to park and turning the steering wheel to the left, the vehicle veered to the right. Both rear tires made a loud noise, the engine shook violently without warning, and the water hose detached and caused water to leak out. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the shocks were replaced, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #56

Mar 152016

Camry

  • miles
I am having issues with back passenger window on driver side. I have to press the button at least three times before it rolls up. Also my car consumes oil. The black, top of my dashboard is sticky and has cracks. I have been to my local Toyota dealers and no one has addressed these issues. How do I get remedy before contacting legal council?

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #55

Nov 122016

Camry

  • miles
Motor oil is burning excessively I have to check the oil every weekend and the dealer says is normal, I think is not normal to keep adding oil when there is no leak. Dashboard is practically melting it was reported back in may because in the summer time it gets very sticky the dealer says it will take months or a year before they could fix it. Radio has a malfunction it was replaced back in 2014 because the screen turn black and not able to turn it on or off. In 2016 the radio is having problems again for the same reason and the dealer won't replace it anymore because the warranty is finished.

- Taylor, TX, USA

problem #54

Sep 152016

Camry

  • 117,000 miles
At start up the gauges started to work intermittently, after a while driving down the road they start working fine after a few miles they start jumping and falling. Brake light and ABS lights comes on and ac quits working we haven T drive the car since this started happening called the dealer and they told us to take to service, before that I will like to know if there's a recall for that. On the last service made by Toyota dealer, they washed the engine, a practice that I am not agree, does that may be the cause? let me know, thanks

- Aibonito, PR, USA

problem #53

Aug 302016

Camry

  • 71,779 miles
ABS, A/C, and speedometer stopped working. Had to replace ABS module/actuator for a cost of $2,156.65! car only had been driven 71,779 miles. I understand that the Toyota highlander had a recall for the same issue and there have been numerous complaints about this problem on the internet. Toyota will not reimburse me for this safety issue because I didn"T have the repair work done at a dealer even though the part was obtained from the dealer.

- Encino, CA, USA

problem #52

Jun 252016

Camry

  • 14 miles
I started to back out of the parking spot at the hotel I was staying to go out for dinner with my friends, I release the brakes and put the car in reverse. Then all of sudden the dash board lighted up then disappeared briefly when I put it in forward. As I was driving away from the hotel the lights on the dash board was lighted again. Then as I proceed to get on the freeway the dashboard lit up with warning check vsc system. (the hotel to the freeway ramp was a block away) I was driving in the right hand lane for several miles on the 580, because I noticed the brakes felt weird. The lights on the dash board remained lighted. The red indicator light for my brakes were on indicating the brakes were not released, but it was. At this point I was tensed and scared as I drove on the 580 freeway. I exited off the freeway slower than normal and I would press down on the brakes lightly and it would jerk and rock. It would bounce myself and friends in a rocking motion. We were all scared when I told them that I was not pressing on the brakes as it rocked. I was not playing with the brakes. My friend sitting in the front passenger side, confirmed to my friend sitting in the back I was not doing anything with the brakes as we rocked while driving or at the stop signs. I was driving cautiously on the streets due to I was afraid I might rear end someone. Every time I made the stop it would rock. So from the restaurant to the hotel I drove the streets and stayed off the freeway. The "check vsc "and indicators lights remained on the whole time. The following day, my husband drove out to get the car and drove it home for me. We took the back roads home to avoid freeway driving. As I drove behind him, I notice the brake lights stayed on most of the time. He too noticed the lights on the dash board remained on and the brakes were not working correctly.

- Concord, CA, USA

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