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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.

7.5

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$1,230
Average Mileage:
96,600 miles
Total Complaints:
227 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (116 reports)
  2. toyota says normal (18 reports)
  3. starting the excessive oil consumption test (17 reports)
  4. replace engine block (15 reports)
  5. toyota says 1.1 qts. per 600mi is normal (15 reports)
  6. replace pistons, rings, seals gaskets & bearings (14 reports)
2009 Toyota Camry engine problems

engine problem

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2009 Toyota Camry Owner Comments (Page 1 of 12)

problem #227

Oct 282022

Camry LE 2az-Fe

  • Automatic transmission
  • 106,800 miles

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

I am glad that my oil light came on while I was at the grocery store. I was able to go in and buy some oil so that I could drive home. I took it to a mechanic and they could not find any evidence of an oil leak. So, I started doing some research and came across this website. It appears that excessive oil consumption is an issue those cars that have the engine 2AZ-FE. I also saw that there was a class action lawsuit, but not sure what result of that lawsuit was. Anyway, very annoyed that I have to keep checking the oil.

- Carmen Y., Selma, AL, US

problem #226

Feb 072017

Camry LE 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 140,000 miles

Adding oil every two weeks is not fun. This problem was well known by Toyota and therefore they need to correct it, with or without a warranty.

- Richard M., NEW CASTLE, DE, US

problem #225

Dec 152021

Camry

  • Automatic transmission
  • 106,105 miles

Well, this problem started in 2021. The oil light came on and it was leaking on the ground. I took it to dealership where they said it was leaking around the gasket. So they replaced value cover gasket, did an oil change and filter. Now it is eating up oil.

- Barbara C., PHILADELPHIA, PA, US

problem #224

Jan 012014

Camry LX 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 110,000 miles

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

2009 Camry with 170 mileage burns the engine oil very quickly and I have to keep adding all the time. I called toyota, and they said the recall has expired and they can't do anything about it.

- Wu L., Dublin, OH, US

problem #223

Oct 152019

Camry 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 125,000 miles

I bought my 2009 Toyota Camry when it was new. I still consider it a new car even after 10 years. I had every intention of driving it until the wheels fall off. I have been very particular about maintenance, knowing that I wanted the car to last as long as possible.

Soon after a recent oil change with the service station I have been going to since the car was new, my husband heard a clicking noise. He checked the oil and it was empty. At first I thought the service station had forgotten to add oil during the service. We brought it to our mechanic who suggested an additive. We used the additive but a few weeks later and, same problem. My husband checked the oil and it was empty.

We are now trying a synthetic additive with very little hope of it working. I called the local Toyota dealership where I bought my car. They said, "Oh, Toyota extended the warranty to 10 years but that lapsed a year ago since you bought the car in 2018." Oh, okay... I am so stressed out about the ticking time bomb I'm driving, the possibility of losing a car I love and about spending money on another car (of any model) that could very well have the same problem.

- Frances A., Lawrence, US

problem #222

May 312019

Camry LS V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 170,000 miles

Toyota should fix the problems that they built. They know this is a problem and to deny it only hurts their reputation.

- Ernest S., Donalds, US

problem #221

Jul 152020

Camry

  • Automatic transmission
  • 150,000 miles

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

Toyota came out with a notice acknowledging faulty piston rings. The problem is seen in vehicles from 2007-2010 in the 2AZ-Fe engines that burn oil excessively. I contacted them, they haven't responded to me yet. Just thought I might add to the tally over here.

- EL N., Stone Mountain, GA, US

problem #220

Jan 052020

Camry LE 4 cylinder

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,000 miles

Like most Toyota owners I bought my second one completely confident I was buying a 200,000 mile problem free car. Around 120,000 miles I noticed it was losing oil but there were no leaks. You know the rest of the story - it loves to eat oil a quart every 1,000 miles. I don't want to saddle someone with this problem but I will tell buyers about it. I need some $ for it so I am going to sell my car that should be worth $6000 for about $3000 to a buyer that knows its problem.

I will never buy another Toyota again.

- David S., Tulsa, US

problem #219

Sep 192018

Camry LE 4 cylinder

  • Automatic transmission
  • 133,768 miles

I am disappointed with my 2009 Toyota due to it's oil consumption problem. I have for at least 20 years bought Honda or Toyota. They have been the most reliable cars on the market in my opinion. I really hoped for 200,000 from this one. I have been checking the oil since at least 9/19/18 when I saw it was using oil well before time to change it. Now I am finding it is burning a quart of oil about every 2,000 miles. I learned that because mine was made in the good old USA the quality control was inferior to those mad in Japan! If I buy another Toyota it will have to be made in Japan, sorry USA. If my fellow Americans want me to by their products they will have to stop doing a sloppy job.

- David S., Tulsa, US

problem #218

May 052017

Camry

  • Automatic transmission
  • 95,000 miles

Toyota did their "oil test" but not to the 1200 mile, oil disappears !!!! Of course not they don't give a damn that their cars are crap !!!!!!! Sooo I check oil close to 1200 mile, put quart or more in, been doing this 3 years now. Want to buy a RELIABLE car to get to and from work , trade in value only around 2500 ... Can't afford big payments , so keep hoping and praying it lasts few more years !!! Except for the oil problem a good car .. Hoping to find a decent Honda Accord for under $6000 , if .. Yes if .. We get stimulus check better than the first one!!!

- Kathy Q., Elkhart, US

problem #217

Jan 012009

Camry 2.4L I4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 10 miles

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

My 2009 Toyota Camry has used oil from day one. I uses about 1 quart every 2000 miles, and always has.

- Keith L., Sulphur Springs, US

problem #216

Jun 172015

Camry LE 2.4L V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 130,000 miles

Bought 09 Camry new, followed all operation and maintenance Toyota guidelines. In 2015 (at 130,000 miles), the "Low Oil" warning light came on, took it to the nearest gas station, the car needed 3 qrts. Took it to the dealer to do their test, they overfilled the engine with oil. Went back after 1200 miles and was told the car is burning oil but not enough to do the repair (mainly because they over filled the engine with oil). The car continued to burn oil at higher and higher rate. Now it is burning around 2 qrts every 1000 miles, the car has 170K miles on it. Not sure what to do now? Any suggestion??

- Ahmed I., Severna Park, US

problem #215

May 062019

Camry LX 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 175,000 miles

We recently purchased a 2009 Toyota Camry car is extremely good condition. After driving it about 300 miles oil light flashed we checked oil and was a quart low. According to oil change sticker had rough 2000 on last oil change, so we added a quart. It rolled over 3000 mile to change garage checked before changing it said it ease a quart low again.

I did some research and these engines are having excessive oil consumption a lot. I had no idea when we purchase this car there were issues with oil consumption until then. We thought it would run forever if taken care of. There's no excuse for this type of oil consumption except faulty oil rings and a lack oil cheap parts.

I don't know if there's anything Toyota will do for this problem. I am very disappointed in my first and will be last Toyota after this experience. Sad I had to find out the low quality this way. Maybe at least this compliant we help others realize this is a design problem. Toyota should stand behind this problem and repair. I was always a GM GUY and should have never switched but will know better next time.

- Terry C., cromwell ky, KY, US

problem #214

Dec 242017

Camry 2.4L V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

I never knew this was a problem until I researched further on the internet that it was common for older Toyota cars such as my 2009 Camry had excessive oil burning where I needed to put a quart of oil every month or so (about 1200 miles). As I understand it that it pertains to a piston ring issue where one is out of luck in paying for repairs if the warranty expired. Very annoying in adding oil every several weeks or so.

- Phil N., Glen Allen, US

problem #213

May 182016

Camry LE 4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles

I think it's such a rip off. You spend thousands buying a car that's made out of aluminum and then something goes wrong. You take to the dealer maybe twice a month and they don't stop to think; hey, we just changed your oil... let me see what's going on. Why do we keep changing your oil? They keep giving free oil changes. They knows the problem or are to lazy to go and check the recall list. It's a defect Toyota Corporation, you don't want to fix the problem. How sad.

- Ketria T., Houston, US

problem #212

Jan 152018

Camry

  • Automatic transmission
  • 200,000 miles

Car started burning through oil earlier this year. The shop that changes my oil could not find where oil was leaking and did not know what was going on. My check engine light every once in a while would flash on and right back off and then stop for months. Last month the check engine light came on and stayed on when while I was on a trip, I went to Auto Zone and had them plug in the meter, the error was that there were misfires. We bought an ignition coil and spark plug and found a mechanic in the area to get us going again. A couple of weeks prior to this we had put "stop smoke" in with the oil and it stopped burning so much oil. Things seem to be going well. Last week the oil was gone again, filled it back up. A few days later it was time for an oil change, had it changed, talked to the mechanic again and he found that Toyota had issued the TSB about this problem. That day my check engine light came back on. Took to another mechanic, he changed the spark plugs, the error code went away. He said that the oil is leaking onto the spark plugs and burning them up which causes the misfire. I haven't contacted Toyota yet as all of the last events happened in the last couple of days.

- Donna H., Morrow, GA, US

problem #211

Oct 242017

Camry LE 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 160,000 miles

Was told that the valve cover gasket was leaking, which it was , had it repaired. I had it replaced recently again as the first repair shop did it incorrectly. Car is still using about a half a quart of oil every 700 miles. There are no visible leaks. I had a mechanic check it all over for leaks (resulted in gasket replacement), no other leaks detected. The car now has over 175,000 miles and it is my understanding Toyota will not cover it as it is over the 150K limit. It runs normally, no loss of power, does not knock or ping. My concern is that this will get wore over time . I always thought I had nothing to worry about in the way of reliability as a Toyota owner. I have my doubts as I have read several complaint sites and see similar issues with this model year.

- flasteeler18, Jacksonville, US

problem #210

May 062017

Camry XLE 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 152,000 miles

I own a 2009 Camry it has all records of anything that's ever been done to it plus my dad is mechanic also on top of all this!! I had noticed that my oil light has came on after driving a little more that month then normal of course I called my dad and headed that way but I had checked it as soon as the light came on and it was BONE DRY I check the oil between changes anyways to be safe it had been 2 weeks since the new change had been done!!! I also had switched to synthetic to help MAYBE with it burning this much oil!!! UGH

I went home and did some extensive research on this issue (recalls and websites like this one and even YouTube) to see if it was a frequent issue and IT WAS!!! Piston and rings burning excessive oil amounts FOR NO REASON depending on how much you drive the car the more it burns it up!! SO I contacted Toyota Headquarters and after about 4 phone calls the finally called me back, I explained to her the issue which I'M SURE SHE HAD HEARD AFTER ALL I HAD READ and how many people have had to be stiffed with this issue!!! Mind you this was last year! She had told me that they had made put the car into a bracket recall so it had guidelines and the guidelines of that they WILL NOT fix the car or rebuild WHATEVER it was after 150,000 on it!! So I asked the lady that's funny that you claim to take care of this issue BUT the car did NOT start burning this oil until AFTER THE CAR HIT 150,000 so was this in the "TOYOTA PLAN" so NOTHING could be done, the lady I spoke with didn't care nor did she answer any of my questions LIKE why would they put a bracket on it??? They want us to buy another Camry? I DON"T THINK SO!

This 2009 was my 4th Camry and my first Camry I'd still have if I hadn't crashed it NO oil burned from that one @200,000 miles just a water pump!! The good ol Camry days HUM SMH so the 2009 still burns oil and after great care nothing is done COOL THANK TOYOTA!! I'll make sure it's very well known and I'll go buy my a Honda or Acura they seem to still be standing by their names these days!! What a disappointment and let down here, I really do love the Camry but not after this shaft of a move to not stand by your name or what you make or DON'T make for that matter!!!!!!

- toniheight, Lapel, IN, United States

problem #209

Jan 012011

Camry LE

  • Automatic transmission
  • 10,000 miles

My wife had a new 2009 Camry, and I used to change oil for her car. every 5k miles.And never check oil level in between oil change.Until one day her coworker said you should your oil level every 1000 miles. I stared to pay attention and noted it consume about 1 quart of oil every 1000 mile. And I got a letter from Toyota said that I need to bring the vehicle to near deal to fix. So I did. At the dealer they did a test and said my wife Camry consume 1 quart of oil every 1000 miles, this was normal and there was no fix.

I had to end up adding 4 quarts of oil every oil change. This costed me so much money and times for Toyota and dealer created and don't want to fix it.

I myself had a 1999 Camry V6, and loved it. It had 200,000 Miles on it, and never need to add oil between oil change.

There is for sure my next car will never a TOYOTA.

- mycamry, Temple City, US

problem #208

Mar 072018

Camry SE LE

  • Automatic transmission
  • 233,278 miles

I regularly take my Camry to get full service with the local Toyota dealer. Approximately six months ago I was informed by the dealer that the car engine was using oil and that I should keep vigilant and return 3 weeks later to be checked again. I was informed that it was not enough for Toyota to be fixed. Since that time I have taken the same car to be serviced again. The dealer service person told me that my car an excessive amount of oil. and that I would have to get an engine overhaul costing me thousands of dollars. I have checked for leaks and there are none. I now have to constantly checking my engine oil.

I was of the believe that Toyota cars were very dependable and would last well over two hundred thousand miles if you take care of the vehicle. Which II have, there is a record at my Toyota dealer of my car service. The name of my dealer is Royal Moore Toyota service located in Hillsboro, Oregon. I am a senior citizen on a fixed income.

- Jose G., Hillsboro, US

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