10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
10,720 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2009 Toyota Camry:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #10

Jun 052010

Camry

  • 40,700 miles
Driving West in a rental car on St. Charles rock rd. I changed lanes from the right westbound lane into the L-West lane after checking my mirrors. While I did that I got hit by unseen car (unfamiliar blind spot?) in the rear left, which changed car's heading towards the left (southwest), onto a trajectory crossing the eastbound lanes. I immediately and fully hit the brake pedal but the brakes didn't respond (pedal seemed stuck), and the car continued to move at speed (no acceleration) towards the restaurant on the South side of scrr. I tried to turn wheel to the left to avoid the curb, and perhaps pull a U-turn, but the wheel didn't budge either; all the while I kept pressure on the brake pedal, except for one or two pumping attempts to see if the brakes would kick in, but no noticeable change in pedal response or braking action ensued. The car stayed on the course it got onto by the preceding collision, crossed the eastbound lanes toward the restaurant, jumped the curb, went through a green strip of low (1-2') juniper bushes onto the paved restaurant grounds, and pushed a picnic table into a business sign before coming to a full stop against the building. There was no clear damage to the building itself. I do not recall having turned off the ignition at any time during this incident, either while driving or after I came to a stop. I recall having to restart the car to lower the driver's side door window, because the door itself was blocked by another picnic table. I do not recall anything odd with the ignition key when I restarted (like it was still in the on position). Based on the unresponsiveness of both brakes and steering wheel immediately after the collision, it's my impression that there may have been a glitch in the car's electrical/control system. Until this accident, the car handled normally; there was no apparent problem with brakes, steering or accelerator.

- St Louis, MO, USA

problem #9

May 122009

Camry

  • miles
Brakes failed on vehicle causing rear end collision with other car. Car was damaged, almost totaled. Back, neck and rib injuries sustained. Brakes did not work, no skid marks.

- Bay City, MI, USA

problem #8

Jul 052009

Camry

  • 800 miles
I have had a 2009 Camry hybrid since July 2009 and have noticed- what I would refer to as "power surges while braking (sometimes almost lurching forward uncontrollably - I almost rear ended cars in front of me in traffic a few times - especially on bumpy roads" I thought it was due to the capturing of too much energy from the regenerative braking system so that it charges the battery while braking. Only once I heard people on the radio describing the prius braking problem did I realize it sounds exactly the same! why haven't we heard anything about this for the Camry hybrids? I never owned a hybrid previously and although I am unhappy with the braking, I thought it was normal for a hybrid and I just needed to get used to it. I only recently commented on a survey, that Toyota sent to me, about it - as I thought it was normal for the hybrid. I have not yet contacted the dealer.

- Balltimore, MD, USA

problem #7

Feb 172010

Camry

  • 28,000 miles
When attempting to brake I have occasionally had my vehicle accelerate instead of stopping. This is extremely frightening and I no longer feel safe in my vehicle, especially in light of recent news reports documenting wide spread defects for my particular model. Even when the car does not accelerate while I attempt to brake, there is a delay in the response of the braking system which is a danger in itself. My natural reflex when this happens is to step on the brake peddle with more force and more frequency which, I believe, causes excessive wear and tear on the braking system. Braking/engine problem with 2009 Toyota Camry.

- Inglewood, CA, USA

problem #6

Jun 012009

Camry

  • 140 miles
The car is difficult to steer in a straight line at higher speeds (above 50mph). The steering keeps pulling to the left even when the road is banked in the opposite direction. This has been present since new and currently car has 7000 miles. This was pointed out in the1000 mile service and wheel alignment was done by Toyota dealership to rectify the issue. However, the problem does not seem to be related to wheel alignment and is present even after the alignment work. At 70mph, the car is difficult to keep in a straight line using both hands on the steering, and a constant corrective effort is required. This makes the car go in a slight zig zag within the lane and does not inspire confidence, and needless to say scares other travelers driving in their own lanes. Another issue is very inconsistent braking. This is a Camry hybrid and the point of shift between regenerative braking and friction braking is very inconsistent. The regenerative braking feels and to be slow down the car at a slower pace until friction braking comes up and immediately slows the car down. The net result is car does not slow down as it should initially but then doing so very quickly. This is very evident is slow moving traffic. Plus, my car seems to have a light screeching noise coming from right brake (not the usual brake noise). This happens only when car is cold, and when not braking. When braking it goes away. It has been present since new and Toyota has not been able to replicate or correct it.

- Duluth, GA, USA

problem #5

Feb 072010

Camry

  • 0 miles
My Toyota Camry hybrid has the exact same going over bumps and pothole problems that is being described for the prius, however, I have not been able to get it addressed. During braking, if the car goes over a non-smooth surface in the road, the car speeds up until all four wheels are on solid ground again, usually a short duration. This is scary and dangerous and I am lucky that I have been able to avoid an accident. This has been a continuous problem that the dealer didn't recognize when I have complained about it. I am entering yesterdays date in the incident date field since this happened to me again last evening.

- Bloomington, IL, USA

problem #4

Feb 032010

Camry

  • 14,553 miles
I own a Toyota Camry hybrid, 2009. I am also experiencing the same brake failure problems that the Toyota 2010 prius is being recalled for. I noticed that when braking on down sloped roads, slippery roads, or bumpy roads, the car seems to accelerate while braking. This occurs for 1-2 seconds. It is a very scary feeling. Last week I narrowly avoided hitting 2 cars during a minor snow fall because while making a slow turn or braking the car again accelerated and the braking system failed momentarily. I verbally asked the dealer that I purchased the car from, and my neighborhood dealer 2 weeks ago while making a scheduled 15K mile service visit about the problem, but they weren't aware of it and suggested that it could be the hybrid system kicking in. A few days later I heard of the prius recall and was shocked when I read the reasons behind it. I am now scheduled for a service visit tomorrow at Toyota. At my last service visit they said the brakes were in good condition, but I think this is an electrical problem. Please investigate the Camry hybrids as well. This problems is reproducible and occurs every time that I am on a bumpy road and brake or on a slippery surface and brake.

- Jamaica, NY, USA

problem #3

Oct 012008

Camry

  • 10 miles
There's a brake delay when I am driving at low speed. It occurs every time I drive at low speeds and try to make full stop at a stop sign, when I hit pot holes, I feel the brake sort of skid.

- Bronx, NY, USA

problem #2

Nov 182009

Camry

  • 22,000 miles
I have purchase 2009 Toyota Camry le on August 7, 2009. But my wife was driving when it was involved in an accident on November 18, 2009 due to either the gas pedal stuck or the brakes didn't work properly, that caused a crash to the other car rear. We have taken to don mcgill Toyota of katy for repair that cost me $3,850 for that damage on the front end. The questions is does my car have same problem that Toyota has recalled?

- Katy, TX, USA

problem #1

Dec 122008

Camry

  • 1,000 miles
My 2009 Toyota Camry may have another issue with the brakes. I am not sure if it is related to the other recalls, because I sent an email to Toyota on Monday and have not yet heard back from them. When I press on the brake pedal, as I am coming to a stop, my brakes appear to stop working and the car will surge forward. This happens a lot (at least once a week) and I thought maybe it was just the Toyota as this is the first Toyota that I have owned. I think that Toyota should have to buy-back these vehicles. My reasons for purchasing the Toyota were, safety and resale value. My vehicle is no longer safe and has a highly decreased resale/trade-in value. So, much that I am not even able to trade it in for a safe vehicle.

- Greenville, SC, USA