2009 Toyota Camry: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2009 Toyota Camry: 10 recalls, 1293 owner complaints and up to 25 mpg combined.
_Touring_sedan_(2010-05-19).jpg){kind=link}
Recalls
10 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Speed control / throttle Vehicle recall #09V388000 · 2009 · 4,445,056 vehicles
What's wrong: The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat.
Why it matters: A stuck open accelerator pedal May result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
The fix: Toyota filed an amended defect report on November 25, 2009, stating that dealers will modify the accelerator pedal and, on certain vehicles, alter the shape of the floor surface under the pedal. These changes address the risk of pedal entrapment due to interference with the floor mat. Redesigned…
Speed control / throttle Vehicle recall #10V017000 · 2010 · 2,230,661 vehicles
What's wrong: Due to the manner in which the friction lever interacts with the sliding surface of the accelerator pedal inside the pedal sensor assembly, the sliding surface of the lever May become smooth during vehicle operation. In this condition, if condensation occurs on the surface, as May occur from heater operation (without a/c) when the pedal assembly is cold, the friction when the accelerator pedal is operated May…
Why it matters: The accelerator pedal May become hard to depress, slow to return to idle, or, in the worst case, mechanically stuck in a partially depressed position, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will install a reinforcement bar in the accelerator pedal which will allow the pedal to operate smoothly. Gm will notify owners for the Pontiac vibe please see 10v-018. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on February 5, 2010 and will be…
Equipment Vehicle recall #10V035000 · 2010 · 271,417 vehicles
What's wrong: 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold between September 1, 2005 and June 2, 2008 without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
Why it matters: This does not meet the standard requirements.
The fix: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. Dealers will also correct the owner's manual. The safety recall began on May 27, 2010.
Equipment Vehicle recall #10V036000 · 2010 · 153,418 vehicles
What's wrong: 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
Why it matters: A driver May overload a vehicle which May increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. The safety recall began on May 27, 2010.
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #12V091000 · 2012 · 186,798 vehicles
What's wrong: During assembly of the contact-type stop lamp switch, silicone grease May have come in contact with the surface of the switch which could cause contact resistance. If this occurs, warning lamps could illuminate, a no start condition could result, the shift lever May not shift from the âparkâ position, or the vehicleâs brake lights could become inoperative.
Why it matters: Inoperative brake lights would not warn other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 12, 2012.
Visibility (wipers, glass) Vehicle recall #12V491000 · 2012 · 2,519,424 vehicles
What's wrong: The power window master switch assemblies in some of these vehicles were built using a less precise process for lubricating the internal components of the switch assemblies. Irregularities in this lubrication process May cause the power window master switch assemblies to malfunction and overheat.
Why it matters: If the switch overheats, it May melt, possibly resulting in a fire.
The fix: Toyota will notify its owners, and dealers will inspect the switch and apply a special grease that inhibits heat build up or replace any switch damaged by the defect, free of charge. Toyota owners that experience a problem with a switch should not attempt to make repairs, but should contact their…
Seats, Airbags Vehicle recall #13V014000 · 2013 · 3,235 vehicles
What's wrong: During modification by set to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest dvd systems, these vehicles May not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system May not operate as designed.
Why it matters: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags May not deploy or they May deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag…
The fix: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013.
Seats Vehicle recall #14V743000 · 2014 · 3,233 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected vehicles May experience compression of the seat cushion which May damage the seat heater wiring.
Why it matters: Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
The fix: Set will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in January 2015.
Visibility (wipers, glass) Vehicle recall #15V689000 · 2015 · 1,814,284 vehicles
What's wrong: During the manufacturing of the power window master switch (pwms), grease lubricant May have been inconsistently applied to the sliding electrical contacts.
Why it matters: If the sliding electrical contacts are not protected by lubricant, debris and moisture that get into the switch May cause a short circuit and the switch assembly May overheat and melt, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the switch, applying a lubricant if no abnormality is found. If abnormality is found, the pwms circuit board will be replaced, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 20, 2015.
Seats Vehicle recall #16V396000 · 2016 · 7,749 vehicles
What's wrong: The electrical wiring in the seat heaters May be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
Why it matters: If damaged, the copper strand heating element May short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Set will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 19 mention a fire, 86 injuries and 2 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Speed control / throttle (266): the most common themes are sudden acceleration (76), stalls / loses power (18).
- Body & structure (224): the most common themes are leaks (6).
- Engine (208): the most common themes are excess oil use (93), leaks (44), warning light on (34).
- Other / unknown (174): the most common themes are fire / smoke (7), electrical failure (5).
The 2009 Toyota Camry has 1293 owner complaints, ranking #2 of 35 Camry model years for complaints (2.5× the average Camry year). Complaints peaked in 2010 (302 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 49,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2008 (933 complaints, 7 recalls), 2010 (604 complaints, 9 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 L 4-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 31 | 25 | Regular |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 31 | 25 | Regular |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 | 28 | 23 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2009 Toyota Camry.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/moHeads up: we may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Prices checked 2026-10 and can change. We never host or link to pirated manuals. Disclosure
FAQ
Does the 2009 Toyota Camry have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 10 vehicle recalls for the 2009 Toyota Camry. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2009 Toyota Camry problems?
Owners have filed 1293 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are speed control / throttle (266), body & structure (224), engine (208).
What gas mileage does the 2009 Toyota Camry get?
EPA ratings run up to 25 mpg combined (2.4 L, Automatic 5-spd), across 3 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2009 Toyota Camry repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.