The Lemon Index2009 Toyota Camry.
The 2009 Toyota Camry is worse than average by owner complaints: 496 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 172, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about speed control, it has 10 recalls, and it gets 23 to 34 mpg combined. The best Toyota Camry year is 2022.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 1,412 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every Toyota Camry year. 2009 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 23K to 93K miles on the car (1,031 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- speed control complaints mostly came at 9K–37K miles
- body structure complaints mostly came at 40K–98K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 68K–135K miles
Recalls 10
- seats 2016
The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
- visibility 2015
During the manufacturing of the Power Window Master Switch (PWMS), grease lubricant may have been inconsistently applied to the sliding electrical contacts.
- seats 2014
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.
Show all 10 recalls
- airbags 2013
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…
- visibility 2012
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.
- lights 2012
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 CAMRY VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 1, 2008, THROUGH FEBRUARY 28, 2009, AND MODEL YEAR 2009-2011 VENZA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 20, 2008, THROUGH JANUARY 4, 2011.
- equipment 2010
GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD BETW…
- equipment 2010
SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE S…
- speed control 2010
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 AVALON, MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 CAMRY, MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 COROLLA, COROLLA MATRIX, RAV4, MODEL YEAR 2010 HIGHLANDER, MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 SEQUOIA, AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 …
- speed control 2009
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 PASSENGER VEHICLES.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Toyota told dealers about
Toyota sent dealers 457 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Abnormal noise when turning and/or
- SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin Nos
- Floor mat installation during pre-delivery service
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedPedestrian alert sounds2023
- ClosedBrake actuator malfunction2014
- ClosedPower window master switch fire2012–2013
- ClosedPower window master switch fire2012
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★★ · side ★★★★★ · rollover ★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $1900–2800 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.4L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
2009 Toyota Camry. Consumer states his vehicle has an unintended acceleration. Consumer says the vehicle accelerated to a high rate of speed with and without the floor mat in the vehicle.
2009 Toyota Camry owner · NHTSA complaint 10313139
More owner reports
Traveling about 15mph when the car suddenly accelerated and hit a vehicle in front of me. First time this incident occurred to me.
NHTSA complaint 10320225
Uncontrollable acceleration for my 2009 Toyota Camry for 20 seconds. No accident.
NHTSA complaint 10319702
Quick answers
Is the 2009 Toyota Camry reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew 1.7× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 172; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Toyota Camry year by this measure is 2022.
What are the most common 2009 Toyota Camry problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are speed control (48%), brakes (8%) and suspension (8%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2009 Toyota Camry have?
10 safety recalls (latest: seats). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2009 Toyota Camry get?
23 to 34 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2009 Toyota Camry problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 23,000 and 93,000 miles. The middle report was at 50,900 miles, from 1,031 complaints.
Does the 2009 Toyota Camry have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 7% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2009 Toyota Camry cost in fuel a year?
About $1900 to $2800 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2009 Toyota Camry have?
2.4L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
What Toyota Camry year is better than the 2009?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2022, 2017 and 2016.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works