2008 Toyota CAMRY: complaints, problems and recalls

I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE WITH APPROXIMATELY 800 MILES. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE 2 WEEKS AGO, AND AM ALREADY GRAVELY CONCERNED WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE. ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4TH I WAS MERGING INTO INTERSTATE TRAFFIC AND PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR FOR THE NECESSARY ACCELERATION I NEEDED TO STAY WITH THE FLOW, BUT THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND. THE ACCELERATOR WAS ALMOST TO THE FLOOR, YET THE CAR WAS ONLY COASTING. IT TOOK AT LEAST 2 FULL SECONDS FOR THE VEHICLE TO RESPOND AND IT FINALLY DID JERK TO LIFE, BUT ONLY AFTER 2 CARS HAD TO JUMP …

Owner-reported narrative. 35 miles reported. Look up ODI 10202998 at NHTSA ↗

NEW CAMRY HYBRID, THREE DAYS OLD, "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT ALERTED US OF A PROBLEM THAT PROVED TO BE AN EMISSION SYSTEM MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT REQUIRED SIX DAYS TO COMPLETE. DEALER FIXED THE DEFECT FOR FREE, BUT MY INTERACTION WITH THE NATIONAL TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENCY IN CALIFORNIA WAS UNACCEPTABLE. THIS OCCURRED IN SEPTEMBER 2008, THOUGH YOUR PULL-DOWN MENU DOES NOT INCLUDE 2008 AS AN OPTION. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 313 miles reported. Look up ODI 10204320 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATES DURING ACCELERATION. THE FAILURE PREVENTS THE CONTACT FROM CHANGING LANES BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GAIN SPEED. THE FAILURE HAS CAUSED NEAR CRASHES. THE DEALER INSTALLED NEW HARDWARE IN THE VEHICLE. THE REPAIR HELPED APPROXIMATELY 40%, BUT THE VEHICLE STILL HESITATES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,150 AND NOTICED THE FAILURE MILEAGE AT 100. THE CONSUMER STATED CAR WILL NOT START UNTIL THE THIRD TRY. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10209926 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD THEN SURGE FORWARD AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN OCCASIONAL THREE SECOND HESITATION BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD BEGIN TO MOVE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. TOYOTA STATED THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF SUCH FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 650. THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS UNRELIABLE EVEN ON A SLIGHT SLOPE WITH DOWNSHIFTING. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO HESITATE TO MOVE F…

Owner-reported narrative. 650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10210078 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE IN THE PARK POSITION IN ORDER FOR THE CONTACT TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL WHEN PARKED ON AN INCLINE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NORMAL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,005 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,900. UPDATED 01/14/08 *BF UPDATED 01/14/08 *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10212417 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE ENGINE RACES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. WHEN THE CONTACT PLACES THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR, IT LUNGES FORWARD. THE VEHICLE ALSO HESITATES WHEN PICKING UP SPEED AFTER DECELERATING. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT THE COMPUTER WAS DESIGNED TO WORK IN THAT MANNER AND THERE WERE NO SOLUTIONS TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,000. UPDATED 01/29/08. *LJ UPDATED 01/29/08 *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 15 miles reported. Look up ODI 10213264 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED A GAS SMELL WHEN OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE THEN NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS NOT PROPERLY CONNECTED. AS A RESULT, THE DEALER INSTALLED A NEW FUEL TANK AND THERE HAD BEEN NO FURTHER OCCURRENCES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 640.

Owner-reported narrative. 139 miles reported. Look up ODI 10214550 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, ONE OF THE TOYO TIRES BLEW OUT. THE FOLLOWING DAY, A SECOND TIRE BLEW OUT AS WELL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRES. THE TIRE SIZE AND LINE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 700.

Owner-reported narrative. 700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10215674 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2009-10-05 (October 5, 2009)

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 PASSENGER VEHICLES. 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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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 ACCELERATOR PEDALS WILL BECOME AVAILABLE BEGINNING IN APRIL 2010 AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY MODIFIED PEDAL WITH THE NEW PEDAL IF DESIRED. ALSO, DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY GENUINE TOYOTA OR LEXUS ALL-WEATHER FLOOR MATS WITH REDESIGNED ALL-WEATHER MATS, OR REPURCHASE THE PREVIOUS MATS FROM OWNERS WHO DO NOT WANT THE NEW ONES. ADDITIONALLY, SOFTWARE MODIFICATIONS WILL BE INSTALLED ON CAMRY, AVALON AND LEXUS ES 350, IS 350 AND IS 250 MODELS THAT WILL ENSURE THAT THE BRAKE OVERRIDES THE ACCELERATOR IN THE EVENT BOTH BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS ARE APPLIED. TOYOTA WILL BEGIN MAILING LETTERS TO OWNERS ON DECEMBER 31, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331, LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.

Reported: 2010-01-21 (January 21, 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 TUNDRA VEHICLES. 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 INCREASE, WHICH MAY RESULT IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECOMING HARDER TO DEPRESS, SLOWER TO RETURN, OR, IN THE WORST CASE, MECHANICALLY STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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 COMPLETED ON MARCH 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

Reported: 2010-02-03 (February 3, 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 BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 AND JUNE 2, 2008 WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.

Remedy: 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. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GULF STATES TOYOTA AT 713-580-3300.

Reported: 2010-02-03 (February 3, 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 SOLD WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.

Consequence: A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: 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. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.

Reported: 2012-10-10 (October 10, 2012)

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 Camry, Camry Hybrid, RAV4, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Tundra, Sequoia, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Yaris, Scion xB, Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles. 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.

Consequence: If the switch overheats, it may melt, possibly resulting in a fire.

Remedy: 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 Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331. General Motors will contact the Pontiac Vibe owners affected by this recall and GM dealers will inspect and repair switches as necessary. Those owners may contact Pontiac Customer Care at 1-800-762-2737.

Reported: 2014-11-19 (November 19, 2014)

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.

Reported: 2016-06-02 (June 2, 2016)

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.

Consequence: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: 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. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.