Research · Midsize Cars

2009 Toyota CamryRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 10 safety recalls and 1,413 owner complaints for the 2009 Toyota Camry. Most complaints involve vehicle speed control (285) and structure (242). The EPA rates it 23–25 mpg combined.

Combined MPG
23–25mpg
EPA · 3 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
10campaigns
Latest Jun 2016
Owner complaints
1,413
Top: vehicle speed control
Fuel cost / yr
$2,500est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

10 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Seats: seat heater

Free remedy

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.

SeatsReported Jun 2, 2016NHTSA 16V396000

Visibility: power window devices and controls

Free remedy

Toyota Motor Company (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tundra, Sequoia, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and Scion xB, 2008-2011 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2007 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2009 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2006-2011 RAV4, 2006-2010 Yaris, and 2009-2010 Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles. During the manufacturing of the Power Window Master Switch (PWMS), grease lubricant may have been inconsistently applied to the sliding electrical contacts.

VisibilityReported Oct 22, 2015NHTSA 15V689000

Seats: seat heater

Free remedy

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.

SeatsReported Nov 19, 2014NHTSA 14V743000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

1,413 complaints filed with NHTSA · Jul 2008 – Oct 2026
  1. Vehicle speed control285
  2. Structure242
  3. Engine219
  4. Service brakes108
  5. Visibility/wiper100
  6. Electrical system90
  7. Air bags72
  8. Suspension71
  9. Power train53

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Camry model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1996421
1997558
1998610
1999590
2000530
2001330
20021,039
2003818
2004799
2005721
2006435
20073,616
20081,178
20091,413
2010614
2011625
2012645
2013301
2014480
2015271
2016189
2017148
2018754
2019400
2020275
2021158
202265
202365
202452
Crashes reported
161
Fires reported
22
Injuries reported
90
Deaths reported
2
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Vehicle speed control

285 reports86 crashes2 fires
“We (my wife and I) were driving our vehicle Sunday November 5th 2023 in the morning and experienced a serious issue. While on the highway, the car was stuck with the gas petal in the down position (we did not realize this until after we were able to successfully power down the car) and continued to accelerate in an uncontrolled manner. We were fortunate that our breaks were able to stop the car, and we navigated it to the shoulder of the highway. We then put the car in park, all while the engine was full throttled. We powered down the car and removed the keys. We waited a few moments and tried to power the car again - the engine however remained full throttled. We turned the vehicle off once again and then realized the gas petal was stuck in the down position. We were able to manually get the petal unstuck at this time. We have not driven the vehicle since this incident and consider it too dangerous to do so. Since this incident, we have looked up any potential recalls for this issue and have not found any. To answer the questions above: The gas petal/acceleration malfunctioned. The safety of everyone in the vehicle and other drivers on the road were at…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 11, 2023Vehicle speed controlODI 11554644

Structure

242 reports12 crashes5 fires
“Component or System Failed: Unibody structural frame / Front chassis suspension and crumple zone architecture. Description of the Incident and Safety Risk: A structural repair was executed on this vehicle involving an improper "rough pull" on a frame rack/jig rather than replacing the compromised structural components to OEM specification. The auto body facility failed to restore the vehicle's unibody structural integrity. Misaligned body lines and underlying unibody damage remain uncorrected, severely degrading the vehicle's engineered crumple zones. This creates an immediate, severe safety risk. Because the high-strength steel and structural collision-energy management features have been altered and weakened without proper sectioning or component replacement, the vehicle's structural performance in a subsequent impact is entirely compromised. This significantly elevates the risk of severe cabin intrusion and catastrophic structural failure in a future accident, endangering the safety of all occupants. Confirmation and Documentation: The underlying structural and unibody deficiencies have been identified and documented via visual inspection, initial estimates,…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 24, 2026StructureCrash reportedODI 11773390

Engine

219 reports2 crashes5 fires
“The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that the vehicle jerked while accelerating from a complete stop. Additionally, the vehicle intermittently failed to start, with the ABS warning light displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for repairs, but the failure reoccurred shortly after the repair. The contact stated that while attempting to shift into drive(D), the transmission remained stuck in neutral(N) with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle rolled forward while the vehicle was parked, turned off, with the parking brake engaged. The contact placed trash bins in front of the vehicle to prevent the vehicle from rolling. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure, and the vehicle remained unrepaired. The failure mileage was 127,990.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 14, 2026Power train, EngineODI 11757031
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

3 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Midsize Cars
Engines
2.4L 4-cyl · 3.5L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic 5-spd · Manual 5-spd · Automatic (S6)
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Camry
Auto 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive
213125$2,500355
Camry
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive
213125$2,500355
Camry
Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive
192823$2,700386
  • Camry
    Auto 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    21 city · 31 hwy · $2,500/yr
    25
    mpg comb.
  • Camry
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    21 city · 31 hwy · $2,500/yr
    25
    mpg comb.
  • Camry
    Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L
    19 city · 28 hwy · $2,700/yr
    23
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2009 Toyota Camry as of Nov 10, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 10, 2026Vehicle 5340
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2009 Camry questions

How many recalls does the 2009 Toyota Camry have?

10 safety recalls as of Nov 10, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2009 Toyota Camry problems?

Owners filed 1,413 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are vehicle speed control (285), structure (242), engine (219). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2009 Toyota Camry get?

The EPA rates the 2009 Toyota Camry at 23–25 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (3 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 10, 2026