Problems · by component

2009 Toyota Camry power train problems

53 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2009 Toyota Camry cite power train, 4% of all 1,413 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
53
4% of all complaints
Crashes
7
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“I bought my car in October 2009. I did not discover until years later that the pistons for the 2009 Toyota Camry Le did not fit correctly. This caused oil consumption problems, but it did not start happening until a 3-year warranty and at about 60-70 thousand miles. I did not get a notice of recall notice of Toyota's resolution to the problem, because they had the wrong apartment number and email address which I was told by Rep. Sherry and Rose at Toyota Corporation. Rep. said she was sending information to higher up at the corporation instead she sending it to the dealership. I did not get notice of a class action suit/resolution, trotter body, or melting dashboard. I have paid at least $6-7 thousand to dealerships workmanship is bad. I need help!! Because I did not get notices Toyota should fix and compensate me for repairs. Also, they replaced my hold break system because they assumed the shrieking noise was the break. This was done without my permission. I had to replace the axle they replaced less than a year ago. I am frustrated. I can not pay out any more money. My car stopped working on [XXX] I had to have it told to the dealership in Mamaroneck. Rep…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 25, 2024Engine and engine cooling, Power train, StructureODI 11585326
“WHILE DRIVING, ON BRAKING, THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A GRINDING/RUBBING NOISE APPEARING TO COME FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE SEEMED AS IF THE VEHICLE ENGINE/MOTOR WAS GOING TO SEIZE UP OR SOMETHING WOULD BREAK INSIDE. SLOWLY TOOK IT TO A LOCAL TIRE KINGDOM REPAIR SHOP WHO WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ONCE THEY STARTED THE VEHICLE AND WERE ALARMED BY THE ENGINE NOISE. ADVISED TO TAKE IT TO AN ENGINE REPAIR SHOP. SLOWLY, CAUTIOUSLY DROVE HOME AND PARKED. ON STARTING THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE, NEXT DAY, THE ENGINE SEEMS TO RUN FINE ON PARKED AND NEUTRAL. ON SHIFTING TO DRIVE OR REVERSE THE RUBBING/GRINDING NOISE BEGINS AGAIN. HAVE BEEN RESTRAINED TO SITTING AT HOME INSTEAD OF DOING MY RIDE SHARING AND DELIVERY WORK. RECENTLY HAD THE TIMING CHAIN AND CAM SHAFT GEAR REPLACED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 18, 2021Power train, Unknown or other, EngineODI 11408685
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA CAMRY. AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE AND SHIFTING INTO THE DRIVE GEAR, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND SURGED FORWARD. AFTER DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND STOPPING, THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER DRIVE FORWARD OR IN REVERSE. AFTER THE INCIDENT, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 9, 2019Power train, EngineODI 11287860
“BOUGHT 09 CAMRY NEW. IN 2015, @ 130,000 MILES, THE "LOW OIL" WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO DO THE OIL CONSUMPTION TEST, (THEY OVERFILLED THE ENGINE WITH OIL). WHEN CAME BACK IN 1200 MILES WAS TOLD THE CAR IS BURNING OIL BUT NOT ENOUGH FOR TOYOTA TO COVER THE REPAIR (SINCE THEY OVERFILLED THE ENGINE WITH OIL) THE CAR CONTINUED TO CONSUME MORE OIL. NOW AT 170,000 MILES, THE CAR BURNS AROUND 2 QRTS OF OIL EVERY 1000. VERY DISAPPOINTING.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 8, 2019Power train, EngineODI 11229986
“ON DECEMBER 3, 2017, MY HUSBAND WAS PARKING OUR 2009 CAMRY ON A CITY STREET WHEN WE EXPERIENCED THE TERRIFYING UNINTENDED ACCELERATION PROBLEM THAT HAS PLAGUED THIS MODEL ' AND WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN FIXED BY THE FLOOR MAT AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL RECALLS. AS MY HUSBAND SHIFTED INTO DRIVE TO MOVE SLIGHTLY FORWARD IN THE PARKING SPACE, THERE WAS A LOW ROARING, RACING MOTOR-TYPE SOUND FROM THE GEAR BOX/TRANSMISSION AREA AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. BRAKING COULD NOT STOP THE CAR AND IT DROVE INTO THE CAR AHEAD OF US. BECAUSE WE WERE MOVING AT LOW SPEED THERE WAS NO SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO EITHER CAR. BUT THERE WAS PERMANENT DAMAGE TO OUR TRUST IN THE SAFETY AND RELIABILITY OF OUR 2009 CAMRY, WHICH WE VOWED NEVER TO DRIVE AGAIN. OUR OCCASIONAL PRIOR EXPERIENCES WITH THE CAR'S RACING MOTOR PROBLEMS HAD NEVER CAUSED US TO LOSE CONTROL. FOR EXAMPLE, A FEW YEARS AGO WE HAD RACING ENGINE PROBLEM WHEN BRAKING FOR A LIGHT AFTER COMING OFF A HIGH SPEED INTERSTATE. ON BOTH DECEMBER 2 AND DECEMBER 3, 2017, WE HAD A RACING MOTOR EXPERIENCE DURING PARKING WHEN WE WERE IN REVERSE BUT IT DID NOT CAUSE ANY LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IN EACH OF THESE INSTANCES WE WERE…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 16, 2017Power trainODI 11055089

Showing 6 of 53 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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