FaultScore

2005 Toyota Camry window and wiper problems

11 of the 905 complaints about the 2005 Toyota Camry are about the glass, mirrors and wipers — 1% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 73,000 miles.

A

11

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Power Window Devices AND Controls 3 27.3%
Visibility/Wiper 2 18.2%
Windshield Wiper/Washer 1 9.1%
Windshield 1 9.1%
Glass, Side/Rear 1 9.1%
Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System 1 9.1%
Rearview Mirrors/Devices 1 9.1%
Visibility 1 9.1%

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers across every Toyota Camry year

1992 23 1.6%
1993 22 1.5%
1994 17 1.2%
1996 27 1.8%
1998 10 0.7%
1999 31 2.1%
2000 15 1.0%
2002 20 1.4%
2003 22 1.5%
2004 12 0.8%
2005 11 0.8%
2007 541 37.1%
2008 290 19.9%
2009 126 8.6%
2010 73 5.0%
2011 122 8.4%
2012 20 1.4%
2013 10 0.7%
2014 17 1.2%
2018 27 1.8%
2019 10 0.7%
2020 14 1.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Kiln, MS

VISIBILITY/WIPER

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY A SMALL ROCK HIT MY WINDSHIELD BOUNCED OFF AND HIT MY SUNROOF! WINDSHIELD IS FINE AND SUNROOFS ARE MADE TOUGH SO I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT TILL ABOUT 15 MILES LATER WHEN I HEARD AIR! MY WINDOWS WERE UP I CHECKED TO SEE IF MAYBE MY DAUGHTER HIT THE BUTTON WHEN WE STOPPED TO GET GAS RIGHT BEFORE THEN! WHEN I OPENED THE SHADE TO THE SUNROOF GLASS FELL IN MY FACE! A WHOLE THE SIZE OF GOLF BALL WAS THERE AND THE WHOLE GLASS WAS SPIDER WEBBED! I WAS ABOUT 1HR AWAY FROM HOME SO I PULLED OVER AND BOUGHT TAPE TO PUT ON IT! I'VE OWNED MANY CARS WITH SUNROOFS AND HAVE NEVER SEEN ONE SHATTER LIKE THIS ONE DID FOR SUCH A TINY ROCK! I WAS TOLD A FEW COMPANIES RECALLED SUNROOFS AND I SURE HOPE Y'ALL ALSO DO! IF THAT SHADE WOULD HAVE BEEN OPEN ME AND MY 6 YEAR OLD COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED. I DON'T HAVE PICTURES OF THE ACTUAL GLASS ON HAND BECAUSE I HAD TO QUICK FIX IT TO GET HOME!

NHTSA complaint #11041877 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 222,570 miles Morganza, MD

VISIBILITY/WIPER

DURING RAIN THE WIPERS SUDDENLY STOP WORKING. THE HAPPENS ONLY OCCASIONALLY. THEY CAN WORK FOR HOURS AND SUDDENLY STOP. HAPPENS AT ANY SETTING (INTERMITTENT, SLOW OR FAST). THEN AT A LATER TIME USUALLY SOME MINUTES LATER THEY WILL START WORKING AGAIN. CHECKED ALL CONNECTIONS AND MOTOR. ELECTRICAL TESTS OF THE SYSTEM SHOW NO PROBLEMS. REPLACED ENTIRE SWITCH ASSEMBLY ON THE STEERING COLUMN WITH TOYOTA PART, IN DEC 2013. TODAY, MARCH 28, 2014 THE PROBLEM RETURNED AGAIN. SINCE THIS OCCURS UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, IT SEEMS TO REPRESENT A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I THINK TOYOTA NEEDS TO EXAMINE THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10575298 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Portland, OR

VISIBILITY

2005 TOYOTA CAMRY. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ENGINE BEING DEFECTIVE. *SMD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. A DIAGNOSIS REVEALED WATER WAS IN THE ENGINE AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1,858.33 THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, THE HEADS COULD NOT BE REMOVED, BECAUSE OF AN ENGINE DEFECT. THE SCREWS ON THE MANIFOLD OR HEADS WERE COMING LOOSE AND THAT'S HOW WATER ENTERED THE ENGINE, AND THE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN. THE CONSUMER STATED ABOUT A MONTH AGO, SHE STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. SHE WAS INFORMED THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE WATER PUMP, AND ALTERNATOR WERE REPLACED. THE AIR COMPRESSOR AND HEATER SENSOR ELEMENT FAILED. *JB UPDATED 05/12/14.

NHTSA complaint #10566142 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 73,000 miles West Roxbury, MA

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW AND IT BEGAN TO OPEN AND CLOSE INDEPENDENTLY. AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS OF THE MALFUNCTION, THE WINDOW WOULD OPEN INDEPENDENTLY AS THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW'S MASTER POWER SWITCH WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V491000 (VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS) BUT WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 1/15/13 *CN UPDATED 1/29/2013

NHTSA complaint #10482092 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Diego, CA

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

2005 TOYOTA CAMRY. CONSUMER SENT ADDITIONAL CORRESPONDENCE RELATED TO TRANSMISSION AND DRIVER SIDE WINDOW ISSUES. NOTE CONSUMER HAS PREVIOUS CORRESPONDENCE IN THE SYSTEM UNDER ODI 10186844 *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH THE TECHNICIAN, THE TRANSMISSION HESITATED ON ACCELERATION AND SLIPPED A FEW TIMES. AFTER WAITING FOR THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES, THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG.

NHTSA complaint #10458353 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 89,000 miles Brea, CA

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES

THE ELECTRIC DRIVER SIDE MIRROR QUIT OPERATING. IT FIRST QUIT MOVING UP AND DOWN AND NOW IT WILL NOT MOVE SIDE TO SIDE. APPEARS TO BE A SHORT FROM AN ELECTRICAL DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #10456062 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 71,000 miles West Caldwell, NJ

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW FAILED TO CLOSE WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO LOCATED THE FAILURE WITHIN THE DOOR POWER SWITCH AND REPLACED IT. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

NHTSA complaint #10447716 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,000 miles Russellville, AR

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HEATER WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. IT WAS ON BUT ONLY BLEW HOT AIR AT THE BOTTOM; THE DEFROSTER BLEW OUTSIDE AIR. WHEN THAT HAPPENED, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAME COLD TO THE TOUCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT ALL HEATERS OPERATED THAT WAY. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER WHO LATER STATED THAT THE MIXTURE VALUE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT THERE WAS NO REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 83,000.

NHTSA complaint #10367796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 71,000 miles Ruskin, FL

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY. I OPENED THE FRONT WINDOWS FOR ONE SECOND FOR FRESH AIR AND WHILE CLOSING, THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW DIDN'T COME UP. I TRIED BOTH FROM DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE SWITCHES AND IT DIDN'T WORK. I GOT THIS CAR AS BRAND NEW IN MID 2005 AND I HARDLY OPENED THE FRONT WINDOWS. I HARDLY HAVE ANY PASSENGER IN MY CAR. BOTTOM-LINE, THE WINDOW HAS BEEN RARELY USED SINCE I GOT IT AND IT CANNOT JUST STOP WORKING UNLESS THERE IS SOME MANUFACTURING DEFECT. IT WENT DOWN BUT DIDN'T COME UP. REST THREE WINDOWS ARE WORKING FINE. I THINK THERE IS SERIOUS MANUFACTURING PROBLEM WITH 2005 CAMRY.

NHTSA complaint #10234129 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 103,000 miles Winchester, CA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

THIS IS IN REGARD TO OUR 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY, WHICH WE HAD PURCHASED NEW. OUR CAMRY HAS AROUND 100K MILES ON IT. ON 2/20/08, MY WIFE REPORTED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER STOPPED WORKING, WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING TO WORK IN RAINY CONDITIONS. LATER THAT MORNING, I LOOKED AT THE CAR, AND VERIFIED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE WIPER MOVED INDEPENDENTLY OF THE OTHER. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION, I NOTICED THAT THE WIPER ARM ALIGNMENT WAS OFF, AND THAT THE WIPER ARM HAD A WITNESS MARK FROM HITTING AGAINST THE HOOD OF THE CAR. I THEN DISCOVERED THAT THE RETAINING NUT (WHICH HOLDS THE WIPER ARM TO THE SPLINED SHAFT) WAS ONLY FINGER TIGHT. (I HAD NEVER DISASSEMBLED THIS IN THE PAST). UPON DISASSEMBLY I OBSERVED AN OBVIOUS COLLECTION OF METAL SHAVINGS AROUND THE BASE OF THE SPLINED SHAFT, AND ON THE SHAFT ITSELF. I NOTED THAT THE CAST ALUMINUM WIPER ARM HAD LOOSENED UP (DUE TO THE LOOSE RETAINING NUT), STARTED TO BACK ITSELF UP OFF THE SPLINED SHAFT, AND ENDED UP BEING REAMED AND STRIPPED OUT, SUCH THAT THE WIPER COULD NO LONGER BE DRIVEN BY THE SPLINED SHAFT. FROM MY OBSERVATION, THE ROOT CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM IS THAT THE RETAINING NUT HAD NOT BEEN TIGHTENED AT (FACTORY) ASSEMBLY. THIS SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSED A SAFETY HAZARD INASMUCH AS THE WIPER BECAME INOPERATIVE WHILE ON THE ROAD, DURING RAINY CONDITIONS. THE WIPER ARM ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. I STILL HAVE THE FAILED PART. I WANTED TO REPORT THIS, IN CASE THERE WERE ANY OTHER 2005 CAMRY OWNERS WHO MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING.

NHTSA complaint #10218880 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Houston, TX

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

2005 TOYOTA CAMRY WINDSHIELD HAS HASH MARKS THAT MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE WHEN THE SUN IS SHINING DIRECTLY ON THE WINDSHIELD. *KB

NHTSA complaint #10165858 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2005 Toyota Camry problems

← Full 2005 Toyota Camry report