2008 Toyota Camry window and wiper problems

VISIBILITY/WIPER

The dashboard in my 2008 Toyota Camry LE has deteriorated over time and has melted, becoming sticky and glossy. This condition causes sunlight to reflect off the dashboard onto the windshield, creating a strong glare. This glare significantly impairs my visibility while driving, especially in bright daylight conditions. At times, I am unable to clearly see traffic, road conditions, or other vehicles. This creates a dangerous situation and increases the risk of a crash. The issue has progressively worsened over time. There were no warning messages or indicators prior to this condition developing. The problem appears to be caused by the dashboard material degrading under normal use and heat exposure. I reported this issue to Toyota dealers, including Fremont Toyota and Milpitas Toyota, but no corrective action was taken. The condition remains unresolved. The defective dashboard is available for inspection upon request. This issue represents a safety hazard due to reduced driver visibility.

NHTSA complaint #11731209 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

Issue Description: Melting Dashboard Creating Driving Hazard I am reporting a serious safety hazard involving my 2008 Toyota Camry, which has developed a melting/sticky dashboard condition that significantly affects driver visibility and safety during daylight driving. Nature of the Problem: •The dashboard has become soft, shiny, and sticky to the touch, especially in warmer temperatures. •The melting material creates a high-gloss surface, which leads to excessive glare on the windshield. •This reflection severely impairs forward visibility, especially under sunlight or direct light conditions, such as during midday driving or on sunny days. •The dashboard’s condition is progressively worsening, becoming a constant distraction and hazard when driving. •The condition also poses potential chemical exposure risks, as the degraded dashboard material emits a strong odor and residue. Safety Concerns: •Visual impairment due to reflection: The dashboard acts like a mirror, reflecting sunlight directly into the driver’s line of sight. •Increased accident risk: The glare limits the driver’s ability to clearly see pedestrians, other vehicles, traffic signals, and road signs. •Heat-related degradation: The softening dashboard may also interfere with airbag deployment zones or deteriorate structural safety components over time. Request for Action: I respectfully request the following: 1.That this issue be formally investigated as a safety defect by the relevant vehicle safety authority. 2.That Toyota issue a recall or safety repair program for affected vehicles, if not already done. 3.That an evaluation be conducted to determine if the airbag function is compromised by the dashboard’s current state. Previous Attempts to Resolve: I have attempted to contact Toyota Customer Service and/or local dealerships, but have not received a resolution to date. The problem persists and continues to pose a daily driving hazard.

NHTSA complaint #11684214 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

I am experiencing significant glaring on my windshield as a result of my melting dashboard reflecting on the windshield. This problem is making my car unsafe to drive. The glare becomes extremely intense with rain and night driving. After researching this issue today, apparently Toyota is well aware of this safety issue but did not notify me about a program to replace my dashboard. I am only becoming aware today that there was a program to fix this issue. I understand this same problem has been reported by many other Toyota Camry owners. I contacted Toyota today to report my concerns and requested assistance to remedy this safety problem. The Toyota rep. recommended I file a complaint here with NJTSA. Also Toyota will see if they can arrange for me to bring my car in to a Toyota Dealer for an inspection.

NHTSA complaint #11617372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

My Camry has the reflection from the dashboard causing vision issues looking out of the front windshield. Also the dash is very sticky and peels off if your finger nail hits it. I know Toyota had a TSB on this issue but when I reach out to them they said they knew about the issue but my car is out of the timeframe. If it is a safety issue it should not have a time limit, you need to be able to see out of the front windshield clearly? I have reach out to other dashboard repair companies and they will not touch this car due the TSB that was issued on the car. They say it is not repairable and I need a new dashboard.

NHTSA complaint #11582112 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

Driver's side visor suddenly broke to the full down position blocking forward vision unexpectedly.

NHTSA complaint #11518996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

Visors fall out and will not stay secured, allowing for sun to grt into eyes while driving. This is compounded by the fact that the dashboard is melting and very shiny. Common problems with this year and model. Recommend Toyota replace.

NHTSA complaint #11479867 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

The issue is with the 2008 Toyota Camry dashboard that is melting shining reflective light straight into my eye. Toyota is not treating this as a recall matter, and only did a Customer program to get it repaired for a short time.

NHTSA complaint #11441808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

Subject: Toyota I purchased a 2008 Toyota Camry many years ago. I still have the vehicle and there is a safety issue having to do with dashboard. There was extended product warranty coverage that ended in 2019 on the defect. I was not notified about this issue. When I contacted Toyota they said I "may" have been notified if I brought it to a Toyota dealer for service (which I did not). The issue is the dashboard starts to melt and gets sticky and causes glare on the windshield during the day when sunlight hits it and at night when vehicle lights are oncoming. I moved to Florida in late 2019 and noticed the safety issue at that time. If you google the issue (Toyota dashboard recall) it made the news etc. Toyota was able to make it a product issue and was able to then use the extended warranty rather than calling it a safety issue. The articles on the issue (even from Toyota state it causes glare). Can this be looked into or at a minimum have the laws changed so these safety concerns can't be listed as a product issue? I would have thought this would have been a class action lawsuit with the number of issues because of this safety problem. My understanding is safety recalls do not expire and in my opinion (and many others on line that have the same issue) this is a safety issue. I had contacted the AGs Office in Florida and they suggested I make contact with your office. Below is some information on the melting dashboards. In 2014 Toyota offered to replace dashboards in 3.4 million vehicles after owners in sunny states like Arizona and Florida reported that their dashboards were melting, causing a dangerous glare on the windshield. ... Toyota's extended warranty on dashboards expired in 2019. Thank you for your time.

NHTSA complaint #11439380 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

My dash on my Toyota Camry has become sticky and shiny with a chemical smell. The visibility is blinding from a glare in bright days and also night driving makes visibility difficult. The chemical cannot be cleaned off and nothing helps with the glare the dash is causing

NHTSA complaint #11419681 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

my vehicle dashpad has suddenly begun to slowly melt and has become very sticky and shinny, the shininess causes a constant glare on the windshield, making it difficult and dangerous to drive especially during daylight hrs. I learned that there was a recall for this issues and contacted Toyota on 5/24/2021, and was told the recall for this issue expired in 2017, and there is nothing they will do for it now. I like to express that i purchased my vehicle in April of 2016, and was never notified of the recall, Toyota never sent me a letter informing me of the issue and i have taken my vehicle several time to the Dealer for other repair/maintenance prior to 2017 and was not informed of the recall by by them during that time. My case # with Toyota is 210524000564. i have searched the internet and also found that is a concerned issued with many other Toyota car owners. My vehicle is a 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid.

NHTSA complaint #11418307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

MY DASHBOARD IS BECOMING EXTREMELY STICKY. IT'S BECOMING UNSAFE TO DRIVE WHEN IT'S SUNNY OUT. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. HAS A LAWSUIT BEEN FILED YET FOR THIS MANUFACTURER MISTAKE?

NHTSA complaint #11400283 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V491000 (VISIBILITY) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW FAILED TO OPERATE CORRECTLY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PUMPING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES, THE VEHICLE RESPONDED AND OPERATED AS INTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE DIAGNOSED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA complaint #11373470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING WITH MY 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY IS THAT THE DASH IS MELTING LEAVING A VERY SHINNY LOOK TO IT. WHEN THE SUN HITS IT REFLECTS OFF THE GLASS MAKING IT DIFFUCULT TO SEE. AT NIGHT THE STREET LIGHTS AND ON COMMING TRAFFICE TIGHS ALSO REFLECT MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE. PLUS ITS VERY STICKY AND EVEYTHING THAT FLYS BY DUST LINT HAIR WILL STICK TO MY DASH, VERY UNAPPEALING AND DIRTY.

NHTSA complaint #11352529 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND IS CREATING A VERY BAD GLARE IN SUNLIGHT OR DAYTIME OPERATIONS. I CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY SAID THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT IT'S EXPIRED NOW.

NHTSA complaint #11343268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

THE AC DOES NOT BLOW COLD AIR AT ALL. THE ECO BUTTON DOESN'T WORK. WHEN PRESSED, THE CAR STALLS. THIS WAS WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED. TOO AFRAID TO TRY WHILE DRIVING. VISIBILITY IS POOR. I'VE REPLACED THE BRAKES NUMEROUS SINCE ACHIEVING OWNERSHIP.

NHTSA complaint #11338612 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

DASHBOARD HAS BECOME STICKY WILL COLLECT DUST AND DEBRIS, GOTTEN SO SHINY THAT THERE IS A GLARE AND MAKES IT HARD TO SEE WHILE DRIVING DUE TO THE REFLECTION OF THE SHINE ON THE WINDOW. BOUGHT 2014 AND DIDN'T HAVE THIS ISSUE DIDN'T EVEN GET THE WARRANTY NOTICE ABOUT THE DASH. THIS IS OUR FAMILY CAR AND AFRAID IT'S MAKING OUR DRIVES DANGEROUS

NHTSA complaint #11277931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

THE TOYOTA MELTING DASHBOARD IS HORRENDOUS. MY DASHBOARD IS SO GOOEY AND SHINY THAT ON ANY DAY WITH MILD SUN IT IS HARD TO SEE OUT THE WINDSHIELD BECAUSE OF THE REFLECTION/SHINE. I AM VERY WORRIED THIS WILL LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS NOT A COSMETIC ISSUE, IT IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT TOYOTA NEEDS TO ADDRESS.

NHTSA complaint #11277567 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

THE DASHBOARD AND SUN VISOR ARE MELTING. THE MELTED DASHBOARD IS GOOEY, DUST, DEBRIS, AND ANY INSECT LYING THERE GETS STUCK. THE MELTED DASHBOARD, DUST, DEBRIS, AND INSECTS REFLECT ON THE WINDSHIELD AND CREATE GLARE MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD. TOYOTA RESPONSE WAS THAT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE MELTING DASHBOARD EXPIRED IN 2017 AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT THE MELTING DASHBOARD. WE PROTECTED OUR DASHBOARD FROM SUN WITH A WINDSHIELD SUN SCREEN ALWAYS, SO THE PROBLEM TOOK LONGER TO OCCUR. THE SUN VISORS PLASTIC COMPONENTS MELTED AND SUN VISOR FELL OFF THE METAL SUPPORT. UNDER SUN AND GLARE HAVE TO USE HAND TO BLOCK UNMAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER CAR OR SEE ROAD. TOYOTA'S RESPONSE WAS TO BUY NEW SUN VISORS.

NHTSA complaint #11245934 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

DRIVER SIDE VISOR FAILED CAUSING IT TO HANG DOWN AND OBSTRUCT VISIBILITY. I HAVE TO MOVE THE VISOR TO THE SIDE WHICH OBSTRUCTS MY VIEW OR I HAVE TO HOLD IT UP WITH ONE HAND.

NHTSA complaint #11243809 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

STICKY DASHBOARD. SHINE ON DASH THAT REFLECTS ON TO THE WINDSHIELD AFFECTING VIEW.

NHTSA complaint #11240757 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS SHINY AND STICKY, WHICH CREATED A SERIOUS SUN GLARE. THE DASHBOARD SEEMS TO BE MELTING AND DISINTEGRATING BEYOND REPAIR AND REALLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HENDRICK TOYOTA CONCORD (704-467-8287, LOCATED AT 7670 BRUTON SMITH BLVD, CONCORD, NC 28027) AND WAS INFORMED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 175,000. *BF

NHTSA complaint #11208216 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SUN VISOR FELL DOWN AND OBSTRUCTED THE CONTACT'S VIEW OF THE WINDSHIELD. ADDITIONALLY, THE SUN VISOR FAILED TO SECURE IN PLACE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA complaint #11202834 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

THE DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR HAS FAILED. THE INTERNAL CLIPS MECHANISM IS BROKEN CAUSING THE VISOR TO FALL DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND BLOCKING MY VISION TO SEE THE ROAD AND OTHER DRIVERS. . THIS IS DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE 3 YOUNG ADULTS IN MY HOME WHO REFUSE TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE OF IT. TOYOTA CLAIMS TO HAVE SENT A RECALL FOR THE PART THAT I DID NOT RECEIVE ALTHOUGH I HAVE RECEIVED OTHER RECALL POSTCARDS FOR THIS CAR. THEY ARE STATING THE RECALL IS NO LONGER VALID BUT THE PROBLEM IS KNOWN TO THEM AND HAS CONTINUED IN THE FOLLOWING YEARS MODEL CARS AND YET THEY WILL NOT COVER IT. I FEEL THIS QUALIFIES FOR A CLASS ACTION SUIT.

NHTSA complaint #11189862 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY IS MELTING, AND IN THE PROCESS BECOMING STICKY AND SHINY. THE STICKINESS IS A NUISANCE, BUT THE SHININESS IS A HAZARD AS IT PROMOTES HEAVY GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD. IT MAKES ME ON A SUNNY DAY THEY CAN LOSE SIGHT OF THE ROAD, I ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR DUE TO THE VISIBILITY. THIS IS ON THE NEWS, INTERNET. I DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY LETTER FROM TOYOTA ABOUT ENHANCEMENT WARRANTY AND EVEN WHEN I CHECK WITH TOYOTA DEALER THEY SAID IT HAS NO RECALLS. NOW TOYOTA SAID MY CAR OUT OF WARRANTY 7 MPNTHS AGO, AND THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #11124526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR WILL NOT REMAIN IN CORRECT POSITION. THE VISOR DROPS WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION STARTLING THE DRIVER AND TEMPORARILY IMPAIRING VISION.

NHTSA complaint #11104436 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

DUE TO THE TOYOTA STICKY DASH PROBLEM CAUSED BY MATERIAL DEGRADATION, I AM EXPERIENCING A SAFETY SITUATION WHEN SUNLIGHT PRODUCES A GLARE OFF THE SHINY DASH SURFACE. THE GLARE IS AT ITS WORST WHEN DRIVING INTO THE SUN. UPON CALLING TOYOTA, THEY STATED THAT THEIR VOLUNTARY WARRANTY EXTENSION PERIOD HAS ENDED AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME.

NHTSA complaint #11100261 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

THE DASHBOARD OF THE CAR IS MELTING AND HAS BECOME VERY SHINY CAUSING A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD THAT PARTIALLY OBSCURES THE VIEW OF THE ROAD, PARTICULARLY WHEN THERE IS BRIGHT SUNSHINE. TOYOTA ALREADY ACKNOWLEDGES THE SAFETY ISSUE AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE DASHBOARD TO 10 YEARS. MY CAR (PURCHASED NEW) DID NOT EXHIBIT THE MELTING ISSUE UNTIL AFTER WE MOVED IT FROM NORTHERN STATES, MD AND MI TO FL STARTING IN JAN 2016. THE FAILURE ONLY APPARENT AFTER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY OR 10 YEARS EXPIRED IN OCT 2017. THE REFLECTION OF THE DASHBOARD UPPER SURFACE ON WINDOW IS HIGHLY DISTRACTING AND SIGNIFICANTLY OBSCURES VISION OF THE ROAD.

NHTSA complaint #11091319 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

WHEN I BOUGHT MY CAR, THE PASSENGER SUNVISOR WOULDN'T STAY UP. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS ABOUT A $500-$600 PART & HE WASN'T GOING TO PAY TO FIX IT. BEING THAT I NEVER SAT IN THE PASSENGER SIDE IT DID NOT BOTHER ME. THERE WAS HOWEVER A RECALL ON THIS PART, & AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO ORDER THE PART & SCHEDULE TO GET THIS FIXED BY THE TIME ALLOTMENT THEY HAD PLACED. SO, MY ACTUAL COMPLAINT IS THAT THEY PLACED A TIME ALLOTMENT. BECAUSE, AFTER THAT TIME ALLOTMENT EXPIRED. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR BROKE. YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT HOW USEFUL A SUN VISOR TRULY IS, UNTIL YOU ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO USE IT. IT'S INSTALLED FOR A REASON, NOT TO BE SOMETHING FANCY IN A CAR. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES, THE SUN HAS PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT DUE TO FAILURE TO SEE ONCOMING TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC LIGHTS, ETC. CLEARLY, TOYOTA RECALLED THIS DUE TO THE MANY FAILURES IT HAD ALREADY RECEIVED. IF, I WAS AWARE THAT THE $500-$600 PART WAS GOING TO BREAK A MONTH AFTER IT'S RECALL DATE. I MOST LIKELY WOULD OF TRIED TO GET IT REPLACED SOMEHOW? OF, COURSE THEY WON'T FIX IT UNTIL IT'S BROKEN. IT'S GOING TO BE AWFULLY HARD TO GET A FAIR MARKET VALUE WHEN TRYING TO EVENTUALLY TRADE IN THE CAR OR SELL IT OUTRIGHT. WHEN, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. AND, NOBODY IS GOING TO PAY $500-$600 TO FIX THIS. SO, FOR MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES TO TRY & STOP A WRECK OR FATALITY FROM OCCURRING PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. THANFULLY, MY AIRBAGS HAVE NOT BEEN RECALLED YET! TOYOTA IS LIABLE FOR THIS, & THEY SHOULD BE MANDATED TO FIX THIS! THE RECALL WAS FOR 2007-2011 TOYOTA CAMRY'S

NHTSA complaint #11061345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

THIS IS LIFE OF CAR NEW 2008 T0 2017 LESS THAN 20000 MILES CLUTCH HAD TO BE REPLACED ALL ENGINE WIRES REPLACED BRAKES RUSTED OUT SUN VISOR KEPT FALLING DOWN

NHTSA complaint #11004129 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.