2008 Toyota Camry VISIBILITY/WIPER
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
THE PASSENGER SIDE SUNVISOR FLOPS DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVERS VIEW.
REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK DUE TO DEFECT IN CONVERTIBLE TOPS RUBBING OFF WIRES, KNOWN DEFECT IN MOST ALL CONVERTIBLES IN THIS LINE. *TR
OPENED DOOR ON DRIVER SIDE, ATTEMPTED TO PULL SUNVISOR DOWN AND IT BROKE AND WOULD NOT STAY UP. TOOK TO DEALER AND PAID TO GET IT FIXED. NOW TWO YEARS LATER SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME SUN VISOR, BROKEN WILL NOT STAY UP, DANGLING. *TR
SUN VISOR FAILS TO RETRACT AND HANGS INTO DRIVERS FIELD OF VISION. IT APPEARS THE ENTIRE HOUSING HAS BUSTED OUT OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUN VISORS. *TR
I HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS FOR MY CAMRY HYBRID IN THE PAST YEARS WHICH ARE RELATED TO SAFETY 1) ON 11/28/10, WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY SITUATION ON LOCAL STREET AT LOW SPEED, THE DRIVER SIDE WIPER STOPPED WORKING CAUSING BAD VISIBILITY. I PULL OVER TO STREET SIDE AND RAIN STOPPED AFTER A WHILE. I DROVE THE CAR TO A NEARBY TOYOTA DEALER. DIAGNOSIS IS "WIPER ARM SLIPPED SPLINES" 2) ON 4/16/10, WHILE DRIVING ON STREET AT LOW SPEED (30 MPH) HEAVY SMOKE CAME OUT OF DRIVER SIDE WINDOW SWITCH. AFTER I PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, THE SMOKE STOPPED. CAR WAS TOWED TO A NEARBY TOYOTA DEALER AND DIAGNOSTIC WAS SWITCH LOCKED ON "ON" POSITION. I BELIEVE THIS IS ONE OF THE TOYOTA "RECALL" CASE. 3) ABOUT 11/2013, WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY THE TIRE AIR PRESSURE LIGHT WENT ON. I DROVE BACK TO TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS BECAUSE OF COLD WEATHER. NO FIX WAS PERFORMED. HOWEVER,THE LIGHT WENT ON / OFF SINCE THEN AND AFTER A MONTH STAYED ON ALL THE TIME. BROUGHT THE CAR TO DEALER AGAIN AND THEY FOUND A FAULTY SENSOR FOR TIRE AIR PRESSURE. LUCKILY ALL INCIDENTS DID NOT INVOLVE CRASH / INJURY. HOWEVER, I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED / CONCERNED ON MY CAR'S SAFETY / RELIABILITY. IF YOU NEED FURTHER INFORMATION, I CAN BE REACHED AT [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
I AM SUBMITTING THIS COMPLAINT, BECAUSE I HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEAR COLLISIONS DUE TO POOR WINDSHIELD VISIBILITY CAUSED BY MELTING DASHBOARD ON MY 2008, TOYOTA CAMRY. I FIRST NOTIFIED TOYOTA CORPORATE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE DASHBOARD DETERIORATING IN SEPT OF 2012 AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT A WARRANTIED ITEM. THE FIRST NEAR ACCIDENT DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY(STICKY RESIDUE ON WINDSHIELD) OCCURRED IN OCT, 201. I MENTIONED THE MELTING DASHBOARD PROBLEM AND VISIBILITY TO MY DEALER(ED MORSE TOYOTA, DEL RAY, FL) AT MY NEXT OIL CHANGE AND THEY QUOTED ME A PRICE OF $1760.66 TO REPAIR, SOMETIME AROUND OCT 2012. THE RESIDUE HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY WORSE AND DUE TO MY AGE(81) IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CLEAN OFF THE WINDSHIELD USING STANDARD HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS. AFTER WATCHING A NEWS REPORT ON WFLX, WEST PALM BEACH BY [XXX] I CALLED AGAIN(MAY 2, 2014) AND WAS GIVEN A CASE NUMBER. TO DATE I HAVE NEVER HEARD BACK FROM TOYOTA...I AM ANXIOUS ABOUT DRIVING THE CAR DUE TO THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
THE SUN VISOR DOES NOT STAY IN PLACE AND THERE IS NO RECALL. TOYOTA WANTS TO CHARGE ME $200 TO FIX A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR WOULD NOT STAY UP AND IT STARTED TO HANG DOWN. NOW THE VISOR IS TOTALLY LOOSE AND OBSTRUCTING MY VISION WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER SAYS THAT THERE IS NO RECALL - BUT THE INTERNET AND NHTSA HAS MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. TOYOTA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS. *TR
THE SUN VISOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF MY CAMRY HAS COME LOOSE AND IT DROPS INTO MY VIEW WHILE DRIVING. OTHER PEOPLE HAVE POSTED THE SAME COMPLAINT. *TR
ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS ISSUE BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE ANYTHING IS DONE TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. A YEAR AGO, THE VISOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE DROOP ALITTLE AND MY HUSBAND TRIED TO FIX IT BUT IT BROKE AND WAS HANGING. WE END UP PURCHASING A NEW VISOR FOR ABOUT $100 AND I DON'T WANT TO USE IT BECAUSE OF THE RISK OF HAVING TO PAY ANOTHER $100 TO FIX IT. JUST RECENTLY, THE VISOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BROKE AND NOW IT IS HANGING. IT IS DANGEROUS FOR ME BECAUSE I'M ON THE HIGHWAY ALL THE TIME AND THE VISOR BECOME A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IT BLOCKS MY VIEW FROM SEEING OTHER VEHICLE MERGING IN OR SWITCHING LANE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON FIXING THIS ISSUE AS IT IS DANGEROUS. *TR
THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR JUST FLOPPED DOWN AND BLOCKED MY VIEW... *TR
DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP, SWINGS DOWN. *TR
MY DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR IS NOT FUNCTIONING AND IT WOULD NOT LIFT BACK UP. IT ONLY HAS 33,000 MILES ON THE CAR. SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP, SWINGS DOWN. *TR
DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR/SHADE IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE VISOR WON'T STAY UP, IT FLOPS DOWN AND IS DIFFICULT TO SEE TO DRIVE. I CAN SEE THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT 2007/2008 TOYOTA CAMRY MODELS. IT IS A DRIVING HAZARD AND SHOULD BE RECALLED TO REPLACE IT. *TR
THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR HAS STARTED DROOPING. THE INTERNAL TENSION MECHANISM OF THE SUN VISOR NO LONGER HOLDS IT IN POSITION AND NOW IT HANGS STRAIGHT DOWN. WHEN LOOKING AT IT CLOSER, THE VISOR PULLED COMPLETELY OFF THE METAL ROD THAT ATTACHES TO THE ROOF. *TR
SUN VISOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE HAS COME OUT OF ITS HOUSING AND DANGLES DANGEROUSLY IN THE DRIVERS LINE OF VISION. VISOR WILL NOT GO BACK UP NOR WILL IT COME OFF THE ASSEMBLY WITHOUT CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VISOR. *TR
THE SUN VISOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE NO LONGER STAYS IN THE "UP" POSITION RESTING AGAINST THE ROOF. THE VISOR HANGS AT DANGEROUS EYE LEVEL BECAUSE THE SPRING MECHANISM TO HOLD THE VISOR IN THE RESTING POSITION AGAINST THE ROOF IS DEFECTIVE. I'VE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE ONLINE AND SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN TRAFFIC WHEN THE VISOR SUDDENLY FALLS AND BLOCKS THE SIGHT OF THE DRIVER. *TR
PRIOR TO JULY 17, 2010, THE DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR, HAD LOOSEN UP/BROKE AND WOULD NOT STAY IN PLACE. THIS WAS A HAZARD AND I HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED. THE PASSENGER'S SIDE VISOR BEGAN MAKING NOISE SIMILAR TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEN IT FIRST STARTED, THEN THE NOISE WAS LOUDER. WE RECEIVED A "WARRANTY ENHANCE NOTICE" WHERE TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, U.S.A., INC. WAS INFORMING US ABOUT EXTENDING THE WARRANTY OF THE VISORS FOR A PERIOD OF 7 YEARS. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THEY WOULD REIMBURSED THE OWNERS THAT HAD THEM REPLACED AND WE NEEDED TO SUBMIT A COPY OF THE REPAIR ORDER, PROOF OF PAYMENT, AND PROOF OF OWNERSHIP. WE SUBMITTED THE REPAIR ORDER FROM THE TOYOTA DEALER THAT REPLACED THE DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR WHICH IS ALSO PROOF THAT THE DEALER WAS PAID FOR, AND A COPY OF THE REGISTRATION; NO DEALER LET'S YOU LEAVE WITHOUT PAYING OR MAKE INVOICES AS A FAVOR FOR CONSUMERS; PLUS THE FACT THAT THEY ARE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MANUFACTURER. WELL, TO OUR SURPRISE THEY WANTED A RECEIPT ON HOW THIS BILL WAS PAID. THIS IS A TACTIC OF THE MANUFACTURER OR THE CONSUMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO AVOID OR DELAY THE REIMBURSEMENT PROCESS AND TO DISCOURAGE CONSUMERS FROM PURSUING THEIR CLAIMS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE OTHER VISOR AT NO CHARGE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR IS BEGINING TO MAKE THE SAME NOISE AS THE PREVIOUS ONE, NOT EVEN TWO YEARS FROM THE TIME IT WAS REPLACED. *TR
PASSENGER SUN VISOR FELL FROM IT'S FOLDED POSITION FROM CEILING. 2 OR 3 DAYS LATER THE VISOR COMPLETELY FALLS OFF THE SUPPORT ARM ALTOGETHER. NOT EVEN IN USE DURING EITHER INCIDENT. NO PASSENGER EVEN IN THE SEAT USING THE VISOR. 1-2 WEEKS LATER THE SAME THING OCCURS WITH THE DRIVER'S VISOR. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH ALL 2007-2008 CAMRY'S. TOYOTA HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THE SUN VISORS FOR ALL CAMRY'S BUILT IN THE U.S.A., BUT HAS ELECTED NOT TO OFFER THIS EXTENDED WARRANTY TO IT'S OWNERS OF THE JAPANESE BUILT MODELS (SUCH AS MINE). THE VISORS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE THROUGH TOYOTA FOR REPLACEMENT AND THEY ASK $230 PER VISOR PLUS LABOR FOR INSTALL (OVER $500 WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE). UPON CALLING TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE TO ASK WHY THEY AREN'T OFFERING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR JAPANESE BUILT MODELS THAT ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE AS THEIR AMERICAN-BUILT COUNTERPARTS THEY HAD NO ANSWERS FOR ME. THEY DID OFFER TO EXTEND ME A ONE-TIME CREDIT FOR $250 IN REPAIRS TO OFFSET THE COST OF THEIR INFERIOR PRODUCT AND KNOWN PROBLEM. THIS DOESN'T EVEN COVER 50% OF THE COST OF PARTS AND LABOR TO HAVE BOTH OF THE VISORS REPAIRED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WEATHER STRIPPING THAT WAS AROUND THE WINDSHIELD MALFUNCTIONED, ALLOWING EXCESSIVE AIR AND WATER TO LEAK INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
ON OR AROUND THIS DATE MY DRIVER SIDE VISOR BEGAN TO DROOP. IT WOULD SLOWLY DROP & OVER THE COURSE OF A FEW MONTHS COMPLETELY DROPPED, YOU COULDN'T PUT IT BACK INTO ITS UPRIGHT POSITION, OR ANY POSITION & IT OBSCURED MY VISIBILITY. I TOOK IT TO MY DEALER & THEY REPLACED IT AT NO CHARGE BECAUSE IT WAS STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. THE GUY IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THE VISORS WERE BREAKING AND THAT IT WAS KNOWN. THEY WOULDN'T REPLACE MY PASSENGER ONE (EVEN THOUGH THEY KNEW IT WOULD BREAK) BECAUSE IT WAS NOT BROKEN. I TRIED TO TELL HIM THAT BEING THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT WAS DANGEROUS BECAUSE I COULDN'T SEE WITH IT JUST HANGING THERE. WELL, LOW AND BEHOLD, AFTER MY WARRANTY RAN OUT MY PASSENGER ONE BROKE. I JUST TOOK IT DOWN, MY HUSBAND TRIED TO FIX IT BUT COULDN'T. I CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE IT. NOW THE DRIVER'S SIDE ONE THAT I INITIALLY REPLACED IS BREAKING AGAIN!!! SAME PROBLEM. I CAN NOT AND WILL NOT DISH OUT ALMOST $200 FREAKING DOLLARS EVERY TIME ONE OF THESE BREAKS!!! THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED!! ESPECIALLY FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE BECAUSE THAT IS DANGEROUS!!! YOU CANNOT SEE OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD WHEN THAT IS JUST HANGING IN THE WAY. IF YOU TAKE IT DOWN THEN THE SUN IS IN YOUR EYES, AND THAT IS DANGEROUS. WHY IS IT THAT PEOPLE CANNOT SEE THAT THIS PROBLEM MAKES VISIBILITY VERY BAD OR YOU HAVE NONE AT ALL WHEN THIS HAPPENS?? *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE SUN VISOR DETACHED AND HUNG FROM THE HOUSING MECHANISM, CAUSING THE CONTACT'S VISION TO BECOME OBSCURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE VISOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 71,000.
DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR SUPPORT FAILED WHILE DRIVING. WENT TO TILT IT DOWN AND BROKE LOOSE TO A POINT WHERE IT JUST HANGS STRAIGHT DOWN AND SWINGS FREELY AND COMPLETELY BLOCKING MY VISION. HAD TO HOLD IT WITH ONE HAND UNTIL I WAS SAFELY OFF THE ROADWAY. THERE IS NO WAY IT WILL SUPPORT ITSELF, SO I HAD TO TAPE OR WIRE IT UP WHICH MAKES IT USELESS BLOCKING SUN (IT'S PURPOSE.) *TR
MY WIFE'S 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY'S SUN VISOR HAS BROKEN UNDER NORMAL USE. THE VISOR JUST FLOPS DOWN, IMPAIRING VISION WHILE DRIVING; THE VISOR HAD TO BE TAKEN DOWN, THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON A CAR WITH ONLY 48,000 MILES. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT AUGUST 23, 2012. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY TOYOTA FOR FREE, NOT $200+ DOLLARS. I WILL NOT PAY THE DEALER FEE, SO THE PROBLEM STILL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. *TR
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Quick Summary
The 2008 Toyota Camry has 68 VISIBILITY/WIPER complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.