2008 TOYOTA CAMRY — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the Power Steering, Service Vehicle, Traction Control, and ABS warning lights illuminated, and the speedometer failed to display the speed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the sensors for the front wheels had failed. The contact purchased and replaced the sensors; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 147,000.

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the Power Steering, Service Vehicle, Traction Control, and ABS warning lights illuminated, and the speedometer failed to display the speed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the sensors for the front wheels had failed. The contact purchased and replaced the sensors; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 147,000.

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the Power Steering, Service Vehicle, Traction Control, and ABS warning lights illuminated, and the speedometer failed to display the speed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the sensors for the front wheels had failed. The contact purchased and replaced the sensors; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 147,000.

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.

We took ownership of the vehicle in March 2025. It wasn’t until then when we finally attempted driving it that I realized the dashboard had begun melting. It is shiny and sticky. The Camry was owned by my wife’s elderly parents. Her father was disabled and had stopped driving the car before passing and her mother has dementia. Neither of them were aware of the dashboard recall program or the warranty extension that ended in 2017. Had her father and mother notified us of the problem we would have had it taken care of under the time limit, but they didn't. They purchased it new and the vehicle was mostly garaged, with only 37,000 miles to date most of which were in the first 2 years they owned it. The melting dashboard creates dangerous glare reflecting onto the windshield making it difficult to see. This poses a significant safety hazard when driving on a sunny day, not only to us but to those driving near us, risking a multi-car accident. We have had several close calls while driving this car. This situation has placed us in a difficult position. I am [XXX] and [XXX], we rely on this vehicle for regular transportation to [XXX] and medical appointments. We live on a fixed income and are unable to afford the cost of dashboard replacement. Given these circumstances and the fact that we only recently became aware of the issue we want Toyota to do the right thing and replace the dashboard as they committed to do. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)