2007 Toyota Camry Body & Structure Problems

My 2007 Toyota Camry has a severely melted and sticky dashboard, a known manufacturing defect (Program ZE6). The surface has become highly reflective, creating a blinding sun glare on the windshield that significantly obstructs my visibility while driving, posing an immediate safety hazard. Additionally, the melting material releases pungent chemical fumes (VOCs) in the cabin, causing respiratory discomfort and health concerns. Despite being a documented safety defect, Toyota refused a goodwill repair because the initial warranty program has expired. A safety defect that impairs driver vision should not have an expiration date.

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The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that the dashboard was fractured and was previously replaced under Toyota Campaign Number: ZE6. The contact stated that the new dashboard was sticky and melting, causing a reflection on the windshield, which reduced the driver's ability to see the roadway. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 154,000.

The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that the dashboard had started melting due to high humidity. The defect had caused a glare and obstructed the view of the driver while driving. Additionally, the surface of the dashboard was sticky to the touch. The contact called the dealer and was informed of an Extended Warranty program related to the failure. The vehicle had not been taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case regarding the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 147,000.

The dashboard of my Camry gets a sticky gloss when the sun is shining. The reflection from the glossy dashboard is reflected onto my windshield making driving hazardous whenever the sun is shining or if the weather is hot. I have to cover the dashboard with a towel to keep myself and other drivers safe because it is very difficult to see through the glared windshield. Dealer was contacted and I was told a recall was sent (about six years ago) but it never arrived to my home. You report regarding recalls, which I accessed today, says there are no unrepaired recalls for my vehicle. I am at risk, my passengers are at risk and every other driver on the road are at risk due to this well known, documented flaw in the 2007 Toyota Camrys.

The 2007 Toyota Camry has a manufacturing defect related to sticky/melting dashboards as a result of heat or humidity. Toyota sent me a warranty notice for an extension for 10 years from the date of first use of the vehicle, which they determined was the date that I purchased the vehicle on July 31, 2007. In 2013, I took the vehicle to a Toyota dealer, however, they refused to replace the dashboard because, in their opinion, it was not sufficiently compromised. However, now, years later, the dashboard has become very sticky and reflective. It produces a glare into the windshield, impairing vision, which is now a safety issue due to the manufacturer defect. This defect could cause serious injury and death. On August 5, 2022, I appealed to Toyota customer service for them to replace the dashboard. I emphasized the safety issue. However, a Senior Representative declined to make an exception. I then wrote to [XXX], CEO of Toyota Motor North America to ask for his help (see attached letter). I asked him to personally authorize the dashboard replacement and reply to me directly. Almost two months later, I have not received any communication from him. Moreover, on October 4th, I called Toyota customer service to follow-up on my letter. I was told that [XXX], Executive Office Administrator send me an email on September 1st asking for the best time to contact me. I never received this email, neither in my inbox or in my gmail spam folder. That same day, I called [XXX] and left a detailed voice message. I have called him several times since then, each time leaving a message on his voicemail. He has deliberately refused to return my phone calls. I am appalled that Toyota and its CEO does not take safety issues seriously. I kindly ask you to either contact Toyota on my behalf to have them replace the dashboard, or to issue a recall of all 2007 Toyota Camry's due to a manufacturer defect that can result in serious injury or death. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

The contact's husband owns a 2007 Toyota Camry Solara. The contact stated that her daughter noticed cracks on the dashboard nearby the glove box above the passenger’s side air bag housing. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Camry. The contact had received notification of the Toyota Warranty Enhancement Program – ZE6. The contact stated that gradually over time the dashboard had started peeling and cracking. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was advised to be patient for the parts to become available. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.

The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Camry Solara. The contact noticed that the dashboard was melting. The contact mentioned that the reflection from the front windshield was causing a visibility issue. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the dashboard needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 31,000.

The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that the plastic dashboard material melted and was shiny causing a glare from the sunlight. The contact indicated that while driving during daylight hours, the glare caused a visibility hazard to the driver. The cause of the failure was not determined. The dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was unknown.

The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that the plastic dashboard material had become melted and shiny causing glare from the sunlight. The contact indicated that while driving during daylight hours the glare caused a visibility hazard to the driver. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 170,000.

The dashboard melts when parked outside causing objects to get stuck and reflect in the windshield.

MELTED AND STICKY DASHBOARD SIGNIFICANT GLARE THAT IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR

The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that the driver's side sun visor had separated and detached. The contact stated that a new sun visor was purchased online however, the contact was unable to install the part due to a significant amount of dried glue. The contact attempted to scrape off the glue but was unable to remove the glue. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer, who made the same assessment and informed the contact that the new sun visor could not be installed. The contact stated that the vision of the roadway and the traffic lights were significantly reduced or impaired while driving on a sunny day due to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

I own a 2007 Toyota Camry Solara with less than 70,400 miles. It’s up to date on maintenance and is garaged. In December 2020, while garaged, my entire dashboard cracked without warning. After researching the condition, I learned that hundreds of Camrys and Solaras were affected and that Toyota replaced some dashboards under an extended warranty program… one such ZE6 program expired in August 2020. I was not notified. Despite the tremendous safety issue (the entirety of the car’s electronics sits beneath the dashboard including the airbags which, if deployed, can hurl dashboard pieces throughout the interior and blind and disfigure driver and passengers alike). Incredibly, neither Toyota nor NHTSA has issued a recall. Toyota Corp/dealership will do nothing at their expense. I Iive in fear that if my car is bumped or tapped, I’ll be maimed by flying dashboard debris; this puts my passengers and pedestrians at risk as well. Please help me get my dashboard replaced before something unthinkable happens. Thank you.

DRIVER SIDE VISOR FLAPS DOWN TO FOREHEAD LEVEL WHEN STATIONARY. FLAPS DOWN POINTING DOWN WHEN IN MOTION GOING OVER BUMP. VISOR DOES NOT STAY TUCKED IN ITS STOW AWAY POSITION. CAUSED INJURY TO RIGHT TEMPLE GETTING INTO THE CAR. CAUSED FOREHEAD INJURY AT A SUDDEN STOP. DEALT WE REFUSED TO REPLACE OR REPAIR. TOYOTA CLAIMS THE THE RECALL ENDED IN 2018 SO THE PART IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR REPLACEMENT.

AS SOON AS I DROVE THIS CAR OFF THE LOT, THE "TIRE BALANCE" LIGHT CAME ON. THE TIRES WERE LOW SO I PUT AIR IN THEM AND THE LIGHT IS STILL ON. THE FRONT BUMPER SKIRT SCRAPES ON EVERY DIP IN THE ROAD IT SEEMS, SOUNDING HORRIBLE. THEN, IT GOT CAUGHT ON A PARKING STOP WHICH LOOSENED THE SKIRT SO IT NOW HANGS EVEN LOWER AND SCRAPES BOTTOM OVER EVERY CRACK IN THE ROAD.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD MELTED AND EXPERIENCED CRACKING AND SEPARATION. THE CONTACTED INDICATED THAT AFTER A TEN-YEAR-OLD CHILD TOUCHED THE MELTING DASHBOARD, RESIDUE FROM THE DASHBOARD WAS PRESENT ON THE CHILD'S HAND. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

ABOUT A YEAR AGO, I NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS NOT FIRM. IT DENTED VERY EASILY. THIS YEAR, I DID NOT DRIVE MUCH, BUT WHEN I DID, THE DASHBOARD WAS MELTING AND SHINY, REFLECTING IN THE WINDSHIELD, MAKING VISIBILITY DANGEROUSLY INSUFFICIENT WHILE DRIVING. THE PROBLEM IS MUCH WORSE ON SUNNY DAYS. DASHBOARD CAN NOT BE CLEANED, SINCE IT IS GOOEY. PRECISE DATE IS HARD TO SAY, BECAUSE OF COVID RESTRICTIONS AND CAUTIONS.

DASHBOARD IS GETTING SOFT AND SHINY AND PIECES OF IT COME OFF VERY EASILY. IT REFLECTS ONTO THE WINDSHIELD AND MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE WHEN THE SUN IS OUT. *TR