CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2009 Camry used to be adorned with our “Seal of Pretty Good†but that was before an alarming number of complaints started rolling in for excessive oil consumption.
Owners are being caught off-guard with how quickly their cars are running out of oil. No leaks, no spills, just 1 quart of vanishing oil in as little as 1,200 miles. Toyota maintains this is “normal†for the 2AZ-FE engine, even though they issued a TSB for the problem in August of 2011.
7.5
pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$1,230
Average Mileage:
96,600 miles
Total Complaints:
227 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
not sure (116 reports)
toyota says normal (18 reports)
starting the excessive oil consumption test (17 reports)
replace engine block (15 reports)
toyota says 1.1 qts. per 600mi is normal (15 reports)
Class Action Lawsuit Regarding Excessive Oil Consumption - My 2009 Toyota Camry through a rod through the engine block because of excessive oil consumption. After speaking with a dealership and corporate Toyota refused to cover the cost of replacing the engine which the dealer quoted at 5,000 USD for a used engine and 6,000 USD for a rebuilt engine. An independent mechanic indicated that the rod was thrown due to low oil pressure, there were no leaks apparent, clearly the car burned through a significant amount of oil causing catastrophic engine failure. I was left no option but to seek legal aide. The link included is to information regarding a class action lawsuit that is currently in progress regarding this issue: http://www.classactionsnews.com/consumer/toyota-excessive-engine-oil-consumption-class-action-lawsuit
I have been a faithful Toyota owner since the late 70's early 80's and still have a 1996 Toyota Tacoma SR% that doesn't use a drop of oil between oil changes! I was told by the local Toyota dealership that this is normal but being a mechanic/technician my whole life I know this is BS and a LIE and they know it. Were it not for me being disabled now I would have probably tried to fix myself but that is not possible now.
I don't think I'll ever buy another Toyota vehicle ever again and the oil consumption on this car is getting worse all the time the car now has 126,000 on it and we must watch the oil very closely. Toyota should do the right thing and fix this I've been warning everyone I talk with to never buy a Toyota!!!
My daughter bought this car. I/she never received a bulletin or recall and had no idea there was one. However I did think it was unusual for such a seemingly dependable brand to have such extreme oil consumption. Only after searching the internet for a fix did I find that the problem was well known by Toyota.
Toyota knows this is an issue and they won't recall the cars to be fixed. Many owners don't even know it's an issue until it's out of warranty with Toyota. That is an issue. It's a known issue with these cars and motor. Shame on Toyota and I own 4 or them currently but they may just be my last. Stand behind your product and fix the issue. There is already one class action lawsuit going about this very issue.
After conversation with my mechanic I was advised to go to Toyota to have it fixed. He had heard of other customers getting the engine rebuilt on Toyota's dime. Went to the Kendall Toyota and was told to do the oil consumption test. Followed the directions to the tee. We did not open the hood for 1200 miles. When we went back to the dealer it was a quart low. We were told that we had to change to synthetic oil because it would burn less oil. Synthetic is more expensive but we did that. After doing this at 900 miles it burned quart of oil.
Went back to the dealer and was told it burned about the same. The lead of the department told us this was normal and would not repair the problem. Talking with another lead and techs they have seen other customers having the problem fixed by Toyota. It sounded like who ever you talked to and what there attitude was that day if the problem would be fixed.
I was told to call customer care. This is the next step.
We started this process with dealing with Toyota in February of 2018. We continued to add oil for about a year before we were told to contact Toyota. regarding the excessive use of oil.
- Sue G.,
Eugene, US
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Apparently, using 3/4 quart of oil in 1100 miles is the new standard for Toyota. I thought they had better engine quality than this level. I basically putting in enough oil between changes to amount to another change. It will definitely impact my next car purchase.
Bought Toyota certified. Using more oil now than gas. If different engine would go over 300,000 miles no oil consumption. Toyota checked at 147,000 miles said 1 quart in 1000 miles was ok. It was more than a quart, I checked myself before taking it to Toyota. Now after 150,000 can't check again. Called Toyota they said sorry like and 8th grader getting caught. So sad. Paid a lot, wife loves car, can't afford to replace engine, fouls out plugs crazy. They should recall and replace for free.
I now know that this 2009 Toyota Camry was recalled for excessive oil consumption. Never got paperwork about that in the past. It started making a knocking noise and acceleration wasn't right so I took it to my independent mechanic. He said that there was no oil in the engine, which caused the noise. My mechanic indicated that the rod was thrown due to low oil, there were no leaks apparent, clearly the car burned through a significant amount of oil causing catastrophic engine failure.
I then took the car to a Toyota service department. They said that since the car had oil (which I had my mechanic put in a few days prior for safety) that it wasn't a case of excessive oil consumption and did not fall under the warranty. Therefore, Toyota said my only option was to replace the engine which the dealer quoted at $5,000 USD for a used engine and even more for a rebuilt engine. I have filed a complaint with dealership and corporate.
So...our 2009 Toyota Camry started going through a lot of oil these past several years. It currently has around 127,000 miles and we have to put a quart or more oil in it every 2 weeks or so and/or about every 400 miles between standard 3,000 mile oil changes. We are spending roughly over $ 150.00/yr on extra motor oil but the Toyota reps tell us that this is " normal " since the vehicle has over 100,000 miles on it and because of the " thin-weighted oil --- 5W-20 " that it consumes.
I had the excessive oil consumption issue for over a year. When I brought it in for the oil consumption test because of the TSB, I was told it passed and there was not issues, even though I explained that I know it was burning oil quickly because when I would change the oil there would be very little oil left in the engine. Also the check oil light would come on when I get to 4,000 miles. This gradually got worse. Luckily I called Toyota again and I was under 150,000 miles and allowed to get the test again. And this time it failed so Toyota will fix it. But if I didn't contact them again about this problem, it would have been out of warranty and then I would have to get it fixed myself.
I have had this problem for years. My wife drives this car and told me about having to add oil and I was like ok, I will have it checked out for an oil leak. Later after she really started complaining to me, I asked the people who change the oil to look for a leak, but they didn’t see any. I even had the valve cover replaced just to be sure and I was still losing oil. I have to add 2-3 bottles of oil between oil changes. After reading some stories this seem like a Toyota issue that should have been repaired. I really like Toyota’s. Let’s pray they do the right thing and repair this problem. I know that car manufacturers aren’t perfect but they should be responsible for faulty work.
This Camry was a commute vehicle until 2015. After that it's been mainly used for short trips on surface streets, with a few short road trips. We first noticed the problem when we took it from Atlanta to Charleston in 2017. (longest road trip this car had ever been). Since then, I check the oil almost every time I buy gas, and it is low about every other refuel. I add one qt of oil approx every 400 miles. I keep a diary of gas, oil, and work done in a little book that I keep in the car, so this is not just a guess. You can also see blue exhaust.
This car is past due for both time and miles on the warranty, so I'm hoping that the class action will require Toyota to fix this problem. In general, I like the Camry and I want to keep driving it as long as I can.
So sad the company doesn't acknowledge the problem. Have had 3 other Toyotas generally w/o problems. Is there any car maker left that doesn't turn out garbage?
I purchased car with about 109,00 miles on it one day my brother took the car and basically the motor stopped working because of lack of oil. We then had to go buy a used engine with now 130,00 miles on it and still having the same problem and it cost too much money to maintain that on top of other things.
My future solution, I will not purchase another toyota. this is my first and my last unless something will be done to help fix it.
I had the Toyota service center review my concern and they said 1 quart used/lost per 1000 miles is normal. They did not test and I’ve added oil now for past 6 years. But now excessive oil consumption is 1 quart every 700 miles. No smoke noticed but PCV was oil fouled at last replacement 12/17. Toyota should have tested my engine then and repaired as the service bulletin requires.
I bought this car as used in Feb 2016 and didn't this issue until one time taken to local Toyota dealer for oil change and since then they sabotage my engine to create this problem because they wanted to have it paid by the Toyota corporate. After having in their garage for 3 weeks they told me because it doesn't have original engine so Toyota doesn't want to pay. No repairs done. Now I'm stuck. Called Toyota Corporate office but no luck. What Toyota claims it doesn't have original engine, Does a car has to have all original parts in 8 years plus the original might had his engine crashed and perhaps got another engine. End of story is the Toyota doesn't want to be responsible for its own manufacturing defects.
I have seen lot of complaints from other people but I think the best thing is to file the complaints to the following agencies and to the Taxes attorney general office so Toyota either fix this issue or should be bared to sell cars in USA.
Toyota thinks that adding a quart of oil every 1,200 miles is normal for a vehicle with only 130,000 miles on it. That seems pretty ridiculous! I have purchased 3 Toyota Camrys, but this will be my last one unless Toyota decides to allow the extended warranty to be allowed to fix the problem.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I have been a faithful Toyota owner since the late 70's early 80's and still have a 1996 Toyota Tacoma SR% that doesn't use a drop of oil between oil changes! I was told by the local Toyota dealership that this is normal but being a mechanic/technician my whole life I know this is BS and a LIE and they know it. Were it not for me being disabled now I would have probably tried to fix myself but that is not possible now.
I don't think I'll ever buy another Toyota vehicle ever again and the oil consumption on this car is getting worse all the time the car now has 126,000 on it and we must watch the oil very closely. Toyota should do the right thing and fix this I've been warning everyone I talk with to never buy a Toyota!!!
- Gary N., Hardy, US