Seat complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2 | 4% | — |
| 2021 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2020 | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2019 | 2 | 1% | 71,000 miles |
| 2018 | 2 | 0% | — |
| 2017 | 3 | 2% | 35,000 miles |
| 2016 | 5 | 3% | 45,000 miles |
| 2015 | 1 | 0% | 35,000 miles |
| 2014 | 9 | 2% | 31,000 miles |
| 2013 | 2 | 1% | 24,000 miles |
| 2012 | 10 | 2% | 26,000 miles |
| 2011 | 8 | 1% | 29,000 miles |
| 2010 | 6 | 1% | 5,000 miles |
| 2009 | 11 | 1% | 47,000 miles |
| 2008 | 2 | 0% | 195,000 miles |
| 2007 | 1 | 0% | 1,000 miles |
| 2006 | 2 | 1% | 250,000 miles |
| 2005 | 4 | 1% | 20,000 miles |
| 2004 | 3 | 0% | 31,000 miles |
| 2003 | 7 | 1% | 25,000 miles |
| 2002 | 9 | 1% | 20,000 miles |
| 2001 | 11 | 4% | 84,000 miles |
| 2000 | 13 | 3% | 63,000 miles |
| 1999 | 9 | 2% | 205,000 miles |
| 1998 | 2 | 0% | — |
| 1997 | 30 | 5% | 57,000 miles |
| 1996 | 7 | 2% | 193,000 miles |
| 1995 | 5 | 2% | — |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (seat frames, recliners, heated seats and seat tracks).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
While driving home from work I suddenly noticed green smoke billowing from under my passenger seat. I immediately pulled over rolled my windows down I removed my back pack from the seat that was smoldering on top of the seat . There was absolutely nothing combustible in my back pack I removed my back back from the vehicle. The extinguished itself some how. I began coughing and choking due to the toxic smoke. Once I felt that the fire in the passenger seat was no longer a threat to my life. I begrudgingly continued my drive home which was an additional 15 Miles home. I am a sheriff deputy for Los Angeles county I realized that getting off the highway was the safest place for my self and other vehicles around me. The 15 freeway is a very busy highway and is not safe to remain on the side of the road unless there was an immediate threat of danger or an accident that needed to be reported. …
I was traveling at an estimated speed of 20mph and with the front of my Camry, struck the back of a non trailered semi truck and my air bags did not deploy and my drivers seat broke causing me to get slammed into the seat belt which resulted in back, neck, shoulder and knee injuries.
First issue, (minor) driver side rear seatbelt does not recoil correctly. Must be manually fed in order to reset for next use. Second issue, hood latch does not release as it is supposed to. You must have a long flat head screwdriver and manually lift the hook from the hood in order to raise hood. Appears to be a weak spring on the lever. Not sure what about this car makes it eat tires but I bought it brand new (12 miles) and now have 98,000 and I am goong through tires approximately every 10,000 miles regardless of brand or warranty. Have had the vehicle aligned multiple times by multiple companies and still no wear pattern on tires just worn completely smooth. I purchased this vehicle with the thought of putting my son in it it travel to college and back but I will get rid of the vehicle before I put my child in it full time. …
The panel that controls the power seats broke when the plastic made contact with the front of the seat rail while adjusting the seat backwards from the most forward position while the car was stopped. When driving, the panel that broke at the front allowed the seat to engage movement without driver knowledge and causing distraction while driving. Driver put duct tape on front of panel so it would not self engage while driving. Toyota dealer advises this happens quite frequently and there should be a TSB on it but there is not. Says repair is $400. Sounds like a defect in design since I have online record of over 100 cars being affected.
I originally bought a vehicle from carbone Subaru of troy ny on 11/27 2018. (complaint originally submitted December, 2019). The car was a lemon. I finally got a replacement vehicle (with clean carfax) on 12/31/18. On 8/30/19, car was totaled due amount of mold found everywhere in the car, icluding roof and spare tire in trunk. I called carbone Subaru several times and was ignored. I finally got ahold of melinda @ lithia motor group hq in oregon. I was told she would call me back within a week. Over 3 weeks later and several attempts I got ahold of her. I explained to her I complained about the horrific odor in the car to my salesperson and to a mechanic, and was given an air freshener. I was told that I bought the car in winter, and water is a summer problem, and they would only help me if I bought a 3rd car from them. …
After ap. 45 minutes of highway driving, driver's seat warmer (previously off) turned on and went to high. The only way to stop it was to turn car off and restart a bit later. On the way home, same thing happened to passenger seat. Car again was turned off and restarted, but then driver's seat warmed up (but not to high this time). This on an 80 degree day. Dealer does not know how to fix this.
I am noticing there is some wiggling and play with the driver's seat. Every time I hop inside the car, I feel the seat wiggle back a little bit. I notice some movement back and forth when accelerating and braking and it is starting to get very annoying whenever I drive.
I am reporting a potential safety defect involving the driver seat lumbar support mechanism found in multiple vehicle models across the industry. The lumbar support feature applies excessive, uneven, or unstable pressure to the driver's lower back during normal driving conditions. This occurs even when the feature is set to its lowest or neutral position. The defect presents in the following ways: The lumbar support protrudes too far forward, forcing the spine into an unnatural posture. The mechanism shifts or changes pressure during , creating sudden discomfort or pain. Extended use results in lower back strain, muscle spasms, or nerve irritation. Safety Risk This issue poses a significant safety hazard because it directly affects the driver's ability to maintain proper posture, comfort, and control of the vehicle. …
Related recalls (2)
Seats
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
Seats
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and…
Remedy: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013.
Frequently asked questions
Which Toyota Camry years have seat problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1997 (30), 2000 (13), 2001 (11), 2009 (11) and 2012 (10) model years. Seat complaints make up 5% of all complaints for the 1997.
Is there a recall for Toyota Camry seat problems?
Yes — 2 recalls, including 24V-128 (seats, Feb 21, 2024); 13V-014 (seats, Jan 16, 2013). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Toyota Camry seat problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 54,000 miles; 61% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the front assembly › recliner (20 mentions), followed by the front assembly › power adjust (11).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.