Recall 12V091 affects 186,798 2009-2011 Toyota Camry and Venza vehicles for a stop lamp switch defect. Repair is free at any franchised Toyota dealer.
Toyota is recalling 186,798 2009-2011 Camry and Venza vehicles under recall 12V091 because silicone grease on the stop lamp switch can increase electrical resistance. The defect can leave brake lights inoperative, fail to warn other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, and increase crash risk; the Toyota dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The brake-light switch on 2009-2011 Toyota Camry and Venza vehicles sits at the brake pedal and tells the electrical system when the pedal is pressed. That signal turns on the rear brake lights. It also helps the vehicle decide when starting and shifting out of Park are allowed.
In the recalled switch, silicone grease from assembly touched the contact surface inside the switch. That contamination creates extra electrical resistance at the contact point. When resistance rises, the switch signal becomes unreliable, so warning lamps can illuminate, the engine can refuse to start, the shift lever can stay locked in Park, or the brake lights can stop working.
There is no warning sign before failure. Once the switch stops sending a clean signal, the problem shows up as one of those electrical symptoms or as brake lights that do not turn on when the pedal is pressed.
Who's affected?
Camry appears for 2009 only, while Venza spans 2009, 2010, and 2011; all are tied to the brake light switch.
| 2009 Toyota Camry | Switch |
|---|---|
| 2009 Toyota Venza | Switch |
| 2010 Toyota Venza | Switch |
| 2011 Toyota Venza | Switch |
| Units affected | 186,798 |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included.
What's the safety risk?
Without working brake lights, drivers behind you do not get a clear signal that the Toyota Camry or Venza is slowing or stopping. That raises crash risk in traffic and at intersections. Schedule the stop lamp switch repair soon. Repair will be free at any franchised Toyota dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm whether your 2009 Toyota Camry or 2009-2011 Toyota Venza is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Toyota dealer to schedule the free stop-lamp-switch replacement that fixes the brake-light failure risk.
- Bring the recall notice if Toyota mailed one. If not, reference recall number 12V091 when you call.
- Drive cautiously until the repair is complete, and avoid driving if the brake lights stop working.
What happens at the repair
Toyota's filing says the recall repair is a stop lamp switch replacement. At the dealer, a Toyota technician removes the affected switch and installs a replacement switch so the brake lights and park shift interlock receive the correct signal. Because the remedy status is not listed as available in this input, the dealer repair will be free once available for your VIN. The source says owner notification for this recall began on April 12, 2012.
Timeline
| March 7, 2012 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| April 12, 2012 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 12V091?
Recall 12V091 covers 186,798 2009 Toyota Camry and 2009-2011 Toyota Venza vehicles with a stop lamp switch defect. Grease on the switch contact surface can cause resistance, which can leave the brake lights inoperative and increase crash risk.
What should I do if my 2009 Toyota Camry or 2009-2011 Toyota Venza is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 12V091. If it is, contact a franchised Toyota dealer to schedule the stop lamp switch replacement. The repair has been open since April 12, 2012, and it is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Toyota's remedy says dealers will replace the stop lamp switch free of charge. You can also call Toyota at 1-800-331-4331 with recall number 12V091.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is that the brake lights can stop working. Other drivers would not be warned when the vehicle is slowing or stopping, which increases crash risk. Toyota's free dealer repair replaces the stop lamp switch to correct the defect.
What warning signs should I watch for?
Watch for warning lamps, a no-start condition, a shift lever that will not move from Park, or brake lights that do not work. These signs point to the stop lamp switch issue in recall 12V091. If your VIN is included, schedule the free Toyota dealer repair.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/12V091000 |
|---|---|
| Toyota customer service | 1-800-331-4331 |
| NHTSA recall # | 12V091 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 12V091000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →