2012 - 2014 Toyota Camry Rear Defroster Weak?

[lancerplayer]

For those with a 2012 - 2014 model year Camry, does your rear defroster seem weak? I purchased my 2014 Camry LE (certified used) about a month ago and today was the first day I had to use the rear defroster. Even after approximately 10 - 15 minutes of driving, there was barely an improvement. It was almost as if the rear defroster wasn't functioning. However, it was working since around the defroster wires it was clearing up, but very minimal. There is no window tint installed.

Anyone else experience this?

 

[oilpsi2high]

Take it back to the dealer. Do not waste your time diagnosing this garbage defroster.

 

[michaelluscher]

Purely anecdotal, but my 2006 Camry's rear defroster is one of the worst I've ever come across too

Maybe Toyota just doesn't do a good heated rear window?

 

[The Critic]

Inspect the rear window carefully for signs of window tint. If tint has been removed, it is very likely that the defroster lines were damaged when the adhesive was removed.

 

[Need4racin]

window may have replaced.

 

[lancerplayer]

Originally Posted By: michaelluscher
Purely anecdotal, but my 2006 Camry's rear defroster is one of the worst I've ever come across too

Maybe Toyota just doesn't do a good heated rear window?



Compared to my 2009 Honda Accord, there is a significant difference. The Accord would have had 80% of of dew/frost taken care of in the same amount of time.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Is your Ac on recirc?

Car may have been a flood car also. I hope not. I got burned by one once. Lincoln mark Viii

My point is, there may be a lot of residual moisture in the vehicle cabin padding/insulation which would "overload" the de-fogger.

Alternatively, Is this outside frost you are trying to mitigate?

 

[lancerplayer]

Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
Is your Ac on recirc?

Car may have been a flood car also. I hope not. I got burned by one once. Lincoln mark Viii

My point is, there may be a lot of residual moisture in the vehicle cabin padding/insulation which would "overload" the de-fogger.

Alternatively, Is this outside frost you are trying to mitigate?



The car is certified pre-owned and shows a clean CarFax.

Rear windshield is OEM Toyota.

Non-smoker, no tint.

Dew and frost was on the outside of glass.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

And this is ANOTHER why I would buy 5 doors or 3 doors ( ignoring the utility aspect for now). Rear window wiper/ washer and defroster.

 

[Silverado12]

There has to be something wrong with it. Every car I have ever owned (GM cars esp have a strong defroster) have the window cleared of frost well enough to see out of in a few miles. I would take it in. Could be as simple as a fuse.

 

[lancerplayer]

Originally Posted By: Silverado12
There has to be something wrong with it. Every car I have ever owned (GM cars esp have a strong defroster) have the window cleared of frost well enough to see out of in a few miles. I would take it in. Could be as simple as a fuse.


Would a blown out fuse still allow it to power on and function?

 

[SatinSilver]

Maybe it was damaged when the rear window was being cleaned. It's supposed to be cleaned very gently to avoid being damaged. But once a car wash attendant does their magic to it then all bets are off. The Matrix rear defroster works very well and just as good as the Accord I used to own. Haven't used the rear defrost on the Camry in some time since it's garaged and I don't drive it as much.

 

[PeterPolyol]

Maybe part of Toyota's 'reliability strategy' is to under-power one of the single biggest electrical loads in the car or maybe the conductors are undersized in the loom. If the element is just low wattage, there's not much you can do. If it's the conductors, you could upgrade the circuit if it ever came down to that, provided there was nothing the service center could do.