2009 Camry door panel/armrest creaking-crackling

[kps88]

I did a complete search and did find a few things regarding this issue, but not enough.

My 09 Camry XLE (4cyl cloth interior) has an issue with both front door panels and armrest. If I even lightly place my leg/knee up near the panel (especially where the door handle is) or a passenger it creaks/cracks everytime the car shifts in any way. Putting even the slightest pressure and this darn cracking noise comes..same goes for armrest. I put any elbow/arm pressure (even slightly) and the armrest crackles. I feel like I am in the middle of a Rice Crispies bowl of cereal sometimes. I am used to having my leg up and against the door panel and I no longer do this (even though I have been driving this way for years (left leg) and anyone in passenger side that puts up their right leg and uses the door panel for support the creaks come.

If no one has the legs near the panel and my elbow/arm rests still then there is no noise..car drives beautifully. But I have always driven a certain way and no car has ever, ever had this issue.

Anyone else have this? my thought is few if any and will use this information to have the dealer fix this. Thanks in advance.

[laphan]

My camry does that, the noise is caused by cheap plastic that toyota put in camry interior (gen 6). Just wait until winter gets here and temperature is below freezing, they will creak even worse until the interior warms up.
Comparing older camry to this gen 6, you can immediately can tell that toyota really skimp on interior materials (my solara does not have any of these issues and has way more soft touch materials in the interior).

It is not only happening in camry only, check 2010 sienna and 2011 sienna (it goes from soft touch nice materials interior to all hard cheap plastic in 1 generation).

At this cost cutting rate, I expect gen 7 camry will have interior with the same materials with your 36 gallon garbage can and gen 8 will have interior made of cardboard.

The brightest spot of my toyotas are their powertrain. They are holding up really well (no mechanical breakdown on both of my toyota since I bought them new).

Honda is not better in this regard too (toyota and honda are in the race on who can put cheapest material and still charge premium money for their product).

[kps88]

I know what you mean regarding winter time. I had a 97 Camry and not a sound came from it and I had it 8 years. I read that a few people got new armrests, so I will at least go that route. The car rides really well, but the cheapness is sad.

[profuse007]

laphan, go to sleep, man.