Where are the door drainage outlets located on the eighth-generation Camry?
4 Answers
The eighth-generation Camry has a total of four door drainage holes: two on each side of the A-pillar and C-pillar. The reason the car doesn't leak during rain isn't due to superior sealing, but rather the well-designed drainage system. If these drainage holes become clogged, water leakage or seepage may occur inside the vehicle, potentially damaging the interior panels in minor cases or even leading to mechanical component and engine electrical system failures in severe scenarios. The Camry measures 4885mm in length, 1840mm in width, and 1445mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2825mm. One version of the eighth-generation Camry is equipped with a newly developed 2.5L naturally aspirated engine from the TNGA platform, delivering a maximum output of 206 horsepower and peak torque of 253 Nm.
I just had my eighth-generation Camry serviced, and the door drain holes are located right at the very bottom edge of the doors. If you open the door and squat down to look, you'll notice two or three centimeter-long slits at the bottom of both the front and rear doors, near the door lock on the inner side of the door panel. These slits are actually channels intentionally left by the rubber seals to drain water that seeps in through the window gaps on rainy days. Last time after washing my car, I heard sloshing water inside the door. It took me a while with my phone flashlight to locate these drain holes, and I used a thin wire to poke inside and pull out a bunch of leaves and mud. If they stay clogged for too long and water can't drain, not only will you hear splashing sounds, but it might also corrode the internal wiring of the door. I recommend wiping the edges of the drain holes with your finger to clear debris when washing your car.
My friend's eighth-gen Camry recently had squeaky window issues, and upon inspection, it turned out the drainage ports were clogged. These drainage ports are quite hidden, located along the inner edge at the bottom of the doors—both front and rear doors are designed this way. If you run your hand along the bottom of the door, you'll feel two recessed areas with gaps—these are the drainage channels. When I helped clean them, I noticed the holes were about three millimeters high and half-blocked by tree sap and sand. A gentle scrape with a toothpick is enough to clear them; avoid using an awl, as it could puncture the sealing layer. The design is actually quite clever—rainwater that enters the door naturally flows to the lowest point and drains out. However, in northern winters, it's important to promptly clear snow from door gaps to prevent ice buildup from widening the seams.
Last time when I got my car repaired, I specifically checked the drainage structure. The eighth-generation Camry has two drainage holes at the bottom of each door, located near the hinge and the door lock respectively. They're positioned just half a centimeter below the seam where the metal door panel meets the plastic trim – you can actually feel the rubber flap openings with your fingernail. Actually, all Toyota models have similar drainage designs, but the Camry's holes are longer, about 4-5 cm narrow slits. New owners often overlook these areas, especially when sugary drinks leak into the door pockets – sugar crystallization can block the drainage channels. Even automatic car washes at gas stations require attention, as high-pressure water jets can force lint into the holes causing partial blockages.
