2004 Toyota Camry
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Vehicle speed control is the leading concern among 799 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 6th highest complaint count among 25 Camry model years with reports.
Of the 2004 reports, 223 involved a crash and 13 involved a fire. 145 people were injured and 6 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Engine and engine coolingNov 9, 2011
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AVALON VEHICLES; 2004 AND 2005 CAMRY, CAMRY SOLARA, HIGHLANDER, AND SIENNA VEHICLES, 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID; 2004 AND 2005 LEXUS ES330 AND RX330; AND 2006 LEXUS RX400H VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 1, 2004 THROUGH MARCH 31, 2005, EQUIPPED WITH THE 1MZ-FE OR 3MZ-FE ENGINE. THE AMOUNT OF ADHESIVE AGENT APPLIED BETWEEN THE OUTER RING AND THE TORSIONAL RUBBER DAMPER (INNER RING) IN THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY MAY BE INADEQUATE. IF THE ADHESIVE IS INSUFFICIENT, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE OUTER RING MAY BECOME MISALIGNED AND IT MAY NOT PROPERLY ROTATE WITH THE INNER RING, CAUSING NOISE AND/OR ILLUMINATION OF THE BATTERY DISCHARGE INDICATOR LIGHT.
IN SOME CASES, THE BELT FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAY BECOME DETACHED FROM THE PULLEY WHICH COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND A SUDDEN INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL CHECK THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY TO IDENTIFY WHETHER IT WAS PRODUCED BY THE U.S. SUPPLIER. IF SO, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE PULLEY WITH A NEW ONE AT NO CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING EARLY JANUARY 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Campaign 11V539000 on NHTSA.gov
Seat belts, front, buckle assemblyDec 15, 2004
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A FRONT PASSENGER POWER SEAT, WHEN INSTALLING CERTAIN REAR-FACING INFANT CHILD SEAT BASES ONTO THE SEAT WITH AN EXCESSIVELY HIGH SEATBELT TENSION, IT MAY BE POSSIBLE TO UNSEAT A COMPONENT CALLED THE BUCKLE STATUS SWITCH FROM THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE.
IF THE SWITCH BECOMES UNSEATED, THE FRONT PASSENGER OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM MAY MISTAKE THE REAR-FACING CHILD RESTRAINT FOR AN UNBELTED ADULT OCCUPANT, AND MAY NOT SUPPRESS THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT BUCKLE STATUS SWITCH. THIS SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN (SSC 40M) BEGAN ON DECEMBER 20, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 OR LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987..
Campaign 04V595000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, side/windowJul 13, 2004
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CURTAIN SHIELD AIR BAGS (CSA), ONE OR BOTH OF THE CURTAIN AIR BAGS MAY BE TWISTED NEAR THE INFLATOR DUE TO IMPROPER ASSEMBLY.
IF THIS OCCURS, THE CSA MAY NOT DEPLOY RAPIDLY ENOUGH WHEN ACTIVATED IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION. THIS MAY RESULT IN FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE INTENDED HEAD PROTECTION, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE CSAS AND REPLACE THE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 6, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Campaign 04V346000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: hydraulic
62 reports, newest first. Show all
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Apr 17, 2012
I TURNED ON THE MOTOR OF MY CAR WHICH WAS PARKED AT A HOME DEPOT. WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE (AND NOT ON THE GAS), THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND DID NOT STOP UNTIL IT HAD TRAVELED ABOUT 15 YARDS. *JS
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Mar 7, 2012, crash
I WAS SLOWLY PULLING MY 2004 CAMRY INTO A PERPENDICULAR PARKING SPACE IN A PUBLIC PARKING LOT, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. AS I APPROACHED THE CURB TO COME TO A STOP, THE CAR SUDDENLY LEAPED FORWARD AT WHAT SEEMED LIKE FULL THROTTLE, JUMPED THE CURB, LUNGED UP A FLIGHT OF THREE CONCRETE STEPS, AND CRASHED THROUGH THE GLASS DOORS OF THE ENTRY OF THE BUILDING. MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, AT THE HOUR OF THE DAY WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED (3:30 PM), THERE ARE SMALL GROUPS OF YOUNG PEOPLE WAITING FOR RIDES OR CHATTING IN FRONT OF THIS FACILITY. BY SOME MIRACLE THERE WERE NO PEOPLE PRESENT ON THE SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF THE CAR OR COMING OUT OF OR GOING INTO THE BUILDING WHEN THIS HAPPENED. TRULY A MIRACLE THAT NO ONE WAS HURT OR WORSE. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES. THE POLICE HAD THE CAR REMOVED BY FLATBED TO A BODY SHOP YARD. I LATER LEARNED THAT THE POLICE HAD DRIVEN THE CAR IN THE BODY SHOP YARD AND COMMENTED THAT THE CAR DROVE WITHOUT ISSUES. I SUBSEQUENTLY RECEIVED A CARELESS DRIVING CITATION IN THE MAIL. A LOCAL MEDIA REPORT OF THE INCIDENT, CRIBBED FROM THE POLICE BLOTTER, STATED THAT THE POLICE BELIEVED THE CAUSE OF THE INCIDENT WAS DRIVER ERROR. THERE IS NOT THE LEAST DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT MY FOOT WAS FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHICH WENT TO THE FLOOR AND DID NOT STOP THE CAR! THE CAR ACTED ON ITS OWN AS IF POSSESSED! I WILL NEVER DRIVE THIS CAR AGAIN! I BOUGHT A NEW CAR AND TOOK A HUGE LOSS ON THE VALUE OF THE TOYOTA BY SELLING IT FOR PARTS TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR A TENTH OF ITS RETAIL VALUE SO IT WOULD NEVER FIND ITS WAY BACK ONTO THE ROAD TO THREATEN OTHER PEOPLE WITH INJURY OR DEATH! *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Feb 23, 2011, crash
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN, WHILE CHANGING LANES TO THE SLOW LANE, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK, I LOST CONTROL, AND THE CAR CAREENED OFF THE FREEWAY AND DOWN AND EMBANKMENT. THE CAR WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED BUT I WAS NOT INJURED. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jan 6, 2011
2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. CONSUMER STATES THAT BRAKES HAVE BEEN SQUEALING FOR YEARS. HE STATES THAT THE DEALER HAS WORKED ON THE VEHICLE AND NOTHING HAS HELPED. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE SQUEALING IS EXTREMELY LOUD AND CONSTANT. *KB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, May 24, 2010
MY 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY HAS STARTED TO "HOLD BACK" WHEN I DRIVE IT. THEN THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND STARTED FLASHING AND WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES, THE FLASHING LIGHT WENT OFF. I CALLED THE LANCASTER PA TOYOTA DEALER AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT AS LONG AS IT IS INTERMITTENT AND NOT CONSTANT, IT IS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. BUT I WONDER HOW MANY OTHER TOYOTA CUSTOMERS HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIR ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEMS. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Apr 8, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON WET ROAD CONDITIONS AND ATTEMPTING TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING TO THE LEFT THEN TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT TURNED THE HAZARD LIGHTS ON AND MAINTAINED A SIGNIFICANT DISTANCE BETWEEN THE OTHER VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY CAME TO A STOP. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED WHEN THE ROAD WAS WET. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER BUT RECEIVED NO ASSISTANCE WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY FILED COMPLAINTS FOR SIMILAR MODELS SHE OWNED UNDER THE SAME MANUFACTURER REGARDING BRAKE FAILURES; SHE COULD NOT RECALL THE YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF THE VEHICLES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Equipment, Mar 1, 2010, crash
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) I OWN A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY VIN#[XXX] ON JANUARY 6, 2010 I WAS DRIVING UP FIRST AVE IN MANHATTAN GOING TO RANDALLS ISLAND. AT 1ST AVE AND ABOUT 10 ST I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 20 MILES PER HOUR, PRESSED THE BRAKE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT. INSTEAD THE ENGINE REVVED (VROOM) AND CAR ACCELERATED FORWARD. I FLOORED THE BRAKE AND PULLED UP THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND STILL I TAPPED THE COMMERCIAL VEHICLE IN FRONT BEFORE BEING ABLE TO STOP BY PUTTING CAR INTO PARK. 2 HOURS LATER I WAS RETURNING HOME AND DRIVING DOWN 9TH STREET BETWEEN BROADWAY AND UNIVERSITY AND AGAIN APPROACHING A RED LIGHT BRAKED TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR (I WAS ALREADY GOING 20MPH) AGAIN, INSTEAD THE VEHICLE REVVED AND ACCELERATED FORWARD AND THIS TIME NO MATTER HOW HARD I PUSHED THE BRAKE THE CAR WOULDN'T STOP. I SLAMMED THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK , PULLED UP THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THAT STOPPED THE CAR. I CALLED AAA AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO TOYOTA OF MANHATTAN WHERE THEY SAID MY BRAKE PINS WERE FROZEN AND THERE WAS A THROTTLE PROBLEM AND CHARGED $1300 FOR REPAIR. (MY PERSONAL MECHANIC IN NJ LATER TOLD ME BRAKE PINS AND UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION WERE NOT RELATED. ON MONDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2010 WHILE DRIVING TO MY SUMMER APARTMENT IN VENTNOR NJ THE SAME THING HAPPENED. WE WERE AGAIN ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BY PULLING INTO PARK MODE AND EMERGENCY BRAKE. WE RESTARTED THE CAR AND DROVE 10 MILES PER HOUR TO OUR PARKING LOT WHERE THE CAR STILL SITS. CALLS TO TOYOTA OF MANHATTAN SIMPLY STATED THAT THIS MODEL WAS NOT UNDER RECALL AND THE CAR WAS TOO FAR FOR THEM TO SEND A TOW. ATTEMPTS TO BRING THE CAR TO A LOCAL TOYOTA (SHORE TOYOTA) CALLS WERE NOT ANSWERED AND I WAS TOLD I COULD NOT BRING THE CAR IN WITHOUT AN APPOINTMENT. AND I SHOULD BRING THE CAR BACK TO WHERE THE REPAIR WAS DONE. SO THERE IT SITS IN A PARKING LOT. I HAD TO RENT A CAR TO GET HOME. THE REPAIR WAS CLEARLY BOGUS AND THIS PROBLEM IS ACCELERATION UPON HITTING THE BRAKE PEDAL. *TR UPDATED IVOQ 09/01/10
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Feb 25, 2010
CAR:2004 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE MODEL WHEN I DRIVE ON A CITY ROAD WITH POT HOLES/ROUGH SURFACE INTERSECTION MY BRAKES DOES NOT SEEMS TO EFFECTIVE. YOU ALMOST SEEMS TO FEELS ITS NOT GOING TO STOP, BUT WHEN YOU PUSH HARD AND KEEP IT EVENTUALLY STOP. OTHER WISE BRAKES PERFORM AS EXPECTED IN HIGHWAYS. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Feb 24, 2010
ALTHOUGH MY TOYOTA XLE V6 IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY BRAKES SINCE 2004, THE YEAR OF MY CAMRY. WHEN I'M DRIVING SLOWLY, (APPROXIMATELY 15MPH) GOING OVER A BUMP AND I NEED TO BRAKE, MY BRAKES DO NOT RESPOND. I HAVE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES WITH GREAT FORCE AND THE ANTI-LOCKS KICK IN. . I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF MY DEALER IN 2004. I WAS TOLD THEY COULD DO SOMETHING MINOR (OF WHICH I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND) BUT IT WOULD CONTINUE TO OCCUR. I HAVE BEEN UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE BRAKING ON THIS CAR FOR YEARS. THIS IS A CONTINUAL PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH THIS HAPPENS CONSTANTLY, IN ORDER TO PROCEED, I NEED TO INPUT A DATE. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Parking brake, Feb 10, 2010
THIS COMPLAINT DEALS WITH ALL TOYOTA CARS WITH REAR WHEEL DRUM BRAKES. ON MY CAR AND MANY OTHERS POSSIBLY THE PEDAL IS SOFT HAS TO GO DOWN QUITE A WAYS TO ACTIVATE BRAKES. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ALTHOUGH I DRIVE CONSERVATIVELY I FEEL MY BRAKING WAS COMPROMISED WHEN I NEED QUICK BRAKING RESPONSE. I BELIEVE THE REASON IS THE AUTOMATIC ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM ON MY REAR BRAKES WAS AND IS NOT WORKING. THIS MECHANISM ON ALL MODERN CARS WITH REAR DRUM BRAKES ADJUSTS FOR WEAR BY BRINGING THE BRAKE SHOES CLOSER TO THE DRUM WHEN BACKING AND BRAKING. AN AUTOMATIC ADJUSTMENT. WHEN THE MECHANISM ISN'T WORKING THE REAR BRAKE SHOES GET FARTHER AND FARTHER FROM THE DRUM DUE TO WEAR AND ONE MUST PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL FARTHER AND FARTHER DOWN ON BRAKING TO GET THE SHOES TO CONTACT THE DRUMS BEFORE BRAKING CAN BEGIN. THIS DELAYS THE BRAKING TIME OF THE DRIVER CONSIDERABLY. RECENTLY GETTING NEW TIRES THE MECHANIC NOTED MY SOFT BRAKE PEDAL AND REMOVED THE REAR BRAKE DRUMS AND MANUALLY ADJUSTED THE SHOES TO BRING THEM IN LIGHT CONTACT WITH THE DRUM. MY BRAKE PEDAL GOT HARD AGAIN AND ACTIVATED AT THE TOP. TOYOTA SHOULD BRING THE CARS IN TO CHECK THIS LACK OF ADJUSTMENT PROBLEM AS I WOULDN'T DOUBT THERE HAVE BEEN ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF IT. WITH THE NEW CARS WITH DISK BRAKES THE PADS ARE ALWAYS AGAINST THE DISK AND THE IS NO SOFT PEDAL PROBLEM. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Feb 4, 2010
I HAVE THE SAME BRAKING PROBLEM WITH MY 2004 TOYOTA SOLARA THAT HAS BEEN RECENTLY DESCRIBED IN THE 2010 PRIUS. I FIRST REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO KERRY TOYOTA IN COVINGTON, KENTUCKY ON OCTOBER 11, 2005. I HAVE A COPY OF THE SERVICE REPORT INCLUDING TOYOTA'S CLAIM THAT THE BRAKES WERE WORKING PROPERLY. I HAVE DISCUSSED THE PROBLEM WITH EVERY TOYOTA DEALER WHO HAS WORKED ON THE CAR SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT. NONE HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND AS A FEMALE, I DON'T REALLY FEEL LIKE I HAVE BEEN TAKEN SERIOUSLY. I AM AN EXCELLENT DRIVER WITH NO ACCIDENTS IN 30 YEARS OF DRIVING. MOST RECENTLY, ON THIS PAST MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, AS I DROVE TO WORK, THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME PUT ON BRAKES SUDDENLY. WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES, I HIT A POT HOLE AT EXACTLY THE SAME TIME. THE BRAKE PEDAL SOFTENED AND THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN AT ALL. I PUMPED THE BRAKES AND THIS TIME THE BRAKES ENGAGED AND THE CAR SLOWED. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN COMPLETELY CONSISTENT. SUDDEN BRAKING, A BUMPY ROAD OR LOOSE TRACTION, ABS SEEMS TO ENGAGE, ABSOLUTELY NO BRAKES. THE ISSUE IS BAD ENOUGH THAT I REFUSED TO SELL THE NOW 6 YEAR OLD CAR TO MY BROTHER FOR HIS DAUGHTER TO DRIVE. I DO NOT THINK THAT AN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER COULD POSSIBLY RESPOND QUICKLY ENOUGH TO STOP THE CAR. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Feb 3, 2010
I JUST READ AN ARTICLE ABOUT THE BRAKING PROBLEM WITH THE NEW TOYOTA PRIUS. IT STATED WHILE DRIVING ON A BUMPY OR UNEVEN SURFACE THE CAR WOULD EXPERIENCE BRAKING PROBLEMS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH MY 2004 TOYOTA SOLARA. I WAS COMING TO A STOP ON A RURAL ROAD THAT WAS VERY BUMPY JUST BEFORE THE STOP SIGN.THE BRAKES RESPONDED LIKE WHAT I THOUGHT WAS THE ABS ACTUATING. THE BRAKES SEEMED TO FADE. AFTER THAT INCIDENT MY BRAKES NEVER SEEMED TO BE THE SAME. I HAVE TO BRAKE MUCH SOONER AND WITH MORE FORCE THEN I HAD TO USE PRIOR TO THE ABOVE INCIDENT. HAS THERE BEEN SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE SOLARA? *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jan 28, 2010
I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, BUT SAW A CAR COMING, SO I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR ACCELERATED AT A VERY FAST PACE OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE, INTO THE ROAD, JUST MISSING THE CAR, BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO STOP IT. ON DECEMBER 14, 2009, I HAD BACKED UP MY DRIVEWAY (TO A LEVEL SPOT) . I DECIDED TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE CAR, SO I DROVE THE CAR FORWARD, PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO PUT IT IN REVERSE AND THE CAR WENT SPEEDING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK, UNTIL I GOT OUT INTO THE ROAD, THEN THE CAR STOPPED. PRAYER KEPT ME SAFE! *TW
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Jan 25, 2010, crash
A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY ON 26 DECEMBER 2009 TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES PER HOUR INTO A PARKING SPACE IN FRONT OF THE US POST OFFICE HAD AN UN-COMMANDED ACCELERATION. WITHIN A SPAN OF FOUR FEET INTO THE PARKING SPOT, THE CAR ACCELERATED AND THE BRAKE COULD NOT STOP THE FORWARD MOVEMENT. THE CAR JUMPED THE SIDEWALK AND DROVE INTO THE WINDOW AND CORNER OF THE BUILDING WHILE THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE WITH ONLY THE BUILDING HOLDING THE CAR AS IT TRIED TO RACED FURTHER. MOVING THE TRANSMISSION LEVER FROM DRIVE TO PARK THE DOORS DID NOT AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCK. TURNING THE IGNITION KEY TO OFF POSITION WAS THE ONLY SOLUTION TO STOPPING THE RACING ENGINE. THE FLOOR MAT WAS CHECKED ON EXITING THE CAR AND WAS NOT TO BE ANYWHERE NEAR THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL..THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND NO LIFE TREATING INJURY WAS SUSTAINED. *TR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED NECK AND BACK PAIN. UPDATED 03/17/10
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Nov 6, 2009
I BOUGHT NEW 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY V6LE ON MARCH 2004.I NOTICED THE BRAKE FLUID KEEP LOSING FROM MAX LEVEL TO MIN LEVEL WITHIN 100 MILES DRIVE AFTER 1YEAR OR 8000 MILES UNTIL TODAY (40200MILES). I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC ,NO LEAKING FOUND. I RECENTLY READ THE REPORT BY NHTSA THAT THE TOYOTA BRAKING SYSTEM COULD LOSE MOST OF ITS POWER & EFFECTIVENESS AGREE BECAUSE THAT IS THE PROBLEM OF MY CAR RIGHT NOW. I HOPE THIS COMPLAINT MAY HELP YOU TO FIND WAY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THANK YOU *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Nov 24, 2008
ABS SYSTEM COMPUTER FAILED. NOT DISCOVERED UNTIL 95,000 MILE SERVICE VISIT WHEN COMPLAINT RAISED TO DEALER OF BRAKE NOISE. *TR
Suspension, Service brakes, Hydraulic, Air bags, May 15, 2008, crash
I BOUGHT A 2004 CAMRY ABOUT A MONTH AGO FROM MY LOCAL TOYOTA USED CAR DEALER. A WEEK LATER I TOLD THEM FRONT-END FELT FUNNY AND NEEDED TO BE CHECKED. THEY SAID I NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT. HAD THAT DONE. CALLED THEM LAST WEEK AND SAID I STILL FEEL LIKE THERE'S SOME SORT OF FRONT-END PROBLEM. MY BRAKE PEDAL IS SPONGY AND ALMOST TO THE GROUND. SOMETIMES I'M NOT SURE IF I'M GOING TO STOP IN TIME. ALSO TOLD THEM MY STEERING WHEEL WAS SHIMMYING. I WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS PROBABLY INDICATING A TIRE BALANCE ISSUE AND THEY WOULD CHARGE ME $50 TO BALANCE/ROTATE MY TIRES. I DECIDED TO PUT THE MONEY TOWARD NEW FRONT TIRES INSTEAD HOPING THAT WOULD ALSO REDUCE ROAD NOISE. AS FOR THE BRAKES.... I WAS TOLD THAT WAS STANDARD FOR THE CAMRY MODELS AND WAS A KNOWN DESIGN ISSUE BUT NO CORRECTIONS WERE IN PLACE THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF. LAST WEEKEND I WAS IN A CRASH. MY BRAKES FAILED! MY ABS DID NOT ENGAGE AND MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30-40 MPH ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THE PERSON IN FRONT HIT THEIR BRAKES. I HIT MINE AND CONTINUED TO SKID INTO THE BACK OF THEIR VEHICLE. I HAD PLENTY OF ROOM TO STOP. THERE'S NO REASON OTHER THAN BRAKE FAILURE FOR ME TO HAVE CRASHED. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Apr 9, 2008
2004 TOYOTA CAMRY, HAS HAD SPONGY BRAKES FROM NEW, DEALER SAID THIS WAS NORMAL. THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE, AND IF YOU PUMP THE BRAKES AND HOLD THEM YOU GO RIGHT TO THE FLOOR. IF YOU ARE STOPPING SLOWLY THE BRAKES RESPOND VERY POORLY. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jan 9, 2008
EXCESSIVE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL AND WEAK BRAKES. I HAVE NORMAL DRIVING HABITS AND HAVE REGULAR MAINTENANCE PERFORMED. THE BRAKES ARE OK FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE GOING BAD AGAIN. THE BRAKING DISTANCE IS VERY BAD AND BRAKE RESPONSE IS DANGEROUSLY SLOW. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE I HAVE BOUGHT THE CAR. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Dec 24, 2007, crash
PULLING INTO A PARKING SLOT, I HIT THE BRAKE BUT IT CAUGHT THE GAS PEDAL CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. ONLY THE BALCONY WALL OF THE PARKING STOPPED THE CAR. THE ACCIDENT RESULTED IN THE SPRAIN OF MY NECK AND A $3000 DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Oct 23, 2007
I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERE BRAKE DIFFICULTIES WITH MY 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED AT LEAST THREE TIMES BY THE HOUSTON DEALERSHIP, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS! THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT REPAIRING IT WAS THE BEST THEY COULD DO, AND NOTHING ELSE CAN BE DONE. WHENEVER I STOP, MY BRAKES WILL ONLY COMPLETELY STOP AT ALMOST 1.5 INCHES FROM THE CAR FLOOR. I NEED SAFE AND RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION, AND I NEVER WANT TO EXPERIENCE THE BRAKES FAILING TO STOP OR ONLY STOPPING ONCE IT HITS THE FLOOR. I AM 85 YEARS OLD, MAKE WEEKLY DOCTOR VISITS ON HEAVILY CONGESTED HOUSTON FREEWAYS. I NEED MY CAR TO WORK PROPERLY EVERY TIME. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Sep 4, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED APPROXIMATELY TWO AND A HALF INCHES BEFORE THE BRAKES MADE HARD CONTACT. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS, NOISES, OR LEAKING FLUID PRESENT. THE DEALER ADJUSTED THE REAR BRAKES, HOWEVER, APPROXIMATELY 3-6 MONTHS LATER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 47,000. UPDATED 01/02/08.*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELS BEFORE IT STARTS SLOWING DOWN. THE CONSUMER FURTHER STATED IF THE BACK BRAKES ARE TIGHTLY ADJUSTED THEN THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM THE DEFECT IS CALLED SOFT BRAKES. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Aug 9, 2007, crash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHICH CAUSED HER TO CRASH INTO A PARKED CAR. SHE ALSO RAN OVER THE CURB AND CRASHED INTO THE CORNER OF THE SHOPPING CENTER. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. SHE FELT THAT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 76,000 MILES. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jun 26, 2007
I OWN A TOYOTA CAMRY 2004, AND JUST BOUGHT TOYOTA CAMRY 2007. CAMRY 2004 WORKED FINE IN THE BEGINNING, BUT SINCE LAST YEAR THE BRAKES FELT TOO SOFT. I TOOK IT TOYOTA DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES, BUT THEY ALWAYS SAID THAT IT WAS NORMAL. BUT I DROVE IT EVERYDAY, SO I KNOW THAT IT WAS NOT NORMAL. I COULD NOT GO ABOVE 60 MPH ON HIGHWAY BECAUSE I COULD NOT DEPEND ON THE BRAKES, ESPECIALLY IN WINTER. I GOT LUCKY AND AVOIDED ACCIDENTS ALMOST 10 TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS BRAKES. IT JUST WON'T WORK ON TIME. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THIS CAR. SO WHEN TIME CAME FOR ME TO BUY THE NEW CAR, I WENT TO TOYOTA AND TRIED OUT NEW 2007 CAMRY AND BOUGHT IT. I BOUGHT 2007 CAMRY ONLY BECAUSE I LIKED THE BRAKES. I EVEN TOLD THE STAFF OF THE DEALERSHIP THE SAME THING TOO. BUT WITHIN IN FEW WEEKS I TOOK IT BACK TO DEALERSHIP BECAUSE BRAKES STARTED BECOMING SOFT. I NEEDED TO KNOW HOW COULD THIS BE FIXED. 2007 CAMRY WHICH I STILL DRIVE ISN'T AS BAD AS 2004. BUT I CAN'T SAY IT FOR SURE THAT IT WON'T HAPPEN IN FUTURE. HOW CAN I HAVE THIS BRAKES FIXED? THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THEM. IT IS NOT NORMAL , THEY SAY IT IS. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, May 17, 2007
THE 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA V6 HAD CONSISTENT BRAKE FAILURE. A VERY REPUTABLE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE DEFECT WAS IN THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM. REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER, BLED BRAKES, CHECKED PRESSURE ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER 'S SPECS AND CHECKED OUT CORRECTLY. -EXHAUSTED POSSIBILITIES FOR REASONS FOR SPORADIC BRAKE FAILURE. ONLINE RESEARCH DISCOVERED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. NO SOLUTION POSTED TO DATE. CONCERN REGARDING CONTINUING SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO UNEXPECTED FAILURE, AND LOW PEDAL INCONSISTENT PERFORMANCE. *AK