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: steering
110 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Jan 30, 2004
I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2004 TOYOTA SOLARA. SINCE DAY ONE THE CAR HAS DRIFTED TO THE LEFT. I HAVE HAD THE FRONT END ALIGNED 4 TIMES, ROTATED THE TIRES AND CHECKED AIR PRESSURE. NOTHING HAS HELPED THIS CAR. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE RECALLED, BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS KILLED.
Steering, Dec 29, 2003
TWO WEEKS AGO WE PURCHASED A NEW 2004 TOYOTA SOLARA SLE V6. IT HAS FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE DRIFTED TO THE LEFT. TODAY 12-29-2004 I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER (RIGHT TOYOTA OF SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA) TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEY REVERSE MOUNT AND BALANCED THE LEFT FRONT TIRE (PER TSB ST005-01). IT DROVE SOMEWHAT BETTER BUT WHEN I GOT HOME AND CHECKED THE TIRE PRESSURE AFTER SEVERAL HOURS IN THE GARAGE I FOUND THE LEFT FRONT TIRE AT 37+PSI WELL ABOVE THE REQUIRED 32 AND 4.5 HIGHER THEN THE RIGHT FRONT.*AK
Steering, Dec 26, 2003
CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT. WHEN DRIVING, THE CAR DRIFTS TO THE LEFT. THE PROBLEM IS WORSE AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. TOOK TO THE DEALER AND THEY CLAIM THERE IS NO PROBLEM, JUST "MINOR ROAD VARIATIONS".*AK
Steering, Dec 16, 2003
WE PURCHASED A 2004 SOLARA SE SPORT V6, AFTER THE TEST DRIVE I TOLD THE SERVICE MANAGER IT PULLED TO THE LEFT HE TOLD US NOT TO WORRY BRING IT BACK NEXT WEEK AND HE WILL GIVE IT A FRONT END ALIGNMENT, WE DID THAT AND STILL PULLS . WE TOOK IT BACK AGAIN AND THEY SWITCHED THE TIRES FROM THE RIGHT SIDE TO THE LEFT AND IT STILL PULLS TO THE LEFT. THEY HAVE NOW HAD IT FOR 2 WEEKS AND DONT KNOW HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM, THEY TOLD ME TOYOTA KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH IT PULLING TO THE LEFT BUT DONT KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. THIS IS A BIG SAFTY PROBLEM BECAUSE YOU MUST AT ALL TIME KEPP PRESSURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT IN ORDER FOR THE CAR TO GO STRAIGHT ON THE ROAD. IF YOU LET GO OF THE WHEEL YOU WILL GO INTO THE OTHER LANE OF TRAFFIC WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN BAD WEATHER WITH ICE OR SNOW..... THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE FIX BEFORE SOMEONE HAS A BAD ACCIDENT CAUSE OF THE CONSTANT PULLING TO THE LEFT... I SUGGEST A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. *AK
Steering, Dec 16, 2003
WE PURCHASED A 2004 SOLARA SE SPORT V6 ,FROM DAY ONE EVEN AT THE TIME OF THE TEST DRIVE IT PULED TO THE LEFT YOU MUST ALWAYS KEEP PRESSURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT TO KEEP IT STRAIGHT. WE SPOKE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AFTER THE TEST DRIVE AND BEFORE WE BOUGHT THE CAR AND HE SAID TO ME DONT WORRY BRING IT BACK NEXT WEEK AND WE WILL FIX IT, IT MIGHT JUST BE OUT OF ALIGNMENT. WE TOOK IT BACK THE NEXT WEEK THEY CHANGED THE TIRES FROM THE LEFT SIDE TO THE RIGHT SIDE AND SAID IT WAS OK. IT STILL PULLED TO THE LEFT, I CALLED AND TOLD THEM THAT IT WAS STILL PULLING TO THE LEFT THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT BACK AND THEY GAVE ME A RENTAL CAR AND THEY HAD IT TWO DAYS. WE PICKED IT UP AND IT STILL PULLED TO THE LEFT .WE TOOK IT BACK FOR THE 3RD TIME IN LESS THEN 2 WEEKS AND I TOLD THEM TO KEEP IT TILL IT IS FIXED , THEY CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THEY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEM AND DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM THE CORRECT WAY . THIS HAS BEEN 3 ATTEMPS TO FIX IT AND 17 DAYS OUT OF THE FIRST MONTH OF HAVING THE CAR THAT IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP. WHAT ABOUT AT A LATER DATE ABOUT TIRE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR.*AK
Steering, Dec 10, 2003
2004 TOYOTA SOLARA - PULLS TO THE LEFT AND CANNOT BE ALIGNED. SAFETY HAZARD PROBLEM. MUST HOLD ONTO STEERING WHEEL TIGHT OR VEHICLE GOES LEFT. DEALERSHIP AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT CANNOT FIX IT. HAS HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. WHAT WILL HAPPEN ON ICY/SNOW COVERED ROADS? NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *LA
Steering, Nov 17, 2003
PURCHASED BRAND NEW 2004 TOYOTA SOLARA IN SEPTEMBER 2003. CAR HAS PULLED LEFT FROM DAY ONE. HAVE TAKEN CAR IN 5 TIMES. DEALER TOLD ME TOYOTA IS AWARE OF PROBLEM AND ARE WORKING ON FIX. A CASE NUMBER WAS ASSIGNED TO MY CAR AND DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THAT THEY FIXED CAR BY ADDING WASHERS TO THE STRUT BOLTS ON THAT SIDE TO "SHIM" THE CAR. DEALER FAILED TO TELL ME THAT THEY ALSO ADDED 5 EXTRA POUNDS OF PRESSURE TO THE TIRE ON THAT SIDE TO MAKE THE CAR GO STRAIGHT. NOT ACCEPTABLE--THE CAR IS NOT FIXED. I HAVE FILED A LEMON LAW COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA 2 WEEKS AGO AND AM AWAITING A CALL BACK (THEY HAVE 30 DAYS TO FIX) AND HAVE ALSO FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE. *LA
Steering, Nov 14, 2003
I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2004 TOYOTA SOLARA IN SEPTEMBER OF 2003. SINCE I HAVE HAD THE CAR IT HAS PULLED TO THE LEFT. I TOOK IT IN AND TOYOTA HAD MY CAR FOR THREE DAYS. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE TALKED WITH TOYOTA SPECIALIST AT CORPORATE AND IT'S A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE 2004 SOLARA THAT THEY ARE WORKING ON A FIX. AT THIS TIME THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND RECOMMENDED I DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL THEY FIGURE IT OUT. IF TIRES WEAR WRONG OR ANY OTHER PROBLEM THEY WOULD COVER IT. THIS IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION FOR ME. THIS CAR IS BRAND NEW AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO KEEP A CAR THAT HAS A DEFECT. THIS WOULD NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION IF I WERE TO GET IT INSPECTED TODAY, SO HOW COULD THEY TELL ME IT'S SAFE TO DRIVE WHEN IT PULLS TO THE LEFT? I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA AND I AM AWAITING A CALL BACK. I AM ALSO FILING A COMPLAINT THROUGH NHTSA TO FURTHER ASSIST MY SITUATION. *LA
Steering, Nov 13, 2003
I PURCHASED A NEW 2004 TOYOTA SOLARA SLE V-6 A FEW WEEKS AGO AND HAVE SOME PROBLEMS. THE MAIN PROBLEM IS DRIFTING TO THE LEFT. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN TWICE FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THE FIRST TIME I GOT THE CAR BACK FROM OURISMAN FAIRFAX TOYOTA THE STEERING PROBLEM WAS WORST THAN WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN. "ALIGNED TO TOYOTA SPECIFICATIONS" THEY SAID. THE SERVICE MANAGER ROTATED THE TIRES MANY TIMES AND ADJUSTED THE ALIGNMENT "OUT OF SPECIFICATIONS" TO TRY AND MAKE THE CAR TRACK STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD. HIS ATTEMPT TO FIX THE CAR HAS FAILED AND I AM CERTAIN THAT THE CAR WILL BEGIN TO PRODUCE ABNORMAL TIRE WEAR BECAUSE OF THE ADJUSTMENTS MADE TO THE CAR. I FEEL CHEATED BY TOYOTA. THIS IS A 27,000 DOLLAR CAR AND THE 15,000 DOLLAR COROLLA RENTAL THEY GAVE ME FOR THE DAY HAD PERFECT STEERING. THIS IS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE. DRIFTING TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, IF YOU DON'T KEEP CONSTANT PRESSURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL THE CAR WILL GO LEFT AT AN ALARMING RATE. THE AMOUNT OF DRIFT IS SO BAD THAT IF YOU REMOVE YOUR HAND FROM THE WHEEL, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL TURN LEFT BY ITSELF. THE AMOUNT OF AUTO WHEEL TURN IS BETWEEN 3 TO 12 INCHES. THIS IS VERY UN-SAFE AND I HOPE THIS COMPLAINT CAN BE OF SOME HELP TO OTHERS AND ME. *LA
Steering, Nov 10, 2003
JUST BOUGHT A NEW 2004 CAMRY XLE FULLY LOADED, HAD 18 MILES ON IT.ONE OF THE BEARINGS ON THE STEERING U-JOINT FELL OUT,CAUSING AT LEAST 2" OF PLAY IN THE WHEEL, LUCK HAS IT THIS WAS JUST BEFORE WE WERE GOING ON A TRIP. WE COULD OF LOST THE STEERING ON THE FREEWAY AND CRASHED. POWER TOYOTA IN IRVINE CA. WILL NOT GIVE ME THE BAD PART THEY SAID THEY HAD TO SEND IT BACK TO THE MANUFACTURER. *AK