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: vehicle speed control
265 reports, newest first. Show all
Vehicle speed control, Jul 8, 2005
DT: WHEN CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS BACKING THE VEHICLE INTO THE DRIVEWAY IT ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE.*AK *NM
Vehicle speed control, Jul 1, 2005, crash
DT: CALLER'S MOTHER-IN-LAW JUST GOT HER CAR WASHED AND WHEN SHE PULLED OUT OF THE CAR WASH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. SHE PUMPED THE BRAKES AND TRIED TO STOP THE CAR, AND IT WOULD NOT STOP. THE CAR WENT INTO AN 8 LANE HIGHWAY AND WAS HIT BY AN 18 WHEELER AND A PICKUP TRUCK. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES AND SO DID THE DRIVER OF THE PICKUP TRUCK, TRACTOR TRAILER DRIVER REFUSED TREATMENT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND WILL BE GETTING BACK TO CALLER. CALLER STATED SHE JUST FOUND OUT THAT IN THE SPRING HER MOTHER-IN-LAW STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE RACED WHILE IT WAS IN PARK. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT WAS TO TURN IT OFF. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE TACHOMETER SHOWED 7000 RPMS, AND THE SPEEDOMETER INDICATED 100 MPH. POLICE REPORT WAS FILED.*AK UPDATED 08/04/10 *BF UPDATED 08/05/10 *BF PICTURES RECEIVED. UPDATED 10/08/10
Vehicle speed control, May 9, 2005, crash
DT: 5/8/05 10:15 AM AT A STOPLIGHT VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. THEN THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND HIT CAR IN FRONT. CAR VEERED TO LEFT. KEY HAD TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO STOP THE CAR. ALL BRAKES FAILED. REGULARLY SERVICED AND RECORDS AVAILABLE.*AK NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE EVER.
Vehicle speed control, Apr 20, 2005
WHILE MY WIFE AND I WERE AT A COMPLETE STOP IN A LINE OF TRAFFIC, OUR ELEVEN MONTH-OLD CAMRY LE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT WARNING WHILE MY FOOT WAS SQUARELY AND FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. WITHIN A FEW SECONDS: A) THE CAR VIOLENTLY LURCHED FORWARD, AND I INSTINCTIVELY PRESSED HARDER ON THE BRAKE TO KEEP FROM PLOWING INTO THE LINE OF VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME; B) WE HEARD THE ENGINE ACCELERATING; AND, C) I CHECKED THE TACHOMETER AND OBSERVED IT STEADILY INCREASING FROM A NORMAL IDLE SPEED TO ALMOST THE MAXIMUM. I MAINTAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PREVENTED THE ENGINE SPEED FROM CONTINUING TO ITS PEAK BY QUICKLY SHIFTING THE CAR INTO PARK AND TURNING IT OFF. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 20-30 SECONDS I RESTARTED THE CAR, AND THE IDLE WAS ONCE AGAIN NORMAL. I DROVE THE CAR TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP, APPROXIMATELY 3 BLOCKS AWAY. THE CAR HAS NOW BEEN IN THE POSSESSION OF THE TOYOTA DEALER FOR OVER TWO MONTHS, AND THEIR MECHANICS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE EVENT OR FIND ANY RECORD OF THE INCIDENT IN THE ON-BOARD COMPUTER.*AK
Vehicle speed control, Apr 20, 2005
VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED A SURGE IN ACCELERATION. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM HAPPENED WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS APPLIED HARD. *JB
Fuel system, Other, Vehicle speed control, Apr 7, 2005, crash
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO LEAVE PARKING SPACE MY 2004 CAMERY V6 WITH BRAKE DEPRESSED CAR CAR ACCELERATED WITH VERY HIGH RPM. COULD NOT STOP THE CAR HITTING A GMC TRUCK. WHEN CAR COULD NOT MOVE THE TRUCK IT STOPPED.DROVE HOME WITH NO PROBLEM. CALLED DEALER THEY STATED IF THE CAR WAS NOT HAVING THE PROBLEM NOW THEY COULDN'T FIX IT . AFTER DRIVING IT MY HUSBAND HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND DIDN'T WANT THE CAR BACK UNTIL THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. RETURNED CAR AFTER STATING THEY WOULD START FILE . *AK
Vehicle speed control, Mar 30, 2005
THE VEHICLE TENDS TO HESITATE AND NOT ACCELERATE WHILE PRESSING DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHILE ON THE ROAD. OWNER WILL CONTACT MANUFACTURER. *JB *NM
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Mar 29, 2005
AT 630 MILES THE ODOMETER FAILED. WHICH READ 56 MILES UPON PURCHASE. THE SPEEDOMETER, CRUISE CONTROL, AND THE ODOMETER OPERATED UNDER ONE MODULE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THREE MONTHS LATER, THE MODULE FAILED AGAIN. TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY REPLACED THE SPEEDOMETER ASSEMBLY. WHILE DRIVING WITH THE VEHICLE IN CRUISE CONTROL IT WILL SURGE FORWARD AT AN ALARMING RATE OF SPEED. TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. *AK
Vehicle speed control, Mar 25, 2005
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AN ACCELERATION PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH DRIVER WOULD STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE WOULD BEGAN TO HESITATE. THEN, THE SPEED WOULD CONTINUE TO DECREASE EVEN WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS PUSHED DOWN TO THE FLOOR. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING. OWNER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER. THE DEALER HAS HAD THE VEHICLE FOR A MONTH. HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Power train, Vehicle speed control, Equipment, Feb 18, 2005, crash
WHILE PARKING HIS 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AND HIT A PARKED CAR. *NM WHEN TURNING SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WERE GOING TO FLIP, SHIFTING GEARS WERE NOT SMOOTH, THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT SOFT AND WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR AND THERE WAS AN ERRATIC EFFECT WHEN CHANGING THE RADIO STATIONS. *SC *JB
Vehicle speed control, Jan 11, 2005, crash
WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE ACCELERATOR STUCK, CAUSING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO STRIKE ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER FOUND NO DEFECTS.*AK
Vehicle speed control, Dec 30, 2004, crash
VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO TWO PARKED VEHICLES BEFORE STOPPING WHEN BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED, AND UPON PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THIS FAILURE OCCURRED. HOWEVER, THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE STOPPED WITHOUT HITTING ANYTHING. *AK
Vehicle speed control, Dec 29, 2004, crash
WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE COLLIDED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB....WHILE EXITING A HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH, REMOVED FOOT FROM ACCELERATOR TO COAST INTO EXIT, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED 70-75 MPH. WAS ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE BY APPLYING BRAKES. ALSO, DEALER REPAIRED FRONT BUMPER. *AK
Vehicle speed control, Dec 7, 2004
I WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC ON IH-35 IN AUSTIN DUE TO AN ACCIDENT AHEAD. I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE TO AN EXIT LANE AND AFTER MOVING TO THAT LANE, NOTICED A VEHICLE COMING TOWARD ME AT HIGH SPEED. MY WAY WAS CLEAR TO ACCELERATE AND I DID SO, PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR ABOUT 1/2 THE WAY DOWN. NOTHING HAPPENED AND I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR THE REMAINDER TO THE FLOOR. AFTER A SHORT TIME, THE ENGINE FINALLY ACCELERATED. THREE DAYS LATER, ON DEC. 7, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAD HAPPENED. AFTER EXAMINING THE CAR, THE DEALER CALLED TO EXPLAIN THAT THEY HAD CHECKED THE CAR OVER AND EVERTHING WAS FINE. HE FURTHER EXPLAINED THAT THE 2004 CAMRY WAS EQUIPPED WITH A "DRIVE-BY-WIRE" ACCELERATOR. NO ONE WAS INJURED, NO DAMAGE WAS DONE, BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS CAR WILL NOT RESPOND QUICKLY IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. NOR DO I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS AN ISOLATED SITUATION. WE HAD DRIVEN A DEMONSTRATOR, A 4 CYLINDER CAMRY, ABOUT SIX MONTHS BEFORE WE PURCHASED OURS. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND PRESSED HARD ON THE ACCELERATOR TO GET IT TO MOVE UP AN ENTRANCE RAMP AND IT ALSO DID NOT RESPOND. AT THAT TIME, I DIDN'T PLACE ANY SIGNIFICANCE TO THE CAR NOT RESPONDING, THINKING MY WIFE WASN'T ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE A QUICKLY AS SHE INSISTED. *AK
Vehicle speed control, Nov 22, 2004
WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. AFTER APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NUMEROUS TIMES THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB
Vehicle speed control, Nov 12, 2004
WHEN APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE VEHICLE HESITATED THEN SURGED FORWARD WITH AGGRESSIVE MEANS. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR RESPONSE IS VERY POOR AND ERRATIC. THE PEDAL HAS 1.5 TO 2 INCHES OF TRAVEL WITH NO RESPONSE FROM THE ENGINE. THE SERVICE MANAGER DROVE THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE AND ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH THE SAME MAKE MODEL AND YEAR TO DISCOVER BOTH VEHICLES HAD THE SAME ISSUE. *TC
Vehicle speed control, Nov 8, 2004
THIS COMPLAINT IS REGARDING A PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATION THAT I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING WITH MY 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY V6. AFTER APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE ENGINE HESITATES FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS BEFORE RESPONDING ABRUPTLY. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO, BUT THE ACCELERATION TROUBLE DID NOT BEGIN UNTIL AFTER I HAD BEEN DRIVING IT FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS. WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR INSPECTION BY THE DEALERSHIP AFTER THE PROBLEM BEGAN, I WAS SIMPLY TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER HAD NOT FOUND ANYTHING. SINCE THEN, THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND I HAVE BECOME INCREASINGLY RELUCTANT TO DRIVE THE CAR.*AK
Vehicle speed control, Nov 3, 2004
WHEN APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE HESITATED THEN SURGED FORWARD. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL BE REAR ENDED. *AK THE VEHICLE MAY STALL. *SC
Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Oct 22, 2004, crash
UNEXPECTEDLY, WITHOUT PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL, CAR RAPIDLY ACCELERATED. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE HIT A BUILDING AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB
Vehicle speed control, Sep 29, 2004
WHEN APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE HESITATED. *AK
Vehicle speed control, Aug 18, 2004, crash
THE DRIVER WAS PULLING INSIDE OF THE DRIVEWAYAND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. CONSUMER APPLIED BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP, AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE INTO THE GARAGE WALL. CONSUMER WAS NOT INJURED. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC STATED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE, AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT A REPRESENTATIVE WOULD COME DOWN TO INSPECT THIS VEHICLE. *AK
Structure, Vehicle speed control, Aug 10, 2004
DRIVER'S DOOR HANDLE STUCK WHILE DRIVER TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ALSO, WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE HESITATED AND STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Vehicle speed control, Jul 30, 2004
WHILE PARKING AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. *AK *SC *JB
Vehicle speed control, Jul 26, 2004
THE SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER READS HIGHER THAN THE ACTUAL SPEED AND DISTANCE DRIVEN. THE ODOMETER RECORDS APROXIMATELY 1.2 MILES WHEN DRIVEN 1.O MILE. THE SPEED REGISTERS MUCH FASTER THAN ACTUAL ROAD SPEED. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW WHAT ACTUAL SPEED THE VEHICLE IS TRAVLLING.*AK
Vehicle speed control, Jul 20, 2004
THIS OCCURS ON A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH A 3.0L V6 AND A 5 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. ON OCCASION WHEN SLOWING FROM A SPEED OF 20 MPH OR MORE, THE DRIVER PRESSES THE ACCELERATOR AND CAR HESITATES AND STUMBLES. BECAUSE OF NO RESPONSE, THE DRIVER WILL FLOOR THE ACCELERATOR, THERE WILL BE A 1-2 SECOND DELAY AND THEN THE ENGINE WILL RACE TO 5000 RPM AND THE CAR WILL TAKE OFF. DEALER HAS LOOKED AT THE CAR TWICE AND SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. TOYOTA AND THE DEALER STATE THAT THE CAR IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED AND THIS DELAY IS NORMAL FOR THIS CAR. IF IT IS NORMAL, WHY DOESN'T IT DO IT ALL THE TIME? *LA