2005 Toyota Camry

Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues

Vehicle speed control is the leading concern among 721 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 8th highest complaint count among 25 Camry model years with reports.

Complaints by model year
  1. 721

Of the 2005 reports, 223 involved a crash and 10 involved a fire. 126 people were injured and 18 people died.

Primary concernVehicle speed control272 reports · 38% of complaints
Owner complaints721Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship5 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Vehicle speed control272
  2. Service brakes93
  3. Power train84
  4. Steering71
  5. Hydraulic66
  6. Air bags65
  7. Seat belts46
  8. Engine and engine cooling35

Recalls and investigations

  1. Seats, front assembly, seat heater/coolerJun 2, 2016

    Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.

    If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

    SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.

    Campaign 16V396000 on NHTSA.gov

  2. 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

  3. Equipment, other, labelsFeb 3, 2010

    SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.

    A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

    DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.

    Campaign 10V036000 on NHTSA.gov

  4. Equipment, other, labelsFeb 3, 2010

    GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 AND JUNE 2, 2008 WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.

    THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.

    DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. DEALERS WILL ALSO CORRECT THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GULF STATES TOYOTA AT 713-580-3300.

    Campaign 10V035000 on NHTSA.gov

  5. 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

Representative owner complaints: hydraulic

66 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jul 19, 2006

    DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE BRAKING FROM A SPEED OF 25 MPH, THERE HAS BEEN A MOMENT OF RESISTANCE IN THE BRAKE PEDAL, THEN THE PEDAL DEPRESSES TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE A NORMAL OCCURRENCE WITH ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEMS IN THE NEWER MODELS.

  2. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 13, 2006

    DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A COMPLETE LACK OF BRAKE PRESSURE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT 20 MPH. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS USED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE ENOUGH TO REACH A RESIDENCE SAFELY. FROM THERE THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THEREFORE NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. BRAKES TRAVELED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR IN ORDR TO ACTIVATE THE BRAKES. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED TWICE TO THE DEALER FOR BRAKE FAILURE. VEHICLE WAS TEST AGAIN FOR BRAKE FAILURE ON MARCH 20, 2006 AND NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND. *AK

  3. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Nov 17, 2005, crash

    BRAKES FAILED CAUSING CAR TO ROLL INTO INTERSECTION. CAR WAS THEN HIT BY TRUCK. MAKE OF CAR IS 2005 CAMRY LE WITH 10,000 MILES. SE TOYOTA CLAIMS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM LISTED ON AUTOBYTEL.COM . GENERALLY THIS MAKE OF CAR HAS "MUSHY" BRAKES, BUT EVEN THE POLICE INVESTIGATOR COMMENTED THE BRAKES WERE UNSAFE. *JB

  4. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Nov 9, 2005

    DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THE BRAKES ARE DEFECTIVE. WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY IDLE AND HAVE TO BE APPLIED AGAIN. AFTER THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REAPPLIED THE VEHICLE MOVES FORWARD. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THEY SAID THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE THE AIR CONDITIONER (A/C) WAS IN USE. THE CONSUMER CLAIMED THAT HE WAS NOT USING THE A/C NOW AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL MOVING FORWARD. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK UPDATED 12/07/05. *JB

  5. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Nov 7, 2005

    BRAKE TOO LOW. HAVE TO PUSH BRAKE PEDAL DOWN HARD ESPECIALLY WHEN TRAVELING ABOVE 60 MPH. BRAKE GOES ALL THE WAY ALMOST TO THE FLOORBOARD TO STOP CAR. PLEASE CONTACT TOYOTA MOTORS (CASE #200507071372). *NM

  6. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Oct 25, 2005

    CONSUMER HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY BRAKE SYSTEM. *TS THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS BRAND NEW. *JB

  7. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Oct 4, 2005

    INCIDENT DESCRIPTION: IT WAS 3:00 PM WHEN I HAVE TO DRIVE TO PICK UP MY SISTER AT 6219 SW FREEWAY HOUSTON, TX, WHEN I WAS TRYING TO MAKE THE RIGHT TURN TO GET IN TO THE SHOPPING CENTER I FOUND OUT THE BRAKE DID NOT WORK, I TRIED TO USE THE PARKING BRAKE AND IT DID NOT STOP THE CAR BUT SLOWED TO 15 MPH IN THE NEXT ENTRY TO THE SHOPPING CENTER MAKE THE RIGHT TURN AND GET INTO THE SHOPPING CENTER TRY AGAIN TO GET THE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BUT I COULDN'T. FINALLY GET ONTO THE SIDEWALK AND HIT THE WALL AT THE MOMENT IT WAS LESS THAN 5 MPH, I WAS DRIVING WITH MY NEWBORN BABY NEPHEW ABOARD, I PANICKED AND I DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO, YOLANDA GONZALEZ A LADY THAT WORKS AT FREYDD'S BEAUTY SALON CALL MY SISTER AND SHE CALL MY HUSBAND FOR HIM TO COME OVER AND HELP, HE CALL JOE MYERS SINCE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENS TO US, THEY GIVE HIM A 1800 NUMBER FOR THEM TO GET THE CAR ON SERVICES, MY MISTAKE WAS NOT CALLING THE POLICE TO REPORT THE INCIDENT SINCE THEY DID NOT SAID THAT I HAVE TO, SINCE THEY ASK IF THERE WAS PEOPLE INJURED , AT THE MOMENT I WAS ON SHOCK, MY HUSBAND CALL ALEX SALESPERSON AT JOW MYERS FOR HELP, MY CAR WAS NEW WHEN WE BOUGHT IT ON JANUARY 2005, WITH 9640 MILES AT THE TIME, THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, IN STERLING MCCALL TOYOTA SERVICES CORNIE THE SERVICES WRITER LET US KNOW THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER WAS BROKE AND THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER ALSO, AND THAT WAS NORMAL, THAT PIECE IS COVER UNDER WARRANTY SINCE IT CAN HAPPENED ANYTIME, HOW COME THIS BE POSSIBLE I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT THE DOOR LOCKS OR SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN CONTROL OR MANAGE BUT BRAKES HOW CAN THAT PART BREAK ANYTIME?????, NOW THE CAR STILL ON REPAIR SINCE THE BRAKE DOES NOT FEEL RIGHT, I DO NOT HAVE A POLICE REPORT BUT I DO HAVE MANY WITNESS THAT SAW ME THAT DAY, AND ALSO THE TOWING TRUCK THAT SAW THE CAR OVER THE SIDEWALK AND TRY TO DRIVE THE CAR AND SAW THAT THERE WAS NO BRAKE AT ALL. TODAY IS OCTOBER 3RD, THE CAR STILL ON JOE MYERS WAITING TO BE CHECKED. *JB

  8. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Sep 9, 2005

    BRAKES ARE SLOW AND DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE; PRODUCE LONG STOPS OR NONE. TOYOTA SAYS BRAKES ARE FUNCTIONING AS THEY'RE DESIGNED TO (WHICH MEANS BRAKES ARE DESIGNED TO BE UNSATISFACTORY) AND DOES NOTHING; ARBITRATION HEARING FOUND IN FAVOR OF TOYOTA, DESPITE CONSUMER REPORTS (2005) FINDING THAT BRAKES WERE SPONGY AND STOPS LONG. I'M NOT SURE WHY THIS IS THE CASE BUT SUSPECT DRUM TYPE BRAKE NOT ADEQUATE FOR CAR OF THIS WEIGHT; HOWEVER, THE WHOLE SYSTEM MAY BE AT FAULT. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE PERFORMANCE OF THE BRAKES WAS DUE TO A DEVICE CALLED A DOUBLE OR DUAL LINK PEDAL ASSEMBLY THAT WILL SOON BE REQUIRED IN ALL NEW VEHICLES. *JB

  9. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Aug 1, 2005

    BRAKE TOO LOW. YOU HAVE TO STEP HARD ON THE BRAKE ALMOST TO THE FLOORBOARD TO STOP THE CAR. NEARLY REAR-ENDED CAR ON FREEWAY AT 65 MPH. BRAKE IS SUPPOSED TO BE HALFWAY DOWN, NOT ALMOST TO FLOORBOARD. *JB

  10. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jul 3, 2005, crash

    ON A CLEAR DAY THE MORNING OF JUNE 14, 2005, I WAS DRIVING SOUTH IN THE SLOW LANE OF HIGHWAY 95 IN FLORIDA. ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD THE DRIVER IN THE MIDDLE LANE BLOW HIS HORN. AT THIS MOMENT I FELT THAT THE CAR WAS DRAGGING ME ON ONE SIDE TO THE LEFT. I TRIED TO STOP THE CAR BY PRESSING ON THE BRAKES. THE BRAKES WERE NON EXISTENT AND THE CAR KEPT GOING LEFT, HIT A PICK UP TRUCK IN THE MIDDLE LANE (TRUCK TURNED UPSIDE DOWN, DRIVER ON THE PAVEMENT); PASSED THE FAST LANE AND THROUGH THE MEDIAN; FINALLY GOT STUCK IN THE MUD (THANK GOD IT RAINED THE NIGHT BEFORE) NEAR THE NORTHBOUND LANE. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER WITH $4,000 WORTH OF DAMAGES. MY INSURANCE HAS TO REPLACE THE OTHER DRIVER'S CAR. BOTH DRIVERS WERE INJURED IN THE CRASH.

  11. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jun 28, 2005, crash

    DT: CONTACT STATES: SHE WENT TO PARK THE CAR, WAS APPLYING THE BRAKE AND THE BRAKE WOULD NOT HOLD. THEN, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER CAR, AND BRAKES DID NOT HOLD. IT ALSO HIT ANOTHER CAR, AND THE BRAKES STILL DID NOT WORK. . SHE WAS TRAVELING AT A VERY LOW SPEED. *AK DEALERSHIP CHECKED ALL RELATED COMPONENTS, BUT NOTHING WAS FOUND. *TT *NM

  12. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Jun 27, 2005

    DT: PULLING OUT OF A MALL HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE INSTEAD OF IT SLOWING DOWN THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. THIS HAPPENED BEFORE, AT FIRST JUST THOUGHT IT WAS CONSUMER BUT THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. *AK

  13. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Apr 18, 2005

    WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE MADE NOISES, ENGINE ACCELERATED, AND VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THE DEALER TOLD THE OWNER THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THEREFORE THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *AK *BF *NM

  14. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 25, 2005

    CONCERNS WITH DESIGN FLAW WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM ON THE 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE DISTANCE IN WHICH THE BRAKE PEDAL MUST MOVE TO STOP THE VEHICLE MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *JB

  15. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 4, 2005

    WHILE BRAKING BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

  16. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 3, 2005

    INTERMITTENTLY, AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL SINK COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR AFTER A FEW SECONDS. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW. ONCE THE CAR REACHED ABOUT 5000 MILES, IT WOULD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THEN LUNGE FORWARD SEVERAL FEET, STOP, MAKE A MOANING SOUND, THEN LUNGE FORWARD AGAIN; ALL WHILE MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE. I DID NOT NOTICE ANY FAULT LIGHTS COME ON MY DASHBOARD. IT THEN DROVE FINE FOR ABOUT 10 MILES WHEN THE SAME PATTERN REPEATED ITSELF AGAIN, EXACTLY THE SAME WAY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT, OR REPEAT THE PROBLEM. THEY WOULD LIKE ME TO RETURN WHEN THE PROBLEM REPEATS ITSELF. OF COURSE, I?M HESITANT TO DO THIS SINCE THE NEXT TIME SOMEONE MAY GET SERIOUSLY INJURED. PLEASE HELP! *JB