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CarComplaints.com Notes: Beware of the NHTSA complaint data for the 2004 Camry. It is almost certainly misleading.

The problem with NHTSA data for the 2004 Camry is that for months on end, the news media repeatedly told the public that several Toyota models had an unintended acceleration defect, & to go to safercar.gov (the NHTSA's website) to file a complaint.

So, the NHTSA received a disproportionate number of complaints about unintended acceleration issues because of the national news media attention, to the point where their data is unreliable taken in context with any other vehicle that did not receive national news attention.

CarComplaints.com typically receives more complaints per day about vehicles than the NHTSA does, but the news media did not repeatedly say "go to CarComplaints.com to report your Camry acceleration problems" like they did about the NHTSA -- so although we have less complaint data than the NHTSA for the 2004 Camry, our data for the Camry is a far more statistically accurate representation of the Camry's reliability than what the NHTSA data shows.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
116 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
50 / 3
Average Mileage:
45,481 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2004 Toyota Camry engine problems

engine problem

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2004 Toyota Camry Owner Comments (Page 3 of 11)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #171

Feb 012012

Camry 4-cyl

  • 84,203 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving on freeway, all of a sudden when I tried to press accelerator pedal to accelerate, nothing happened, and vehicle started to slowly slow down. I pulled over to side of road, turned off vehicle and restarted. Vehicle accelerate fine after that. Check engine light on. The Toyota dealer checked and found throttle body failure and replaced it. Cost more than $1300.

- Mountain View, CA, USA

problem #170

Nov 172010

Camry

  • 95,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that the vehicle had a recurring failure with unintended acceleration. The failure would occur when driving at any speed. The contact crashed into a pillar and damaged the front passenger side fender. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the dealer was unable to duplicate or diagnose the failure. The manufacturer advised the contact that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 95,000 and the current mileage was 101,600.

- Manchester , NJ, USA

problem #169

Nov 192011

Camry 4-cyl

  • 40,300 miles
Saturday afternoon 19 Nov 2011, the accelerator on my 2004 4-cylinder Camry became uncontrollable -- inexplicably slowing to a crawl and/or surging forward seemingly independent of how hard I depressed the gas pedal. I barely got to a local mechanic without being hit from behind or smashing into the vehicle in front of me. The mechanic told me the accelerator pedal sensor had died, and replaced it at a cost in excess of $600!!! I've seen reports that this is relatively common in this "fly-by-wire" design and am very concerned that Toyota has not recalled this model to correct the problem. No way should such an issue arise after only 40000 miles on my car. I contacted Toyota about reimbursing me for correcting this safety design defect, and both the local dealer and Toyota customer care told me in no uncertain terms where to go -- the local director of operations almost literally telling me to F...O..!

- Delray Beach, FL, USA

problem #168

Nov 122011

Camry 4-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The left front tire ( new tire, I punched 4 new Michelin tires 7/11) on my car popped. I am not sure if the car pedal got stuck first, everything happened fast. Steering became impossible and the car when side to side as I attempted to steer the car. The stewing wheel would turn, but it didn't work. The major thing is that I couldn't operate the car because of the pedal getting stuck and the steering was impossible after that. The car was taken to carriage cage auto repair by aaa, who recommended I take it there, since the car could not be driven. I then went to the er room for care. Nationwide insurance was notified, they gave an estimate of over five thousand dollars to repair the car. Toyota in lake city, wa -bruce in auto care was notified regarding the pedal becoming stuck. I will have to take the car there once it is repaired. I wonder how safe is the car and what can be done about it.

- Shoreline, WA, USA

problem #167

Oct 062011

Camry

  • 77,941 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that the vehicle would not accelerate after the brakes were applied in order to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was shut off and upon restart, the failure continued. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that the throttle body unit failed. The mechanic replaced the throttle body unit and informed the contact that the new unit was modified differently than the original. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 77,941.

- Doylestown, PA, USA

problem #166

Sep 192011

Camry

  • 78,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Camry. The contact stated while driving 65 mph, the check engine warning light illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle after numerous attempts. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic where the mechanic advised that the throttle body assembly malfunctioned and needed to be replaced. The contact did not have the throttle body replaced. The failure mileage was 78,000.

- Largo, FL, USA

problem #165

Apr 302011

Camry 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 64,323 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Camry. The contact was reversing from a parking space when the vehicle abnormally accelerated to 45 mph and continued to drive in circles. The contact stated the vehicle did not stop until it crashed in several car on the left and the right. The force hit the other vehicles directly in the rear. The consumer hit a total of eight vehicles. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed by the police and was declared as destroyed. The vehicle was not inspected for the failure. The failure mileage was 64,323. Updated 11/01/11 the consumer stated three of the vehicle including hers was totaled. Prior to the accident, the consumer stated the vehicle suddenly accelerated and she discovered the floor mat was jammed under the accelerator pedal. The pedal jammed on several occasions. On several occasions, the consumer would experience a jolt while driving. Also, the horn would suddenly start going off for no apparent reason. Updated 06/22/12

- Salem, MA, USA

problem #164

Aug 252011

Camry 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,258 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Camry xle. The contact was driving 65 mph when the vehicle stalled and coasted to a stop. The vehicle restarted and was diagnosed by a private mechanic who advised that there was a throttle body failure. The manufacturer was contacted but the vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 80,258 updated 10/19/11 updated 10/28/11

- Lake Worth, FL, USA

problem #163

Jul 212011

Camry 6-cyl

  • 59,507 miles
Sudden unintended acceleration. Updated 09/23/11

- Van Nuys, CA, USA

problem #162

Jul 312011

Camry 4-cyl

  • 112,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that the accelerator was engaged while driving approximately 55 mph, but the vehicle did not respond. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer for diagnosis where they advised that the electronic throttle control unit was faulty. The vehicle was left with the dealer where the contact was awaiting repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 112,000. The VIN was unavailable. Updated 9/13/11 updated 09/28/11

- Burlington, NC, USA

problem #161

Jul 082011

Camry

  • 60,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Camry. The contact stated while driving the vehicle would hesitate to accelerate. The dealer repaired the failure previously; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified, but denied assistance with the repairs. The failure was not remedied. The failure and current mileage was 60,000.

- Broussard, LA, USA

problem #160

Jun 102011

Camry

  • 50,000 miles
Toyota Camry (2004) with approx 50K miles stalled while driving. It did not respond to pressing of the accelerator pedal. Car which was speeding at 30 M/H came to a rolling stop right in the middle of the road creating a dangerous situation. (if it had occurred 5 mins ago, we were on the freeway driving at 65M/H and would have definitely resulted in an accident. Car was towed to Toyota dealership. They diagnosed the problem to be failure of the pedal sensor.

- Pleasanton, CA, USA

problem #159

Jun 032011

Camry 6-cyl

  • 140,000 miles
Another Toyota accelerator problem I was a great believer in Toyota's reliability reputation until 6/3/2011 when my wife called from the side of a road to say that the gas pedal didn't work. Luckily, before she had pulled out into the traffic lane the oncoming car had already stopped to turn into the road she was leaving; otherwise she would have been T-boned. Shop diagnostics indicated failure of the accelerator pedal position sensor (apps). The car is a 2004 V-6 Camry with 140,000 miles on it. When contacted about the problem, Toyota headquarters in California denied culpability. The apps is an electronic gadget which replaces the old cable/pulley gas pedal linkage between the gas pedal and the fuel injectors or carburetor(s). Its purpose is to improve emissions control. There is no diagnostic procedure to test its remaining life. The old cable/pulley system could be checked visually and by touch and be replaced rather cheaply if need be. Apps failure results in the engine immediately reverting to idle speed. If it fails in heavy traffic at high speed, there will be an instantaneous loss of speed and power. The person behind you will have no warning and you will probably be rear-ended. If it fails during acceleration to cross traffic or merge into traffic you will probably be hit from the side. Clearly the apps trades off vehicle safety for improved emissions control. If the old cable/pulley were still in place as a fail-safe measure, then apps failure would not present a safety hazard. However, it would still cost you about $600 to replace. When hydraulic brakes were introduced the cable/pulley system for the emergency brake was wisely retained as a fail-safe measure. Duh.

- Seven Lakes, NC, USA

problem #158

May 232011

Camry 4-cyl

  • 77,423 miles
Toyota Camry throttle body failed - defective part.

- Battle Creek, MI, USA

problem #157

Apr 222011

Camry

  • miles
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that when shifted into reverse, the vehicle abnormally accelerated without warning. He engaged the emergency brake but the vehicle continued to accelerate. The vehicle then abruptly made a ninety degree turn and continued to accelerate forward. After accelerating for more than two hundred feet, the contact was able to idle the vehicle. The contact sustained an injured shoulder as a result of the intensity of the acceleration and turn. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who advised the contact that the vehicle was functioning as normal. The manufacturer took a complaint and the contact was awaiting a response. The vehicle was not repaired. The current mileage was 55,000 and the failure mileage was unknown.

- Severn Spring, MD, USA

problem #156

Feb 022011

Camry 4-cyl

  • 36,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Camry. While attempting to park with the brakes depressed, the contact stated that the vehicle suddenly accelerated without warning. She was able to stop the vehicle before crashing into a building. Approximately one year earlier, the vehicle was taken to the dealer for stalling issues where they replaced the throttle body assembly and rear brakes. Since the repairs, the contact noticed that the vehicle would surge intermittently. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer offered no assistance because the dealer was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 36,000 updated 03/24/11 updated 08/22/11

- Holmdel, NJ, USA

problem #155

Nov 012010

Camry

  • miles
2004 Toyota Camry. Consumer states he experienced unintended acceleration on multiple occasions. The consumer stated as he was pulling into a parking space, with his foot on the brake, the vehicle suddenly accelerated at a high rate of speed crashing into a brick wall. The consumer stated in each case, his foot was on the brake and damage was done to property and his vehicle. Updated 03/04/11

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #154

Jan 232011

Camry

  • 90,854 miles
Went to car wash to get the road salt off car. Pushed in the code numbers for the automated wash. I had to open window still could not reach so opened door also. Punched the code closed door and window. The light turned green and the door began to open so I took car out of park into drive to inch forward. As soon as I let off the brake pedal the car suddenly accelerated forward hitting the door before it could fully open. I thought I was going to sail right through the whole car wash but managed to get the car stopped by standing on the brake before hitting the exit door.

- Desoto, KS, USA

problem #153

Dec 152010

Camry 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 20,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Camry. While driving approximately 10 mph, the contact heard a noise that was unknown, when the vehicle accelerated forward without warning. The dealer was notified but did not offer any assistance. Previously the dealer had made four attempts to diagnose a failure. The manufacturer was notified who sent an investigator to test drive the vehicle but he was unable to duplicate a failure nor was the vehicle repaired. The current mileage was approximately 45,000. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000. Updated 2/23/11 the undercarriage of the vehicle was damaged. Updated 04/25/11

- Tewksbury, MA, USA

problem #152

Dec 212010

Camry 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 146,986 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Camry. The vehicle suddenly accelerated out of the garage while the gear in reverse with her foot on the brake pedal. The rpms increased rapidly after the gear was shifted into neutral. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and an inspection was done but they could not duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was contacted and claim#1012231306 was filed. The failure mileage was 146,986. Updated 2/28/11 updated 05/05/11

- North Olmsted, OH, USA

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