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.
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?
Vehicle is a new 2004 Toyota Camry le with 190 miles on it when the incident occurred. I started the vehicle and shifted from park to reverse without taking my foot off the brake. The vehicle rapidly accelerated and travelled about two car lenghts before I was able to stop it.
While shifting into reverse with foot depressed on the brakes vehicle accelerated at high speed. As a result, vehicle crashed into four houses, injuring several people, especially one person in bedroom.
- Missouri City, TX, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
I was driving down the street of my subdivision at about 20 miles per hour and my car surged forward on its own on two occasions. Again when I was at a stop light with my brake on, it surged forward again and then did it again while I had my foot on the brake. I barely got it stopped in time to keep it from rear ending an 18 wheeler cab in front of me.
While applying the brakes vehicle suddenly accelerated. Driver was able to maintain control of the vehicle and drove it to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic could not duplicate the problem. The driver informed the mechanic that this problem occurred six times. The dealer has put 400 miles on the vehicle trying to duplicate the problem but has been unsuccessful.
- new Toyota Camry le purchased January 2004 - on February 25th key would not turn (took 10 - 15 minutes to start it) - later while parking, the car the steering locked turning the car to the right - the car accelerated and surged despite depressing the brake (same as ODI peo4021) - though the car broke a metal flag pole, damaged a retaining wall, and fell seven feet into a major street, the air bags did not deploy - car is severely damaged: Wheels, tires, front end, gas tank, front axle - driver has a swollen and sore knee along with significant soft tissue injuries including back pain
While parking in a parking space, the vehicle suddenly accelerated. As a result, the consumer lost control of the vehicle and hit a chain and fence post. Dealer notified.
As I was pulling into a parking space with my foot depressing the brake pedal, my new (less than one month old) Toyota Camry 2004 surged forward at a high velocity and I hit a brick wall damaging my vehicle. Injury: Sprained ribs and bruises to chest and knees.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Greeley, CO, USA