Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Toyota Camry submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 55 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 55, in the owner's own words
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the catalytic convertor needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 193,868.
WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED JUMPING AHEAD HITTING A TREE IN PARKING LOT. EVEN WITH BRAKING, IT DID NOT STOP. I HAD TO REVERSE AND IT STILL SPEED UP WITHOUT PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. I HAD TO PUT IT IN PARK. THEN ONLY IT STOPPED. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT WORK. ONLY MY SHOULDER & LAP BELTS SAVED ME. SUCH AN EPISODE HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE I WAS TRYING TO BACK UP IN MY DRIVE WAY, IT ACCELERATED WHILE I WAS PRESSING THE BRAKE. I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO TOYOTA COMPANY, TORRANCE, CA AS WELL AS ITS DEALER IN WESTBURY, NY. NOTIHING WAS DONE TO DATE. IT STARTED IN 2005 AND CONTINUED EVEN IN 2020. THE MILEAGE VARIED FROM 1500 TO 134000. DATES ALSO VARIED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE BELT HAD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MARIETTA TOYOTA (750 COBB PARKWAY S, MARIETTA, GA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY AND CRANKSHAFT SEAL FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V539000 (ENGINE), ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 249,000.
HEADBOLTS STRIPPED EVEN WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND COOLANT FLUSHES DONE BEFORE RECOMMENDATION AS PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE THESE BOLTS STILL STRIPPED OUT OF MY MOTOR AND CAUSED A HEAD GASKET TO LEAK/BLOW. CURRENTLY LOOKING AT A $750-1500+ REPAIR OR A NEW MOTOR. DISSAPOINTED WITH THE 2AZFE CAMRY MOTOR NOW.
ACCORDING TO THE SHERIFF AND FIRE RESCUE, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE CAUSED THE ENTIRE ENGINE TO CATCH FIRE. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR ALMOST 12 HOURS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO TWO SEPARATE CERTIFIED MECHANICS, IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE GASKET HAD BLOWN AND THE RADIATOR FAILED. THE MECHANICS STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNFIT TO DRIVE AND THE CONTACT'S BEST OPTION WAS TO OBTAIN A NEW VEHICLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
BOUGHT CAR WITH 113,000 MILES, IMMEDIATELY NOTICED IT USED OIL BEYOND NORMAL BUT DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT WHAT NORMAL FOR THAT CAR. CONSUMPTION HAS GROWN TO 1.5 QT PER 1400 MILES. ALSO PAINT FROM ROOF, TRUNK AND HOOD STARTED PEELING AROUND 120000 MILES. CAR HAS 195,000 MILES CURENTLY
COOLANT LEAK ON REAR OF ENGINE BETWEEN THE CYLINDER HEAD & ENGINE BLOCK SEEMS LIKE HEAD BOLTS STRIPPED FROM ENGINE BLOCK CAUSING MAYOR COOLANT LOSS THERE ARE CASES REPORTED TSB 01507, NHTSA #10021542
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE CONSUMED A QUART OF OIL WEEKLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 265,262.
THIS VEHICLE HAD A TRANSMISSION REPLACED.
OIL STARTED TO LEAK FROM MANIFOLD, MY MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A STRIPPED BOTL. HE TRIED TO FIX IT WITH SILICONE AND REPLACE THE BOLT BUT IT IS STILL LEAKING ALL OVER THE ENGINE. HE INFORMED ME THIS COUD CAUSE A FIRE. CAN I HOLD TOYOTA RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM?
2004 CAMRY SE CAR SITTING FOR TWO DAYS. CAR CAUGHT FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT IT SEEMED NO FOUL PLAY INVOLVED. TO ME IT LOOK LIKE THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE STARTED BY THE BATTERY AND WIRING WAS THE ISSUE. INTERIOR IN GOOD SHAPE NO WINDOWS BUSTED.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD FROM MY HOME WHEN MY CAR STOPPED WORKING. IT DIED ON ME. IT JUST STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY WITHOUT ANY NOTICE WHATSOEVER. I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AT THE TIME I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MILES AN HOUR (WHEN THE CAR ENGINE STOPPED WORKING). I TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION TO THE OFF POSITION. WHEN I TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION TO START THE CAR, THE CAR STARTED UP IMMEDIATELY.
ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUES TO TURN ON AND OFF. WHEN THE MECHANIC CHECKS IT HE CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM AS DIAGNOSTIC COMES BACK CLEAR. IT IS AGITATING BC IF THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON I WON'T KNOW IF IT IS SERIOUS OR NOT. *TR
CAR ACCELERATED BY ITSELF WHEN PARKING AND WOUND UP ON SIDEWALK. COULD NOT BRAKE. CAR WAS PUT IN PARK WHILE MOVING AND THEN STOPPED WHILE STILL APPLYING BRAKES.
.......JUST NEED TO ASK A QUESTION, IN LIGHT OF THE STORIES ON AIR BAG,THE LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD SAYS..."PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF"......I CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY ASKED IF I WERE NEARBY AND COULD I COME IN WHEN I CALLED (ABOUT 4 PM).... I SAID I WAS NEARBY AND DROVE DIRECTLY THERE (67TH WESTERN, CHICAGO. ONE OF THE TECH'S LOOKED AT THE LIGHT AND SAID "OH THAT LIGHT WILL GO OFF WHEN SOME ONE SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT ( KNEW IT WOULDN'T)....HE IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THE PASSENGER SIDE, SAT DOWN AND THE LIGHT DIDN'T GO OFF.....THEN HE SAID OH, UR AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON (BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL) . HE THEN SAID SINCE UR CAR IS NOT ON THE RE-CALL LIST, WE HAVE TO CONDUCT AN INSPECTION..ABOUT $110 DOLLARS, AND THEN IF WE FIND SOMETHING, THE $110 WILL BE APPLIED TO THE CHARGES. I SAID LIKE WHAT, HE SAID IT MIGHT BE A SENSOR, IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING ELSE WE DON'T KNOW UNTIL WE INSPECT IT............................SO, MY QUESTION TO YOU IS HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT 2004 CAMRY'S ARE NOT INCLUDED, AND WHETHER OR NOT,TOYOTA JUST WANTS TO CHARGE ME FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE COVERED.... SECONDLY, 2 ITEMS ON YOUR RECALL LIST, I DON'T BELIEVE WERE DONE A) NHTSA #11V539000, NOV. 9, 2011..........................AND B)NHTSA#04V346000, JULY 13, 2004.......................THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE AND ADVICE. *TR
I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY LE EQUIPPED WITH THE 2AZ FE I4. AT FIRST I STARTED HEARING WATER SLOSHING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD EVERY TIME I STOPPED. ON 1/30/2014 WHILE STOPPING FOR A FEW MINUTES IN A PARKING LOT THE CARS TEMPERATURE GAUGE STARTED TO RISE. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT THE CAR OFF, AND OPENED UP THE HOOD TO FIND COOLANT HAD BEEN PUSHED OUT THE OVERFLOW CONTAINER, THEN I SUBSEQUENTLY BROUGHT IT TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. AFTER A FEW DAYS THE MECHANIC GOT BACK TO ME, TELLING ME THE HEAD BOLTS HAD STRIPPED AND THE ENGINE WAS UNREPAIRABLE. I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY IF IT GAVE AWAY WHEN GOING DOWN THE FREEWAY. TOYOTA NEEDS TO STEP UP AND FIX THIS ISSUE THAT IS NOW BECOMING A VERY BIG PROBLEM. TOYOTA DID RELEASE A TSB FOR DEALERS ABOUT THIS BUT IT SAYS TO USE TIMESERTS OR REPLACE THE BLOCK. *TR
WE FIRST NOTICED COOLANT LEAKING ON OUR GARAGE FLOOR AFTER OUR 20YR MECHANIC AND TRUSTED FRIEND REPLACED OUR WATER PUMP. WE TOOK THE CAR IN TO HAVE HIM LOOK AT THE PROBLEM AND HE TOLD US WE HAD A "PULLED" HEAD GASKET. HE SAID HE COULD NOT DO THAT TYPE OF WORK AND REFERRED US TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO PRESSURE TESTED AND RAN OTHER DIAGNOSTICS BEFORE HOISTING THE CAR ON THE RACKS. UPON INSPECTION HE SAW COOLANT DRIPPING FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND PROCEEDED TO REMOVE AND INSPECT THAT PART OF THE ENGINE. EVENTUALLY, THE HEAD AND OTHER PARTS TO REVEAL THE LOOSE BOLTS WITH STRIPPED THREADS. WE BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND FEEL SOME COMPENSATION AND RESTITUTION MUST BE LEVIED. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH FROM DIFFERENT FORUMS WE HAVE DOCUMENTED PAGES OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM ACROSS THE NATION. PLEASE MAKE OUR CONCERNS HEARD. WE CURRENTLY HAVE NO CAR TO DRIVE AND $ 0 MONEY TO PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE. *TR
WHEN I WAS DRIVING MY CAR FROM PARKING LOT TO GO HOME, I HEARD LOUD NOISE FROM FRONT OF MY CAR AND FELT STIFFNESS OF CONTROL OF MY CAR. I TRIED TO DRIVE BACK TO PARKING TO TAKE A LOOK, BUT THE CAR LOST OF POWER STEERING ASSIST. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALER. THE DEALER FOUND OUT THE POWER STEERING PULLEY HAD BROKEN OFF AND THE DRIVE BELT CAME OFF. I WAS LUCKY IT HAPPENED IN PARKING LOT, OR I MAY GET TO A CAR ACCIDENT. I HAVE CONTACTED TO TOYOTA, BUT THEY SAID IT WAS NOT IN RECALL OF FAILED CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BECAUSE THE VIN NUMBER DOES NOT IN THE RANGE OF RECALL. BUT MY CAR HAS EXACTLY SAME ISSUE THE RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V539000 HAS. THE CAR IS 2004 CAMRY. *TR
ON MY 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY LE, AT THE EXACT MOMENT I APPLIED THE BRAKES AT IDLE SPEED, THERE WAS AN EXTREMELY LOUD AND HIGH REVOLUTION RACING SOUND. THIS CONDITION WAS EXTREME. I CHANGED GEAR SELECTOR FROM "DRIVE" TO "PARK" AND THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN RACING SOUND OR NOISE LEVEL. HOWEVER, CAR DID NOT SURGE FORWARD AND NO ADDITIONAL BRAKE PRESSURE WAS REQUIRED. I TURNED ENGINE OFF AND CAR RESTARTED NORMALLY. A MECHANIC CHECKED OUT MY CAR AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. A SIMILAR INCIDENT OCCURRED ABOUT 2-3 MONTHS EARLIER WHILE BACKING UP AT IDLE SPEED. NOT SURE IF IT IS POSSIBLE FOR ENGINE TO DISENGAGE FROM TRANSMISSION, WHICH MIGHT EXPLAIN WHY CAR DID NOT SURGE FORWARD (AND BACKWARD RESPECTIVELY). THIS SAME CAR IN MARCH OF 2010 EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION (PARKED UNDER A CELL TOWER) WHICH WAS MUCH WORSE THAN DESCRIBED ABOVE-I FILED A COMPLAINT IN 2010 FOR THIS. *TR
17TH JUNE 2013 - WATER SPLASH SOUND FROM ENGINE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF CAR WITH MISFIRE AND ENGINE LIGHT ON. TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER AND REPLACED SPARK PLUGS AND IGNITION COILS FOR TWO CYLINDERS. FLUSH COOLANT SYSTEM. I GOT THE CAR BACK ON 19TH JUNE 2013. AFTER RUNNING 10 MILES ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND ENGINE WAS SHIVERING WHILE STARTING THE CAR. NEXT DAY MORNING CAR TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER INFORMED THAT ENGINE BLEW UP AND IT IS BEYOND REPAIR WHICH NEEDS A REPLACEMENT. *TR
PURCHASED CAR FROM LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER WITH JUST OVER 100K MILES. GAS PEDAL STOPPED WORKING. CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. FOUND OUT IT WAS A FAILURE OF THE THROTTLE BODY. IT COSTS OVER $1000 TO FIX. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR THIS EXACT PART ON TOYOTA CAMRY'S. WHEN IS IT GOING TO BE RECALLED! OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW! *TR
I WAS DRIVING, TOOK A CORNER AND MY CAR TURNED OFF WITHOUT WARNING OR SIGNAL, AND I LOST POWER STEERING AND HIT ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE. I PROCEEDED TO TURN MY CAR BACK ON, DRIVE TEN FEET AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING. I WENT TO THE AUTO BODY SHOP AND THEY STATED IT WAS A CODE 2112 THROTTLE ISSUE. I RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND SAW SEVERAL OTHER CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THE SAME MAKE/MODEL/YEAR AND AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE AS MY CAR HAS. TOYOTA IS NOT RECALLING OR PROVIDING FREE SERVICE ON THE PARTS AND I WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF OVER 1300.00 TO FIX. SEEING THAT THIS IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR - I DIDNT DO A THING TO CAUSE THIS TO HAPPEN, AND IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE, I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE REPLACING AND OR RECALLING THESE VEHICLES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH DOWNHILL. THE ENGINE SURGED AT A MUCH HIGHER RATE OF SPEED. THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE UNTIL SHE CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 108,000. UPDATED 3/14/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAD NOT CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. IT CONTINUED APPROXIMATELY 3/4 OF A MILE ALL OVER THE ROAD AND SURROUNDING AREAS, UNTIL IT FINALLY HIT AN EMBANKMENT AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WENT INTO THE GROUND. AND THEN STOPPED.
AFTER ENTERING A PARKING LOT MY MOTHER-IN-LAW WAS TURNING INTO A SPOT WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED THRU THE SPOT AND WAS HEADING FOR THE CONCRETE WALL. SHE WAS ABLE TO TURN IT TO THE LEFT, RUN OVER THE CURB AND IN TO A SNOW BANK. SHE WAS UNABLE TO BACK THE CAR OUT AND HAD TO BE TOWED OUT. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END, BUT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID THAT SHE COULD DRIVE IT HOME AND SHE MANAGED TO DO SO, BUT SHE WAS SCARED TO DO SO. IT IS NOW SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY AND WILL NOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL WE ARE SATISFIED WITH THE REPAIRS TO THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM. I AM STILL WAITING TO HEAR FROM THE DEALER?. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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