2004 Toyota Camry Fuel system Problems

The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Camry. The contact stated while the vehicle was idling there was an abnormal fuel odor detected. The contact stated that there was also a grinding sound while applying the brakes. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and diagnosed with a fuel leak and ABS sensor failure. The vehicle was repaired. Additionally, the tank was rusted and was also replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 78,000.

NHTSA ID

11463944

Incident

Nov 10, 2021

Mileage

78,000 mi

The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked at the residence, there was an abnormally strong fuel odor detected. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was made aware of a fuel leak. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 79,000.

NHTSA ID

11451506

Incident

Nov 5, 2021

THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY STOP. INITIALLY, WE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS A BATTERY ISSUE. IN FACT, WE CHANGED THE BATTERY WITH A BRAND NEW ONE, IT HAPPENS AGAIN. TWO MORE TIMES, I DID OWN A TOYOTA CAR MORE THAN 25 YEARS AGO. IT WAS IDENTIFIED AS FUEL PUMP ISSUE. FOR SURE, THIS IS THE CASE. CAN I GET A REPLACEMENT FOR FREE ON THE FUEL PUMP.

NHTSA ID

11385130

Incident

Dec 27, 2020

Mileage

180,000 mi

CAR SITTING AT IDLE POSITION SUDDENLY LAUNCHED FORWARD. VEHICLE WAS GOING 2-3 MPH WHEN IT SUDDENLY LAUNCHED FORWARD AND SMASHED INTO A WALL AT A TOP DONUT DRIVE THRU.

NHTSA ID

11181536

Incident

Feb 20, 2019

Mileage

190,000 mi

A SMELL OF GASOLINE INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE WAS NOTICED AND INTENSIFIED OVER THE SPAN OF 2 DAYS. VEHICLE WAS ONLY DRIVEN DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT IS THE ONLY VEHICLE OWNED BY THE FAMILY AND HAVING A CHRONICALLY ILL SON TRANSPORTATION WAS NEEDED TO TAKE HIM TO HIS DOCTORS APPOINTMENT. BEFORE USAGE OF THE VEHICLE A VISUAL INSPECTION WAS DONE BY THE FATHER TRYING TO LOCATE THE SOURCE OF THE SMELL WITH NO AVAIL. AFTER THE SONS DOCTORS APPOINTMENT THE CAR WAS INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC WHO HAS OVER 25 YEARS AUTOMOTIVE EXPERIENCE AND AN ASSOCIATES DEGREE IN AUTOMOTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WITH THE ENGINE BEING AT OPERATING TEMPERATURE FROM BEING DRIVEN TO THE LOCATION AND THE ENGINE BAY WAS VISUALY INSPECTED WITH THE ENGINE OFF WITH NO SIGNS OF FUEL LEAKAGE. BEING SAFETY CONSCIOUS, THE MECHANIC OBTAINED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND WATER HOSE INCASE OF A FIRE. THE MECHANIC THEN TURNED ON THE ENGINE AND NOTICED A SMALL LEAK AT THE FUEL DAMPER. HE PROCEEDED TO REMOVE THE TOP PLASTIC COVER OF THE DAMPER WHICH LED TO FUEL SPRAY WITH FORCE ENOUGH TO SPRAY ON THE MECHANIC WHO WAS LOCATED AT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FUEL OBVIOUSLY SPRAYED OVER THE HOT ENGINE AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAUSING IGNITION OF THE GASOLINE. A FRIEND WHO WAS WITH THE MECHANIC QUICKLY TURNED OFF THE ENGINE WHILE THE MECHANIC QUICKLY DOUSED THE FLAMES PREVENTING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. UPON RESEARCH, THIS FUEL DAMPER WAS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM MOST CAMRYS OF THIS GENERATION. THE DAMPER DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TOYOTA PART NUMBERS AND SEEMED SUSPICIOUS. FURTHER RESEARCH FOUND THAT THIS UNBRANDED FUEL DAMPER WAS FOR CA EMMISIONS STANDARDS WHILE ANOTHER STYLE WAS FOR FEDERAL STANDARDS. OTHER CAMRYS THAT WERE MADE FOR CA DID NOT USE THE STYLE FUEL DAMPER AS MY CAMRYS. IT SEEMS LIKE TOYOTA BOUGHT AFTERMARKET DAMPERS AND INSTALLED THEM ON AN UNKNOWN AMOUNT OF VEHICLES.I THINK THEY RAN OUT OF OEM DAMPERS

NHTSA ID

11174903

Incident

Dec 20, 2018

Mileage

168,000 mi

I WAS SLOWLY PULLING INTO A PARKING LANE, STARTED TO TURN LEFT TOWARDS A PARKING SPOT WHEN MY 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AND PRESSING ON THE BRAKE DID LITTLE TO STOP THE CAR. THIS HAPPENED IN A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT. AS A RESULT, TWO OTHER CARS WERE DAMAGED AND THE MY CAMRY WAS TOTALED. THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 148000 MILES ON IT. THE CAR HAD BEEN ROUTINELY MAINTAINED. THE CAR HAD PREVIOUS ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING USING THE CRUISE CONTROL BUT THE PROBLEM HAD NEVER BEEN TRACED DOWN AS TO WHAT CAUSED THIS ISSUE. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE RPM NEEDLE JUMPED FROM LOW RPM TO HIGH RPM. IN ADDITION, WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH HAD COME ON UN-EXPECTEDLY. THESE ISSUES WERE NEVER REPRODUCED WHEN TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC AND THE PROBLEMS NEVER RESOLVED.

NHTSA ID

10937777

Incident

Dec 10, 2016

Mileage

148,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10730352

Incident

Jun 23, 2015

Mileage

157,000 mi

I WENT TO A LOCAL STORE TO SHOP. I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK IN THE STORE LOT, SAW A SPACE CLOSE TO THE FRONT OF THE STORE. I SLOWED DOWN TO START TURNING (MAYBE 5-10 MPH) INTO THE PARKING SPACE AND WHEN I TRIED TO BRAKE, MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR STARTED SPEEDING UP. IT KEPT GOING LIKE SOMEONE ELSE HAD CONTROL OF THE CAR! I COULDN'T STOP IT AND IT RAN INTO A CAR THAT WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF THE SPACE. IT PUSHED THE OTHER CAR COMPLETELY OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT AND RAMMED HER CAR IN THE FRONT AREA. WE BOTH SUFFERED VEHICLE DAMAGE AND I WAS CHARGED. THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER MY CAR AND AS I WAS ATTEMPTING TO STOP MY RUNAWAY CAR, MY FOOT SLIPPED ONTO THE ACCELERATOR. I THOUGHT MAYBE MY BRAKES HAD GIVEN OUT BUT THE OFFICER SAID THE BRAKES WERE NOT BAD. THERE WERE SKID MARKS SHOWING I TRIED TO STOP AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME, VERY SLOWLY. I WAS SO SCARED!! I REMEMBER SEEING A SEGMENT ON TV ABOUT TOYOTA HAVING PROBLEMS REGARDING SUDDEN ACCELERATION IN SOME OF THEIR CARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10692681

Incident

Mar 5, 2015

Mileage

87,489 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10690777

Incident

Feb 25, 2015

Mileage

56,000 mi

AT A STOP SIGN, A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. FROM THAT POINT, THE VEHICLE AT SPEEDS UNDER CA. 40 MPH SURGED FASTER THEN SLOWER IN A JERKY SORT OF FASHION. AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50 IT SEEMED TO DRIVE NORMALLY. THE DEALER SAID THE VEHICLE WAS UNDRIVEABLE UNTIL THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. IT WAS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. TOYOTA HAS REPEATEDLY REFUSED REIMBURSEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10585017

Incident

Apr 28, 2012

Mileage

31,400 mi

ON I-5, IN THE FAST LANE OUTSIDE PORTLAND, OREGON WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR LOST ALL POWER. I WAS ABLE TO DRIFT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BUT WAS STILL IN TRAFFIC. WHEN I REACHED A REPAIR SHOP THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A CHIP FAILURE IN THE GAS PEDAL. THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED ANYWHERE, WITHOUT GAS THE CAR JUST STOPS, AND THE RESULT COULD BE FAR MORE SERIOUS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10548383

Incident

Oct 5, 2011

Mileage

63,440 mi

THROTTLE BODY FAILURE, ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, WILL RESTART IN LIMP MODE. CORRODED DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY. NEW PART ON ORDER FROM TOYOTA. $900 REPAIR. THIS ALSO HAPPENED IN 2007 AN $850 REPAIR. I CALLED TOYOTA IN 2007 AND AGAIN THIS TIME. TOYOTA REFUSES TO PROVIDE NEW THROTTLE BODY OR PAY FOR REPAIR. I ASSERT THIS IS A DESIGN AND SAFETY PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA SHOULD REPAIR OR RECALL AT NO CHARGE. I PURCHASED CAR NEW AND HAVE BEEN A LOYAL TOYOTA CUSTOMER. PURCHASED FOUR NEW TOYOTA CARS SINCE 2002. WHY WOULD I PURCHASE ANOTHER CAR FROM TOYOTA? *TR

NHTSA ID

10525474

Incident

Jul 12, 2013

Mileage

160,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10522974

Incident

May 3, 2013

I HAD SLOWED DOWN TO TURN INTO SIDE ROAD, FOOT WAS OFF GAS AND IT ACCELERATED. I IMMEDIATELY PUT ON BRAKES AND IT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THIS IS ABOUT THE 3RD TIME IT HAS HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED FAST AND I THOUGHT IT WAS ME. THE NEXT TIME SAME THING SO I HAVE BEEN AWARE TO WATCH AND NOTICE. TODAY IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND I KNOW FOR SURE IT HAS A PROBLEM IN ACCELERATING. SOMETIMES IT CUTS OFF WHEN FIRST CRANKS LIKE NOT GETTING ENOUGH GAS. I HAVE HAD TOYOTAS FOR YEARS BUT NOW GETTING LEARY

NHTSA ID

10504309

Incident

Mar 24, 2013

Mileage

15 mi

I WAS DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE GAS PETAL WAS NO LONGER WORKING. THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. FORTUNATELY I WAS ON A SIDE STREET AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. GOT IT TOWED AND WAS TOLD THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS BROKEN AND IT WAS A PRETTY COMMON PROBLEM FOR CAMRY'S. *TR

NHTSA ID

10496644

Incident

Feb 6, 2013

WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY CITY HIGHWAY, THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLE STUCK WIDE OPEN. THE CAR'S COMPUTER SHUT IT DOWN, CAUSING THE CAR TO STOP IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART, AS THE STUCK OPEN THROTTLE BODY MADE THE ENGINE RACE AND THE COMPUTER SHUT IT DOWN. AS THIS WAS A KNOW FACTORY DESIGN DEFECT, THE NEWLY REDESIGNED REPLACEMENT THROTTLE BODY FIXED THE PROBLEM BUT TOYOTA CHARGES ABOUT $1000 FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART. WITH THE MANY REPORTED FAILURES OF THIS PART AND THE DECISION TO MAKE A REDESIGN TO CURE THE PROBLEM, IT APPEARS THAT THE CUSTOMER ABSORBS THE CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY. THERE WAS NO HELP FROM THE LOCAL DEALER ETC! ERGO MY INITIATION OF A COMPLAINT! WITH THE LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS OVER A LONG PERIOD, IT IS HARD TO UNDERSTAND WHY NO RECALL WAS EVER INITIATED NOR WAS THERE A SATISFACTORY INVESTIGATION! *TR

NHTSA ID

10434749

Incident

Oct 3, 2011

Mileage

74,000 mi

CAR DIED WHILE DRIVING, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY LIMITED EDITION. THROTTLE BODY FAILED. A DEFECTIVE MANUFACTURER PART. *TR

NHTSA ID

10404242

Incident

May 29, 2011

Mileage

121,000 mi

TOYOTA CAMRY THROTTLE BODY FAILED - DEFECTIVE PART. *TR

NHTSA ID

10402476

Incident

May 23, 2011

Mileage

77,423 mi

I OWN A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. IT HAS A DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY WHICH HAS LEFT MY WIFE STRANDED AND COST $1000 TO FIX FROM THE DEALER. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND A FEW OF MY FRIENDS HAVE HAD TO PAY TWICE TO GET THIS FIXED. THE OTHER ISSUE IS THERE A DEFECTIVE PART IN THE STEERING LINKAGE THAT POPS WHEN YOU TURN. THIS EVENTUALLY LEADS TO SLOP IN THE STEERING AND IT CAUSE MY TO GO IN THE DITCH. THIS ACCIDENT HAS GIVEN ME A CHRONIC BACK CONDITION AND PREVENTED ME FROM COMMISSIONING IN THE MILITARY. THIS ISSUE IS ALSO KNOWN TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE CAMRYS BUT TOYOTA REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10358917

Incident

Nov 20, 2009

Mileage

80,000 mi

ON 8/0/10 VEHICLE IN PARKING LOT. BACKED UP VEHICLE. PUT VEHICLE IN DRIVE. VEHICLE ENGINE REVVED UP AND CRASHED INTO TWO VEHICLES. ATTEMPTED TO HIT BRAKE. DISTANCE BETWEEN BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL IS 3 1/2 INCHES. VEHICLE INVOLVED WAS A TOYOTA. ENGINEER IS INSPECTING VEHICLE ON 8/27/10. *TR

NHTSA ID

10352147

Incident

Aug 9, 2010

Mileage

76,000 mi

TOYOTA CAMRY 2004. I PURCHASE TOYOTA CAMRY 2004 NEW AND I HAVE EXPERIENCE ACCELERATION OF CAR FOR TWO OCCASIONS. WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AROUND MARCH 2005 IN THE MORNING AND GAS PADDLE WENT DOWN BY ITSELF FOR A 30 SEC OR SO. I DID NOT HAD THE CONTROL OF THE GAS PADDLE. THIS HAPPENED TWICE AROUND 2005. THIS HAPPENED FOR FEW SECONDS ONLY (30-45 SEC). I EXPERIENCE LITTLE INCREASE IN THE SPEED FOR THAT BRIEF PERIOD. I HAVEN'T SHOWN THE PROBLEM TO DEALER. THIS HAPPENED FOR A BRIEF PERIOD SO I THOUGHT SOMETHING IS MY FAULT BUT NOW IT SEEMS LIKE SOME OTHER ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10318581

Incident

Mar 11, 2005

Mileage

25,000 mi

MY 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE (6 CYLINDER) HAS A STICKING GAS PEDAL PROBLEM. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STATIONARY POSITION, THE GAS PEDAL IS DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS FROM THE "UP" POSITION. IT TAKES A FAIR AMOUNT OF PRESSURE WHEN PRESSING DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL TO GET IT TO RELEASE FROM THE STUCK POSITION AND ALLOW THE PEDAL TO FURTHER DEPRESS FOR PROPER ACCELERATION. WHEN THE GAS PEDAL FINALLY DOES RELEASE AFTER APPLYING PRESSURE, THE MOTOR HAS REVVED UP CAUSING THE CAR TO, IN ESSENCE, POP A WHEELIE, SPIN ITS WHEELS, AND ACCELERATES IN A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS MANNER. THIS TOYOTA MODEL HAS NOT YET BEEN INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT RECALL, BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT IT SHOULD BE RECALLED SINCE IT IS EXHIBITING SIMILAR SYMPTOMS AS THOSE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I AM BECOMING INCREASINGLY CONCERNED THAT THIS CAR POSES A RISK PROFILE AND SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN WITHOUT BEING FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10304952

Incident

Jan 1, 2010

2004 TOYOTA CAMRY THROTTLE BODY FAILED, ENGINE CUT OFF WHEN TRYING TO PULL OUT IN TRAFFIC. DEALER REPLACE THROTTLE BODY, COST $1076.81. *TR

NHTSA ID

10282559

Incident

Sep 1, 2009

Mileage

45,000 mi

I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY AND IT CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING DUE TO FAULTY THROTTLE BODY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10278001

Incident

Jul 21, 2009

Mileage

108,000 mi

THROTTLE BODY FAILURE ON A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY, FOUR CYLINDER AUTOMATIC WITH ABOUT 62,000 MILES. ENGINE SHUTSDOWN WHEN FOOT LIFTED FROM ACCELERATOR, POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES DID NOT WORK. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION SINCE STEERING AND BRAKING BOTH BECAME VERY DIFFICULT IN TRAFFIC. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT FAILURE WAS IMMINENT. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO DEALER. VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. REPORTEDLY (ON INTERNET WEB SITES) THIS IS HAPPENING WITH MANY TOYOTA CAMRY'S ,MANUFACTURED FROM 2002 TO 2006. DEALER SAID THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THE LAST THROTTLE BODY AVAILABLE IN HOUSTON WHICH MIGHT INDICATE THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10267606

Incident

Apr 30, 2009

Mileage

62,000 mi