RoadVitals

2004 Toyota Camry Visibility Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Visibility reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest Jan 2, 2017
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
2%
of 638 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. 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. 12 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.

Owner reports naming visibility

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structureVisibility
Filed Jan 2, 2017

SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10939021
Incident
Jan 1, 2017
Mileage
156,000 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Jul 31, 2016
Fire reported

TOYOTA CAMRY DRIVER-SIDE WINDOW FIRE. DURING AUGUST OF 2014, I WENT SHOPPING IN LITHONIA, GA. I PARKED MY 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY IN THE SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT. A SHORT TIME LATER, I RETURNED TO MY CAR AND OBSERVED SMOKE BILLOWING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW OF MY VEHICLE. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE ACROSS THE STREET TO NALLEY TOYOTA OF STONECREST TO HAVE THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT. I WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY RECALL AT THIS TIME, AND ASKED THE SERVICE ADVISOR TO CHECK FOR ONE. SHE DID SO, AND TOLD ME THERE WAS NOT A TOYOTA RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE. I PROCEEDED TO PAY THEM $967.00 IN PARTS AND LABOR TO REPLACE MY ENTIRE MASTER SWITCH, THE MASTER SWITCH ASSEMBLY, AND WINDOW MOTOR IN THE DRIVER-SIDE DOOR. AFTER COMING HOME, I PROCEEDED TO LOOK FOR ANY INFORMATION I COULD FIND ON TOYOTA RECALLS OF OTHER 2004 CAMRYS. I FOUND THE TOYOTA RECALL LIST ONLINE AND SAW THAT MY CAR HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS OTHER CAMRYS BEING RECALLED, YET HAD NOT BEEN INCLUDED. IN MAY OF THE FOLLOWING YEAR (2015), THE MOTOR I WAS SOLD FAILED AGAIN. I WAS UNABLE TO RAISE MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW, SO I WENT BACK TO NALLEY TOYOTA AT STONECREST. I SPOKE WITH A SERVICE ADVISOR WHO EXPLAINED THAT EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL HAD BEEN EXPANDED TO INCLUDE MORE VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM, MY TOYOTA CAMRY WAS STILL NOT INCLUDED. I PROCEEDED TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL $234.17 TO HAVE THE WINDOW MOTOR REPLACED AGAIN. SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCE THE BURNING OUT OF MY CAR LIGHTER. I HAVE BEEN WAITING IN VAIN FOR TOYOTA TO INCLUDE MY MODEL OF TOYOTA CAMRY IN THE RECALL PROCESS. I AM WRITING NOW TO REQUEST THAT TOYOTA REIMBURSE ME FOR THE MONEY I HAVE PAID TO HAVE WORK DONE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER THE EXISTING TOYOTA RECALL ON WINDOW MOTORS. OBVIOUSLY, MY CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED. I AM ATTACHING DOCUMENTATION OF EACH TRANSACTION FOR YOUR REVIEW. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10891928
Incident
Aug 30, 2014
Mileage
178,533 mi
Visibility
Filed Jun 23, 2012

PROBLEMS WITH THE SUNROOF. CABLES BROKE UNEXPECTEDLY RIGHT AFTER THE THIRD YEAR. DEALER SAID THE ENTIRE PULLEY SYSTEM BROKE FOR UNKNOWN REASONS. DEALER SAID WARRENTY HAD JUST EXPIRED, COST OVER $1000+ TO REPLACE IT. TWO YEARS AGO, WHILE DROVE ON THE FREEWAY; THE ROOF EXPLODED, GLASS DROPPED ALL OVER, IT WAS SCARY. PAID $800+ AND INSTALLED THE NEW ROOF WITH DEALER, A MONTH LATER THE PULLEY BROKE AGAIN. THE DEALER SAID WE HAVE TO PAY $1000+ AGAIN. IT IS DIFFERENT ISSUE THAN THE GLASS. TOTAL COST OVER $3000+ FOR JUST A SUN ROOF ITSELF. UNTIL NOW, I HAVEN'T REPLACED YET. I AM AFRAID TO KEEP REPLACING THE PULLEY SYSTEM. *TT

NHTSA ID
10462839
Incident
Jul 6, 2010
Visibility
Filed May 15, 2012

BOTH SUN VISORS HAVE FAILED WITH ORDINARY USE. THE BRACKETS BREAK AND THE SUN VISOR FALLS IN FRONT OF YOUR FACE OBSTRUCTING YOUR VISION. THE VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP AS THE PLASTIC BRACKET EASILY BREAKS. THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR BROKE FIRST THEN THE PASSENGER SIDE. I TALKED WITH THE TECHNICIANS AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THERE WERE LOTS OF REPLACEMENTS. THE COST TO REPLACE BOTH WERE IN EXCESS OF $250.00. THIS IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT THAT CAN EASILY CAUSE SERIOUS SAFETY RAMIFICATIONS. MY SON WHO WAS DRIVING THE CAR HAD PINNED THE VISORS UP TO THE OVERHEAD MATERIAL WITH STRAIGHT PINS TO KEEP IT FROM DROPPING IN HIS FACE. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS UNTIL HE WENT OFF TO COLLEGE BECAUSE HE WAS THE ONLY DRIVER OF THE CAR. I KNOW THIS IS NOT ON THE SAME LEVEL AS A AIR BAG BUT IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD NEVER THE LESS AND SHOULD BE RESOLVED. I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD ONE SUN VISOR EVER BREAK, YET THIS CAR HAD TOW BREAK. I HAVE SAVED THE OLD VISORS AND WOULD BE HAPPY TO FORWARD THEM TO YOU FOR TESTING. I LOOKED AT THEM AND COULD EASILY SEE WHERE THE DEFECT IS, YET I AM NOT A ENGINEER. I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THESE ISSUES BUT MIGHT BE THE ONLY ONE TO COMPLAIN OF THIS DEFECT. I WOULD BE EASY TO SEE JUST HOW MANY ARE REPLACED. THIS IS "CONSTRUCTIVE NOTICE" THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS IT CAN IMPAIR A DRIVERS VISIBILITY CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. *JS

NHTSA ID
10458609
Incident
May 1, 2009
Mileage
15,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jul 28, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THREE WINDOW REGULATORS FAILED. IN JANUARY 2010, THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR WAS REPLACED. THE DEALER DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. NO ADDITIONAL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID
10415514
Incident
Jan 1, 2010
Mileage
114,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 10, 2010

2004 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE V6 SUNROOF STUCK. WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT 65MPH WITH THE SUNROOF FULLY OPENED, IT BEGAN TO RAIN. I ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE IT AND IT WOULD NOT CLOSE. I TRIED TO PULL OVER, BUT WITH THE RAIN AND SOME HAIL ON MY EYES, IT WAS HARD TO SEE THE ROAD. I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE MY SUNROOF WOULD NOT CLOSE. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THESE CARS HAVE ISSUES WITH SUNROOFS GETTING STUCK, BUT BECAUSE MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY THE DEALER WILL NOT PAY. DEALER ESTIMATED APPROXIMATELY $1,200 WILL COST TO FIX IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10359942
Incident
Aug 12, 2010
Mileage
52,350 mi
Visibility
Filed Sep 8, 2009

MY TOYOTA CAMRY LEFT REAR WINDOW MOTOR WAS BURNED , BUT THE FUSE STILL GOOD, AND I PULLED RIGHT SIDES TWO FUSES, THE WINDOWS STILL CAN GO UP AND DOWN, THAT MEAN THE ELECTROCITY DIDN'T GO THROUGH FUSES TO THE MOTORS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10283167
Incident
Sep 6, 2009
Mileage
46,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jun 30, 2008

IF YOU TRY TO PUT THE WINDOW DOWN (DRIVER'S WINDOW), IT COMES OFF TRACK - NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS, JUST HAPPENED WHEN I TRIED TO LET IT DOWN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10232687
Incident
Mar 1, 2008
Visibility
Filed Jun 22, 2008

MALFUNCTION OF MY SUNROOF IN MY 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY SE. DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED COMMON PROBLEM... *TR

NHTSA ID
10231932
Incident
Mar 11, 2007
Mileage
75,582 mi
Visibility
Filed Feb 5, 2007

TL*- THE CONTACT HAD A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT WINDOW DEFROSTER TURNED OFF/FAILED WHEN WATER SPLASHED ONTO THE VEHICLE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING UNDER RAINY CONDITIONS AT 35 MPH. . THE WINDOWS FOGGED UP AND SHE HAD TO ROLL DOWN THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW TO SEE. THE CONTACT PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SAW THAT THE DEFROSTER LIGHT AND THE AIR RECIRCULATION LIGHT WERE FLASHING. AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE DEFROSTER STARTED WORKING AGAIN, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED THE NEXT TIME THE VEHICLE WAS SPLASHED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD HER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. *AK UPDATED 2/22/2007 -THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE FAILURE WAS HER FAULT. *NM

NHTSA ID
10181673
Incident
Feb 1, 2007
Mileage
46,100 mi
AirbagsVisibility
Filed Aug 31, 2006
Crash reported1 injury reported

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR GLASS SHATTERED ONTO THE OCCUPANT. ADDITIONALLY, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEATBELT, BUT MINOR INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THERE WAS MODERATE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE POLICE WERE ALERTED AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE BODY REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION OF THE DAMAGE BY AN INSURANCE ADJUSTOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.

NHTSA ID
10167136
Incident
Aug 29, 2006
Mileage
38,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jan 13, 2005

THERE IS A STRONG SMELL COMING THROUGH THE DEFOGGER SYSTEM OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH IS CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BECOME NAUSEAS. VEHICLE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR CHECKUP, BUT THE CAUSE IS UNDETERMINED. *NM

NHTSA ID
10107293
Incident
Sep 6, 2004

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .