2004 Toyota Camry problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Vehicle Speed Control (208) · Steering (52) · Air Bags (35)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Toyota Camry model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
514 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Engine And Engine Cooling 2011-11-09 · campaign 11V539000 · 420,326 vehicles
Defect: TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AVALON VEHICLES; 2004 AND 2005 CAMRY, CAMRY SOLARA, HIGHLANDER, AND SIENNA VEHICLES, 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID; 2004 AND 2005 LEXUS ES330 AND RX330; AND 2006 LEXUS RX400H VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 1, 2004 THROUGH MARCH 31, 2005, EQUIPPED WITH THE 1MZ-FE OR 3MZ-FE ENGINE. THE AMOUNT OF ADHESIVE AGENT APPLIED BETWEEN THE OUTER RING AND THE TORSIONAL RUBBER DAMPER (INNER RING) IN THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY MAY BE INADEQUATE. IF THE ADHESIVE IS INSUFFICIEN
Risk: IN SOME CASES, THE BELT FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAY BECOME DETACHED FROM THE PULLEY WHICH COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND A SUDDEN INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL CHECK THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY TO IDENTIFY WHETHER IT WAS PRODUCED BY THE U.S. SUPPLIER. IF SO, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE PULLEY WITH A NEW ONE AT NO CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING EARLY JANUARY 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Service bulletins (174)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0039-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. if these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof,
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0038-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
to prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. the purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer.
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0035-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. if these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfa
Structure:body 2024-12-05 · T-SB-0061-23 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
toyota vehicles are currently protected with rapgardtm protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. this material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. follow the removal procedure in this bulletin to remove the rapgardtm protective film wi
Structure:body 2024-12-03 · T-SB-0062-23 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. this type of contamination can be identified by the presence of small, red or brown particles on the paint surfa
Structure:body 2024-07-12 · T-SB-0039-24 Rev1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. if these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof,
Showing the 6 most recent of 174 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-07-08 · Air Bags · 💥 crash“my wife was in a crash that totaled my 2004 camry. she swerved to miss a deer and was pulled off the road and into two utility poles and several areas of fence. none of the airbags deployed and the crash was well over the 14 mph speed limit suggested for the airbags to deploy. my wife was seriously injured and was lucky the seatbelt held her back. …”
2025-04-15 · Air Bags“the srs warning light came on. i took it to my mechanic and he tested the sensor. he said the code that showed is b1821...open in side squib (d seat side) circuit. he said i needed to take it to a toyota dealer. i have an appointment with one on 4/17/25.…”
2023-12-11 · Steering“the power steering freezes up upon the slightest amount of street water ponding making it almost impossible to turn the steering wheel. i have experienced a number of scary situations that make driving this car in wet elements very very difficult. as a result i generally refrain from driving altogether under these conditions. this dangerous problem…”
2023-05-23 · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:catalytic Convertor · 193,868 mi“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 19…”
2022-12-16 · Unknown Or Other“toyota dealership unable to fix open recall in time to ship vehicle. …”
2022-05-09 · Service Brakes · 78,000 mi“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. th…”
2022-02-11 · Fuel System, Gasoline“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 approxima…”
2021-07-19 · Air Bags · 145,000 mi · 💥 crash“the contact owns a 2004 toyota camry. the contacts stated that while her daughter was driving at 55mph down a hill when the contact's daughter crashed the vehicle into another vehicle that was stopped. none of the airbags deploying. medical treatment was required and she sustained bruising to the left breast and ribcage. the contact's daughter serv…”
2021-05-06 · Vehicle Speed Control · 50,000 mi · 💥 crash“tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota camry. the contact stated that while the vehicle was on cruise control at approximately 77 mph, when suddenly the vehicle accelerated and began to accelerate forward unintendedly. the vehicle side swept another vehicle hitting the driver side of their vehicle, then, spun off and hit a nearby guardrail on the drive…”
2020-12-27 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 180,000 mi“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.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.