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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:
7 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
103,004 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.

2004 Toyota Camry brakes problems

brakes problem

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2004 Toyota Camry Owner Comments

problem #14

Nov 102021

Camry

  • 78,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Acton, MA, USA

problem #13

Aug 072020

Camry

  • 325,000 miles
While driving locally at a non-speeding level, dry weather, wheel locked up preventing control of the vehicle which spun out of control, leadding to vehicle hitting a curb then airborne and turnover resulting to salvage damages.

- Dacula, GA, USA

problem #12

Dec 202018

Camry

  • 156,421 miles
Gas pedal accelerated without applying pressure.

- Wilmington, NC, USA

problem #11

Jul 092018

Camry

  • 130,150 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Camry. While driving approximately 5 mph in heavy traffic, the contact attempted to depress the brake pedal, but it bounced back. As a result, the contact rear ended the preceding vehicle. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was taken to oak lawn Toyota (4320 85th street, oak lawn, Illinois 60453), but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,150.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #10

Sep 122017

Camry

  • 104,000 miles
The design of the brake pedal bracket is dangerous. It overhangs the brake pedal. When wearing a shoe size greater than a men's size 10 or above, the toe of the shoe hits the bracket above the pedal inhibiting the ability to depress the brake pedal. Very scary. I noticed when I change to a larger shoe size because of bunion pain and experienced the fear of applying the brakes but not making immediate contact while driving at 45 mph on 4 lane road in heavy traffic. Had to change back into 9.5 men's size shoe to drive the car safely. Checked other model cars and they do not have this bend in the bracket. All are bent behind the pedal not over the pedal.

- Greensboro, NC, USA

problem #9

Sep 122017

Camry

  • 104,000 miles
I have bunion pain that required me to get larger shoes. When I starting wearing these shoes I noticed that the toe of the shoe would come in contact with the bracket that attaches the brake pedal, interfering with me applying immediate pressure to the break pedal. The bracket is designed with a bend that overhangs the top of the brake pedal. This is extremely dangerous. I size shoe greater than a men's size 10 interferes with breaking. It almost caused a crash. I was in motion and the toe of my shoe would bend back on this bracket before my forefoot would come push far enough down on the pedal to brake. I examined several other car models and none of them has a bracket with this bend over hanging the brake pedal. Very dangerous.

- Greensboro, NC, USA

problem #8

Dec 102016

Camry

  • 148,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Charlottesville, VA, USA

problem #7

Aug 092015

Camry

  • 137,000 miles
I was driving on a high speed. There was a red light so I tried to hit the brake pedal. But by doing that I the car had a sudden accelerate and the brake pedal went all the way down to the floor and the brake power is super weak. I was lucky that the car stopped right behind the car in front of me so no accident happened. I drive my car to a local brake shop, they inspected the whole system and tell me that they can't find anything wrong there. It was really scary to feel that your car is not controlled by yourself.

- Lexington, KY, USA

problem #6

Mar 052015

Camry 6-cyl

  • 87,489 miles
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.

- North Augusta, SC, USA

problem #5

Dec 232012

Camry

  • miles
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 mph during rainy weather, the brake pedal was depressed and the contact lost control of the vehicle. The contact was able to regain control of the vehicle and avoid a crash. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Sherveport, LA, USA

problem #4

Jun 072007

Camry

  • 96,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was in a fast food drive thru. As the line moved, I tapped my gas lightly to move a bit forward and the car lunged forward and hit the car in front of me. The car continued to lunge forward even though I had my foot on the brake! I had to turn the car off totally. I made my report to allstate. I also called Toyota and they told me my car was not one of the cars recalled with that type of problem, and hung up on me. A few months later, a news report showed just the opposite. They still have not inspected my car. Also, the engine light comes on and stays on although we have had the car checked and the mechanic cannot find a problem associated with the light staying on.

- Spring Hill, TN, USA

problem #3

Aug 022014

Camry

  • 36,000 miles
The contact owned a 2004 Toyota Camry. While driving in reverse, the contact depressed the brake pedal and the vehicle failed to respond. As a result, the contact crashed the vehicle into another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained a bruised rib on the right side, but did not require medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified. The speed was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 36,000.

- Winter Haven, FL, USA

problem #2

May 202005

Camry 6-cyl

  • 10,000 miles
After driving 1 year ( about 10000miles) the brake fluid kept loosing from max to min level within 100 to 200 miles driving.Toyota had recalled 2004 to 2006 avalon, highlander, Lexus gs 300, & Lexus is 250 no Camry.I reported to NHTSA & Toyota and no answer. For safety concern please do your best to help consumers to avoid the accidents may occur. Thanks

- Anaheim, CA, USA

problem #1

Dec 162007

Camry 4-cyl

  • 30,000 miles
In parking garage I wanted to back up from post. I put car in reverse and had foot on brake. When I released brake slightly, the engine roared and the car lunged back and even with my foot mashing on the brake, the car jumped a curb in the garage and did not stop until it hit an SUV and knocked it into a brick wall. My passenger suffered a subdural hematoma and was hospitalized in portland, or during christmas vacation. She had to remain in portand 30 days until she had a clear ctscan. January 21, 2013 I was stopped for stop sign with foot on the brake, when same vehicle lunged forward at about 30 mph. I had a repeat when I was braking to slow down for a turn, and vehicle just lunged forward and it took me half a block to get the car to stop. On January 26, 2013 I had a repeat of the stop sign incident. I had foot on brake and was at a complete stop, when car lunged forward. Fortunately there were no cars coming and I safely made a left turn as it was a dead end street. Again it took me about half a block to get the car to come to a stop again. I do not feel safe to drive this car and have left it with a local Toyota dealer and had brakes repaired. I have spoken to service manager, rick, and at hq, [xxx], about my issues. Toyota has politely brushed me off like a piece of lint both for the accident in 2007 and my current issues. I have joined the class action suit against Toyota and am requesting the brake override as a stop-gas measure. I currently have 82,700 miles on vehicle and had planned to drive it for several more years. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Houston, TX, USA

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