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.
Toyota knows they screwed up the throttle body but the recall doesn't include 2004, only 2005 and above. It's the same problem on all of them. There is a corrosion problem on the gear for the motor inside the throttle body. The metal gear looks like cheap pot metal, unlike the Nissan gears that are nylon and will never corrode.
I'm a master Tech for 35 years and many people ask my opinion on what car to purchase. I have always recommended Toyota but never again and I will never own another Toyota. I fixed my throttle body by drilling a slightly larger hole in the idler gear between the motor and the butterfly gear. Toyota jacked up the price of this part to $1200 to cover the recall.
They actually make a profit on the recall if they deduct recall costs from profits. Sounds like Ford has bought out Toyota to me Goodbye FREAKING TOYOTA FOREVER!
I have been dealing with the check engine light since December 2011. It started out with the gas cap needing to be replaced. I had it replaced. However, every time I get gas the check engine light continued to come back on. The advise that I received was that I needed CEL retrieved Code PO442(small leak in evaporative Emissions System) tested and verified no leaks at this time. Gas cap may have been loose . After the gas cap was replaced I am still having the same problem with the check engine light.
Check engine light came on because the fuel tank air filter was becoming clogged with dust. Toyota service department said to watch it. Light went off, but would periodically go on for 20 miles or so.
- Linda L.,
Osceola, NE, US
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Toyota knows they screwed up the throttle body but the recall doesn't include 2004, only 2005 and above. It's the same problem on all of them. There is a corrosion problem on the gear for the motor inside the throttle body. The metal gear looks like cheap pot metal, unlike the Nissan gears that are nylon and will never corrode.
I'm a master Tech for 35 years and many people ask my opinion on what car to purchase. I have always recommended Toyota but never again and I will never own another Toyota. I fixed my throttle body by drilling a slightly larger hole in the idler gear between the motor and the butterfly gear. Toyota jacked up the price of this part to $1200 to cover the recall.
They actually make a profit on the recall if they deduct recall costs from profits. Sounds like Ford has bought out Toyota to me Goodbye FREAKING TOYOTA FOREVER!
- James R., Mineral Wells, TX, US