Problems · by component
2004 Toyota Camry engine problems
32 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2004 Toyota Camry cite engine, 4% of all 799 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
32
4% of all complaints
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the engine
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED JUMPING AHEAD HITTING A TREE IN PARKING LOT. EVEN WITH BRAKING, IT DID NOT STOP. I HAD TO REVERSE AND IT STILL SPEED UP WITHOUT PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. I HAD TO PUT IT IN PARK. THEN ONLY IT STOPPED. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT WORK. ONLY MY SHOULDER & LAP BELTS SAVED ME. SUCH AN EPISODE HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE I WAS TRYING TO BACK UP IN MY DRIVE WAY, IT ACCELERATED WHILE I WAS PRESSING THE BRAKE. I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO TOYOTA COMPANY, TORRANCE, CA AS WELL AS ITS DEALER IN WESTBURY, NY. NOTIHING WAS DONE TO DATE. IT STARTED IN 2005 AND CONTINUED EVEN IN 2020. THE MILEAGE VARIED FROM 1500 TO 134000. DATES ALSO VARIED.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WEST HERR TOYOTA (4141 S. WESTERN BLVD, ORCHARD PARK, NY) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT FUEL CYLINDER SENSORS ONE AND TWO WERE FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,231. *BF *JB”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE BELT HAD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MARIETTA TOYOTA (750 COBB PARKWAY S, MARIETTA, GA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY AND CRANKSHAFT SEAL FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V539000 (ENGINE), ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 249,000.”
“EXITED FREEWAY AND HIT BRAKES TO SLOW AND STOP AT TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE MOTOR ACCELERATED, THE BRAKES WERE TOO WEAK TO STOP THE VEHICAL, AND I CRASHED INTO THE STOPPED CAR AT THE TRAFFIIC LIGHT. IT SEEMED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT TURN OFF WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THEY FAILED TO TURN THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF.”
“HEADBOLTS STRIPPED EVEN WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND COOLANT FLUSHES DONE BEFORE RECOMMENDATION AS PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE THESE BOLTS STILL STRIPPED OUT OF MY MOTOR AND CAUSED A HEAD GASKET TO LEAK/BLOW. CURRENTLY LOOKING AT A $750-1500+ REPAIR OR A NEW MOTOR. DISSAPOINTED WITH THE 2AZFE CAMRY MOTOR NOW.”
“ACCORDING TO THE SHERIFF AND FIRE RESCUE, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE CAUSED THE ENTIRE ENGINE TO CATCH FIRE. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR ALMOST 12 HOURS.”
Showing 6 of 32 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.