Research · Midsize Cars

2005 Toyota CamryRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls and 721 owner complaints for the 2005 Toyota Camry. Most complaints involve vehicle speed control (272) and power train (84). The EPA rates it 21–25 mpg combined.

Combined MPG
21–25mpg
EPA · 8 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
5campaigns
Latest Jun 2016
Owner complaints
721
Top: vehicle speed control
Fuel cost / yr
$2,550est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

5 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Seats: seat heater

Free remedy

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.

SeatsReported Jun 2, 2016NHTSA 16V396000

Engine and engine cooling

Free remedy

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 INSUFFICIENT, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE OUTER RING MAY BECOME MISALIGNED AND IT MAY NOT PROPERLY ROTATE WITH THE INNER RING, CAUSING NOISE AND/OR ILLUMINATION OF THE BATTERY DISCHARGE INDICATOR LIGHT.

Engine and engine coolingReported Nov 9, 2011NHTSA 11V539000

Equipment: labels

Free remedy

GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 AND JUNE 2, 2008 WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.

EquipmentReported Feb 3, 2010NHTSA 10V035000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 27, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

721 complaints filed with NHTSA · Oct 2004 – Apr 2026
  1. Vehicle speed control272
  2. Power train84
  3. Steering71
  4. Service brakes, hydraulic66
  5. Air bags65
  6. Seat belts46
  7. Engine and engine cooling35
  8. Electrical system33
  9. Equipment25

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Camry model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1996421
1997558
1998610
1999590
2000530
2001330
20021,039
2003818
2004799
2005721
2006435
20073,616
20081,178
20091,412
2010614
2011624
2012645
2013301
2014480
2015271
2016189
2017148
2018754
2019400
2020275
2021158
202265
202365
202452
Crashes reported
223
Fires reported
10
Injuries reported
126
Deaths reported
18
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 27, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Vehicle speed control

272 reports154 crashes
“When slowly finishing my entry into a parking spot and braking the car suddenly accelerated to a high speed and bolted over the curb with a planter zone into another parked car directly facing my parking lane hitting the front passenger side. My car was still accelerating and hit another car to the left of the first parked car, hitting it in the rear driver side door. My car kept going until I was finally able to get the brake to work and it stopped just before another parking lot curb with planter zone. As far as I can tell the brake and or accelerator malfunctioned dangerously and suddenly. It could also have been a malfunctioning TPS (throttle positioning sensor). I would like my car inspected to determine what caused this malfunction. While everyone involved said they felt fine. One person, in the first car hit, was sitting in the driver seat, luckily no one was in the front passenger seat. That driver said she was ok. The second car was unoccupied. This dangerous incident had no warnings or symptoms prior to the accident. My online research shows that there was a recall that included my make and year for sticky pedal, floormat, and deformed accelerator…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 12, 2025Vehicle speed control, Unknown or other, Service brakesCrash reportedODI 11692979

Power train

84 reports15 crashes1 fire
“I, ROBERT, WAS SITTING IN THE CAR WHEN MY WIFE CAME OUT OF THE STORE AND GOT INTO IT. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND STARTED THE CAR. IT TOOK OFF AT A VERY HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE CAR LUNGED AHEAD AND STEADILY PICKED UP SPEED. THE CAR HIT A LADY WALKING WITH HER GROCERIES, THEN HIT A PARKED VEHICLE AND PUSHED IT INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. THE ONLY THING THAT MADE IT STOP WAS THAT IT HIT A LARGE SUV. MY WIFE DID NOT HAVE TIME TO FASTEN HER SEAT BELT, THUS SUSTAINING INJURIES. IT ALL HAPPENED IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED. I WAS NOT CHARGED WITH THE ACCIDENT. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON MAY 24, 2017 AT A PUBLIC AUCTION IN WASHINGTON, DC. THAT MEANS THAT THESE VEHICLES ARE STILL BEING SOLD AS IF THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THEM. THE VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 240,000 MILES WHEN I PURCHASED IT. WHEN WE CHECKED THE INTERNET, WE FOUND THAT THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS. BEWARE!!!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 24, 2017Power train, Air bags, Service brakesCrash reportedODI 11010380

Steering

71 reports6 crashes
“The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Camry. The contact’s brother performed brake repair on the vehicle and added Prestone DOT 3 brake fluid to the brake reservoir. The contact stated that several days later, while driving at approximately 25 MPH, the brakes locked up and the vehicle failed to move. The vehicle was taken to the brother’s residence by her brother while driving and depressing the accelerator and brake pedal simultaneously. The contact’s brother flushed the brake lines however, the failure persisted. The contact’s brother became aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24E101000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Steering) from the NHTSA.gov website. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that there was cross contamination of the braking system and the entire braking system needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 6, 2025Steering, Service brakes, hydraulicODI 11678790
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

8 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Midsize Cars, Compact Cars
Engines
2.4L 4-cyl · 3.0L 6-cyl · 3.3L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic 5-spd · Manual 5-spd · Automatic 4-spd · Automatic (S5)
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 27, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Camry
Auto 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive
213125$2,550355
Camry
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive
213024$2,700370
Camry Solara
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive
202924$2,700370
Camry Solara
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive
213024$2,700370
Camry
Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
182621$3,050423
Camry
Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.3 L · Front-Wheel Drive
182721$3,050423
Camry Solara
Auto (S5), 6 cyl, 3.3 L · Front-Wheel Drive
182721$3,050423
Camry Solara Convertible
Auto (S5), 6 cyl, 3.3 L · Front-Wheel Drive
182621$3,050423
  • Camry
    Auto 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    21 city · 31 hwy · $2,550/yr
    25
    mpg comb.
  • Camry
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    21 city · 30 hwy · $2,700/yr
    24
    mpg comb.
  • Camry Solara
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    20 city · 29 hwy · $2,700/yr
    24
    mpg comb.
  • Camry Solara
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    21 city · 30 hwy · $2,700/yr
    24
    mpg comb.
  • Camry
    Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L
    18 city · 26 hwy · $3,050/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Camry
    Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.3 L
    18 city · 27 hwy · $3,050/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Camry Solara
    Auto (S5), 6 cyl, 3.3 L
    18 city · 27 hwy · $3,050/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Camry Solara Convertible
    Auto (S5), 6 cyl, 3.3 L
    18 city · 26 hwy · $3,050/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 27, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2005 Toyota Camry as of Oct 27, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 27, 2026Vehicle 1534
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2005 Camry questions

How many recalls does the 2005 Toyota Camry have?

5 safety recalls as of Oct 27, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2005 Toyota Camry problems?

Owners filed 721 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are vehicle speed control (272), power train (84), steering (71). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2005 Toyota Camry get?

The EPA rates the 2005 Toyota Camry at 21–25 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (8 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 27, 2026