Problems · NHTSA complaints
2005 Toyota Camry problems
Owners filed 721 complaints about the 2005 Toyota Camry with NHTSA between Oct 2004 and Apr 2026. The most-cited component is vehicle speed control (272).
Complaints
721
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
223
Reported by owners
Fires
10
Reported by owners
Injuries
126
People reported injured
Deaths
18
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Vehicle speed control272
- Power train84
- Steering71
- Service brakes, hydraulic66
- Air bags65
- Seat belts46
- Engine and engine cooling35
- Electrical system33
- Equipment25
- Tires22
- Structure21
- Engine21
- Fuel system, gasoline17
- Service brakes16
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
5
82
38
37
44
34
252
39
26
26
46
22
25
13
12
5
2
3
1
2
1
3
3
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 82 |
| 2006 | 38 |
| 2007 | 37 |
| 2008 | 44 |
| 2009 | 34 |
| 2010 | 252 |
| 2011 | 39 |
| 2012 | 26 |
| 2013 | 26 |
| 2014 | 46 |
| 2015 | 22 |
| 2016 | 25 |
| 2017 | 13 |
| 2018 | 12 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 3 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
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…”
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!!!”
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.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
66 reports18 crashes1 fire
“The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at slow speeds, the brake was depressed and failed to respond, and the vehicle drove over the parking block. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to her residence. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the brake master cylinder was leaking and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 72,000.”
Air bags
65 reports44 crashes2 fires
“July 14, 2021 arriving back to New Jersey from Las Vegas. I pick up my vehicle Wednesday night at Hoboken NJ garage , heading home my 2005 Toyota Camry vehicle air bag (steering wheel) deployed. As I was driving (15mph) no lights was on the dashboard, no pot holes on the street and there was no accident involving my vehicle. I was hit in the face from the air bag pretty hard it almost made me crash into a electric pole and gas station. 911 was called, the Jersey City police department, fire department and Ambulance arrived. The area was block off looking for car parts or pot holes nothing was found so the police report can be completed. I treated inside the ambulance at the scene, my left hand was burned and head/ neck was hurting. I just decline going to the hospital at the moment. The police called a towing company as I called my car insurance to informing them the situation. As my vehicle was being towed away the police officer said its a malfunction problem it can be a recall I don't know about. The following day I was in touch with my claim agent from my insurance, letting them no where my vehicle was towed at. They informed me to get in touch with the…”
Seat belts
46 reports8 crashes1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELTS WERE FOLDED OVER AND APPEARED VERY LOOSE. THE SEAT BELTS HAD NO STRENGTH AND WOULD NOT TIGHTEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO I-10 TOYOTA (78980 VARNER RD, INDIO, CA 92203, (760) 565-0447) WHERE THE MECHANICS UNFOLDED THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT'S SON HAD TO GET THE VEHICLE REPAIRED FIVE TIMES. THE SEAT BELTS CONTINUED TO FOLD AND WERE TOO TIGHT TO FASTEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,800. *TT *TR”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.