2004 Toyota Camry transmission problems

Filed Feb 21, 2019 · Fuel system, Steering · 190,000 miles · MA · crash · 2 injuries

Car sitting at idle position suddenly launched forward. Vehicle was going 2-3 MPH when it suddenly launched forward and smashed into a wall at a top donut drive thru.

Filed Aug 9, 2014 · Body, Engine · 257,755 miles · AZ

I have a 2004 toyota camry le equipped with the 2az fe i4. At first I started hearing water sloshing from underneath the dashboard every time I stopped. On 1/30/2014 while stopping for a few minutes in a parking lot the cars temperature gauge started to rise. I immediately shut the car off, and opened up the hood to find coolant had been pushed out the overflow container, then I subsequently brought it to a mechanic. The mechanic stated the head gasket was blown. After a few days the mechanic got back to me, telling me the head bolts had stripped and the engine was unrepairable. I would need to replace the engine. This is a major problem, especially if it gave away when going down the freeway. Toyota needs to step up and fix this issue that is now becoming a very big problem. Toyota did release a tsb for dealers about this but it says to use timeserts or replace the block.

Filed Dec 25, 2013 · Engine, Transmission · 63,700 miles · NY

On my 2004 toyota camry le, at the exact moment I applied the brakes at idle speed, there was an extremely loud and high revolution racing sound. This condition was extreme. I changed gear selector from "drive" to "park" and there was no change in racing sound or noise level. However, car did not surge forward and no additional brake pressure was required. I turned engine off and car restarted normally. A mechanic checked out my car and found nothing wrong. A similar incident occurred about 2-3 months earlier while backing up at idle speed. Not sure if it is possible for engine to disengage from transmission, which might explain why car did not surge forward (and backward respectively). This same car in march of 2010 experienced unintended acceleration (parked under a cell tower) which was much worse than described above-I filed a complaint in 2010 for this.

Filed Feb 6, 2013 · Fuel system, Transmission · GA

I was driving and without warning the gas petal was no longer working. Then the check engine light came on. Fortunately I was on a side street and was able to pull over. Got it towed and was told that the throttle body was broken and it was a pretty common problem for camry's.

Filed Oct 1, 2012 · Electrical, Transmission · 103,000 miles · MA

On august 4, 2012, I was driving on the highway when the throttle actuator control on my 2004 camry broke. My car came to a complete and sudden stop, which I am very fortunate to have not been hit by another vehicle. I was not able to move the car and many cars were forced to swerve around me to avoid an accident. All of the lights on my dashboard were flashing. When I turned the car off and tried to restart it, the engine light stayed on. I was finally able to move the car after approximately 10 minutes, but was only able to drive at 10 MPH. My mechanic checked the engine code & found the problem to be the throttle body actuator control. The price for the part was $900, not including labor. I purchased the car from lia toyota of northampton, whom I have contacted & they will not assume any responsibility. I have also contacted the toyota manufacturing of north america office in kentucky and am waiting for a response. This problem needs to be addressed as it is extremely dangerous.

Filed Feb 3, 2012 · Acceleration, Transmission · 84,203 miles · CA

While driving on freeway, all of a sudden when I tried to press accelerator pedal to accelerate, nothing happened, and vehicle started to slowly slow down. I pulled over to side of road, turned off vehicle and restarted. Vehicle accelerate fine after that. Check engine light on. The toyota dealer checked and found throttle body failure and replaced it. Cost more than $1300.

Filed Nov 1, 2011 · Electrical, Transmission · 37,700 miles · FL

I recently bought a 2004 toyota camry with 35,000 miles when I bought it. I started having problems with the car stalling when accelerated, I took it to auto zone to have them check with a computer which it showed that it was a problem with the throtle. I called the toyota dealer and I have been getting the run around, as days goes by the problem has increased, now the gas pedal doesnt need to be pressed for the car to take off, the RPM goes to 1500 even with the breaks on. I work 6 miles from the house and I had to start the car 8 times to be able to make it to work. I really think this is a safety issue that toyota should acknowledge instead of ignoring people when complaining about their products. Does the same thing that happened in 2009 need to happen to me before I get a solution or an answer to my questions. Back then toyota knew about the problem and as usual they swept it under the rug. I owe way too much money on that car. Do I have to spend thousands of dollars to get it fix.? As a consumer dont I deserve to know why this vehicle is having this problem? I had an altima & had to trade it in for this crap of so called car because of economical issues, and I regret it 100%. This is the second time I've got a toyota and all I've had its nothing but problems and as usual toyota ignores everything. I need a vehicle that is reliable and that I can trust my familsy to be safe in. I don't feel safe driving it, I can't put this vehicle on the road and jeopardize the live of inocent people. All I want is to have a safe drivable vehicler. Can somebody help before tragedy happens.

Filed Nov 1, 2011 · Transmission · 37,763 miles · FL

Started the vehicle on saturday 10/29/2011, put it in reverse and the engine light came on. Backed out of the driveway onto the street and put it on drive. I stepped on the accelerator and the vehicle moved forward about 30feet and stalled out. I tried several times to started and it would not. After I completely turned off the ignition, I was able to restarted it. I took it to get it checked out and I was told it was the throttle body actuator stuck on the closed position. I looked it up on line and found many, many incidents of the same nature. On monday, I called the toyota dealer, and I was told that they had never heard of that problem and it's not a recall. The defective factory installed part costs $1000 plus about $300 for labor. I contacted toyota USA, but they have not acknowledged me, so far. This is a safety issue. When we took it to get it checked out it stalled in the middle of the road as we were crossing oncoming traffic. We could have been killed. And, I guess, this is not a concern for toyota.

Filed Aug 17, 2011 · Acceleration, Transmission · 59,507 miles · CA · crash

Sudden unintended acceleration. Updated 09/23/11

Filed Feb 24, 2011 · Electrical, Transmission · 200,000 miles · MA

1. There was no event the car went into a idle in the middle of the road. There was no acceleration. Took my car to the local toyota dealer and they found a bad "throttle body". I'm finding out this is a coming problem for 2004 toyota camry's and what's amazing, the toyota parts manager said this should be a recall item. Please note this item costs over $1000 to replace!! This is uncalled-for!! Thousands of people on line are complaining. Something has to be done. 2. This problem only happen once (feb. 22nd, 2011) 3. Toyota repaired the problem by replacing the throttle body. (dealer name: bernardi toyota in framingham, ma 508‑766‑2463).