2005 Toyota Camry: hesitation when accelerating

Filed Mar 15, 2025 · Fuel system · KY

Just bought this car on 3/12/2025 Was assured nothing wrong. When taking off it goes about 8 ft then hesitates causing the car behind to almost hit me. Twice it's happened. Pulling out of busy intersections is dangerous. Also it will down shift while driving regularly. Causing cars to run up on you. It also almost died at.a stop sign. Could be tranmission. Not sure exactly.

Filed Jan 19, 2017 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 67,000 miles · CA

Lag time on accelerating, also when coming to a stop does not downshift smoothly and properly, rather it stutters and clunks. This has been an ongoing problem for years. The vehicle is stationary as well as in motion at any speed there is a hesitation before accelerating. Stopping the vehicle fails to down shift in a smooth decline of gears. Possible electronic problem with the breaking ! Possible electronic accelerator unit !

Filed May 13, 2016 · Acceleration · 30 miles · CA

A driveability concern where the operator intentionally applies the throttle pedal, in expectation that the vehicle will accelerate, and then experiences a delay or hesitation in vehicle response. I reported the hesitation the next day after purchasing the toyota and the sales person said it just needed some item to warm up. This is the first time I have read anyone else having problems with hesitation. Most people say the car takes off fast on it's own. Mine almost got my family killed several times not getting on the fwy when needed and caused angry mortorest because they almost ran into us. I or my husband would step on the gas to pull out into traffic or get on the fwy in ca. We bought the car new in 2005, just read the other persons comment and decided to report it also. Just my word no records showing it but maybe you can drive it and see for yourself. Happens anytime, sometimes, not all the time. Has been happening off and on since 2005 to 2016

Filed May 9, 2016 · CA

The car hesitate during acceleration. After applying brakes, when you are trying to gain speed, you notice is significantly. No check engine light though.

Filed Mar 25, 2015 · Acceleration · 45,000 miles · CA

The hesitate to accelerate I.e. After accelerating a bit, it slows down or rather do not accelerate. So it causes difficult to merge and the drivers behind the car may hit.

Filed May 8, 2012 · Transmission, Visibility · CA

2005 toyota camry. Consumer sent additional correspondence related to transmission and driver side window issues. Note consumer has previous correspondence in the system under odi 10186844 *tgw the consumer stated while test driving the vehicle with the technician, the transmission hesitated on acceleration and slipped a few times. After waiting for the vehicle for about 45 minutes, the technician could not find anything wrong.

Filed Jul 26, 2010 · Transmission · 54,435 miles · IN

My 2005 toyota camry xle v6 car has serious transmission issues. It hesitates and takes several seconds at slow speeds to find a gear to shift into. The engine revs and the rpms increase but the transmission does not engage. This is especially troublesome when making turns and makes me vulnerable to being rear ended in right hand turns, but exposes me to being broadsided in left hand turns. Just last week during a left turn my car would not engage and I was extremely close to having the passenger side where my child sits hit! This car also bucks several times when attempting to shift at speeds between 25-35 MPH. This car has trouble climbing small hills and also jerks and downshifts when going down hills, even at slow speeds when my foot never lets pressure off the gas pedal. As I said the most troublesome issue is when it has difficulty selecting a gear at lower speeds. More than just an annoyance, it is indeed a safety issue and I am now afraid that I may be hit on the passenger side during left hand turns. This happens every day that I drive my camry. When telling the dealer the first time of these issues he basically said get used to it. The next time I took my camry in for service and complained again about the issue they said there was a service bulletin put out by toyota about resetting the computer and they then performed this maintenance. Fortunately I did not pay for this service as it did nothing to help remedy the situation. I will be taking it in for another oil change soon and complaining yet again about this issue!

Filed Jun 3, 2010 · Acceleration, Transmission · CA

2005 toyota camry. Consumer states vehicle lurches forward *tgw the consumer stated when accelerating from a stop, or a near stop, the vehicle would hesitate, then lurch forward. The service department was aware of the problem. The technician had a bulletin from toyota explaining that he needed to updated 06/18/10.

Filed Mar 2, 2010 · Acceleration, Brakes · 19 miles · CA

We purchased a 2005 toyota camry in 2005. The first day I drove it the car hesitated on acceleration to change lanes it was lucky that it didn't cause a wreck. I took the car back to the dealership (I don't remember why) but I asked them to check it and the guy I talked to just said it was because of the fuel injection. The guy didn't offer to check it, he just made that statement. The hesitation happens any time and it always feels like someone is going to rear end us while the car is deciding what it wants to do. On the freeways in california people go 70 miles an hour that makes it a hazard to drive a toyota on the freeway. The toyota also has a mind of its own, sometimes when I have my foot on the brake preparing to stop the engine seems to be trying to override the brake to keep going. It feels like the car is trying to increase the speed when I am trying to slow down. I have been concerned about it but I just figured toyota was not going to do anything about it. Now my husband does not want me to drive the toyota.

Filed Feb 24, 2010 · Fuel system · 5,331 miles · OR

>re: toyota camry issues august 2005 I purchased a 2005 toyota camry from beaverton toyota with odometer reading of 9 miles. I drove workdays appx 24 mi roundtrip. March 20, 2006 (5300 mileage) I complained to toyota dealership of a raw gas smell that was in my garage (with gas furnace present) and so strong when driving, I almost passed out at the wheel. I drove with windows down. I initially thought I was inhaling exhaust fumes from commuter traffic. I also complained at that time that my accelerator "lurched" from a stop. Diagnosis & repair: dealership could not verify my "lurch" but noticed a "slight hesitation caused by the fly by wire throttle. This is normal. No tsb's." as for the raw gas odor. There was fluid dripping behind the rt front wheel with the texture of "oil" but fuel dripping from behind the fr tire, which was "cured" by putting in a new injector. August 24, 2006 (7000 mileage) I complained that vehicle was "leaking oil" and again smelling of raw gas. Diagnosis & repair: dealership "verified rr strut is leaking, through the seal, replaced rr strut." note: both times I was instructed not to drive my car into their service area, but to leave my car outside. Although the gas fume issue was resolved it has always jerked or lurched from a dead stop. I have just adapted my driving to accommodate this. In light of the current toyota recall and situation (my 05 camry is not on the list of recalls to my knowledge.) I am passing along this information to see if my situation was unusual, or if there are additional problems with toyota camry and as far back as 2005-06?

Filed Feb 20, 2010 · Acceleration · 169,000 miles · MN · crash

Pulling into parking spot I stepped on the accelerator, the engine hesitated, then the car accelerated on its own, crashed into guard rail - no other vehicles or persons involved. I tried to step on brake, didn't do any good. Acceleration stopped after I hit the guard rail. Toyota dealership told me it was a dirty throttle body - cleaned throttle body.

Filed Feb 10, 2010 · Brakes · 50,000 miles · IL

I am an owner of a 2005 toyota camry. I purchased my car brand new. The first winter snow fall, while driving I experienced a hesitation with my brakes. I contacted the dealer, and was informed the brakes were fine. This continuously happens when the road conditions are slippery and wet. In chicago, we received approx. 10 in. Of snow and as recent as today, my car almost did not stop! I almost ran into the back of another car and I nearly had an accident. The brakes sort of throttled with hesitation. I am concern that my toyota is not one that is being recalled, however, it should be!