2004 Toyota Camry: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2004 Toyota Camry: 3 recalls, 638 owner complaints and up to 24 mpg combined.
Recalls
3 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Airbags Vehicle recall #04V346000 · 2004 · 128,316 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain vehicles equipped with curtain shield air bags (csa), one or both of the curtain air bags May be twisted near the inflator due to improper assembly.
Why it matters: If this occurs, the csa May not deploy rapidly enough when activated in a side impact collision. This May result in failure to provide the intended head protection, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the csas and replace the air bag assembly if necessary. The recall began on August 6, 2004. Owners should contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Seat belts Vehicle recall #04V595000 · 2004 · 150,061 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain passenger vehicles equipped with a front passenger power seat, when installing certain rear-facing infant child seat bases onto the seat with an excessively high seatbelt tension, it May be possible to unseat a component called the buckle status switch from the seat belt buckle.
Why it matters: If the switch becomes unseated, the front passenger occupant classification system May mistake the rear-facing child restraint for an unbelted adult occupant, and May not suppress the deployment of the front passenger airbag.
The fix: Dealers will replace the front passenger seatbelt buckle status switch. This safety improvement campaign (ssc 40m) began on December 20, 2004. Owners should contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331 or Lexus at 1-800-255-3987..
Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #11V539000 · 2011 · 420,326 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: In some cases, the belt for the power steering pump May become detached from the pulley which could result in a loss of power steering and a sudden increase in steering effort, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will check the crankshaft pulley to identify whether it was produced by the u.s. Supplier. If so, the dealer will replace the pulley with a new one at no charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during early January 2012.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 11 mention a fire, 133 injuries and 5 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Speed control / throttle (238): the most common themes are sudden acceleration (90).
- Steering (80): the most common themes are steering problems (68), noise or vibration (35).
- Airbags (79): the most common themes are fails to deploy (34), warning light on (13).
- Brakes (hydraulic) (54): the most common themes are brake failure / soft pedal (22), noise or vibration (5).
The 2004 Toyota Camry has 638 owner complaints, ranking #8 of 35 Camry model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 511). Complaints peaked in 2010 (143 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 4 years old, at a median of 45,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2003 (781 complaints, 1 recalls), 2005 (721 complaints, 5 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 | 29 | 24 | Regular |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 30 | 24 | Regular |
| 3.0 L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 27 | 21 | Regular |
| 3.3 L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 27 | 21 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2004 Toyota Camry.
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FAQ
Does the 2004 Toyota Camry have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 vehicle recalls for the 2004 Toyota Camry. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2004 Toyota Camry problems?
Owners have filed 638 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are speed control / throttle (238), steering (80), airbags (79).
What gas mileage does the 2004 Toyota Camry get?
EPA ratings run up to 24 mpg combined (2.4 L, Automatic 4-spd), across 4 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2004 Toyota Camry repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.