2004 Toyota Camry Reliability
The 2004 Toyota Camry has 799 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about speed control / throttle and steering. Compared with nearby Camry model years (2002–2006), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Camry's typical year, while the 2006 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
799
NHTSA owner complaints
3
Recall campaigns
223
Complaints citing a crash
13
Complaints citing a fire
2004 Toyota Camry complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2004 model year, filed between 2003 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Speed control / throttle | 265 | 33% |
| Steering | 110 | 14% |
| Air bags | 98 | 12% |
| Service brakes | 86 | 11% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 61 | 8% |
| Body structure | 55 | 7% |
| Electrical system | 43 | 5% |
| Engine & cooling | 34 | 4% |
2004 Toyota Camry recalls
3 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2004 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04V346000 | Jul 13, 2004 | Air bags — side/window | 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. |
| 04V595000 | Dec 15, 2004 | Seat belts — front / buckle assembly | 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… |
| 11V539000 | Nov 9, 2011 | Engine & cooling | 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… |
How the 2004 compares with nearby Camry years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Camry analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 1,039 | 4 | Speed control / throttle | Avoid |
| 2003 | 818 | 1 | Speed control / throttle | Caution |
| 2004 (this page) | 799 | 3 | Speed control / throttle | Avoid |
| 2005 | 721 | 5 | Speed control / throttle | Avoid |
| 2006 | 435 | 5 | Speed control / throttle | Solid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2004 Toyota Camry
- Throttle and speed control: check for surging, hesitation or a reduced-power warning, and test cruise control.
- Steering: check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering and clunks over bumps; power-steering faults show up at low speed.
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 3 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2004 Toyota Camry can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2004 Toyota Camry reliability FAQ
Is the 2004 Toyota Camry reliable?
The 2004 Toyota Camry has 799 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about speed control / throttle and steering. Compared with nearby Camry model years (2002–2006), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Camry's typical year, while the 2006 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2004 Toyota Camry problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2004 Toyota Camry are speed control / throttle (265), steering (110), air bags (98), service brakes (86). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2004 Toyota Camry have recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2004 Toyota Camry, including 04V346000 (air bags — side/window) and 04V595000 (seat belts — front / buckle assembly). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2004 Toyota Camry compare with the 2003 and 2005 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2003 has 818 complaints and 1 recall (caution); the 2005 has 721 complaints and 5 recalls (avoid). The 2004 has 799 complaints and 3 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2004 Toyota Camry?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Toyota Camry research
Other Toyota Camry model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2004 Camry, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.