2004 Toyota Camry Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 48about this part
- Share
- 8%of 638 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 37,732miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 48 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2004 Toyota Camry, 8% of the 638 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 37,732 miles. 8 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10446603, filed 2012-02, 84,203 miles“Just had to completely rebuild the transmission in my Toyota Camry 04. This is ridiculous and I have heard from many others that this is a common occurrence since the 2002 Camry. Having to pay $3000 for a supposedly #1 car that I have not even had for four years is extremely disappointing. There should have been a recall if it is that common an occurrence! Daniel j mulligan”
NHTSA complaint #10219885, filed 2008-03, 94,000 miles“When shifting from 1st to 2nd gear the transmission will hesitate for a second or two. At the same time the whole drive train will shudder. The hesitation will happen just as I pull into traffic from a side road. I have had the car at Toyota service three times, and all they have done is to cause the transmission to leak oil.”
NHTSA complaint #10104668, filed 2004-12, 10,524 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10557226, filed 2013-12, 63,700 miles“Recently I brought my 04 Camry to my dealer because of sulfur smell and rattle at light acceleration. The dealer verified the problems and replaced the converter and intake manifold according to the tsbs. They said they also had to re-program the ECM. Then after I picked up the car, I found everything is harder: the acceleration, steering, and braking. I found it is hard to maintain a speed whether on local or highway. …”
NHTSA complaint #10124083, filed 2005-06, 14,200 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10164330Jul 1, 2019TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 01, 2019 Rev2: ? Applicability has been updated to 2019 ? 2020 model year Toyota vehicles. ? The Techstream Preparation and Process Overview sections…
- 10134454Aug 24, 2015TechTip: Condition - The vehicle may be difficult to start or have an abnormally low or rough idle after the battery has been disconnected or power to the Engine ECM has been…
- 10109404Oct 16, 2014TSB: The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide information regarding the installation of the correct torque converter bolts during automatic transmission/transaxle…
- 10109492Sep 30, 2014TSB: The purpose of this bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly to avoid MIL "ON" shifting issues and/or…
- 10132084Oct 1, 2013The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly to avoid MIL ?ON,? shifting issues, and/or…
- 10133836Feb 20, 2013This bulletin contains general vehicle pulling diagnosis and repair procedures along with specific information to help correct pulling complaints.
- 10061578Jun 13, 2011Summary to be provided on a future date.
- 10015490Jun 21, 2005Engine control module (ecm) calibration: transmission shift feeling enhancement.
- 10015481Jun 3, 2005Engine control module (ecm) calibration: transmission shift feeling enhancement.
- 10015844Mar 3, 2005'04 camry electronic controlled automatic transaxle (ect) (u241e) (from july, 2003) repair manual correction. 00400-rm106-3u1.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3 | 6% |
| 2023 | 7 | 11% |
| 2022 | 7 | 11% |
| 2021 | 12 | 8% |
| 2020 | 33 | 12% |
| 2019 | 115 | 29% |
| 2018 | 200 | 27% |
| 2017 | 6 | 4% |
| 2016 | 18 | 10% |
| 2015 | 36 | 13% |
| 2014 | 128 | 28% |
| 2013 | 67 | 24% |
| 2012 | 142 | 24% |
| 2011 | 49 | 8% |
| 2010 | 46 | 8% |
| 2009 | 51 | 4% |
| 2008 | 40 | 4% |
| 2007 | 266 | 9% |
| 2006 | 18 | 6% |
| 2005 | 84 | 12% |
| 2004 | 48 | 8% |
| 2003 | 40 | 5% |
| 2002 | 68 | 7% |
| 2001 | 15 | 6% |
| 2000 | 33 | 7% |
| 1999 | 18 | 4% |
| 1998 | 16 | 3% |
| 1997 | 35 | 6% |
| 1996 | 21 | 5% |
| 1995 | 25 | 8% |
| 1994 | 21 | 7% |
| 1993 | 29 | 11% |
| 1992 | 18 | 3% |
| 1991 | 8 | 5% |
| 1990 | 8 | 6% |
| 1989 | 6 | 5% |
| 1988 | 9 | 14% |
| 1987 | 2 | 3% |
| 1985 | 2 | 15% |
Other parts of the 2004 Toyota Camry
238 complaintsSteering
80 complaintsAir bags
79 complaintsBrakes
74 complaintsElectrical system
37 complaintsEngine cooling
30 complaintsFuel system
29 complaintsEngine
26 complaintsTires
25 complaintsOther or unknown
20 complaintsSuspension
20 complaintsBody and structure
19 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2004 Toyota Camry
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology