2004 Toyota Camry Engine Problems

The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the catalytic convertor needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 193,868.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WEST HERR TOYOTA (4141 S. WESTERN BLVD, ORCHARD PARK, NY) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT FUEL CYLINDER SENSORS ONE AND TWO WERE FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,231. *BF *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE BELT HAD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MARIETTA TOYOTA (750 COBB PARKWAY S, MARIETTA, GA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY AND CRANKSHAFT SEAL FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V539000 (ENGINE), ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 249,000.

HEADBOLTS STRIPPED EVEN WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND COOLANT FLUSHES DONE BEFORE RECOMMENDATION AS PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE THESE BOLTS STILL STRIPPED OUT OF MY MOTOR AND CAUSED A HEAD GASKET TO LEAK/BLOW. CURRENTLY LOOKING AT A $750-1500+ REPAIR OR A NEW MOTOR. DISSAPOINTED WITH THE 2AZFE CAMRY MOTOR NOW.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO TWO SEPARATE CERTIFIED MECHANICS, IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE GASKET HAD BLOWN AND THE RADIATOR FAILED. THE MECHANICS STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNFIT TO DRIVE AND THE CONTACT'S BEST OPTION WAS TO OBTAIN A NEW VEHICLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

COOLANT LEAK ON REAR OF ENGINE BETWEEN THE CYLINDER HEAD & ENGINE BLOCK SEEMS LIKE HEAD BOLTS STRIPPED FROM ENGINE BLOCK CAUSING MAYOR COOLANT LOSS THERE ARE CASES REPORTED TSB 01507, NHTSA #10021542

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE CONSUMED A QUART OF OIL WEEKLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 265,262.

OIL STARTED TO LEAK FROM MANIFOLD, MY MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A STRIPPED BOTL. HE TRIED TO FIX IT WITH SILICONE AND REPLACE THE BOLT BUT IT IS STILL LEAKING ALL OVER THE ENGINE. HE INFORMED ME THIS COUD CAUSE A FIRE. CAN I HOLD TOYOTA RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM?

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2004 TOYOTA SOLARA. AT 131,000 MILES IT HAS DEVELOPED A MAJOR OIL SLUDGE/OIL GELLING ISSUE ON MARCH 27, 2015. IT WAS UNDER THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAM UNTIL 77,000 MILES & I HAVE CAREFULLY MAINTAINED IT. I CHANGE THE OIL & FILTER EVERY 5,000 MILES. THE ENGINE IS COMPROMISED & NECESSITATES A $6,000 OVERHAUL TO GET IT RUNNING. I WANT TO BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION. I ALSO ASK IF THERE ARE ANY OTHERS IN YOUR DATABASE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I KNOW THAT TOYOTA SETTLED AN ?OIL SLUDGE ISSUE? FOR PRE 2002 MODELS. THEY NEED TO GO FURTHER. I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPT. & OPENED A CASE FILE. *TR

.......JUST NEED TO ASK A QUESTION, IN LIGHT OF THE STORIES ON AIR BAG,THE LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD SAYS..."PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF"......I CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY ASKED IF I WERE NEARBY AND COULD I COME IN WHEN I CALLED (ABOUT 4 PM).... I SAID I WAS NEARBY AND DROVE DIRECTLY THERE (67TH WESTERN, CHICAGO. ONE OF THE TECH'S LOOKED AT THE LIGHT AND SAID "OH THAT LIGHT WILL GO OFF WHEN SOME ONE SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT ( KNEW IT WOULDN'T)....HE IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THE PASSENGER SIDE, SAT DOWN AND THE LIGHT DIDN'T GO OFF.....THEN HE SAID OH, UR AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON (BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL) . HE THEN SAID SINCE UR CAR IS NOT ON THE RE-CALL LIST, WE HAVE TO CONDUCT AN INSPECTION..ABOUT $110 DOLLARS, AND THEN IF WE FIND SOMETHING, THE $110 WILL BE APPLIED TO THE CHARGES. I SAID LIKE WHAT, HE SAID IT MIGHT BE A SENSOR, IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING ELSE WE DON'T KNOW UNTIL WE INSPECT IT............................SO, MY QUESTION TO YOU IS HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT 2004 CAMRY'S ARE NOT INCLUDED, AND WHETHER OR NOT,TOYOTA JUST WANTS TO CHARGE ME FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE COVERED.... SECONDLY, 2 ITEMS ON YOUR RECALL LIST, I DON'T BELIEVE WERE DONE A) NHTSA #11V539000, NOV. 9, 2011..........................AND B)NHTSA#04V346000, JULY 13, 2004.......................THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE AND ADVICE. *TR

WE FIRST NOTICED COOLANT LEAKING ON OUR GARAGE FLOOR AFTER OUR 20YR MECHANIC AND TRUSTED FRIEND REPLACED OUR WATER PUMP. WE TOOK THE CAR IN TO HAVE HIM LOOK AT THE PROBLEM AND HE TOLD US WE HAD A "PULLED" HEAD GASKET. HE SAID HE COULD NOT DO THAT TYPE OF WORK AND REFERRED US TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO PRESSURE TESTED AND RAN OTHER DIAGNOSTICS BEFORE HOISTING THE CAR ON THE RACKS. UPON INSPECTION HE SAW COOLANT DRIPPING FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND PROCEEDED TO REMOVE AND INSPECT THAT PART OF THE ENGINE. EVENTUALLY, THE HEAD AND OTHER PARTS TO REVEAL THE LOOSE BOLTS WITH STRIPPED THREADS. WE BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND FEEL SOME COMPENSATION AND RESTITUTION MUST BE LEVIED. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH FROM DIFFERENT FORUMS WE HAVE DOCUMENTED PAGES OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM ACROSS THE NATION. PLEASE MAKE OUR CONCERNS HEARD. WE CURRENTLY HAVE NO CAR TO DRIVE AND $ 0 MONEY TO PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE. *TR

17TH JUNE 2013 - WATER SPLASH SOUND FROM ENGINE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF CAR WITH MISFIRE AND ENGINE LIGHT ON. TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER AND REPLACED SPARK PLUGS AND IGNITION COILS FOR TWO CYLINDERS. FLUSH COOLANT SYSTEM. I GOT THE CAR BACK ON 19TH JUNE 2013. AFTER RUNNING 10 MILES ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND ENGINE WAS SHIVERING WHILE STARTING THE CAR. NEXT DAY MORNING CAR TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER INFORMED THAT ENGINE BLEW UP AND IT IS BEYOND REPAIR WHICH NEEDS A REPLACEMENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SPLASHING WATER NOISE SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AREA. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE BOLTS WERE STRIPPED, WHICH ALLOWED FLUIDS TO MIX WITH THE ENGINE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 104,000. UPDATED 12/14/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE MECHANIC THE BOLTS COULD BE RETREADED, ENGINE REBUILT, OR TO TRADE THE VEHICLE IN. NONE OF THE REPAIRS ARE GUARANTEED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 12/17/2012 *JS

ON OCT 18, 2012, MY CAR STARTED TO OVERHEAT. WE HAD IT TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC. ON FRIDAY, OCT 19, 2012 OUR MECHANIC STATED HE COULD NOT FIX IT AND LOOKS LIKE IT IS AN ENGINE COOLANT LEAK. HE FURTHER STATED WE NEEDED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT WE BOUGHT IT FROM TO CONFIRM THE ENGINE WAS NONE REPAIRABLE. ON MONDAY, OCT 22, 2012, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CALLED US AND CONFIRMED THE BAD NEWS. OUR 2004 CAMRY 2.4L ENGINE IS LEAKING COOLANT INSIDE THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE BOLTS ARE STRIPPED. THEY GAVE US SOME OPTIONS. THE DEALER COULD TRY TO REPAIR THE BOLTS BY RETREADING THEM (NO GUARANTEE IT WORLD WORK). REPLACE THE ENGINE (REBUILT AND NOT GUARANTEE IT WOULDN?T HAPPEN AGAIN). AND FINALLY, TRADE IN THE CAR (NOT ENOUGH TO PAY OFF MY LOAN). AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH, THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO CAMRY SINCE 2002. ONE POST STATED IT WAS FIXED WITH THE 2004 MODELS, BUT IN 2004 THE SAME ENGINE IS IN THE HIGHLANDER AND THE CAMRY. THE HIGHLANDER ALSO HAS SEVERAL POSTS TO THE SAME ISSUE. WHEN WILL TOYOTA TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM AND FIX IT WITHOUT COMING AFTER THE CONSUMER! I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA AT 800-331-4331 AND FILED A COMPLAINT AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING THE DEALER TOLD ME, NOT THEIR FAULT. I AM REALLY HOPING THE GOVERNMENT TAKES THESE COMPLAINTS AND FORCES TOYOTA TO RECALL THESE CARS AND FIX THE ISSUES. *TR

I NOTICED THAT WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM MY EXHAUST PIPE, THEREFORE, I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC TO GET IT CHECKED OUT. THE MECHANIC SIMPLY TOLD ME IT WAS DUE TO A BAD HEAD GASKET. LATER ON, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIX, HE TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE WAS UNREPAIRABLE, THAT I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. I ASKED HIM, "WHY?" HE TOLD ME THAT THE BOLTS THAT KEEPS THE ENGINE IN PLACE CAN NO LONGER BE TIGHTEN. THE ENGINE CAN NO LONGER BE HELD IN PLACE. HE CALLED IT, "STRIPPED HEAD BOLTS." ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC AND HIS COLLEAGUES, IT IS A DESIGN FLAW BY TOYOTA. THE MECHANICS WENT ON STATING THAT, "EVEN UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, THESE BOLTS WILL COME LOOSE CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK IN. WHICH CAUSED THE WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM TAIL PIPE. SO, I CALLED UP TOYOTA TO SEE IF THEY CAN CORRECT THEIR PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. IF TOYOTA CAN'T FIX IT, HOW WOULD A MECHANIC FIX IT? I ASKED TOYOTA IF THERE WERE A RECALL FOR THIS, THEY SIMPLY SAID, "NO." THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO STEP IN AND TAKE CARE OF THIS AWFUL PROBLEM. IT TURNS OUT THAT EVERY 2003-200? CAMRY OWNERS HAVE OR WILL HAVE THIS AWFUL PROBLEM. IS NOT JUST A RELIABILITY PROBLEM, BUT IS ALSO POLLUTING OUR HOME PLANET. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF CAMRYS ON THE ROAD RANGING FROM THESE YEARS AND ALL OF THEM ARE OR SOON WILL BE SPEWING OUT FOREIGN SMOKE. NO MECHANIC OUT THERE CAN FIX THE PROBLEM. ALL THEY CAN DO IS REPLACE IT WITH THE SAME ENGINE THAT WILL SOON HAVE THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. PLEASE STEP IN AND MAKE TOYOTA FIX THIS AWFUL ISSUES WITH THE "STRIPPED HEAD BOLT." [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A GROCERY STORE AND INJURED TEN PEOPLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED FOR THE INCIDENT AND THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED DURING THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED AND NO REPAIRS HAD BEEN PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 79,000.

OUR 2004 CAMRY 2.4 ENGINE HAS JUST BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH THE STRIPPED HEAD BOLTS AT 155,000 MILES AND IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP. THEY ARE TELLING ME IT MAY NEED A NEW ENGINE DUE TO THIS COMMON FAULTY TOYOTA DEFECT ON THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE. I AM OUTRAGED TO KNOW THAT I'M GONNA BE CHARGED ALMOST 6000 DOLLARS TO REPLACE A FAULTY ENGINE. WHY ISN'T TOYOTA DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS?! HOW MUCH CAN THEY GET AWAY WITH FOR CRYING OUT LOUD. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY CITY HIGHWAY, THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLE STUCK WIDE OPEN. THE CAR'S COMPUTER SHUT IT DOWN, CAUSING THE CAR TO STOP IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART, AS THE STUCK OPEN THROTTLE BODY MADE THE ENGINE RACE AND THE COMPUTER SHUT IT DOWN. AS THIS WAS A KNOW FACTORY DESIGN DEFECT, THE NEWLY REDESIGNED REPLACEMENT THROTTLE BODY FIXED THE PROBLEM BUT TOYOTA CHARGES ABOUT $1000 FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART. WITH THE MANY REPORTED FAILURES OF THIS PART AND THE DECISION TO MAKE A REDESIGN TO CURE THE PROBLEM, IT APPEARS THAT THE CUSTOMER ABSORBS THE CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY. THERE WAS NO HELP FROM THE LOCAL DEALER ETC! ERGO MY INITIATION OF A COMPLAINT! WITH THE LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS OVER A LONG PERIOD, IT IS HARD TO UNDERSTAND WHY NO RECALL WAS EVER INITIATED NOR WAS THERE A SATISFACTORY INVESTIGATION! *TR

HEAD GASKET SCREWS ARE STRIPPED. ENGINE LOST COOLANT BUT NO LEAK WAS EVIDENT. AFTER NUMEROUS REPAIRS TO COOLING SYSTEM, EVENTUALLY HEAD GASKET BLEW AND HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WITH A REBUILT ONE. COOLANT LOSS CONTINUED WITH SECOND ENGINE. RADIATOR WAS REPLACED. COOLANT LOSS CONTINUES WITH NEW RADIATOR. NOW WE KNOW THAT THE HEAD GASKET SCREWS ARE STRIPPED, THE ORIGINAL AND ONLY SOURCE OF THE LEAK. DESIGN FLAW CAUSES STRIPPED HEAD BOLTS IN THIS MODEL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SPORADICALLY SEVERAL TIMES AND USUALLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART IMMEDIATELY HOWEVER ON THE LAST OCCURRENCE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A LOCAL SHOP WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS FRACTURED AND WATER WAS LEAKING IN. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE WAS CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.