Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Toyota Camry owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
On 9/20/15 while reversing out of a parking space at the south windsor public library, I depressed the accelerator lightly and the car surged backwards into very tight circles. I took my foot off the accelerator and pressed on the brakes and tried to put the car in park. After almost 2 rotations the car hit one curb and then another and after that I was finally able to put the car in park, all the while with my foot on the brake. My vehicle was towed to a local Toyota dealer and I contacted my insurance company. The insurance company reviewed my claim and has issued me a check to have the vehicle front end and undercarriage damages repaired. I have asked the Toyota dealership if the vehicle is safe to drive and they referred me to Toyota national. Toyota sent out an independent evaluator who evaluated the vehicle and then sent me a flash drive with the event data recorder results. …
I went to a local store to shop. I was attempting to park in the store lot, saw a space close to the front of the store. I slowed down to start turning (maybe 5-10 MPH) into the parking space and when I tried to brake, my brake pedal went straight to the floor and the car started speeding up. It kept going like someone else had control of the car! I couldn't stop it and it ran into a car that was parked in front of the space. It pushed the other car completely out of the parking spot and rammed her car in the front area. We both suffered vehicle damage and I was charged. There was smoke coming out from under my car and as I was attempting to stop my runaway car, my foot slipped onto the accelerator. I thought maybe my brakes had given out but the officer said the brakes were not bad. There were skid marks showing I tried to stop and I was able to drive it home, very slowly. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while the vehicle was on cruise control at approximately 77 MPH, when suddenly the vehicle accelerated and began to accelerate forward unintendedly. The vehicle side swept another vehicle hitting the driver side of their vehicle, then, spun off and hit a nearby guardrail on the driver's side of the vehicle as well. The air bags did not deploy. There were no warning lights. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed. The contact stated that no persons were injured. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic to repair damage however the vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Toyota Camry. While operating the vehicle, the contact depressed the brake pedal and shifted to a lower gear; however, the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated without warning. As a result, the contact crashed into a curb. The air bags did not deploy. No injuries were sustained. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,906.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Toyota Camry. While driving out of a parking lot, the vehicle accelerated unexpectedly over a curb and crashed into a tree. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. There were no injuries and a police report was filed (17014133). The vehicle was not diagnosed by the dealer or an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was destroyed. The approximate failure mileage was 136,700.
Tl* the contact owned a 2004 Toyota Camry. After parking the vehicle, it suddenly accelerated without warning and crashed into a garage. The air bags failed to deploy. The passenger sustained chest contusions, which required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and deemed destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 54,608. Updated 01/05/17
Slowly making a right turn to park in a wide open parking space in a parking garage. Car lunged forward hitting a wall in front of the parking space and damaging the front end of the car. No brake problems or previous acceleration problems
I was slowly pulling into a parking space when all of a sudden the car surged without warning. It accelerated so fast that I went through the bushes across the adjacent sidewalk and slammed into a light pole totaling my 2004 Camry.
My husband had just pulled his 2004 Toyota Camry into a school parking lot at a slow rate of speed. He stopped with foot on the brake, and shifted into reverse as he was going to back into a parking space. Suddenly, the accelerator surged at a high rate of speed without warning and he hit the back of the school building at a great rate of force. The engine stopped but the air bag failed to deploy. Extensive damage was done to the school building ($19,000) and to his vehicle ($9000.) car had to be towed to auto body dealership. This was the first incident that the car's accelerator surged. Auto body shop repaired the body of the car, but no repair to accelerator at all. We had no explanation as to why the car accelerated at such a high rate of speed. Now that we have become aware of all the other toyotas that have had acceleration failures, we are now filing this complaint. …
To whom it May concern: without hearing the news related to Toyota vehicle recall, I have felt really stupid how I could have had the accident. Recalling the process of the accident, I might have to say it was weird. Before the crash, I clearly noticed the red light and a stopped car just in front of me on n perkins rd, close to mcelroy rd in stillwater, oklahoma, and the distance was more than 20 meters apart at that moment. I pressed on the brake pedal as usual, but my car did not slow down until hit the car before mine, and the airbag did not pop out. My face was knocked onto the steering wheel and one of my glasses smashed, fortunately not making me blind, and two teeth in mouth were bleeding along with some scratches on my face. The car was totaled at the speed of less 40 mi/h. People love Toyota vehicles for the reason of saving gas at the sacrifice of safety. …
NHTSA investigations
Engine surging
The petitioner owns a my 2006 Toyota camry with a 4-cylinder engine that was purchased new in January 2006. The petitioner also previously owned a my 2005 camry. He alleges that both vehicles exhibited vehicle engine surging, which he described as a short duration (1 to 2 second) increase in engine speed occurring while the accelerator pedal is not depressed.
Vehicle speed control
In a letter dated July 8, 2005, and after experiencing two incidents (and one crash) where he alleges his model year (my) 2002 camry accelerated without driver input, mr. Jordan ziprin petitioned the national highway traffic safety administration?s (NHTSA) office of defects investigation (odi) to commence a proceeding to determine the existence of a defect within the etc system in my 2002 to 2005 Toyota and Lexus…
Acceleration complaints in other Camry years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2004 Toyota Camry?
NHTSA has 238 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2004 Toyota Camry, 37% of the model year's 638 complaints. The component named most often is accelerator pedal (27 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Toyota Camry acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2004 Toyota Camry, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2004 Toyota Camry acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 45,000 miles, and 28% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 134 crashes, 1 fire and 58 injuries and 5 deaths to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.