Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Toyota Camry owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Camry. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, smoke started coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to pull over and the vehicle was towed to a local dealer and was diagnosed with needing the engine replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000
On March 19, 2016, I was driving my Toyota 2005 Camry at approximately 35 MPH, when the car suddenly accelerated. I applied the brakes, emergency brake and put the car in park. The car continued to accelerate and I attempted to approach the freeway on ramp. I was unable to turn the steering wheel. I crossed a raised island and into the freeway lane and hit a car that was driving onto the freeway ramp. Both cars were damaged. My car was totaled. I was transported to hospital and was discharged from emergency room.
On 03/29/20 I was backing into a parking space in a restaurant parking lot when I pressed on the accelerator the car took off like a rocket ship and I hit a truck. This is my 1st accident. It happened so fast but I immediately took my foot off the accelerator and both feet were on the floor and both hands on the wheel after I felt the acceleration. Toyota is denying my claim.. Can you review?
March 19th 2016, driving on a city street when the car suddenly accelerated. Applied the brakes/emergency brake. Car continued to accelerated and I attempted to enter freeway. I was unable to turn the steering wheel and I hit a car that was entering the freeway.
My car started making clicking noises underneath the hood when I turned a corner. I took it to gateway Toyota to find out what the problem was and found out that that I need a new transmission. My problem with needing a transmission is that the car was made to be in automatic overdrive. In the manual is states that the overdrive should always be on. I believe that driving with the overdrive on at all times caused the transmission to eventually fail before its time. I also believe there is a defect in the transmission because when I turn off the overdrive, the car drives fine. In addition, many mechanics I have talked to stated that the overdrive really shouldn't be used that often and it is strange that the Toyota camrys were built to have the overdrive on continuously. …
2005 Camry purchased used as a program car in nov 2005 with 12K miles on it. When starting up vehicle, then driving at less than 10 MPH in reverse (to back up out of a driveway or parking space), applying the brake and then putting car into drive, the car will accelerate intermittently on its own before driver depresses the gas pedal. Driver always has had to continue to apply the brake for sefveral seconds, to be certain the vehicle will not surge forward, ESP if approaching a corner less than 100 ft away. The dealer was informed of this phenomena in early 2006, while vehicle was still under warranty. Dealer examined the vehicle but could not replicate the problem. Owner has "learned to live with" the safety defect. Driver never knows when event will happen. Most recent occurence was 4/10/16. No one but owner is allowed to drive the car. …
I was on my way to work when I noticed smoke coming from the hood of my car. Luckily, I was able to pull over on the service road to the major highway I was about to get on. Upon getting out of my car and opening the hood I was faced with flames. Concerned about my safety as well as the safety of passers-by, my first reaction was to try to put out this fire. I ran to my trunk, where I always keep a case of bottled water, and took approximately 8 water bottles. I was able to extinguish the fire. I am certain that, had I not been able to pull safely off the road or did not have the clear mind to try to extinguish the fire, the car would've been engulfed in flames and totaled causing serious injury to me and potentially those close to the incident. The car was towed to the nearest dealership. I am told that there is "severe damage" but do not have all of the details yet.
I was driving on a city street at about 35mph when rough, somewhat grinding noises came from under the right side of the car hood of the 2005 Toyota Camry. These noises continued for about 15 minutes while I was driving. I stopped at a red light. When I had the right-of-way and attempted to proceed, I found I could not turn the steering wheel. I thought the car was inoperable but when I exerted great effort, the wheel did turn. Fortunately, I was able to turn a corner and move into a public parking lot. Again with great steering difficulty and noise from below the car hood, I drove the car about a quarter of a mile to my home and the car was towed to a service center. Updated 4/14/16
We noticed white smoke coming out of the car so we took it into our mechanic who told us that coolant was leaking into the engine. He noted that upon doing some research this was a common problem with that year model and repairing it would be extremely costly. We were told we should not drive it anymore because the engine could quit on us at anytime. My husband checked the crank case dipstick and the radiator, both were contaminated with rust.at this point it was determined that we could no longer drive the car. .
The engine roared and immediately I was going too fast. Put on the brakes and it did not reoccur but it scared me. I was on a city street and turning into the right lane from the left lane. Fortunately the street was not too busy. I did not hit anything.
Related recalls
Engine and 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 March 31, 2005, equipped with the 1mz-fe or 3mz-fe engine.
Remedy: 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.
Engine complaints in other Camry years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2005 Toyota Camry?
NHTSA has 56 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2005 Toyota Camry, 8% of the model year's 721 complaints. The component named most often is engine (14 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Toyota Camry engine problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 11V-539 (engine and engine cooling, Nov 9, 2011). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2005 Toyota Camry engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 70,000 miles, and 25% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 2 fires and 1 injury to engine & cooling 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.