2004 Toyota Camry Brakes Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT IT BOUNCED BACK. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO OAK LAWN TOYOTA (4320 85TH STREET, OAK LAWN, ILLINOIS 60453), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,150.

I HAVE BUNION PAIN THAT REQUIRED ME TO GET LARGER SHOES. WHEN I STARTING WEARING THESE SHOES I NOTICED THAT THE TOE OF THE SHOE WOULD COME IN CONTACT WITH THE BRACKET THAT ATTACHES THE BRAKE PEDAL, INTERFERING WITH ME APPLYING IMMEDIATE PRESSURE TO THE BREAK PEDAL. THE BRACKET IS DESIGNED WITH A BEND THAT OVERHANGS THE TOP OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I SIZE SHOE GREATER THAN A MEN'S SIZE 10 INTERFERES WITH BREAKING. IT ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. I WAS IN MOTION AND THE TOE OF MY SHOE WOULD BEND BACK ON THIS BRACKET BEFORE MY FOREFOOT WOULD COME PUSH FAR ENOUGH DOWN ON THE PEDAL TO BRAKE. I EXAMINED SEVERAL OTHER CAR MODELS AND NONE OF THEM HAS A BRACKET WITH THIS BEND OVER HANGING THE BRAKE PEDAL. VERY DANGEROUS.

THE DESIGN OF THE BRAKE PEDAL BRACKET IS DANGEROUS. IT OVERHANGS THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN WEARING A SHOE SIZE GREATER THAN A MEN'S SIZE 10 OR ABOVE, THE TOE OF THE SHOE HITS THE BRACKET ABOVE THE PEDAL INHIBITING THE ABILITY TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. VERY SCARY. I NOTICED WHEN I CHANGE TO A LARGER SHOE SIZE BECAUSE OF BUNION PAIN AND EXPERIENCED THE FEAR OF APPLYING THE BRAKES BUT NOT MAKING IMMEDIATE CONTACT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH ON 4 LANE ROAD IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. HAD TO CHANGE BACK INTO 9.5 MEN'S SIZE SHOE TO DRIVE THE CAR SAFELY. CHECKED OTHER MODEL CARS AND THEY DO NOT HAVE THIS BEND IN THE BRACKET. ALL ARE BENT BEHIND THE PEDAL NOT OVER THE PEDAL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH DURING RAINY WEATHER, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND AVOID A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

I TURNED ON THE MOTOR OF MY CAR WHICH WAS PARKED AT A HOME DEPOT. WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE (AND NOT ON THE GAS), THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND DID NOT STOP UNTIL IT HAD TRAVELED ABOUT 15 YARDS. *JS

I WAS SLOWLY PULLING MY 2004 CAMRY INTO A PERPENDICULAR PARKING SPACE IN A PUBLIC PARKING LOT, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. AS I APPROACHED THE CURB TO COME TO A STOP, THE CAR SUDDENLY LEAPED FORWARD AT WHAT SEEMED LIKE FULL THROTTLE, JUMPED THE CURB, LUNGED UP A FLIGHT OF THREE CONCRETE STEPS, AND CRASHED THROUGH THE GLASS DOORS OF THE ENTRY OF THE BUILDING. MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, AT THE HOUR OF THE DAY WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED (3:30 PM), THERE ARE SMALL GROUPS OF YOUNG PEOPLE WAITING FOR RIDES OR CHATTING IN FRONT OF THIS FACILITY. BY SOME MIRACLE THERE WERE NO PEOPLE PRESENT ON THE SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF THE CAR OR COMING OUT OF OR GOING INTO THE BUILDING WHEN THIS HAPPENED. TRULY A MIRACLE THAT NO ONE WAS HURT OR WORSE. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES. THE POLICE HAD THE CAR REMOVED BY FLATBED TO A BODY SHOP YARD. I LATER LEARNED THAT THE POLICE HAD DRIVEN THE CAR IN THE BODY SHOP YARD AND COMMENTED THAT THE CAR DROVE WITHOUT ISSUES. I SUBSEQUENTLY RECEIVED A CARELESS DRIVING CITATION IN THE MAIL. A LOCAL MEDIA REPORT OF THE INCIDENT, CRIBBED FROM THE POLICE BLOTTER, STATED THAT THE POLICE BELIEVED THE CAUSE OF THE INCIDENT WAS DRIVER ERROR. THERE IS NOT THE LEAST DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT MY FOOT WAS FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHICH WENT TO THE FLOOR AND DID NOT STOP THE CAR! THE CAR ACTED ON ITS OWN AS IF POSSESSED! I WILL NEVER DRIVE THIS CAR AGAIN! I BOUGHT A NEW CAR AND TOOK A HUGE LOSS ON THE VALUE OF THE TOYOTA BY SELLING IT FOR PARTS TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR A TENTH OF ITS RETAIL VALUE SO IT WOULD NEVER FIND ITS WAY BACK ONTO THE ROAD TO THREATEN OTHER PEOPLE WITH INJURY OR DEATH! *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN, WHILE CHANGING LANES TO THE SLOW LANE, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK, I LOST CONTROL, AND THE CAR CAREENED OFF THE FREEWAY AND DOWN AND EMBANKMENT. THE CAR WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED BUT I WAS NOT INJURED. *TR

2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. CONSUMER STATES THAT BRAKES HAVE BEEN SQUEALING FOR YEARS. HE STATES THAT THE DEALER HAS WORKED ON THE VEHICLE AND NOTHING HAS HELPED. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE SQUEALING IS EXTREMELY LOUD AND CONSTANT. *KB

MY 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY HAS STARTED TO "HOLD BACK" WHEN I DRIVE IT. THEN THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND STARTED FLASHING AND WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES, THE FLASHING LIGHT WENT OFF. I CALLED THE LANCASTER PA TOYOTA DEALER AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT AS LONG AS IT IS INTERMITTENT AND NOT CONSTANT, IT IS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. BUT I WONDER HOW MANY OTHER TOYOTA CUSTOMERS HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIR ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEMS. *TR

CAR:2004 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE MODEL WHEN I DRIVE ON A CITY ROAD WITH POT HOLES/ROUGH SURFACE INTERSECTION MY BRAKES DOES NOT SEEMS TO EFFECTIVE. YOU ALMOST SEEMS TO FEELS ITS NOT GOING TO STOP, BUT WHEN YOU PUSH HARD AND KEEP IT EVENTUALLY STOP. OTHER WISE BRAKES PERFORM AS EXPECTED IN HIGHWAYS. *TR

ALTHOUGH MY TOYOTA XLE V6 IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY BRAKES SINCE 2004, THE YEAR OF MY CAMRY. WHEN I'M DRIVING SLOWLY, (APPROXIMATELY 15MPH) GOING OVER A BUMP AND I NEED TO BRAKE, MY BRAKES DO NOT RESPOND. I HAVE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES WITH GREAT FORCE AND THE ANTI-LOCKS KICK IN. . I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF MY DEALER IN 2004. I WAS TOLD THEY COULD DO SOMETHING MINOR (OF WHICH I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND) BUT IT WOULD CONTINUE TO OCCUR. I HAVE BEEN UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE BRAKING ON THIS CAR FOR YEARS. THIS IS A CONTINUAL PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH THIS HAPPENS CONSTANTLY, IN ORDER TO PROCEED, I NEED TO INPUT A DATE. *TR

I HAVE THE SAME BRAKING PROBLEM WITH MY 2004 TOYOTA SOLARA THAT HAS BEEN RECENTLY DESCRIBED IN THE 2010 PRIUS. I FIRST REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO KERRY TOYOTA IN COVINGTON, KENTUCKY ON OCTOBER 11, 2005. I HAVE A COPY OF THE SERVICE REPORT INCLUDING TOYOTA'S CLAIM THAT THE BRAKES WERE WORKING PROPERLY. I HAVE DISCUSSED THE PROBLEM WITH EVERY TOYOTA DEALER WHO HAS WORKED ON THE CAR SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT. NONE HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND AS A FEMALE, I DON'T REALLY FEEL LIKE I HAVE BEEN TAKEN SERIOUSLY. I AM AN EXCELLENT DRIVER WITH NO ACCIDENTS IN 30 YEARS OF DRIVING. MOST RECENTLY, ON THIS PAST MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, AS I DROVE TO WORK, THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME PUT ON BRAKES SUDDENLY. WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES, I HIT A POT HOLE AT EXACTLY THE SAME TIME. THE BRAKE PEDAL SOFTENED AND THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN AT ALL. I PUMPED THE BRAKES AND THIS TIME THE BRAKES ENGAGED AND THE CAR SLOWED. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN COMPLETELY CONSISTENT. SUDDEN BRAKING, A BUMPY ROAD OR LOOSE TRACTION, ABS SEEMS TO ENGAGE, ABSOLUTELY NO BRAKES. THE ISSUE IS BAD ENOUGH THAT I REFUSED TO SELL THE NOW 6 YEAR OLD CAR TO MY BROTHER FOR HIS DAUGHTER TO DRIVE. I DO NOT THINK THAT AN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER COULD POSSIBLY RESPOND QUICKLY ENOUGH TO STOP THE CAR. *TR

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) I OWN A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY VIN#[XXX] ON JANUARY 6, 2010 I WAS DRIVING UP FIRST AVE IN MANHATTAN GOING TO RANDALLS ISLAND. AT 1ST AVE AND ABOUT 10 ST I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 20 MILES PER HOUR, PRESSED THE BRAKE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT. INSTEAD THE ENGINE REVVED (VROOM) AND CAR ACCELERATED FORWARD. I FLOORED THE BRAKE AND PULLED UP THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND STILL I TAPPED THE COMMERCIAL VEHICLE IN FRONT BEFORE BEING ABLE TO STOP BY PUTTING CAR INTO PARK. 2 HOURS LATER I WAS RETURNING HOME AND DRIVING DOWN 9TH STREET BETWEEN BROADWAY AND UNIVERSITY AND AGAIN APPROACHING A RED LIGHT BRAKED TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR (I WAS ALREADY GOING 20MPH) AGAIN, INSTEAD THE VEHICLE REVVED AND ACCELERATED FORWARD AND THIS TIME NO MATTER HOW HARD I PUSHED THE BRAKE THE CAR WOULDN'T STOP. I SLAMMED THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK , PULLED UP THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THAT STOPPED THE CAR. I CALLED AAA AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO TOYOTA OF MANHATTAN WHERE THEY SAID MY BRAKE PINS WERE FROZEN AND THERE WAS A THROTTLE PROBLEM AND CHARGED $1300 FOR REPAIR. (MY PERSONAL MECHANIC IN NJ LATER TOLD ME BRAKE PINS AND UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION WERE NOT RELATED. ON MONDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2010 WHILE DRIVING TO MY SUMMER APARTMENT IN VENTNOR NJ THE SAME THING HAPPENED. WE WERE AGAIN ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BY PULLING INTO PARK MODE AND EMERGENCY BRAKE. WE RESTARTED THE CAR AND DROVE 10 MILES PER HOUR TO OUR PARKING LOT WHERE THE CAR STILL SITS. CALLS TO TOYOTA OF MANHATTAN SIMPLY STATED THAT THIS MODEL WAS NOT UNDER RECALL AND THE CAR WAS TOO FAR FOR THEM TO SEND A TOW. ATTEMPTS TO BRING THE CAR TO A LOCAL TOYOTA (SHORE TOYOTA) CALLS WERE NOT ANSWERED AND I WAS TOLD I COULD NOT BRING THE CAR IN WITHOUT AN APPOINTMENT. AND I SHOULD BRING THE CAR BACK TO WHERE THE REPAIR WAS DONE. SO THERE IT SITS IN A PARKING LOT. I HAD TO RENT A CAR TO GET HOME. THE REPAIR WAS CLEARLY BOGUS AND THIS PROBLEM IS ACCELERATION UPON HITTING THE BRAKE PEDAL. *TR UPDATED IVOQ 09/01/10

A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY ON 26 DECEMBER 2009 TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES PER HOUR INTO A PARKING SPACE IN FRONT OF THE US POST OFFICE HAD AN UN-COMMANDED ACCELERATION. WITHIN A SPAN OF FOUR FEET INTO THE PARKING SPOT, THE CAR ACCELERATED AND THE BRAKE COULD NOT STOP THE FORWARD MOVEMENT. THE CAR JUMPED THE SIDEWALK AND DROVE INTO THE WINDOW AND CORNER OF THE BUILDING WHILE THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE WITH ONLY THE BUILDING HOLDING THE CAR AS IT TRIED TO RACED FURTHER. MOVING THE TRANSMISSION LEVER FROM DRIVE TO PARK THE DOORS DID NOT AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCK. TURNING THE IGNITION KEY TO OFF POSITION WAS THE ONLY SOLUTION TO STOPPING THE RACING ENGINE. THE FLOOR MAT WAS CHECKED ON EXITING THE CAR AND WAS NOT TO BE ANYWHERE NEAR THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL..THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND NO LIFE TREATING INJURY WAS SUSTAINED. *TR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED NECK AND BACK PAIN. UPDATED 03/17/10

ON CHRISTMAS DAY, DECEMBER 25, 2009, I WAS DRIVING OUR 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY ON THE 880-N FREEWAY IN OAKLAND, EXITED THE FREEWAY, AND WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO STOP AT THE FIRST INTERSECTION AFTER EXITING, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD. I WAS UNNERVED AS MY FOOT HIT THE BRAKES AND THE CAR REACTED BY JUMPING FORWARD. FORTUNATELY, MY WIFE AND INFANT CHILD WERE STRAPPED SAFELY WITH SEAT BELTS IN THE CAR AND NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THIS WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN. THE INCIDENT WAS ALSO NOT THE RESULT OF DRIVER ERROR ' MY RIGHT FOOT HIT THE BRAKES. THE WEATHER AND ROAD CONDITIONS WERE GOOD. THE WEATHER WAS DRY AND PARTLY CLOUDY. THE ROADS WERE DRY. AFTER THE INCIDENT, I CONTACTED THE SAN BRUNO, CA BASED MELODY TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND A LOCAL INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. BOTH TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM UNDER SIMILAR DRIVING CONDITIONS BEFORE THEY COULD DO ANYTHING. WHILE THE INCIDENT HAS NOT REPEATED ITSELF, I AM CONCERNED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD POP UP AT ANY TIME. I BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD, AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE, INSPECT AND REPAIR MY VEHICLE SO THE BRAKES FUNCTION AS INTENDED. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY 2004 CAMRY VEHICLE AND BELIEVE OTHER 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY OWNERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCE. AS OF TODAY, I BELIEVE TOYOTA HAS ONLY PARTIALLY ADDRESSED THE SUDDEN, UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ISSUE AND I AM CALLING ON THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER MORE THOROUGHLY. I WOULD LIKE TOYOTA TO INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER AND BELIEVE THAT GOVERNMENT LEGISLATORS AND REGULATORS OUGHT TO PROD TOYOTA TO DO MORE. TOYOTA HAS STATED THAT IT DOES NOT BELIEVE ITS CURRENT RECALL SHOULD REACH BACK TO THE 2004 MODEL YEAR. I DISAGREE. I WOULD LIKE TOYOTA TO FIX THE DEFECT TO ENSURE THAT MY BRAKE SYSTEM FUNCTIONS PROPERLY. BEYOND SAFETY CONCERNS, I AM ALSO DISAPPOINTED THAT TOYOTA'S CAMRY TROUBLES HAVE CAUSED A SIGNIFICANT DECLINE IN THE VALUE OF MY CAR. *TR

I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, BUT SAW A CAR COMING, SO I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR ACCELERATED AT A VERY FAST PACE OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE, INTO THE ROAD, JUST MISSING THE CAR, BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO STOP IT. ON DECEMBER 14, 2009, I HAD BACKED UP MY DRIVEWAY (TO A LEVEL SPOT) . I DECIDED TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE CAR, SO I DROVE THE CAR FORWARD, PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO PUT IT IN REVERSE AND THE CAR WENT SPEEDING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK, UNTIL I GOT OUT INTO THE ROAD, THEN THE CAR STOPPED. PRAYER KEPT ME SAFE! *TW

THIS COMPLAINT DEALS WITH ALL TOYOTA CARS WITH REAR WHEEL DRUM BRAKES. ON MY CAR AND MANY OTHERS POSSIBLY THE PEDAL IS SOFT HAS TO GO DOWN QUITE A WAYS TO ACTIVATE BRAKES. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ALTHOUGH I DRIVE CONSERVATIVELY I FEEL MY BRAKING WAS COMPROMISED WHEN I NEED QUICK BRAKING RESPONSE. I BELIEVE THE REASON IS THE AUTOMATIC ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM ON MY REAR BRAKES WAS AND IS NOT WORKING. THIS MECHANISM ON ALL MODERN CARS WITH REAR DRUM BRAKES ADJUSTS FOR WEAR BY BRINGING THE BRAKE SHOES CLOSER TO THE DRUM WHEN BACKING AND BRAKING. AN AUTOMATIC ADJUSTMENT. WHEN THE MECHANISM ISN'T WORKING THE REAR BRAKE SHOES GET FARTHER AND FARTHER FROM THE DRUM DUE TO WEAR AND ONE MUST PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL FARTHER AND FARTHER DOWN ON BRAKING TO GET THE SHOES TO CONTACT THE DRUMS BEFORE BRAKING CAN BEGIN. THIS DELAYS THE BRAKING TIME OF THE DRIVER CONSIDERABLY. RECENTLY GETTING NEW TIRES THE MECHANIC NOTED MY SOFT BRAKE PEDAL AND REMOVED THE REAR BRAKE DRUMS AND MANUALLY ADJUSTED THE SHOES TO BRING THEM IN LIGHT CONTACT WITH THE DRUM. MY BRAKE PEDAL GOT HARD AGAIN AND ACTIVATED AT THE TOP. TOYOTA SHOULD BRING THE CARS IN TO CHECK THIS LACK OF ADJUSTMENT PROBLEM AS I WOULDN'T DOUBT THERE HAVE BEEN ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF IT. WITH THE NEW CARS WITH DISK BRAKES THE PADS ARE ALWAYS AGAINST THE DISK AND THE IS NO SOFT PEDAL PROBLEM. *TR

I JUST READ AN ARTICLE ABOUT THE BRAKING PROBLEM WITH THE NEW TOYOTA PRIUS. IT STATED WHILE DRIVING ON A BUMPY OR UNEVEN SURFACE THE CAR WOULD EXPERIENCE BRAKING PROBLEMS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH MY 2004 TOYOTA SOLARA. I WAS COMING TO A STOP ON A RURAL ROAD THAT WAS VERY BUMPY JUST BEFORE THE STOP SIGN.THE BRAKES RESPONDED LIKE WHAT I THOUGHT WAS THE ABS ACTUATING. THE BRAKES SEEMED TO FADE. AFTER THAT INCIDENT MY BRAKES NEVER SEEMED TO BE THE SAME. I HAVE TO BRAKE MUCH SOONER AND WITH MORE FORCE THEN I HAD TO USE PRIOR TO THE ABOVE INCIDENT. HAS THERE BEEN SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE SOLARA? *TR

I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA AND THE BRAKES ON MY CAR ARE NOT AS ACCURATE AS THEY SHOULD BE. I RECENTLY HAD MY BRAKES REPAIRED IN DEC. 2009 AT SANDY SPRINGS TOYOTA IN ATLANTA AND WAS STILL NOT PLEASED WITH THE RESISTANCE OF THE BRAKES. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE 2004 CAMRY SOLARA SHOULD BE RESEARCHED FURTHER DUE TO THE BRAKES. OFTEN TIMES I HAVE TO PRESS MY BRAKES TO THE FLOOR BEFORE THEY STOP COMPLETELY. *TR

ABS SYSTEM COMPUTER FAILED. NOT DISCOVERED UNTIL 95,000 MILE SERVICE VISIT WHEN COMPLAINT RAISED TO DEALER OF BRAKE NOISE. *TR