2004 Toyota Camry Electrical System Problems

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON THE WI 43 FREEWAY (SPEED APROX. 70 MPH) AT 2:00AM OF 09/28/2020. I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND SAW SPARKS COMING FROM UNDER MY DASHBOARD. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND CALLED 911. TWO OZAUKEE COUNTY SHERIFFS AND 1 PORT WASHINGTON FIRE TRUCK RESPONDED (INCIDENT NUMBER 20-27928). AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE ATTACHED PICTURES WHICH WERE TAKEN THE NEXT DAY AT THE TOWING YARD MY CAR'S DASH AND INTERIOR WAS TOTALLY MELTED BY AN ELECTRICAL FIRE THAT WAS SO HOT IT CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. ALTHOUGH THE CAR HAS SOME AGE ON IT, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD EVER OCCUR WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOTALED AS IT WAS BEYOND REPAIR.

ACCORDING TO THE SHERIFF AND FIRE RESCUE, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE CAUSED THE ENTIRE ENGINE TO CATCH FIRE. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR ALMOST 12 HOURS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE ACTIVATED AND THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. ALSO, WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 06/15/16*LJ

2004 CAMRY SE CAR SITTING FOR TWO DAYS. CAR CAUGHT FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT IT SEEMED NO FOUL PLAY INVOLVED. TO ME IT LOOK LIKE THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE STARTED BY THE BATTERY AND WIRING WAS THE ISSUE. INTERIOR IN GOOD SHAPE NO WINDOWS BUSTED.

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD FROM MY HOME WHEN MY CAR STOPPED WORKING. IT DIED ON ME. IT JUST STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY WITHOUT ANY NOTICE WHATSOEVER. I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AT THE TIME I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MILES AN HOUR (WHEN THE CAR ENGINE STOPPED WORKING). I TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION TO THE OFF POSITION. WHEN I TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION TO START THE CAR, THE CAR STARTED UP IMMEDIATELY.

TOYOTA CAMRY DRIVER-SIDE WINDOW FIRE. DURING AUGUST OF 2014, I WENT SHOPPING IN LITHONIA, GA. I PARKED MY 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY IN THE SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT. A SHORT TIME LATER, I RETURNED TO MY CAR AND OBSERVED SMOKE BILLOWING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW OF MY VEHICLE. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE ACROSS THE STREET TO NALLEY TOYOTA OF STONECREST TO HAVE THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT. I WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY RECALL AT THIS TIME, AND ASKED THE SERVICE ADVISOR TO CHECK FOR ONE. SHE DID SO, AND TOLD ME THERE WAS NOT A TOYOTA RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE. I PROCEEDED TO PAY THEM $967.00 IN PARTS AND LABOR TO REPLACE MY ENTIRE MASTER SWITCH, THE MASTER SWITCH ASSEMBLY, AND WINDOW MOTOR IN THE DRIVER-SIDE DOOR. AFTER COMING HOME, I PROCEEDED TO LOOK FOR ANY INFORMATION I COULD FIND ON TOYOTA RECALLS OF OTHER 2004 CAMRYS. I FOUND THE TOYOTA RECALL LIST ONLINE AND SAW THAT MY CAR HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS OTHER CAMRYS BEING RECALLED, YET HAD NOT BEEN INCLUDED. IN MAY OF THE FOLLOWING YEAR (2015), THE MOTOR I WAS SOLD FAILED AGAIN. I WAS UNABLE TO RAISE MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW, SO I WENT BACK TO NALLEY TOYOTA AT STONECREST. I SPOKE WITH A SERVICE ADVISOR WHO EXPLAINED THAT EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL HAD BEEN EXPANDED TO INCLUDE MORE VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM, MY TOYOTA CAMRY WAS STILL NOT INCLUDED. I PROCEEDED TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL $234.17 TO HAVE THE WINDOW MOTOR REPLACED AGAIN. SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCE THE BURNING OUT OF MY CAR LIGHTER. I HAVE BEEN WAITING IN VAIN FOR TOYOTA TO INCLUDE MY MODEL OF TOYOTA CAMRY IN THE RECALL PROCESS. I AM WRITING NOW TO REQUEST THAT TOYOTA REIMBURSE ME FOR THE MONEY I HAVE PAID TO HAVE WORK DONE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER THE EXISTING TOYOTA RECALL ON WINDOW MOTORS. OBVIOUSLY, MY CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED. I AM ATTACHING DOCUMENTATION OF EACH TRANSACTION FOR YOUR REVIEW. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. *TR

ON 6/2/2014 I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK. AS I PULLED OUT MY DIRT ROAD ONTO THE MAIN HIGHWAY, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY CAR AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF. MIND YOU MY CAR WAS STILL ROLLING, BUT I MANAGE TO PULL ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. I TRY TO STEP ON GAS PEDDLE BUT CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. SO I WAITED A FEW MINTUES ON SIDE OF ROAD BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO RE-START MY CAR. ONCE I GOT IT CRANKED, I DROVE 10 TO 15 MILES TO GET MY CAR BACK IN MY YARD. AT THIS POINT IN TIME, I CANT DRIVE IT UNTIL IT GETS FIX. *JS

FOR SOME REASON CAR WOULD NOT START AND NO ONE KNOWS WHY. *TR

AUTOMATIC LOCKS WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR. ALL OTHER DOOR LOCKS OPERATE PROPERLY. CREATES SAFETY ISSUES AS DOOR DOES NO LOCK WHEN SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, THE DRIVER CAN NO LONGER LOCK THE DOORS WHILE IN THE DRIVER SEAT OR USING THE KEY FOB. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS CAR HAS HAD THE SAME ISSUE. LAST TIME, IN 2009, TOYOTA DEALER MADE ALL REPAIRS (~$500).

WHEN I CHECK THE REAR LIGHTS OF MY TOYOTA, I PERCEIVED THAT ONE OF THE REAR LIGHTS WON'T TURN ON WHEN I TURN IT ON. THEN I CHECK THE SAME LIGHT FROM OTHERS 6 TOYOTA CAMRY 2004 AND I PERCEIVE THAT ALL CAR HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THAT LEFT REAR SIDE LIGHT. *TR

AFTER ENTERING A PARKING LOT MY MOTHER-IN-LAW WAS TURNING INTO A SPOT WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED THRU THE SPOT AND WAS HEADING FOR THE CONCRETE WALL. SHE WAS ABLE TO TURN IT TO THE LEFT, RUN OVER THE CURB AND IN TO A SNOW BANK. SHE WAS UNABLE TO BACK THE CAR OUT AND HAD TO BE TOWED OUT. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END, BUT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID THAT SHE COULD DRIVE IT HOME AND SHE MANAGED TO DO SO, BUT SHE WAS SCARED TO DO SO. IT IS NOW SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY AND WILL NOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL WE ARE SATISFIED WITH THE REPAIRS TO THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM. I AM STILL WAITING TO HEAR FROM THE DEALER?. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE REPLACING THE SPARK PLUG THE CONNECTOR TO THE IGNITION COIL WAS ABNORMALLY DRY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE IGNITION COIL CONNECTOR WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 121,000.

THIS VEHICLE HAD A TRANSMISSION REPLACED.

IGNITION KEY CAN EASILY BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION WHILE ENGINE IS STILL RUNNING. EXTREMELY LOOSE FIT. *TR

1. MY CAR WAS STOPPED WHILE DRIVING 2. FIRST TIME 3. PROBLEM WITH PEDAL SENSOR, DIAGNOSE CODE PO2121/2122. *TR

ALL THREE PASSENGER POWER DOOR LOCKS QUIT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THEY WILL STILL "LOCK" BUT WILL NOT "OPEN" DOOR LOCKS. HANFORD TOYOTA TOLD US THE ELECTRICAL MOTORS BECAME TOO WEAK TO OPEN THE LOCKS. BUT THEY ALL HAPPENED AT THE SAME TIME! CAR HAD APPROX 73847 MILES ON ODOMETER. REPAIR/REPLACEMENT COST IS APPROX $300 PER DOOR. I FEEL THERE COULD BECOME A DANGEROUS FIRE POTENTIAL AND SHOULD BE REPLACED UNDER RECALL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT WAS REVERSING FROM A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED TO 45 MPH AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE IN CIRCLES. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP UNTIL IT CRASHED IN SEVERAL CAR ON THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT. THE FORCE HIT THE OTHER VEHICLES DIRECTLY IN THE REAR. THE CONSUMER HIT A TOTAL OF EIGHT VEHICLES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE POLICE AND WAS DECLARED AS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,323 . UPDATED 11/01/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THREE OF THE VEHICLE INCLUDING HERS WAS TOTALED. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND SHE DISCOVERED THE FLOOR MAT WAS JAMMED UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE PEDAL JAMMED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE CONSUMER WOULD EXPERIENCE A JOLT WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, THE HORN WOULD SUDDENLY START GOING OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON. UPDATED 06/22/12

THE VEHICLE'S REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER, WHICH I BELIEVE IS A REQUIRED SAFETY ITEM IN NJ, DOES NOT WORK. PER TOYOTA, ENTIRE CONVERTIBLE TOP MUST BE REPLACED TO REPAIR WINDOW, AND THE NEW DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK EITHER. TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND REFUSES TO REPLACE THE TOP UNDER WARRANTY OR REPAIR THE WINDOW SO THAT THE DEFROSTER WORKS. THIS PROBLEM WITH THE SOLARA CONVERTIBLE HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SPANNING MANY YEARS, STARTING WITH 2004 MODEL. *TR

TOYOTA CAMRY 2004 GOT CAUGHT ON FIRE I DROVE MY TOYOTA CAMRY 2004 THE OTHER DAY AND SUDDENLY THE ABS SYSTEM WAS TRIGGERED. ENGINE DIED. WHEN I CRANKED IT BACK UP AGAIN, SMOKES STARTED COMING OUT. I CHANGED MY OIL REGULARLY. THE LAST ONE WAS A WEEK BEFORE AT VALVOLINE (THEY CHECKED ALL FLUIDS) TOYOTA RAN AN INVESTIGATION AND THIS IS WHAT THEY MADE UP: "SERPENTINE BELT IS FAULTY, CONTINUED TO BE OPERATED, PRESSURE IN RADIATOR CAUSED IT TO BURST AND SPRAYED COOLANT ONTO THE BATTERY AND FUSE BOX AND RELAY PANEL WHICH LED TO A SHORT CIRCUIT" I TALKED TO A NICE SERVICE TECHNICIAN AT TOYOTA AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT THEY MADE UP TO GET AWAY IT. HE EXPLAINED TO ME HOW THAT WASN'T TOO LIKELY TO HAPPEN TOYOTA TOLD ME THAT THEY'LL CALL ME BEFORE INSPECTING THE CAR. THEY NEVER DID . THEY SENT ME A LETTER, WHICH ARRIVED A DAY AFTER MY VEHICLE IS SUPPOSED TO BE TOWED FROM THE DEALER (ON FRIDAY). I HAD TO WAIT TILL MONDAY TO TOW IT AWAY AND THEY CHARGED ME WEEKENDS STORAGE FEE ($25 A DAY) I PLANNED TO JUST DONATE THE CAR AND IT WILL USUALLY TAKES 2-3 DAYS. I THOUGHT I'LL DO THAT BY THE TIME THEY ARE READY TO INSPECT MY CAR. I CALLED TOYOTA EARLIER AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD CALL ME BACK (2 DAYS - EVEN AFTER INSPECTION). AGAIN, THAT NEVER HAPPENED TILL NOW THE WHOLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IS BURNED UP. MOST STUFFS MELTED, BUT I'M SURPRISED THEY CAN CONCLUDE THAT IT'S THE SERPENTINE BELT. YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT MY VEHICLE TO BELIEVE. EVERYTHING THERE MELTED AND TURNED BLACK BEFORE FIREMAN CAME (HUGE FIRE). I WENT TO CHECK AND RETRIEVE THE BELT AND IT LOOKED LIKE SOMEONE CUT IT DELIBERATELY. I EVEN HAD HARD TIME OPENING THE HOOD BECAUSE THEY DAMAGED IT..... DO YOU GUYS THINK THIS IS A FOUL PLAY? I GOT NO FULL COVERAGE ON THE CAR. I'M PRETTY MUCH BROKE NOW....AND THEY SORTA PUSH ME TO GET RID OF MY CAR THEY SAID THEY'LL CALL ME TO ARRANGE A MEETING FOR INSPECTION. THEY NEVER DID AND INSPECTED MY CAR ANYWAY THEY CUT SOME STUFFS LIKE SERPENTINE BELT FROM MY ENGINE. *TR

THIS PROBLEM HAS TO DO WITH THE POWER DOOR ACTUATOR ON THE DRIVER DOOR. THE MALFUNCTION STARTED INTERMITTENTLY AT CERTAIN TEMPERATURES. THE DOOR LOCK ON DRIVER SIDE WOULD NOT WORK WHEN PRESSING THE REMOTE OR PRESSING THE POWER DOOR LOCK BUTTON ON DRIVER DOOR. AS THE PROBLEM PROGRESSED THE INTERIOR DOOR LOCK BUTTON AND LATCH STOPPED FUNCTIONING IN MANUAL MODE. NOT ALLOWING THE DRIVER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE LOCK DOES NOT OPEN ANYMORE AND DOES NOT OVERRIDE THE MALFUNCTIONING DOOR ACTUATOR. AS A RESULT, SHOULD I NEED TO QUICKLY EGRESS THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY SUCH AS A FIRE OR OTHERWISE I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DO SO. THE ONLY WAY TO OPEN THE DOOR AT THIS TIME IS TO PRESS THE POWER DOOR LOCK BUTTON BACK AND FORTH UNTIL SOMETHING CATCHES ON, AND THE BUTTON OPENS. HOWEVER, THIS WILL LIKELY NOT WORK IN AN EMERGENCY. I'VE REQUESTED THAT TOYOTA REPLACE THE FAULTY PART, BUT WAS INFORMED THAT GIVEN THAT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. I REQUESTED THAT THEY TAKE MY CASE TO SOUTHEASTERN TOYOTA UPPER MANAGEMENT TO MAKE A DECISION. ACCORDING TO THE TOYOTA DEALER I WAS AT, THE SERVICE MANAGER FOR THE ENTIRE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES DID NOT AGREE WITH MY COMPLAINT AND DID NOT THINK IT WAS WITHIN THEIR DUTIES TO REPLACE THE PART. MY INVESTIGATION INTO THE ISSUE HAS REVEALED THAT THIS ISSUE REPEATS WITH MANY OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME MODEL YEARS 02-06. SEE THE FOLLOWING LINKS: HTTP://WWW.TOYOTANATION.COM/FORUM/104-5TH-6TH-GENERATION-2002-2006-2007-2011/144851-2003-CAMRY-DOOR-LOCK-PROBLEM.HTML . IT IS APPARENT THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT TOYOTA MUST BE AWARE OF AND REFUSES TO DEAL WITH GIVEN THAT NO FATALITIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED (TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE). HOWEVER, DOES SOMEONE NEED TO GET INJURED OR POSSIBLY LOSE THEIR LIFE UNTIL THIS PROBLEM IS RESOLVED BY THE MANUFACTURER? PLEASE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. *TR