2005 Toyota Camry: problems, recalls and reliability
5 recalls and 721 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is vehicle speed control (34% of complaints); the 2006 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Jun 2016
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 721 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The contact owned a 2005 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that his daughter's vehicle caught on fire while parked in a residential area. The vehicle was unoccupied during the fire; the contact was alerted by the fire department. The fire originated from the engine, it was reported that the cause of the fire was faulty wiring. There were 2 vehicles next to the vehicle that was damaged in the event of the fire. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. A police report was filed. The vehicle was totaled. No injuries were reported. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 142,000.”Owner report · Electrical System · Apr 2026
“Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2005 Toyota Camry. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 125,647; however, the contact found a repair bill from January 10th, 2018, that indicated that the mileage as 233,045. Additionally, a Carfax Report indicated that the mileage was 248,083 on March 15th, 2022.”Owner report · Electrical System · Jan 2026
“Just bought this car on 3/12/2025 Was assured nothing wrong. When taking off it goes about 8 ft then hesitates causing the car behind to almost hit me. Twice it's happened. Pulling out of busy intersections is dangerous. Also it will down shift while driving regularly. Causing cars to run up on you. It also almost died at.a stop sign. Could be tranmission. Not sure exactly.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Mar 2025
Show 7 more owner reports
“While going about 15MPH the car accelerated on its own . Had a hard time finally stopping vehicle breaking and put the car in neutral.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Jan 2024
“Unattended acceleration. I was on a slight incline, trying to enter the highway. I was stopped with my foot on the break with all of a sudden acceleration, and I started to surge forward. I kept my foot on the break and kept the car from moving forward, but it did seemed to it, going into high gear to want to move forward. Then put it in neutral and in reverse to back up a couple feet so that I wasn't hit by a moving car on the highway. And then drove the car home. And Toyota to report the problem.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Nov 2023
“The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at slow speeds, the brake was depressed and failed to respond, and the vehicle drove over the parking block. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to her residence. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the brake master cylinder was leaking and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 72,000.”Owner report · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Aug 2023
“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”Owner report · Engine · Feb 2022
“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?”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Mar 2020
“My vehicle was in motion 70 mph on the highway I take everyday as I was mildly turning with the road the steering wheel spung to the left and the car went out od control spinning and ended on the right shoulder where than my car started to flip over none stop and the airbags didnt not burst or come out.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jul 2019
“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.”Owner report · Engine · Mar 2019
When filing, owners marked a crash in 223 of these complaints and injuries in 126 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 5 campaigns
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. THE AMOUNT OF ADHESIVE AGENT APPLIED BETWEEN THE OUTER RING AND THE TORSIONAL RUBBER DAMPER (INNER RING) IN THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY MAY BE INADEQUATE. IF THE ADHESIVE IS INSUFFICIENT, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE OUTER RING MAY BECOME MISALIGNED AND IT MAY NOT PROPERLY ROTATE WITH THE INNER RING, CAUSING NOISE AND/OR ILLUMINATION OF THE BATTERY DISCHARGE INDICATOR LIGHT.
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. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING EARLY JANUARY 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.
GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 AND JUNE 2, 2008 WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. DEALERS WILL ALSO CORRECT THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GULF STATES TOYOTA AT 713-580-3300.
SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A FRONT PASSENGER POWER SEAT, WHEN INSTALLING CERTAIN REAR-FACING INFANT CHILD SEAT BASES ONTO THE SEAT WITH AN EXCESSIVELY HIGH SEATBELT TENSION, IT MAY BE POSSIBLE TO UNSEAT A COMPONENT CALLED THE BUCKLE STATUS SWITCH FROM THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT BUCKLE STATUS SWITCH. THIS SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN (SSC 40M) BEGAN ON DECEMBER 20, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 OR LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987..
How other years compare
Check your exact Camry by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Toyota Camry reliable?
NHTSA has 721 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on record for the 2005 Toyota Camry. The most complained-about area is vehicle speed control (34% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2005 Toyota Camry problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 46,000 miles or less.
Does the 2005 Toyota Camry have open recalls?
5 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning engine and engine cooling. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.