The Lemon Index2005 Toyota Camry.
The 2005 Toyota Camry is better than average by owner complaints: 231 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 77, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about speed control, it has 5 recalls, and it gets 21 to 25 mpg combined. The best Toyota Camry year is 2022.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 813 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every Toyota Camry year. 2005 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 14K to 73K miles on the car (643 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- speed control complaints mostly came at 18K–61K miles
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 0K–67K miles
- airbags complaints mostly came at 15K–113K miles
Recalls 5
- seats 2016
The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
- engine 2011
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…
- equipment 2010
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 BETW…
Show all 5 recalls
- equipment 2010
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 S…
- seat belts 2004
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 …
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Toyota told dealers about
Toyota sent dealers 202 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Harsh 5-4 downshift on deceleration
- The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide information regarding the installation of…
- The purpose of this bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedEngine surging2006–2007
- ClosedVehicle speed control2005–2006
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★★ · side ★★★★☆ · rollover ★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $2550–3050 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.4L 4-cyl, 3.0L 6-cyl, 3.3L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
Was sitting in my 2005 Toyota Camry xle in park idling when I placed it in drive it surged quickly forward and hit my brick garage wall
2005 Toyota Camry owner · NHTSA complaint 10127402
More owner reports
Car surges. It has done this twice. The dealer can't find anything wrong with the car, and Toyota stands behind the dealer. Accidents were avoided both times.
NHTSA complaint 10136905
Clutch on 2005 Toyota solara needs to be replace after 37,000 miles.
NHTSA complaint 10240667
Quick answers
Is the 2005 Toyota Camry reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.3× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 77; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Toyota Camry year by this measure is 2022.
What are the most common 2005 Toyota Camry problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are speed control (26%), transmission & drivetrain (23%) and brakes (13%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2005 Toyota Camry have?
5 safety recalls (latest: seats). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2005 Toyota Camry get?
21 to 25 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2005 Toyota Camry problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 14,000 and 73,000 miles. The middle report was at 42,000 miles, from 643 complaints.
Does the 2005 Toyota Camry have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 23% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2005 Toyota Camry cost in fuel a year?
About $2550 to $3050 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2005 Toyota Camry have?
2.4L 4-cyl, 3.0L 6-cyl, 3.3L 6-cyl.
What Toyota Camry year is better than the 2005?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2022, 2017 and 2016.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works