I would doubt that anyone would report a complaint about this issue. Since the lid is kept in place largely by gravity, unless the car flips over in an accident, it is a non-issue.

 

Wrong Red Rider. The lid lifts up by itself. Also when you lift the upper compartment to get something out of the lower compartment the stuff in the upper compartment falls out.

 

Very simple and inexpensive. Two small squares (maybe 1/2" ?) of self stick Velcro. I used black personally. It's not visible if done correctly and you get used to it real quick. Just peel one side and stick to the bottom part next to the broken latch. Then attach the other piece, peel off that side and close lid. That way they are lined up well. My lid did not stay shut without the velcro. It kept lifting itself up.

 

Mine doesn't stay shut either.

This sounds like a good idea, but on mine there's a space between the two surfaces created by two rubber standoffs. I've modified the pictures to show these standoffs. Did you use some kind of spacer so the pieces of velcro would touch?

 

bump

 

I find it hard to believe that after over 10 years of this part being a known weak point that no company has produced a replacement part. Even just a new latch/lock that can be installed without purchasing the whole console lid. Only a few screws hold in the inner cover and all is exposed. You can buy the latch for the inner compartment all day long for around 10 bucks on fleabay but this part seems elusive... Com'on Toyota... how bout a little help...

 

I think there is but I don't know which part exactly. I don't want to pay $15 for it also. https://www.lithiatoyotaparts.com/parts/2004/Toyota/Camry/LE/index.cfm?action=partDetail&section=BODY%20HARDWARE&group=CONSOLE&subgroup=CENTER%20CONSOLE&component=Hinge&partnumber=58907AA030&vehicleid=189174&siteid=215542

 

I went to a parts/junk yard. My upper latch also had broken on my 2004 Camry. They had plenty of older Camrys but no model years with that upper compartment lid with latch. Gravity does not keep it down as every time I go around a corner it swings up. Being in the south, the Velcro solution would not work as the glue would melt in the summer inside cabin heat. While looking around the junk yard I remembered that Lexus is also related so I looked inside a few. Viola - I found the exact type of latch in a 1997 Lexus ES300 (assuming the junk yard dealer had the car labeled correctly as I cannot tell one model year from another). I extracted the entire lid as the junk yard would charge the same cost for just the latch, as they would for the latch with the entire lid which was $7.00. The lid itself would not fit into my car as the hinge connector at the rear is slightly different. However, the latch piece itself is exactly the same and fits in the same design shape as my 2004 Camry center console upper lid latch mold space. It works!!!! That is a handy compartment and do not understand why good design ideas like that disappear from cars (granted they needed a stronger latch catch) as our newer model Camrys do not have that feature.

 

I have them for sale. Just thought I would mention it on this very old post.

 

I have an 2004 Camry in gold. Would it fit?

 

How much? Does it fit ‘02 Camry?

 

Just wondering, is this the same latch on a Solara (mine is a 2007)?

I was able to pick up two a my local Pick-N-Pull, one for a spare (sadly both are gray and not Ivory). I didn't think to look outside of a Solara at the yard.

@Nick M - what's your source of your buttons, NOS, Used, some source making them?