2003 Toyota Camry
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Vehicle speed control is the leading concern among 816 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 5th highest complaint count among 25 Camry model years with reports.
Of the 2003 reports, 239 involved a crash and 10 involved a fire. 112 people were injured and 5 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, side/windowJul 13, 2004
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CURTAIN SHIELD AIR BAGS (CSA), ONE OR BOTH OF THE CURTAIN AIR BAGS MAY BE TWISTED NEAR THE INFLATOR DUE TO IMPROPER ASSEMBLY.
IF THIS OCCURS, THE CSA MAY NOT DEPLOY RAPIDLY ENOUGH WHEN ACTIVATED IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION. THIS MAY RESULT IN FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE INTENDED HEAD PROTECTION, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE CSAS AND REPLACE THE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 6, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Campaign 04V346000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine and engine cooling
115 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 2, 2011
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A SMELL OF FUEL WHEN THE CONTACT CHECKED THE OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS FUEL MIXED IN WITH THE OIL BUT COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SMELL MOVED THROUGH THE VENTS AND BURNED HER EYES. A MECHANIC REPLACED THE VALVE GASKETS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 114,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 25, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING HOT. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED YET THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE EXACT CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A FAULTY THERMOSTAT OR THE HEADERS. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE WAS DESTROYED AND WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 169,668.
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 24, 2011
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK ON THE HEAD GASKET AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM UNLESS THE MOTOR WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THIS FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 99,600. UPDATED 03/02/11 *BF UPDATED 04/29/11
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 5, 2011
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY LE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS HE NOTICED THAT THE LOW ANTI FREEZE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING DUE TO THE BOLTS SEPARATING FROM THE ENGINE BLOCK. HE WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 66,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 3, 2011
IN MARCH 2010 I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY WIFE'S TOYOTA THAT I BELIEVE I EITHER SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY TO FIX OR HAVE TOYOTA SHARE IN THE COST. WHEN I CALLED TOYOTA TO REGISTER THE COMPLAINT THEY SAID COULDN'T HELP ME, SO I AM ASKING FOR YOUR HELP. MY WIFE'S CAMRY (2003 WITH JUST UNDER 100,000 MILES) DEVELOPED A LEAK IN ITS HEAD GASKET, SO I TOOK IT INTO OUR LOCAL GARAGE. THEY LOOKED AT IT (PRESSURE TEST) CONFIRMED IT WAS LEAKING AND WENT ON LINE (IDENTIFIX.COM) TO SEE WHAT EXPERIENCES OTHER MECHANICS HAD WITH THIS PROBLEM AND RECOMMENDED FIXES. THE RESEARCH SHOWED THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS BEING REPORTED FREQUENTLY AND MORE OFTEN THAN NOT ALSO RESULTED IN A MORE SEVERE PROBLEM OF STRIPPING THE ENGINE BOLTS OUT OF THE BLOCK, REQUIRING AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. MY MECHANIC SAID I WOULD BE BEST OFF TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR AND HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT, BECAUSE IF IT WAS MORE THAN JUST THE HEAD GASKET, I MAY BE ABLE TO WORK SOMETHING OUT WITH THEM. IT WAS HIS OPINION THAT A LEAK IN THE HEAD GASKET SHOULDN'T CAUSE THE STRIPPING OF THE ENGINE BOLTS. WE TOOK IT INTO OUR TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY INVESTIGATED - TOOK THE HEAD OFF - AND FOUND THAT IT WAS WHAT MY MECHANIC HAD FEARED, THREE ENGINE BOLTS WERE STRIPPED AND THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. COST FOR A NEW ENGINE BLOCK, HEAD, LABOR, ETC. $7,500. I TOLD THEM WHAT MY MECHANIC HAD FOUND ONLINE - THIS WAS HAPPENING A LOT TO THIS TYPE ENGINE (2003 - 6) - AND MY BELIEF THAT THIS WAS A DESIGN FLAW AND ASKED THEM IF THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT TOYOTA COULD DO TO HELP DEFRAY THE COST OR WAS THERE A RECALL, ETC. THE SERVICE REP SAID NO... NO HELP FROM TOYOTA. I HAVE ALL THE PAPERWORK AND CAN YOU SEND YOU COPIES, INCLUDING THE IDENTIFIX REPORT. CONSIDERING ALL THE PRESSURE PEOPLE, GOVERNMENT, AND LAWYERS HAD TO EXERT ON TOYOTA TO GET THEM TO ADMIT AND ADDRESS THE RECENT ACCELERATOR PROBLEMS, I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD CHECK OR ADD MY CASE TO A DATABASE TO SEE IF SOME LEGAL ACTION IS WARRANTED. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 25, 2010
I AM THE OWNER OF 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY . AND I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAIN DUE TO THE ENGINE DEFECTS IN MY VEHICLE . IN APRIL 2008 , I DISCOVERED THE ENGINE COOLANT WAS LEAKING AND IT WAS SO SEVERE THAT I HAD TO TAKE TO THE MECHANIC SHOP FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR. THE MECHANIC DID THE PRESSURE TEST COOLING SYSTEM TEST AND FOUND COOLANT LEAK COMING FROM CYLINDER HAD BY THE INTAKE MANIFOLD . THE MECHANIC REMOVED VALVE COVER AND FOUND 2 HEAD BOLTS LOOSE .MY VEHICLE WAS ONLY 56000 MILES AT THAT TIME. I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE CAR COULD OVERHEAT ANY MINUTES. SO THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED .IT COSTS ME $2700 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE .SO I REPORT THE INCIDENT TO THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURE /DEALERS IN TORRANCE . THEY RESPOND TO ME THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. I REQUESTED NEW MOTOR VEHICLE BOARD FROM CALIFORNIA TO HELP ME TO RESOLVE THE MATTER . THE TOYOTA STILL INSISTED THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR IT . *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 12, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTAKE AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 108,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 28, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS DISPLAYING A READING THAT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS AN EXTERNAL LEAK WITHIN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE BOLT STRIPS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 75,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 10, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT LOW SPEEDS THE CONTACT HEARD A VIBRATING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL GARAGE AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTING LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE GARAGE REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT IF HE WANTED THEM TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR, HE MUST HAVE THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,050. UPDATED 12/03/10. *LJ
Engine and engine cooling, May 28, 2010, fire
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON SHE SMELLED A BURNING ODOR THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FIVE MINUTES AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PRIOR TO OR WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT ADDED WATER TO THE COOLANT RESERVOIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND CAUSED THE HEAD GASKET TO MALFUNCTION. THROUGH FURTHER INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO DAMAGED BOLTS THAT WERE CONNECTED BETWEEN THE HEAD GASKET AND THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE TECHNICIAN CONFIRMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $4,000 MINUS THE COST OF LABOR. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 116,503. UPDATED 11/03/10. *LJ
Engine and engine cooling, May 18, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOR AN UNRELATED REPAIR. WHEN SHE RECEIVED THE VEHICLE BACK, THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL GRINDING NOISE FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. UPDATED 07/30/10. *LJ UPDATED 09/30/10 THE CONSUMER STATED HE WOULD LIKE FOR SOMEONE TO RESPOND TO HER COMPLAINT. UPDATED EVOQ 10/13/10*JB
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 13, 2010
MY TOYOTA CAMRY 2003 HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN. MY AUTO MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT TOYOTA BOLTED THE HEADS IN A FAULTY WAY AND THE LEAK CAN ONLY BE FIXED TEMPORARILY. *TR
Steering, Suspension, Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Structure, Apr 12, 2010
CONSUMERS 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY HAS BRAKE PROBLEMS, WATER LEAKS IN THE TRUNK AND GAS RESERVOIR, DOORS DO NOT CLOSE PROPERLY RELEASING AIR INTO THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. *TS SMOKE WOULD EMIT FROM THE EXHAUST ON COLD STARTS. THE ENGINE VALVE STEM SEALS WERE REPLACED DUE TO LOSS OF TENSION AND OIL WAS LEAKING INTO THE CYLINDERS. THE STRUT SUPPORTS WERE REPLACED DUE THEM BEING WORN. THE POWER STEERING RACK WAS LEAKING, THE ENGINE MOUNT WAS CRACKED AND THE BATTERY WAS LEAKING.*JB THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE WAS A VIBRATION COMING FROM THE BRAKES WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED. THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE DASHBOARD. UPDATED 04/223/10.*JB
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 24, 2010
2003 CAMRY WITH 120,000 MI. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND OVERNIGHT FOUND LOTS OF ANTIFREEZE ON GARAGE FLOOR. BROUGHT TO MECHANIC. HEADGASKET BLOWN. WENT TO REPLACE HEADGASKET ONLY TO FIND THAT ENGINE BOLTS WERE LOOSE AND HAD STRIPPED THREAD FROM THE ALUMINUM BLOCK. ONLY CHOICE IS TO REPLACE ENGINE - $3,800 FOR A USED ENGINE WITH 50,000 MI. TOYOTA HAS NOT RESPONDED. HAVE HEARD THIS HAS BECOME A COMMON PROBLEM. VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH TOYOTA.
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 16, 2010, crash
FATAL CAR ACCIDENT. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 14, 2010
I WAS NOT GETTING HEAT IF MY CAR WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT. UPON EXAMINATION BY MY MECHANIC HE FOUND THERE WAS A GAP BETWEEN THE HEAD AND THE ENGINE BLOCK. IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THE SCREWS THAT HOLD THE HEAD TO THE ALUMINUM ENGINE BLOCK HAD STRIPPED AND THE HEAD WAS SEPARATING FROM THE BLOCK. . FIRST THE MECHANIC TRIED TO DRILL NEW HOLES WITH NEW BOLTS. HE DIDN'T FEEL THAT IT WOULD HOLD IN THE OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE BLOCK SO I HAD TO GET ANOTHER ENGINE WHICH COSTS ME $3215.78. I HAD NO CAR FOR OVER A MONTH. I AM VERY UPSET WITH THIS ISSUE. IF THE HEAD DETACHED, THE CAR WOULD HAVE LOST POWER. WHAT IF I WAS TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED AND GOT HIT FROM BEHIND. ALSO WITH THE HEAD SEPARATED THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE FUEL COULD HAVE EXPLODED OR STARTED A FIRE WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE ARE OTHERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. THERE ARE A LOT OF 2003 TOYOTA CAMRYS ON THE ROAD TODAY. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 12, 2010
TOYOTA CAMRY 2003 4 CYLINDER. RATTLING NOISE FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THIS NOISE OCCURS DUE TO PLASTIC MATERIAL OF WHICH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS MADE OF. MY MECHANIC HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM WITH OTHER 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY AND IS VERY COMMON. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 4, 2010
OIL LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO TOYOTA DEALER TO CHECK. WITHIN MINUTES SAID IT WAS SLUDGE AND NEEDED A NEW ENGINE BLOCK. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 2, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHENEVER THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICED A RATTLING SOUND IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 85000.
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 28, 2010
MY CAMRY HAS A BLOW GASKET. I FOUND OUT BECAUSE MY MECHANIC DID THE EXAM HE PRESSURIZED THE COOLING SYSTEM AND PUT THE CAR UP ON THE LIFT. HE IMMEDIATELY NOTICED COOLANT LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD IN THE REAR OF THE ENGINE. HE ALSO NOTICED A LARGE PIECE OF FOAM RUBBER BETWEEN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE ENGINE BLOCK AND HEAD. THIS WAS BLOCKING OUR VIEW OF THE LEAK. WE COULD ONLY SEE THAT THE LEAK WAS BEHIND THE FOAM PIECE. THE ONLY OPTION TO DISCOVER THE SOURCE OF THIS LEAK WAS TO REMOVE THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD, WHICH I DID. AFTER THIS WAS REMOVED, IT BECAME OBVIOUS THAT COOLANT HAD BEEN LEAKING A MINOR AMOUNT FOR QUITE SOME TIME DUE TO BUILD UP BETWEEN THE CYLINDER HEAD AND BLOCK. THE ONLY OPTION LEFT IS TO REMOVE THE HEAD, WHICH REQUIRES AN EXTENSIVE DISASSEMBLY (R AND R CYLINDER HEAD). AFTER LOOSENING THE BOLTS IN SEQUENCE, HE NOTICED THE HEAD BOLTS IN THE BACK OF THE ENGINE WERE LOOSE. FROM HIS EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD, HE CAN CONFIDENTLY CONCLUDE THAT THIS ONLY MEANS ONE OF TWO THINGS: THE BOLTS WERE LEFT LOOSE AT THE FACTORY, OR THE BOLTS ARE STRIPPED. ( HE COMMONLY HAS SEEN STRIPPED BOLTS IN THE ALUMINUM CADILLAC NORTH STAR BLOCK DISCOVERED THROUGH LEAKING COOLANT.)NEXT, HE REMOVED THE HEAD AND SURE ENOUGH, ONE BOLT CAME OUT WITH ALUMINUM IN THE THREAD...THUS INDICATING A STRIPPED BOLT. THE PLACEMENT OF THE (INSULATION) FOAM RUBBER PIECE BETWEEN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE ENGINE BLOCK CREATED AN UNEVEN DISPERSION OF HEAT, CREATING "METAL FATIGUE" IN THE ALUMINUM BLOCK ALLOWING THE HEADBOLT TO STRIP. IF TOYOTA HAD OUT AN ALUMINUM MANIFOLD INSTEAD OF PLASTIC, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO NEED TO INSULATE (W/ FOAM PIECE), THUS ELIMINATING THE PROBLEM. THE ONLY SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM IS TO UNFORTUNATELY REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE COST TO REPAIR IT OTHERWISE WOULD BE SUBSTANTIAL. THIS IS AN ENGINE DEFECT AND WE WILL BE SEEING MORE OF THIS. *TW
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 9, 2010
I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY 4CYN AND NOTICED BROWNISH OIL SUBSTANCE LEAKING FROM THE CAR. I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THAT HAS BEEN SERVICING MY CAR FOR YEARS ONLY FOR THEM TO TELL ME THAT I HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. WHEN I ASKED THEM TO EXPLAIN HOW THIS HAPPENED AND INFORM THEM THE CAR GAVE ME NO WARNING THEY INDICATED THAT THE HEAD BOLTS WERE STRIPPED AND THIS CAUSED THE COOLANT TO LEAK WHICH IN TURN IS WHY THE ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED. OF COURSE THE QUOTE WAS STARTING AT $3000. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM AND NOTICING THAT THIS IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN OCCURRING OVER SOME TIME AND TOYOTA IS AWARE OF IT BASED ON THE SERVICE BULLETIN 01507 NHTSA#10021542 DATED APRIL 6,2007,TOYOTA SHOULD BE PURSUED WITH A CLASS ACTION SUIT. THERE ARE MANY CAMRY OWNERS (RANGING IN YEARS 2002-2006) WITH THIS PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE HELPED IN SOME KIND OF WAY FROM THE TOYOTA CORPORATION. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 5, 2010
I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH A 2.4 4 CYL. 2AZ-FE MOTOR. AND HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE THE HEADBOLTS PULL OUT OF THE BLOCK, CAUSING A COOLANT LEAK. THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM IS KNOWN TO TOYOTA, AS DESCRIBED IN TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETIN 01507, NHTSA #10021542, DATED APRIL 6 2007. EVEN THOUGH TOYOTA AND YOUR OFFICE IS AWARE THIS ISSUE AFFECTS HUNDREDS OF CONSUMERS, CAUSING REPAIRS ANYWHERE FROM $2000 TO $6000, NOTHING IS BEING DONE TO CORRECT THIS OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW. TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE BLOCK NEEDS TO BE DRILLED AND TAPPED TO ACCOMMODATE INSERTS TO ALLOW THE HEADS TO BE TORQUED TO THE REQUIRED SPECS, OR IN SOME CASES, THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 26, 2009
ENGINE OIL LIGHT CAME ON WITH NO WARNING. WENT TO TOYOTA DEALER IMMEDIATELY AND SAID I HAD SLUDGE BUILD UP AND NEEDED A NEW ENGINE BLOCK - QUOTE $6200. THIS HAPPENED 2 DAYS BEFORE XMAS. I WAS STUNNED AND ASKED TO SPEAK TO MANAGEMENT. TOYOTA DENIED ANY SLUDGE PROBLEMS AND FAILED TO MENTION THAT A CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT WAS MADE FOR MODELS UP TO 2002 FOR THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE A 2003 WITH THE SAME ENGINE SPECS.*TR
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 17, 2009
I HAD TO DO A HEAD GASKET REPAIR AND REPLACE THE THERMOSTAT ON MY 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY DUE TO MALFUNCTIONING THREADS FOR THE BOLTS ON THE HEAD GASKET. WHEN THE MECHANIC TOOK THE HEAD OFF HE REALIZED THE 3 BACK BOLTS WERE LOOSE. WHEN HE TRIED TO REPLACE THE HEAD, THE 3 BACK BOLTS WOULD NOT TORQUE TO PROPER PRESSURE. REALIZING THAT THE THREADS WERE STRIPPED IT WAS DISCUSSED ABOUT REPLACING THE ENGINE OR HAVING THE HOLES DRILLED OUT AND FIXED WITH TIMESERTS. I WENT WITH THE TIMESERTS REALIZING THAT IF I REPLACED THE ENGINE WITH THE SAME TYPE I'D BE FACING THIS PROBLEM AGAIN. I BELIEVE THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT HAVE OVERHEATED IN THE FIRST PLACE IF THE 3 BACK BOLTS WERE NOT ALREADY LOOSE. THE MACHINE SHOP OPERATOR STATED THIS WAS HIS 59TH TOYOTA THIS YEAR HE HAD TO DO THE TIME-SERTS ON THE ENGINE. I HAD ALL 10 OF THE HOLES RE DONE AT A COSTLY PRICE TO MAKE SURE THIS WOULD NOT HAPPEN TO THE OTHER BOLTS. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 12, 2009
2003 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE 4 CYL. WITH LESS THAN 100K OVERHEATED. TOOK VEHICLE TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED ME OF A COOLANT LEAK AT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. DEALER HAS VEHICLE, REPORTS IT IS NOT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THAT IS LEAKING BUT 3 REAR STEEL BOLTS THAT GO INTO ALUMINUM ARE STRIPPED. TOYOTA IS "UNWILLING TO PARTICIPATE" IN THE REPAIR WITH AN ESTIMATE OF $6900.00 WHICH INCLUDES PURCHASING A NEW BLOCK. THIS SAME ISSUE IS ALL OVER THE TOYOTA FORUMS, USUALLY THIS ISSUE APPEARS AS A PROBABLE BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THIS IS NOT THE CASE IN MY VEHICLE. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS DEFECT BUT IS DOING NOTHING TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS. THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON OCCURRENCE AND AS MORE VEHICLES ATTAIN APPROXIMATELY THE SAME MILEAGE, MORE REPORTS ARE BEING MADE OF THIS FAULT. THIS TYPE OF REPAIR SHOULD NOT BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CONSUMER WHEN THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THIS MOST CERTAINLY SHOULD PROMPT A RECALL. PERHAPS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IS IN ORDER. *TR