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, May 15, 2004
WE PURCHASED A NEW 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY LE.AFTER ABOUT 6 MONTHS OR SO WE BEGAN TO HEAR A WATER SLOSHING SOUND UNDER OUR DASHBOARD.WE THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS BECAUSE OUR DRIVEWAY WAS AT A SLOPE AND MAYBE THE POSITION THE CAR WAS IN, THE FLUIDS WERE RUSHING THROUGH THE ENGINE.SO WE PARKED IN THE STREET.THE SAME NOISE CONTINUED WHEN WE BRAKED,TURNED AND STOPPED.AFTER TRYING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM WE TOOK OUR CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TEST DROVE THE CAR AND SAID"OH,THAT'S A NORMAL ENGINE SOUND" I SAID I DON'T THINK SO AND WENT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE AIR IN THE HOSES.THEY BLED THE SYSTEM AND IT WORKED FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AND THEN RETURNED.BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 5 MORE TIMES.FINALLY THEY THREW UP THEIR HANDS AND SAID FOR US TO GIVE THEM 60 MORE DAYS TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM WHICH IT WAS NOW IN ARBITRATION.HOW CAN THEY TRY TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM IF WE STILL HAD THE CAR IN OUR POSESSION? WE CONTINUED TO DRIVE THIS CAR PUTTING ON MILES NOT KNOWING THAT WHEN THEY BUY BACK YOUR CAR THEY DEDUCT THE MILES FROM THE COST OF WHICH THEY PAY YOU ON THE LEMON LAW BUYBACK.SO HAD THEY KEPT THE CAR ,KNOWING THEY COULDN'T REMEDY THE PROBLEM,OUR MONIES WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE.THEY ARE BUYING OUR CAR BACK AND WE FEEL EXTREMELY CHEATED.WE BOUGHT A NEW VEHICLE. NOT A TOYOTA. *AK
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 29, 2004
THE EXHAUST FUMES SEEPED INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. AS A RESULT, THE SMELL MADE THE DRIVER SICK TO HIS STOMACH. *AK THE EXHAUST/EMISSION HAD COME INSIDE THE VEHICLE WITH THE WINDOWS CLOSED. *SC *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Apr 2, 2004
I PURCHASED A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY ON 7/14/03. WHEN MY SON RODE WITH ME ON 3/18/04 AND 3/26/04, HE HEARD A CLICKING NOISE THAT I WAS UNABLE TO HEAR. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER ON 3/26/04. THE CAR HAS ABOUT 4000 MILES. THE PROBLEM WAS FIRST DIAGNOSED AS A BEARING IN A ROD. THEY RECEIVED PERMISSION FROM TOYOTA TO PULL OUT THE ENGINE AND FOUND ANOTHER ROD TO BE BAD. THEY THEN DETERMINED THE CRANKSHAFT WAS FAULTY. I HAVE ALSO READ THE COMMENTS ON THE BRAKES. ALTHOUGH I HAVE NEVER HAD THE PEDAL GO TO THE FLOOR, THE PEDAL DOES DEPRESS FURTHER THAN WITH OTHER CARS. THESE ARE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 9, 2003
WHILE DRIVING ROTTEN EGG SMELL CAME INTO THE VEHICLE, IT DIDN'T MATTER WHETHER THE WINDOWS WERE CLOSED OR OPENED. CONSUMER FELT A BURNING SENSATION IN THE NOSE AND THE THROAT. DEALERSHIP/ FLOOR MANAGER MADE AN INCREDIBLE STATEMENT, INQUIRING IF PRESIDENT BUSH PUT SULFUR IN THE GAS, CALL HIM. *AK
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 28, 2003
ROTTEN EGG (OR WORSE) SMELL INSIDE VEHICLE, THE SAME AS IN MY 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY. VISITS TO DEALERS WITH 1999 WAS NO HELP. JUST RECENTLY FOUND OUT ABOUT SERVICE BULLETIN & HAD QUARTER VENT DUCT ASSEMBLY REPLACED. SAME SMELL IN 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. DEALER SAID IT NO LONGER HAS VENTS SO NO PROBLEM. COULD NOT GET WORK ORDER RECEIPT TO PROVE I WAS AT DEALERS WITH THIS COMPLAINT. TH/MA. *AK
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 7, 2003
ROTTEN EGG SMELL FOR MY 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. IT'S BEEN LIKE THIS FOR THE LAST 7 MONTHS, SINCE I BOUGHT IT NEW. I CHANGED MANY DIFFERENT SUPPLIERS OF GRADE 87 GAS, AND THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE. I HAVE ABOUT 9000 MILES ON IT.*AK MY FRIEND WHO BOUGHT A 2003 CAMRY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS WELL.
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 14, 2003
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH VEHICLE LOST COMPLETE POWER WITHOUT WARNING. *AK
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 14, 2003
ROTTEN EGG SMELL COMES INTO THE CAR. DOESN'T MATTER IF THE WINDOW IS CLOSED OR OPENED. I WILL BE CONTACTING THE DEALER TODAY. MY 2003 CAMRY WAS A DEMO SO I'M SURE WHOEVER WAS DRIVING IT HAD TO HAVE NOTICED THE SMELL. NOBODY SAID A WORD TO ME ABOUT THIS. I FELT THIS WAS UNDERHANDED BY THE DEALERSHIP. I DECIDED TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAS COMPLAINED OF THE SAME PROBLEM AND WENT TO THE INTERNET TO SEE OF THERE WERE OTHER COMPLAINTS AND I FOUND ON YOUR SITE. SO NOW I KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM. *LA
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 1, 2003
WHEN DRIVING A ROTTEN EGG SMELL ENTERS THE PASSENGER CABIN WHICH CAUSES THE OCCUPANTS TO FEEL A BURNING SENSATION IN THE NOSE. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THIS ABOUT THREE WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER STATES THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE GASOLINE STATIONS IN TENNESSEE ARE NOT REGULATING THE AMOUNT OF SULFUR IN THE GAS. *AK
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 11, 2003
MISSION EXHAUST FUMES HAVE AN EGG SMELL. THE FUMES ARE SEEPING INTO THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE AIR VENTS.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Vehicle speed control, Jun 2, 2003
2003 V6 CAMRY HAS ENGINE SURGES/SHUDDERING THROUGH ALL SPEEDS. IS REALLY NOTICEABLE AT38-40 MPH. DIAGNOSTICS SHOWED ENGINE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMED - PROBLEM WAS MORE NOTICEABLE WHEN DRIVING IN CITTY WHERE SPEEDS WERE MORE INCREASED AND DECREASED. CONTINUED TO TAKE BACK TO DEALERSHIP. *AK
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 27, 2003
TAILPIPE ON 2003 CAMRY TO LOW TO GROUND. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD. *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 5, 2003
CONSUMER IS LOOSING ENGINE POWER. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. PH
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Vehicle speed control, Jan 27, 2003, crash
I HAD BACKED OUT OF PARKING SPACE. WHEN I PUT 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY IN DRIVE, IT SURGED FORWARD. I BRAKED BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. I DEPRESSED BRAKE FULLY, NONETHELESS THE CAR ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY AND VERY QUICKLY. VEHICLE ONLY STOPPED BY VIOLENT COLLISION WITH TWO PARKED VEHICLES AND CEMENT BLOCKS. ONLY GOOD FORTUNE PREVENTED DEATHS OF ANY PASSERS BY. WITNESSES OBSERVED MY FOOT FULLY ON THE DEPRESSED BRAKE PEDAL AS THE CAR WAS AT REST AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 20, 2002, fire
WHILE DRIVING, STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT SO CONSUMER PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT. VEHICLE WAS VERY HARD TO TURN. CONSUMER INSPECTED UNDER HOOD AND NOTICED A SMALL FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. TS