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: service brakes
119 reports, newest first. Show all
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Jul 9, 2004
WITHIN 3 WEEKS FROM PURCHASE DATE THE CAR ACCELERATED WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE. THIS HAPPENED TWICE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THEY HAD THE CAR FOR A MONTH IN THAT TIME CORPORATION REPS ALSO TRIED TO FIND THE FAULT. THEY WERE UNABLE TO. I WAS TOLD CAR WAS FINE. I WAS TERRIFIED TO DRIVE IT AND WOULD NOT TAKE IT . THE DEALER WOULD ASUME NO RESPONSIBILITY AND SAID IF I WANTED A NEW CAR I WOULD HAVE TO TRADE THIS MODEL IN TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A NEW CAR. BECAUSE I WAS SO AFRAID TO DRIVE IT AND WOULD NOT TAKE THE CAR ANYPLACE ELSE TO SELL BECAUSE I KNEW HOW DANGEROUS IT WAS (AND SO DID THE DEALER AND IF THEY SOLD THAT DANGEROUS CAR TO ANOTHER IT WAS ON THEIR RESPONSIBILITY NOT MINE) I ACCEPTED THE CONDITIONS PUT FORTH BY MY DEALER AND TRADED MY 3 WEEK OLD TOYOTA IN FOR A NEW TOYOTAAND HAD TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL $4000.00 BECAUSE THE 3 WEEK OLD CAR WITH LESS THAN 1200 MILES ON IT WAS NOW A USED CAR. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jul 6, 2004
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BRAKE PROBLEM SINCE SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. THEN, BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. SHE TOLD DEALER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jul 2, 2004
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING. DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND INDICATED THAT VEHICLE OPERATED AS DESIGNED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jun 25, 2004, crash
VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNWANTED ACCELERATION, RESULTING IN VEHICLE CRASHING INTO BUSHES AND CEMENT EMBANKMENT.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jun 17, 2004, crash
INCIDENT OCCURRED DURING DAYTIME, CLEAR SKIES, DRY ROAD,WITH NO DEBRIS. VEHICLE WAS PRACTICALLY NEW, HAVING LESS THAN 300 MILES. AT 1230 IN AFTERNOON, I WAS DRIVING APPROX. 25-30 MPH ON A SLIGHT DOWNGRADE (IN A 45 MPH ZONE). ANOTHER VEHICLE SUDDENLY PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF VEHICLE THAT WAS 5-6 CAR LENGTHS DIRECTLY AHEAD OF ME. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING THE INTERLOPER. I TOO STEPPED ON BRAKE PEDAL HARD TO AVOID VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. ALTHOUGH I WAS APPLYING SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE (1 LEG PRESS 400+LBS, AND WAS APPLYING APPROX 1/2 TO 3/4 OF THAT) , BUT MY VEHICLE SLOWED NEGLIGIBLE - PROMPTING AN EXPLETIVE VERSION OF "WHAT THE HECK?!?!". AFTER A COUPLE OF INEFFECTIVE ATTEMPTS TO PUSH DOWN BRAKE PEDAL I STOMPED IT, WITH LITTLE OR NO EFFECT. MY VEHICLE ULTIMATELY CAME TO A STOP THROUGH IMPACT WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME (AFTER TRAVELING APPROX 150-200 FEET). THE OTHER DRIVER AND VEHICLE, MY PASSENGER AND I WERE UNHARMED, BUT MY VEHICLE SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT FRONT-END DAMAGE. I REPORTED THE BRAKE PROBLEM TO BOTH MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP (LOCATED 1/4 MILE FROM THE SITE OF THE INCIDENT) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT INCLINED TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM, BUT I PRESSED THE ISSUE WITH TOYOTA AND MY INSURER, UNTIL SOMEONE FROM THE TOYOTA REGIONAL OFFICE IN BALTIMORE AGREED TO EXAMINE MY VEHICLE. THE "EXAMINATION" OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE (FRONT-END DAMAGE AND ALL) HAD BEEN SITTING ON THE DEALERS LOT FOR 3 WEEKS, AND CONSISTED OF A COUPLE OF TEST STOPS IN THE PARKING LOT AND PULLING WHEELS OFF THE VEHICLE IN THE SHOP TO INSPECT THE BRAKES. THIS, OF COURSE, YIELDED NO NEW INFORMATION AND TOYOTA EFFECTIVELY CLOSED THE COMPLAINT. *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Jun 16, 2004, crash
I SLOWLY PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE, STEPPED ON THE BRAKE, AND THE CAR FAILED TO STOP AND SURGED FORWARD. THE CAR HIT THE STORE WALL, FIVE FEET FROM THE PARKING STALL. I REPORTED THIS TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY. THE BRAKES WERE CHECKED AND I WAS TOLD THEY WERE OKAY. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR FOR IT'S FIRST MAINTANCE AT THE TOYOTA DEALER, I TOLD THE SERVICE PERSON TO CHECK THE BRAKES AND WHY. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME THAT THE 2003 CAMRY'S RPMS GO UP IF YOU HAVE THE AIR CONDITIONER ON AND YOU SIMULTANEOUSLY STEP ON THE BRAKES LIGHTLY. THEY DID NOT REPLACE ANY BRAKE PARTS, INSTEAD THEY SUGGESTED THAT I PRESS HARD ON THE BRAKES IF THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ON TO AVOID AN OTHER SURGING INCIDENT.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Apr 26, 2004
ADDING TO THE COMPLAINT ALREADY REGISTERED ABOUT LONG TRAVEL OF BRAKE PEDAL BEFORE BRAKES ACTUALLY BEING APPLIED. DEALER READJUSTED, BUT STILL FAR SHORT OF COMFORTABLE FEELING. DEALER ALSO SUGGESTED I WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH ABS. HA! ALSO ADDING TO COMPLAINT OF WINDSHIELD POPPING NOISE BEFORE ACTUAL CRACK APPEARS. OUR CAMRY'S WINDSHIELD HAS BEEN POPPING AND CREAKING SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR.. SEVERAL TRIPS TO DEALER HAVE NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Apr 20, 2004
WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED, THEN IT ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT THE CURB. *AK THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE ANTILOCK BRAKES. *SC *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Apr 20, 2004, crash
THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UPON DEPRESSION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS RESULTED IN THE CONSUMER BROAD SIDING ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE BRAKES WOULD EVENTUALLY ADJUST TO THE CONSUMER AS THE COMPUTER SETS ITSELF. *SC *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Apr 8, 2004
2003 CAMRY LE HAS DEFECTIVE BRAKE ROTORS SINCE NEW. HAD PROBLEM IDENTIFIED SINCE 1000 MILES. HAS TAKEN ALMOST 1 YEAR SINCE PURCHASE TO GET NEW ROTORS ON CAR. ALWAYS FADES/ VIBRATES WHEN BRAKES ARE HOT.*AK
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
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Apr 1, 2004, crash
CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES LOCKED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO STOP AT A TOLL BOOTH. THIS CAUSED A REAR END COLLISION UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY CONSUMER SUSTAINED A BRUISED CHEST, AND CONSUMER'S WIFE SUSTAINED 2 TWO BROKEN RIBS. CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN HE HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT IT WAS AS IF THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, AND EVEN THOUGH HE HAD FEET ON THE BRAKES, VEHICLE KEPT GOING. HE STATES THAT HE PUSHED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM, IMMEDIATELY CUT THE IGNITION OFF, PUT ON EMERGENCY BRAKES, AND COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP ON THE SHOULDER. HE SAYS THAT THE ONLY THING THAT SAVED HE AND HIS WIFE WAS THE SEAT BELTS. CONSUMER STATED HE SAW ON TV THAT TOYOTA WAS RECALLING 2002-2003 CAMRYS FOR EXCESSIVE ACCELERATION. *AK *SC *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Apr 1, 2004, crash
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL IT WOULD PROCEED TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. *AK THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. *SC THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES WERE SOFT. *JB UPDATED 7/5/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER BRAKING AND COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, HE USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BEFORE PUTTING THE GEAR IN PARK . UPDATED 07/12/12
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 19, 2004, crash
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, AND WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN ENOUGH TO AVOID A COLLISION. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. HOWEVER, CONSUMER WAS CITED. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER TWICE CONCERNING THE BRAKES. DEALER WOULD SIMPLY REMOVE THE RUST AND DO NOTHING ELSE. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Service brakes, Air, Mar 13, 2004
WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL WHEN I APPLIED BRAKES TOWARDS BOTTOM OF HILL AND FRONT BRAKES BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND CAUSED FRONT END TO SHIMMY.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Air bags, Mar 12, 2004, crash
AS I WAS DRIVING UP THE DRIVEWAY OF MY HOME/HOUSE AND IN THE PROCESS OF APPLYING THE BRAKES TO MY 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY THE CAR SURGED FORWARD IMPACTING THE FROM OF MY BRICK HOUSE AND GOING INTO THE MASTER BEDROOM CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE HOUSE AND TO PERSONAL PROPERTY INSIDE THE BEDROOM, ALSO THE CAR SUFFERED GREAT DAMAGE TO THE FRONT UP TO AND INCLUDING COMPLETE BREKAGE AND COLLAPSE OF THE WINSHIELD FOR A TOTAL CAR DAMAGED OF CLOSE TO $8.000.00 DOLLARAS AND OVER $5,000.00 DAMAGE TO THE HOUSE NOT INCLUDING THE DAMAGE DONE TO THE INTERIOR OF THE BEDROOM AND ITS CONTENTS. EXTIMATES OF THE COST OF REPAIRS STILL GOING ON. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 11, 2004
AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM (ANTI-SKID) ACTIVATED PREMATURELY ON TWO OCCASIONS. *PH
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 11, 2004
WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES BRAKE PEDAL PULSATED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK
Service brakes, Air, Feb 24, 2004
OUR 2003 LEASED TOYOTA CAMRY HAS BEEN GREAT FOR THE FIRST YEAR. WE CURRENTLY HAVE APPROX 5600 MILES ON THE CAR. DURING JANUARY AND FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR WE EXPERIENCED TWO SEPARATE ABS (ANTISKID BRAKE SYSTEM) ACTIVATIONS. IN BOTH INCIDENTS THE CAR WAS ON DRY, CLEAN, HARD SURFACED ROADS. THERE WAS NO GRAVEL, DIRT, ICE, ETC OR ANY FOREIGN MATTER ON THE ROADS. THE ROADS WERE ALSO DRY. NO RAIN WAS FALLING. IN BOTH INCIDENTS THE CAR WAS GONG LESS THAN 30 MPH AND IN BOTH CASES THE CAR WAS DESCENDING A SLIGHT HILL. WHEN THE OPERATOR APPLIED BRAKES THE ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATED AND NO AMOUNT OF BRAKE PEDDLE PRESSURE CHANGED THE STOPPING ABILITY OF THE CAR. KICKBACK THRU THE BRAKE PEDDLE WAS FELT BY ME. THE STOPPING DISTANCE WAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY. IN THE FIRST INCIDENT MY WIFE WAS ALONE IN THE CAR AND COMING DOWN A HILL TO A STOP LIGHT. SHE COULD NOT STOP THE CAR BEFORE THE LIGHT AND HAD TO MAKE A HARD RIGHT HAND TURN TO PREVENT HITTING CARS OR BEING HIT BY CARS THAT WERE GOING 45+ MPH ON THEIR ROAD THRU THE LIGHT. AT THE INTERSECTION. FORTUNATELY THERE HAD BEEN A BREAK IN TRAFFIC SO WHEN SHE TURNED RIGHT AT THE RED LIGHT THERE WAS A BREAK IN TRAFFIC SO THEREE WAS NO IMPACT. IN MY SITUATION I WAS DRIVING MY WIFE TO A SHOPPING CENTER AND WAS ALSO COMING DOWN A SLIGHT HILL AND COMING UP BEHIND TRAFFIC WHICH WAS STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN. I COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. I WAS GETTING KICKBACK THRU THE BRADE PEDDLE AND THE CAR BRAKES WERE CYCLING ON AND OFF AND THUS I HAD TO SWING AROUND THE CAR AHEAD AND ONTO THE RIGHTHAND SHOULDER TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR AHEAD AND ALMOST HAD TO CLIMB AN EMBACKMENT TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER MY INCIDENT, THE LATER OF THE TWO INCIDENTS, WE DROVE RIGHT TO OUR TOYOTA LEASING AGENCY AND TURNED THE CAR OVER TO THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT. TOYOTA GOT US A RENTAL VEHICLE WHILE THEY CHECK THE CAR OUT. SO FAR THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT IN CHECKING THE ABS COMPUTER IT SHOWS NO FAULT CODES. *AK
Suspension, Service brakes, Hydraulic, Fuel system, Gasoline, Jan 15, 2004
GAS TANK THUMP WHEN STARTING FROM STOP. SLIGHT THUMP AND HEAVY THUMP ALL DEPENDS HOW MUCH FUEL IN TANK. SUSPENSION BOLTS TIGHTENED TO FACTORY SPECS. PARKING BRAKE OUT OF ADJUSTMENT COMING UP TO HIGH HARD HOLDING ON HILL AND BRAKE PEDAL TO SOFT.
Steering, Service brakes, Hydraulic, Air bags, Jan 13, 2004, crash
WHILE MAKING LEFT TURNS AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKE PEDAL LOCKED UP. AS RESULT, CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jan 9, 2004
BRAKES HAVE A PULSATION IN BRAKE PEDAL WHEN STOPPING. FRONT ROTORS WERE OUT OF ROUND,LATERAL OUT OF ROUND AND REAR DRUMS NEEDED TO BE MACHINED. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ON FOUR OCCASIONS AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. ALSO, WHEN STOPPING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, MOTOR MAKES A FLUTTERING SENSATION.*AK
Service brakes, Air, Dec 28, 2003
CAMRY 2003 BRAKE FAILURE. BRAKE PEDAL FROZE WHEN DRIVING AND WOULD NOT PRESS DOWN AT ALL. FRANTICALLY, WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 25 MPH AND 30 MPH, AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1500 FEET, THE PEDAL WENT DOWN AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO GET THE PEDAL DOWN. (I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM AND TESTED THE BRAKES. THOUGH THE BRAKES SHOWED THAT THEY WERE FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY, THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE BRAKES FAILED DUE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL COMPLETELY FREEZING. I HAD TO CONTINUALLY TRY TO PUSH THE PEDAL DOWN AND FRANTICALLY WARNED MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR THAT THE PEDAL WAS STUCK AND WOULDN'T BUDGE, THAT I LOST THE BRAKES. LUCKILY THERE WASN'T ANYONE ELSE ON THE ROAD BECAUSE IT WAS AT LEAST 1500 FEET BEFORE THE PEDAL EVENTUALLY WENT DOWN, WITH TIGHT HESITATION). *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Dec 22, 2003
BRAKE PEDAL GOES DOWN LOW CLOSE TO THE GAS PEDAL BY ITSELF. WHEN MASTER CYLINDER FLUID IS ADDED THE PEDAL RETURNS TO ITS CORRECT POSITION. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURS. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Dec 10, 2003
WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THIS RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED, THEN THE DEALERSHIP CLEANED AND READJUSTED THE REAR BRAKES. *AK THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE GROUND. *SCC *JB