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, Nov 24, 2003
DURING A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE CHECK, THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE REAR BRAKE PADS LOCKED UP AND DAMAGED THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. THE DEALER RESURFACED THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS AND REPLACED THE REAR BRAKE PADS. *JB *NLM
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Nov 20, 2003
MY WIFE RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2003 CAMRY LE AND HAS AN ISSUE WITH THE BRAKING ON THE VEHICLE. IN OUR OPINIONS THERE IS EXCESSIVE PEDAL TRAVEL BEFORE THE BRAKING SYSTEMS STARTS TO ENGAGE AND YOU MUST PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL PRACTICALLY TO THE FLOOR IN ORDER TO STOP. AS A RESULT, MY WIFE NEARLY HAD TWO ACCIDENTS DURING SUDDEN STOPS. WE BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEIR ASSESSMENT WAS THAT THE BRAKES ARE FINE AND WE MUST GET USED TO THEM. *LA
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Nov 7, 2003, crash
A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY, V-6, WITH ALL SAFETY EQUIPMENT EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGEMENT, ACTUAL TURN-OFF, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. SOMETIMES THE BRAKE PEDAL NEEDED TO BE LIFTED WITH THE LEFT FOOT TO RESTART/RE-ENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. LATER, WHILE PARALLEL PARKING, ON APPLYING THE BRAKE, THE CAR SURGED AHEAD HITTING THE SUV PARKED AHEAD. TOYOTA DEALER, AND FIELD TECHNICIAN DROVE VEHICLE AND THE ONLY THING NOTICED WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL WENT OFF WHEN TURNING AROUND IN A DRIVEWAY. THE PROBLEM WAS SPORADIC ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN FIRST OBSERVED. TOYOTA LEGALLY DENIED THE CLAIM AFTER OVER 3 MONTHS TIME FROM REPORTING TO THEIR REGIONAL CENTER. NO INJURIES OCCURRED. THE MASTER CYLINDER HAS BEEN REPLACED AND THE FRONT END REPAIRED. THE CAR APPEARS TO BE OPERATING SATISFACTORILY. *LA THE CONSUMER STATED IF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED SLIGHTLY TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL, HE STILL HAS TO LIFT THE PEDAL TO ENGAGE IT AGAIN. UPDATED 03/05/10
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Oct 15, 2003
PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE PEDAL AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL ON 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. *MR THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WERE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. THE PEDAL MOVED IN DISTANCE BEFORE HARD BRAKING OCCURRED. THE BRAKES WOULD STOP THE VEHICLE BUT THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR. IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT THE WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS PRESSED AS WELL. THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE TWO WERE THREE INCHES. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO SHOOT FORWARD WHEN BRAKING. *SCC *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Sep 20, 2003
BRAKE PEDAL OF 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY GOES TO THE FLOOR! DEALER SAYS THEY HAVE HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS BUT CORPORATE SAYS THAT'S NORMAL. I FEEL IT'S DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY TO SHORT DRIVERS. THIS CAR IS BRAND NEW AND I HAVE DRIVEN FOUR OTHER CAMRY'S, A 2002 AND 3-2003 S. THE DEALER SAYS THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN THE NEWER BODY STYLE BUT "THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH IT." 8JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Sep 4, 2003
CONSUMER NOTICED THAT WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES PEDAL IT TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN CONTACTED. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD TRAVEL TIME ON THE PEDAL ABOUT ONE INCH AND SPONGY. DEALER STATED ALL 2002'S AND 2003'S HAD THAT PROBLEM. *PH *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Sep 3, 2003
BRAKES DO NOT REACT UNLESS PRESSED TO THE FLOOR. *MR THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO TWO DIFFERENT TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS WHERE THEY SUGGESTED THAT THE BRAKES WERE NORMAL. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATED THAT THE MINIMUM PEDAL CLEARANCE WHEN DEPRESSED WITH FORCE OF 110 FOOT POUNDS WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING SHOULD BE 2.5 INCHES. THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE BRAKE MEASUREMENT WAS 0.5 INCHES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE MEANS TO TEST THE REQUIRED PEDAL SPECIFICATION. *SCC *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Equipment, Aug 21, 2003
ON THE FREEWAY WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES FOR EMERGENCY STOP IT WENT TO THE FLOOR.T TOOK EXTENDED DISTANCE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER CHANGED THE MAIN CYLINDER, BUT AFTER A WEEK THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE. THE BRAKE PEDAL DOES NOT HAVE ANY RESERVE DISTANCE AS IT SPECIFIED IN THE MAINTANANCE AND REPAIR MANUAL, THE PEDAL IS TOO SOFT AND SPONGY. BECAUSE THE BRAKE PEDAL SOFTNESS THE BRAKING TIME IS INCREASED BY 3 SECONDS. WHEN I ASKED THE ASSITANT MANGER HAD THEY PERFORMED ACTUAL TESTS ON THE VEHICLE AFTER THE REPAIR HE TOLD ME THAT THEY DID A COMPUTERIZED BRAKE TEST, BUT WHEN I ASKED FOR HTE PRINTOUT HE SAID THAT THE COMPUTER CANNOT PRINT IT. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Aug 1, 2003
2003 TOYOTA CAMRY V6 (MIDYEAR 210 HP MOTOR). THE BRAKES ON THIS CAR FADE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WHEN DEPRESSING THE PEDAL. THIS IS VERY DISCONCERTING AS THERE ISN'T ANY "PEDAL" TO THE BRAKE AND HAS TO JUST KEEP PRESSING, PRESSING, PRESSING THE PEDAL UNTIL THE CAR STOPS. THE TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE SAYS THIS IS HOW THE CAMRY BRAKES ARE DESIGNED AND IT IS NORMAL. THE TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE INSISTS THAT SINCE HE CAN NOT REENGINEER THE CAR HE CANNOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP WITH THE PROBLEM. HE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER WAS "OBVIOUSLY" CONCERNED WITH THE PROBLEM, BUT THE TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE DISMISSED HIS CONCERN. IT APPEARS THAT TOYOTA "THINKS" IT'S SMARTER THAN THE REST OF US. BUT PERHAPS THEY SHOULD TAKE A STEP BACK AND LOOK AT WHERE THAT ATTITUDE HAS GOTTEN A FEW OF THE OTHER AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURERS. THE CAMRY'S BRAKES DO NOT GIVE THE DRIVER A FEELING THAT THE BRAKES WILL STOP THE CAR. IN FACT, THE CAR DOES NOT STOP. THESE BRAKES ARE DANGEROUS. *AK *SCC
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Aug 1, 2003
CONSUMER NOTICED THAT AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE WENT INTO EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY DEALER. TECHNICIAN ADJUSTED BOTH REAR BRAKE SHOES.*AK *CB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jul 25, 2003
WHILE CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 15MPH THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jul 10, 2003
THE BRAKE PEDAL HAS TO BE PRESSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. ALSO GAS AND BRAKE PEDALS ARE THE SAME HEIGHT AND CLOSE TOGETHER. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT WAS HOW THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jun 24, 2003
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN TRYING TO APPLY THE BRAKES THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL GO TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jun 22, 2003
I PARKED MY 2003 CAMRY (WITH UNDER 5000 MILES ON IT) ON A STEEP, CIRCULAR DRIVEWAY ON A DRIZZLY MORNING. WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE, CREEPING FROM A DEAD START, MY BRAKES FAILED...OR MY TIRES DIDN'T GRIP THE ASPHALT. I DON'T KNOW WHICH. I JAMMED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I WENT SKIDDING DOWN THE INCLINE. WHEN I REACHED THE BOTTOM, MY CAR FINALLY STOPPED. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO CROSS TRAFFIC, SO I AVOIDED A COLLISION. I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE EXTENSIVE SKID MARKS LEFT BY MY CAR. *NLM
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jun 16, 2003
THE CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM IN MANUFACTURING OR QUALITY CONTROL OF 2003 CAMRY BRAKE SYSTEM. *MR THE CONSUMER BELIEVED WHEN THE VEHICLE LEFT THE FACTORY, THE BRAKES WERE OUT OF ADJUSTMENT. WHEN THE CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES, HE DISCOVERED THE BRAKES WERE SPONGY AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR. IT WAS DISCOVERED THE REAR BRAKES WERE OUT OF ADJUSTMENT, THE FRONT BRAKE PADS CONTAINED GLAZE AND THE FRONT SPRINGS WERE INOPERATIVE. *TS *JB *CB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, May 20, 2003, crash
I AM VERY CONCERNED WITH THE BRAKES ON MY '03 CAMRY LE. WHEN CONTINUED OR STRONG PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE BRAKES THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. ON SAID DATE I REAR-ENDED SOMEONE BECAUSE OF THIS DEFICIT. TOYOTA LEGAL GOT INVOLVED AND SAID IT WAS 'NORMAL'. THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS VERY DANGEROUS & MISLEADING! *NLM
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 3, 2003
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BRAKE PROBLEMS.*AK *JB
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.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jan 6, 2003
VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP. CONSUMER HAD THEIR FOOT ON THE BRAKES, AND THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE PEDAL ARE TOO SOFT. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THEY WERE HAVING PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL/YEAR BRAKES, AND THINKS THE CAUSE IS THE MASTER CYCLINDER. PH