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: vehicle speed control
266 reports, newest first. Show all
Vehicle speed control, Apr 15, 2004
REQUEST INFORMATION ON THE FAILURE REPORT SUMMARY ON TOYOTA CAMRY'S 2002 & 2003, SOLARA'S AND LEXUS ES 300. *PH REPORT SUMMARY IN REGARDS TO THE THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM. *LA
Vehicle speed control, Apr 12, 2004, crash
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. DRIVER WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COLLIDE WITH A WALL. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK
Vehicle speed control, Apr 8, 2004, crash
CONSUMER PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT AND STOPPED AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD ON A CONCRETE CURB. THE PLASTIC UNDER GUARD WAS PULLED OFF WHEN ATTEMPTING TO FREE THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES INVOLVED IN THE INCIDENT.*AK THE VEHICLE ALSO SURGED WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT WAS ON, BUT NOT ENGAGED. *JB
Vehicle speed control, Apr 1, 2004, crash
WHILE PARALLEL PARKING ON A HILL, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED HITTING A PARKED CAR. *PH *MR
Vehicle speed control, Apr 1, 2004
THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF INCIDENCES OF POSSIBLE UNEXPLAINED ACCELERATION OF MY 2003 CAMRY, WHERE CAR SEEMS TO SURGE FORWARD WITHOUT ME DOING ANYTHING.*AK
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
Vehicle speed control, Apr 1, 2004, crash
CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO1 REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH FUEL PUMP GUARD RAIL. DROVE THOUGH IT AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A VEHICLE. *AK *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
Vehicle speed control, Mar 29, 2004, crash
SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAUSED CAR TO JUMP CONCRETE CURB AND HIT A TREE. DRIVER WAS ENTERING A 90 DEGREE PARKING STALL. VEHICLE SPEED BEFORE SUDDEN ACCELERATION WAS LESS THAN TWO MILES PER HOUR (NEARLY STOPPED).*AK UPDATED 7/5/12 *CN
Vehicle speed control, Mar 26, 2004
SPEEDOMETER WAS REGISTERING SPEED TO FAST AND THE ODOMETER WAS 4% OVER TO MANY MILES. (NAR) *PH *CB
Vehicle speed control, Mar 25, 2004, crash
THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO CRASH INTO A WALL AND DAMAGED THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. *JB THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION OCCURRED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO MAKE A TURN. THE SECOND TIME, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, IT COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE THIRD INCIDENT, THE CONSUMER CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT WAS EXAMINED, BUT NO REPAIRS WERE DONE BECAUSE THE EMPLOYEES WENT ON STRIKE. *LA *CB SEE ALSO 10132649. *DSY UPDATED 7/3/12 *CN
Vehicle speed control, Mar 23, 2004
WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP SIGN VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED TWICE FOR PROBLEM, BUT COULD NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK
Vehicle speed control, Mar 19, 2004
SURGE PROBLEM. I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY SE. AT TIMES, WHEN I SLOW DOWN ALMOST TO A STOP AND THEN RE-ACCELERATE MY CAR SURGES FORWARD RATHER THAN ACCELERATING SMOOTHLY.*AK
Vehicle speed control, Mar 18, 2004
WHILE TRYING TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE CAMRY LUNGED FORWARD GOING OVER TWO CONCRETE MEDIANS. IT TORE UP TWO WHEELS AND TIRES ON THE LEFT SIDE. *AK
Vehicle speed control, Mar 17, 2004
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. *AK
Vehicle speed control, Mar 14, 2004
TOYOTA CAMRY-2003-SUDDEN SURGE. *AK UPDATED 7/3/12 *CN UPDATED 07/12/12
Vehicle speed control, Mar 13, 2004
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE BRAKE PEDAL HAS GONE TO THE FLOOR WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO STOP OR SLOW THE CAR. BRAKING OR ACCELERATING THE CAR IS NOT SMOOTH AND THERE ARE SUDDEN ACCELERATIONS OR SURGES OF THE CAR. THE CAR WAS TESTED BY THE DEALER'S SERVICE MANAGER AND BY THE SALESMAN. BOTH AGREED THAT THE CAR HAD SPONGY BRAKING BUT STATED THAT ALL 2003 CAMRYS BEHAVED IN SIMILAR FASHION AND THAT THERE WAS NO "FIX" FOR THE PROBLEM. THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WHICH THEY WERE INVESTIGATING BUT THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM SO THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR ITS REPAIR.*AK
Vehicle speed control, Mar 12, 2004, crash
2003 TOYOTA CAMRY ACCELERATED AS I PULLED IN DRIVEWAY,CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE,MY SON-INLAW'S VEHICLE,MINOR DAMAGE TO HOUSE & BASKETBALL GOAL. *AK
Vehicle speed control, Mar 11, 2004, crash
WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES TO PARK VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE JUMPED THE CURB AND WENT INTO BUSHES. *AK
Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Mar 10, 2004, crash
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES AT A TOLL BOOTH BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED HEAD AND BACK INJURIES, AND WERE TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK
Vehicle speed control, Feb 24, 2004, crash
AFTER GETTING THE VEHICLE WASHED, THE CONSUMER MOVED THE GEAR SHIFT FROM NEUTRAL TO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT AND INJURED A PEDESTRIAN STANDING IN BETWEEN THE TWO VEHICLES. THE PEDESTRIAN SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES TO THE LEGS AND WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL. *AK *JB
Vehicle speed control, Feb 24, 2004, crash
UPON PUTTING VEHICLE IN PARK WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP WITH FOOT DEPRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT A RAPID SPEED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE SIDE SWIPED ANOTHER VEHICLE ON IT'S RIGHT SIDE. A FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT COULDN'T LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE RAPID AND SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *NM *NM UPDATED 7/3/12 *CN UPDATED 07/12/12
Vehicle speed control, Feb 16, 2004
ENGINE REVS UP UNCONTROLLABLY WHILE IN PARK POSITION AND IN REVERSE ALSO. BRAKES HAVE WORKED SUFFUCIENTLY TO KEEP VEHICLE FROM CRASHING INTO ANYTHING. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SINCE I'VE HAD THE CAR ( A 10 MONTH PERIOD).*AK
Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Jan 28, 2004, crash
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP, BUT MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK
Vehicle speed control, Jan 20, 2004
IN NOVEMBER 2003 VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION, TWO MONTHS LATER, ONCE AGAIN WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. DEALER INDICATED BOTH TIMES THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK