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, Jul 19, 2004
WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS VEHICLE SURGED FOWARD WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK *NM
Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Jul 15, 2004, crash
WHILE PULLING INSIDE OF A PARKING SPACE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER PLACED BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. IT JUMPED A CURB AND COLLIDED WITH A GLASS WINDOW INSIDE A STORE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK *JB
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
Vehicle speed control, Jul 1, 2004
THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD EVEN WHEN THE HER FOOT WAS ON THE BREAK. THE BREAK PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, WHEN APPLIED. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
Vehicle speed control, Jun 25, 2004
AFTER BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND COMING TO A STOP SIGN CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AGAIN AT ANOTHER STOP VEHICLE SURGED, NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKES ON THREE OCCASIONS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS BUT, THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK *NM UPDATED 7/5/12 *CN
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
Fuel system, Gasoline, Vehicle speed control, Jun 10, 2004
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, CONSUMER DEPRESS BRAKES TO MAKE A STOP. WITHOUT ANY INDICATION, THE VEHICLE SURGED. THE DRIVER TRIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE BUT AT AN EXTENDED DISTANCE. IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE THE CONSUMER SHIFT GEAR INTO NEUTRAL. *AK
Vehicle speed control, Jun 7, 2004, crash
ON MAY 12, 2004 AT TIME 15:33 .MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. ND WAS TWO BLOCKS FROM OUR HOUSE, MAKING A RIGHT TURN FROM FARMS RD CIRCLE ONTO RANGER ROAD. AS SHE MADE THE RIGHT TURN, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, AUSING HER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR, CAUSING HER TO JUMP THE CURB ON THE LEFT IDE OF THE STREET, AND STRIKE A PORTABLE BASSKETBALL NET/POLE ON THE CURB IN FRONT OF THE CORNER HOUSE . THE POLE SMASHED IN THE FRONT ROOF OF THE CAR AND SMASHED THE WINDSHIELD. THE CAR CONTINUED DOWN THE GRASS CURB AND ITS UNDERCARRIAGE STRUCK THE CURB WHILE GOING BACK ONTO RANGER ROAD. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE CAR WAS DAMAGED. *AK
Vehicle speed control, Jun 4, 2004, crash
WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK HIS FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, WHILE SITTING AT AN INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THREE VEHICLES AT A USED CAR DEALERSHIP AND A UTILITY POLE. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS TOTALED ALONG WITH ONE OF THE USED VEHICLES. NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES WERE REPORTED. *AK *NM UPDATED 7/5/12 *CN
Vehicle speed control, May 31, 2004, crash
VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY SURGED FORWARD. CAUSING ME TO CRASH INTO THE GARAGE. *AK UPDATED 7/5/12
Vehicle speed control, May 30, 2004, crash
AS WE WERE PULLING OUT OF OUR PARKING SPACE ON THIS DAY, OUR 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY SEEMED TO ACCELERATE WHILE THE BRAKE WAS PRESSED. IN TURN WE SLAMMED INTO A PARKED CAR WHICH THEN HIT ANOTHER CAR, THAT HIT ANOTHER CAR. LUCKILY NONE WAS CRITICALLY INJURED THOUGH SOME MINOR INJURIES OCCURRED TO MY WIFE UPON IMPACT. ALSO, EVER SINCE WE HAVE BOUGHT THE CAR IT HAS DONE THIS FROM TIME TO TIME OR WE HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE BRAKES. UPON TAKING TO THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES, THEY ASSURED ME THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE BRAKES OR ANYTHING ELSE. I FEEL THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED OR CRITICALLY INJURED. IN MY EYES THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. NOT TO MENTION THE DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE TO OUR CAR AND THE OTHER INNOCENT VICTIM'S VEHICLES. *LA
Vehicle speed control, May 11, 2004
LTR FM EUGENE KAROL (MD) WRITER OWNER OF A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY SEEKING INFORMATION ON PREVIOUS INVESTIGATION CONDUCTED BY NTHSA RE: SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF TOYOTA VEHICLES. *MR *LA SEE VOQ 10067327, 10072208 AND 10073396 ALSO. *DSY THERE WERE AT LEAST 11 MORE TOYOTA'S THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR PROBLEM. TOYOTA ADVISED THE CONSUMER THAT THEY WERE HOLDING OFF ON ACTIONS UNTIL DOT COMPILES THE INVESTIGATION. *SC *JB
Vehicle speed control, May 11, 2004
LTR FM EUGENE KAROL (MD) WRITER OWNER OF A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY SEEKING INFORMATION ON PREVIOUS INVESTIGATION CONDUCTED BY NHTSA RE: SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF TOYOTA VEHICLES REPLY TO THE BALTIMORE DISTRICT OFC DOT #2004-4208 (REF ES04-03508 DUE 5/20/04). *MR *SC *JB SEE VOQS 10067327, 10072208 AND 10073435. *DSY *JB
Vehicle speed control, May 11, 2004
WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK SEE VOQS 10072208, 10073396 AND 10073435. *DSY *LA WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS MOVED FROM DRIVE TO PARK THE ENGINE RACED AND REVVED. THE CONSUMER IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT IF THE SHIFTER WAS MOVED FROM PARK TO DRIVE THAT SUDDEN ACCELERATION WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. *NM UPDATED 7/5/12 *CN
Vehicle speed control, May 11, 2004, crash
WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. CONSUMER HEARD THE ENGINE MOTOR RACING. THIS OCCURRED WHILE PULLING INTO A DRIVEWAY. VEHICLE HIT A PARKED VEHICLE'S BUMPER, A POST, AND A FENCE BEFORE STOPPING. *AK INSURANCE CLAIMS DEPARTMENT SAID THAT A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING ON THE VEHICLE ON THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM WHICH GIVES INFORMATION TO THE THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM. *LA
Vehicle speed control, May 11, 2004, crash
WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HIT A WALL. THE CAUSE OF THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION WAS UNDETERMINED. *JB *SC *JB
Vehicle speed control, May 6, 2004
LTR FWD FM EUGENE J. KAROL, JR. (MD) RE SUDDEN ACCELERATION DEFECT FOR HIS 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY, REQUESTS THE STATUS OF ANY NHTSA INVESTIGATION INTO SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND TOYOTA VEHICLES, REPLY IN DUPLICATE ATTN. DENISE NOOE @ANNAPOLIS, MD OFC. *PH *SC SEE VOQS 10067327, 10073396 AND 10073435. *DSY
Vehicle speed control, Apr 29, 2004, crash
WHEN COMING OUT OF A PARKING LOT ACCELERATOR STUCK, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE OUT OF CONTROL. VEHICLE GRAZED ANOTHER VEHICLE, WENT ACROSS A STREET, GRAZED A BUILDING, AND DROVE STRAIGHT INTO ANOTHER BUILDING. DRIVER WAS CONSCIOUS WHEN PARAMEDIC ARRIVED. THEY FOUND THE DRIVER WITH BOTH FEET STILL ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. DRIVER WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL, AND LATER DIED DUE TO FATAL INJURIES FROM THE CRASH. THE INSURANCE COMPANY PRESERVED THE VEHICLE AS EVIDENCE. THE POLICE REPORT STATED THE CRASH WAS DUE TO A MECHANICAL DEFECT. *AK *NM UPDATED 02/26/10 *BF UPDATED 09/02/10*JB UPDATE 9/21/2011*CW
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
Vehicle speed control, Apr 20, 2004, crash
THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN THE DRIVER PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, INSTEAD THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNWANTED ACCELERATION, AND CRASHED INTO SOME BUSHES AND A CEMENT EMBANKMENT. *AK *JB
Vehicle speed control, Apr 20, 2004, crash
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION PROBLEM. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE, AND VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED, KNOCKING DOWN A PARKING SIGN. *AK B *NM
Vehicle speed control, Apr 20, 2004, crash
THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION UPON MAKING A RIGHT TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE. THE VEHICLE HIT A CONCRETE WALL. THIS FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHILE TURNING RIGHT ONTO A MAIN STREET. *AK THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON ANOTHER OCCASION, BUT THERE WAS NO COLLISION AS THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE TO MOVE UP BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE AT A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE BY ITSELF. THE CONSUMER IMMEDIATELY BRAKED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *SC *JB SEE ODI 10101616 AND 10101790. *DSY UPDATED 7/5/12 *CN
Vehicle speed control, Apr 20, 2004
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AN INTERMITTENT ACCELERATION PROBLEM. WHEN THIS OCCURRED CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT, VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. CONSUMER HAD TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. *AK DEALER CAN'T LOCATE THE PROBLEM ON VEHICLE. *LA
Vehicle speed control, Apr 16, 2004
VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE WHEN GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED. ALSO, UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY.*AK