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
816 reports, newest first.
Steering, Suspension, Jan 11, 2010
2003 TOYOTA CAMRY V6 XLE - SKIDS OR SPINS OCCASIONALLY AND ESPECIALLY IN WET WEATHER (NOT JUST ICY OR SNOW CONDITIONS). MAY 2009 MY CURRENT 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY TOOK A 360 DEGREE TURN (I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE) IN A 60 TO 70 DEGREE TURN AT 40 MILES PER HOUR. IT WAS RAINING ALL DAY ON THAT DAY. ON THAT DAY THE CARE HIT THE GUARD RAIL AND CAUSED FRONT AND REAR BUMPER AND SIDE DAMAGES. ALSO IN OTHER SITUATIONS THE CAR SKIDDED IN WET CONDITION WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A HARD STOP OR TAKING A TURN. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH MOST OF THE TOYOTA MODELS. I HAD A 1994 TOYOTA COROLLA AND A 1995 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. ALL THE 3 VEHICLES HAD SAME SPINNING OR SKIDDING ISSUE IN WET CONDITION ON RAIN. ALSO, I LEARNT THAT ONE OF OUR FRIENDS TOYOTA AVALON SPUN RECENTLY IN WET CONDITION AS WELL. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 9, 2010
I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY 4CYN AND NOTICED BROWNISH OIL SUBSTANCE LEAKING FROM THE CAR. I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THAT HAS BEEN SERVICING MY CAR FOR YEARS ONLY FOR THEM TO TELL ME THAT I HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. WHEN I ASKED THEM TO EXPLAIN HOW THIS HAPPENED AND INFORM THEM THE CAR GAVE ME NO WARNING THEY INDICATED THAT THE HEAD BOLTS WERE STRIPPED AND THIS CAUSED THE COOLANT TO LEAK WHICH IN TURN IS WHY THE ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED. OF COURSE THE QUOTE WAS STARTING AT $3000. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM AND NOTICING THAT THIS IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN OCCURRING OVER SOME TIME AND TOYOTA IS AWARE OF IT BASED ON THE SERVICE BULLETIN 01507 NHTSA#10021542 DATED APRIL 6,2007,TOYOTA SHOULD BE PURSUED WITH A CLASS ACTION SUIT. THERE ARE MANY CAMRY OWNERS (RANGING IN YEARS 2002-2006) WITH THIS PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE HELPED IN SOME KIND OF WAY FROM THE TOYOTA CORPORATION. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 5, 2010
I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH A 2.4 4 CYL. 2AZ-FE MOTOR. AND HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE THE HEADBOLTS PULL OUT OF THE BLOCK, CAUSING A COOLANT LEAK. THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM IS KNOWN TO TOYOTA, AS DESCRIBED IN TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETIN 01507, NHTSA #10021542, DATED APRIL 6 2007. EVEN THOUGH TOYOTA AND YOUR OFFICE IS AWARE THIS ISSUE AFFECTS HUNDREDS OF CONSUMERS, CAUSING REPAIRS ANYWHERE FROM $2000 TO $6000, NOTHING IS BEING DONE TO CORRECT THIS OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW. TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE BLOCK NEEDS TO BE DRILLED AND TAPPED TO ACCOMMODATE INSERTS TO ALLOW THE HEADS TO BE TORQUED TO THE REQUIRED SPECS, OR IN SOME CASES, THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 26, 2009
ENGINE OIL LIGHT CAME ON WITH NO WARNING. WENT TO TOYOTA DEALER IMMEDIATELY AND SAID I HAD SLUDGE BUILD UP AND NEEDED A NEW ENGINE BLOCK - QUOTE $6200. THIS HAPPENED 2 DAYS BEFORE XMAS. I WAS STUNNED AND ASKED TO SPEAK TO MANAGEMENT. TOYOTA DENIED ANY SLUDGE PROBLEMS AND FAILED TO MENTION THAT A CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT WAS MADE FOR MODELS UP TO 2002 FOR THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE A 2003 WITH THE SAME ENGINE SPECS.*TR
Vehicle speed control, Dec 21, 2009, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE ENTERING A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OVER AN EMBANKMENT, AND THEN INTO A CEMENT WALL. THE DRIVER RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE LOWER PART OF THE BODY. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE BODY SHOP. THE INSURANCE COMPANY ALSO INVESTIGATED THE ACCELERATOR, AND CONCLUDED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, TWO YEARS PRIOR THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED SEVERAL TIMES. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED HE WAS ABLE TO REGAIN VEHICLE CONTROL, THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Vehicle speed control, Dec 13, 2009, crash
2003 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE WHILE STOPPED WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE IN A LINE OF CARS WAITING FOR THE TRAFFIC LIGHT TO TURN GREEN, CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CAR IN FRONT CAUSING SIGNIFICANT FRONT-END DAMAGE TO OUR CAR. AGAIN, THE DRIVER'S FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. THE FLOOR MAT (1) WAS ALL THE WAY BACK AGAINST BASE OF THE SEATS AND NOT IN THE AREA OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND (2) THE MAT IS BY DESIGN, CUT BACK 3 TO 4 INCHES SHORT OF THE CARPETED AREA UNDER, NEAR AND AROUND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, AND (3) THE BASE AND REAR OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARE SUSPENDED 2 1/2 TO 3 INCHES AWAY FROM THE CARPETED FLOOR AND IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO PRESS THE ACCELERATOR TO A POSITION CLOSE TO THE FLOOR--AND IT DEFINITELY BEYOND THE PEDAL TRAVEL DISTANCE THAT DRIVERS WOULD/COULD PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE ASSOCIATE WHO SAID "NO PROBLEM FOUND." PROBLEM CONTINUES TO OCCUR PERIODICALLY, BUT WE NOW KNOW TO PRESS DOWN HARDER THAN NORMAL WHEN STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. (WE ALSO NOTED A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH OUR 2006 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE--BUT THE PROBLEM HAPPENS WHEN CAR IS IN REVERSE. WHEN STARTING UP IN THE MORNING AND BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE WITH FOOT COVERING THE BRAKE (AND NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL), THE ENGINE RPMS SUDDENLY ACCELERATE AND IF YOU AREN'T AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND DON'T HAVE YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR CAN SPEED UP SIGNIFICANTLY AND GO OUT OF CONTROL. THIS PROBLEM WAS ALSO REPORTED TO TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE ASSOCIATE WHO ALSO SAID: "NO PROBLEM FOUND.") *TR SEE ALSO 10174244, SAME COMPLAINANT, DIFFERENT VEHICLE. *DSY
Vehicle speed control, Dec 10, 2009
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD BECOME STUCK DUE TO THE ENTRAPMENT OF THE FLOOR MAT. SHE USUALLY HAS TO MANUALLY REMOVE THE FLOOR-MAT TO PREVENT A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED EVERY-TIME SHE OPERATED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT SINCE HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NUMBER 09V388000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL), SHE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REMEDY. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT COULD NOT REACH A REPRESENTATIVE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE, BUT SHE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF REMOVING THE FLOOR- MAT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 162,000.
Vehicle speed control, Nov 30, 2009
ON 2 OCCASIONS THE GAS PEDAL HAS STUCK ON MY 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. ON THE FIRST OCCASION, IT OCCURRED WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELING FORWARD WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE. THE 2ND OCCASION WAS ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE. ON BOTH OCCASIONS I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR UNDER CONTROL BY FORCEFULLY STEPPING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE SECOND TIME THIS OCCURRED WAS A VERY NEAR ACCIDENT - CAME WITHIN INCHES OF HITTING A PARKED VEHICLE. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Nov 30, 2009
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN AT 40 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT INTENTION. AFTER REPEATED BRAKE APPLICATION HE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS WHILE REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY ACCELERATED. HE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY USING THE SAME METHOD. HE WAS IN PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000. UPDATED 2/26/10 *CN THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY PROBLEMS/ UPDATED 05/17/10.*JB
Vehicle speed control, Nov 26, 2009
FIRST, LET ME SAY THAT I AM AND REMAIN A SATISFIED TOYOTA CUSTOMER. HOWEVER, I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE "STUCK ACCELERATOR" TYPE OF INCIDENT IN MY 2003 CAMRY ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. AT FIRST, I CONSIDERED IT TO BE SOME SORT OF RARE EVENT. IT DID SEEM TO ME THAT THE FLOOR MAT AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WERE SOMEHOW "JAMMED" WHEN THAT HAPPENED. CURRENTLY, WITH THE NEWS ABOUT OTHERS HAVING THE SAME EXPERIENCE, WITH NEWER MODELS OF CAMRY, I WANT TO ALERT NHTSA THAT THE PROBLEM MAY EXIST IN MODEL YEARS AS FAR BACK AS 2003. *TR NORMAN F CARNAHAN, PE, PHD
Vehicle speed control, Nov 20, 2009, crash
THIS MORNING I FILED A SAFETY COMPLAINT ABOUT MY 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE DUE TO THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITHOUT WARNING PROBLEM. AT THAT TIME I GAVE INCORRECT FAILURE MILEAGE AS 50,000 MILES. WHEN I CHECKED MY RECORDS OF MILEAGE AT GAS FILL UPS I FOUND THE FOLLOWING: 24 JULY 2008: MILEAGE AT TIME OF INCIDENT WAS BETWEEN 58026 AND 58444. 28 AUG 2008: MILEAGE WAS BETWEEN 59090 AND 59463. 17 OCT 2008: MILEAGE WAS BETWEEN 60257 AND 60540. MILEAGE AT TIME OF ACCIDENT WAS APPROXIMATELY 60399. 14 OCT 2009: MILEAGE WAS BETWEEN 64205 AND 64532. THAT IS AS CLOSE AS I CAN PIN DOWN THE FAILURE MILEAGE . I USED THE 10/17/2008 DATE FOR APPROX. INCIDENT DATE BECAUSE THAT WAS THE ONE TIME THAT OUR CAR HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF US. THE OTHER THREE TIMES WE DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT. I TRUST YOU CAN PUT THIS INFORMATION WITH THE REPORT I FILED THIS MORNING. NOTE: MY E-MAIL ADDRESS MAY CHANGE WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO AS I AM PLANNING ON HOOKING UP TO HIGH SPEED INTERNET ACCESS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. *TR CHARLES & ALGENE ASHWORTH
Vehicle speed control, Nov 20, 2009, crash
SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITHOUT WARNING: 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE: FOUR INCIDENTS TO DATE: WHILE DRIVING CAR IT BEGAN TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY WITHOUT WARNING. TAKING FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR AND PUTTING ONTO BRAKE DID NOT GET THE CAR SLOWED DOWN. HAD TO CUT OFF IGNITION AT THE KEY SWITCH. THE ONLY THING IN COMMON WAS THAT EACH TIME THIS OCCURRED IT HAD BEEN EITHER DAMP, MISTY, RAINING OR RAINING HARD. THIS IS NOT AN ACCELERATOR PEDAL/FLOOR MAT PROBLEM. IT IS A THROTTLE PROBLEM! OUR FLOOR MAT WAS LOCKED DOWN AND DID NOT GET NEAR THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BUT WE REMOVED THE FLOOR MAT ANYWAY. INCIDENTS AS FOLLOWS: 24 JULY 2008 - TRAVELING TO ROANOKE VA SOUTH ON I-81. FEMALE OWNER DRIVING. CRUISE CONTROL ON. DAYTIME. RAINING GENTLY. CAR MADE A ROARING SOUND (LIKE REVVING THE MOTOR WHILE IN NEUTRAL) AND SUDDENLY INCREASED SPEED RAPIDLY. WE GOT THE CAR STOPPED WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. 28 AUG 2008- TRAVELING TO ROANOKE VA SOUTH ON I-81. FEMALE OWNER DRIVING. CRUISE CONTROL ON. NIGHT. RAINING VERY HARD. CAR SUDDENLY MADE THE ROARING SOUND AND THE CAR ACCELERATED RAPIDLY. WE GOT THE CAR STOPPED WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. 17 OCT 2008 - ON A CITY STREET IN LYNCHBURG VA. MALE OWNER DRIVING. CRUISE CONTROL OFF. DAYTIME. HAD BEEN RAINING HARD ALL DAY. DRIVING SLOWLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. CAR MADE ROARING SOUND AND ACCELERATED RAPIDLY. CAR HIT VEHICLE IN FRONT OF IT. NO SERIOUS DAMAGE. 14 OCT 2009- TRAVELING ON CITY STREET IN HENRICO VA. MALE OWNER DRIVING. CRUISE CONTROL OFF. SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. MORNING AND JUST STARTING A MISTY RAIN. CAR MADE ROARING SOUND AND CAR ACCELERATED RAPIDLY. NO ACCIDENT. MCGEORGE TOYOTA, BROAD ST., HENRICO(RICHMOND)VA HAS MADE EVERY EFFORT THEY KNOW TO TRY TO FIND OUT WHAT CAUSED THESE INCIDENTS, WITHOUT RESULTS. THEY KEPT THE CAR AND DROVE IT IN GOOD AND RAINY WEATHER AND DID NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEY CALLED THE ENGINEERS IN CALIFORNIA WHO DON'T HAVE ANSWERS. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Nov 15, 2009, crash
I WAS SLOWLY PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT AT THE MALL AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND I CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS DRIVING 100MPH. I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS PROBABLY DUE TO THE CAR MATS. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE MY MATS WERE IN PLACE AFTER THE CRASH. THERE WAS MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE CAR AND THE TREE.*TR
Seats, Nov 15, 2009
I PURCHASED A NEW TOYOTA CAMRY IN 2003. APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS LATER THE DRIVER'S ELECTRIC SEAT FAILED. THE GEARS LOWERING AND RAISING THE BACK PART OF THE SEAT WERE GRINDING AND COULD NOT POSITION THE SEAT BACK IN A COMFORTABLE POSITION. TOYOTA OF MANHATTAN BEACH REPAIRED THE SEAT IN UNDER WARRANTY INSTEAD OF REPLACING IT AS I HAD REQUESTED. APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS LATER THE CHAIR FAILED AGAIN IN THE SAME MANNER. TOYOTA OF PASADENA REPAIRED IT UNDER WARRANTY IN 7/07 INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE SEAT AS I HAD REQUESTED. HOWEVER, THEY FAILED TO FIX THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. IN SEPTEMBER/09 THE SEAT FAILED YET A THIRD TIME IN THE SAME MANNER. (IT IS HARD TO TELL WHEN EXACTLY THE SEAT ACTUALLY FAILED SINCE I EXERCISE THE CONTROLS NO MORE THAN ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR). I BROUGHT IT IN TO TOYOTA OF PASADENA FOR INSPECTION. THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD LOOK INTO HAVING TOYOTA REPAIR IT UNDER WARRANTY BUT NEVER CALLED BACK. AFTER COMPLAINING TO TOYOTA CORPORATE TOYOTA OF PASADENA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER CALLED BACK AND TOLD ME THEY ONLY WARRANT THEIR WORK FOR ONE YEAR. I TOLD HER THAT THE SEAT WAS A LEMON AND SHOULD BE REPLACED UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY. I ALSO POINTED OUT TO HER THAT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE IF THE SEAT BECAME STUCK IN THE WRONG POSITION BUT SHE DIDN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING MORE. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Nov 5, 2009, crash
2003 TOYOTA CAMRY INVOLVED IN AN 8 CAR ACCIDENT ON 6/20/09. CAR ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY AND DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO STOP CAR.*TR
Vehicle speed control, Nov 4, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY, AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OCCURRED WITHOUT APPLICATION TO THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS. THE ENGINE RPM'S BEGAN TO INCREASE. THE CONTACT COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE WITH APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURRED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERNS OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,000.
Steering, Oct 19, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY LE. WHEN TURNING THE STEERING COLUMN SHE HEARD A VERY PECULIAR NOISE. SHE CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ASSISTANCE UNLESS SHE PAID FOR THE REPAIRS OUT OF POCKET. SHE HAS NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 76,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 17, 2009
I HAD TO DO A HEAD GASKET REPAIR AND REPLACE THE THERMOSTAT ON MY 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY DUE TO MALFUNCTIONING THREADS FOR THE BOLTS ON THE HEAD GASKET. WHEN THE MECHANIC TOOK THE HEAD OFF HE REALIZED THE 3 BACK BOLTS WERE LOOSE. WHEN HE TRIED TO REPLACE THE HEAD, THE 3 BACK BOLTS WOULD NOT TORQUE TO PROPER PRESSURE. REALIZING THAT THE THREADS WERE STRIPPED IT WAS DISCUSSED ABOUT REPLACING THE ENGINE OR HAVING THE HOLES DRILLED OUT AND FIXED WITH TIMESERTS. I WENT WITH THE TIMESERTS REALIZING THAT IF I REPLACED THE ENGINE WITH THE SAME TYPE I'D BE FACING THIS PROBLEM AGAIN. I BELIEVE THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT HAVE OVERHEATED IN THE FIRST PLACE IF THE 3 BACK BOLTS WERE NOT ALREADY LOOSE. THE MACHINE SHOP OPERATOR STATED THIS WAS HIS 59TH TOYOTA THIS YEAR HE HAD TO DO THE TIME-SERTS ON THE ENGINE. I HAD ALL 10 OF THE HOLES RE DONE AT A COSTLY PRICE TO MAKE SURE THIS WOULD NOT HAPPEN TO THE OTHER BOLTS. *TR
Visibility, Oct 5, 2009
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE, AND THEN THE SUN ROOF SHATTERED. HE SWERVED INTO ANOTHER LANE, BUT QUICKLY REGAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING INSPECTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 22,714. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Vehicle speed control, Sep 30, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SOLARA. THE ALL WEATHER FLOOR MATS INTERFERED WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. AS A CONSEQUENCE, HER RISK FOR A VEHICLE CRASH WAS INCREASED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 74,000. UPDATED 11/3/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED EVEN WHEN THE FLOOR MAT WAS ATTACHED, IT ALWAYS BECAME DETACHED MANEUVERING ITSELF UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE FLOOR MAT HAS NEVER STAYED IN PLACE SINCE THE CONSUMER OWNED THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 11/05/09. *JB
Vehicle speed control, Sep 9, 2009
I PURCHASED A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY IN THE FALL OF 2002. ONE WEEK AFTER THE PURCHASE I WAS AT A STOP SIGN, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I TAPPED THE ACCELERATOR BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITH THE TACHOMETER READING NEARLY 9,000 RPM'S. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF WITH THE IGNITION. THE NEXT DAY I CALLED MY DEALER (FITZGERALD TOYOTA, CHAMBERSBURG, PA.) AND REPORTED THE INCIDENT AND IT WAS SUGGESTED I HAD STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR VS. THE BRAKE. I DIDN'T ARGUE THE POINT AND THE CAR PERFORMED FINE UP UNTIL TWO WEEKS AGO WHEN THE SAME THING HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN THREE DAYS. I SPOKE WITH FITZGERALD TOYOTA YESTERDAY (JAY NEWCOMER) TO ASCERTAIN IF ANYONE ELSE HAD REPORTED A SIMILAR PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD "FITZGERALD HADN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THIS MORNING I CHECKED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THIS PROBLEM WAS FAIRLY COMMON WITH TOYOTA'S OF THAT YEAR PLUS OTHER YEAR'S MODELS. IS THE NHTSA AWARE OF A PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA'S AND SUDDEN ACCELERATION? *TR
Vehicle speed control, Aug 30, 2009, crash
I BACKED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, AND WHILE STEPPING ON THE BRAKE, PREPARING TO SHIFT TO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THE CAR BACKED AT HIGH SPEED INTO MY NEIGHBOR'S DRIVEWAY, AND WOULD ONLY STOP AFTER CRASHING INTO A BRICK WALL. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A BODY REPAIR COMPANY, AND WAS REPAIRED AT GREAT COST. TOYOTA INSPECTED IT AND FOUND NO DEFECT. SINCE THEN THE CAR HAS STARTED ACCELERATING SEVERAL TIMES, WHEN MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE GAS PEDAL, BUT I WAS ABLE TO SLOW IT DOWN. *TR
Air bags, Aug 21, 2009, crash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA CONVERTIBLE. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO AVOID HITTING AN ANIMAL THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO A STATIONARY WOODEN POWER POLE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE ON THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED; HOWEVER, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED NUMEROUS INJURIES SUCH AS 10 BROKEN RIBS, NUMEROUS BACK INJURIES, INJURED SPLEEN, AN INJURY AND CUT TO LEFT BICEP. THE DRIVER ALSO SUSTAINED NUMEROUS BRUISES AND BROKEN BONES IN HER RIGHT HAND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE DEFECTIVE SINCE THEY FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 12, 2009
2003 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE 4 CYL. WITH LESS THAN 100K OVERHEATED. TOOK VEHICLE TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED ME OF A COOLANT LEAK AT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. DEALER HAS VEHICLE, REPORTS IT IS NOT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THAT IS LEAKING BUT 3 REAR STEEL BOLTS THAT GO INTO ALUMINUM ARE STRIPPED. TOYOTA IS "UNWILLING TO PARTICIPATE" IN THE REPAIR WITH AN ESTIMATE OF $6900.00 WHICH INCLUDES PURCHASING A NEW BLOCK. THIS SAME ISSUE IS ALL OVER THE TOYOTA FORUMS, USUALLY THIS ISSUE APPEARS AS A PROBABLE BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THIS IS NOT THE CASE IN MY VEHICLE. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS DEFECT BUT IS DOING NOTHING TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS. THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON OCCURRENCE AND AS MORE VEHICLES ATTAIN APPROXIMATELY THE SAME MILEAGE, MORE REPORTS ARE BEING MADE OF THIS FAULT. THIS TYPE OF REPAIR SHOULD NOT BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CONSUMER WHEN THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THIS MOST CERTAINLY SHOULD PROMPT A RECALL. PERHAPS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IS IN ORDER. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 5, 2009
2003 TOYOTA CAMRY LE, 4 CYL., AUTOMATIC, APPROX 60,000 MILES. PROBLEM: UNCOMMANDED FULL ACCELERATION. DRIVING CONDITIONS: CLEAR WEATHER, DAYTIME, DRY SURFACE HIGHWAY, CRUISE CONTROL - OFF, TRANSMISSION GEAR SELECTED - DRIVE. CONSEQUENCE: MAJOR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. CORRECTIVE ACTION: THROTTLE / SENSOR CHECKED FOR FAILURE AT SHOP - NO DEFECT NOTED - COULD NOT DUPLICATE FAILURE. REPLACEMENT THROTTLE $1100 WITH LABOR. *TR