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.
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 29, 2009
VEHICLE ENGINE OIL SLUDGE AND ASSOCIATED PROBLEMS CAUSED VEHICLE TO STOP COMING OFF BRIDGE OVERPASS ON BUSY STREET. THOUGH THE ENGINE IS COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY, CLAIM WAS DENIED. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 28, 2009
2003 CAMRY, 4 CYLINDER, 2.4L ENGINE, XLE MODEL. FLUTTERING NOISE UNDER LIGHT ACCELERATION FROM THE ENGINE AREA. DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $760.00. ENGINE HAD 86,000 MILES. VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS FAILURE WHICH SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED WITH A CAR OF THIS SUPPOSED QUALITY. I RATE THIS CAR A 2 OUT OF 5. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 6, 2009
03 CAMRY 4 CYL. 2.4L. ONLY 32000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING TO WORK IN THE MORNING, COOLANT LEAKING FROM A HOSE ATTACHED TO THE THROTTLE BODY. ENGINE BECAME OVERHEATED. NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. HAD TO STOP THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES ON THE WAY TO WORK. THROTTLE BODY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE. IT COSTS MORE THAN $1200 TO REPLACE. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 24, 2009
VEHICLE IS 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE - 1ST INCIDENT OCCURRED 10-27-06 - OIL LIGHT CAME ON, STOPPED AT FULL SERVICE STATION, LESS THAN 1/2 QT LOW, CRANKED CAR & LIGHT WAS OFF, WENT APPROX 25 MILES, PULLED UP TO STOP SIGN, CAR DIED, WOULDN'T CRANK, HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, THEY RAN QUICK TEST & GOT CODE P0340, FOUND INTAKE CAM BROKEN, ENGINE DIRTY, PICKUP STOPPED UP,INTAKE& EXHAUST CAM STUCK IN CYLINDER HEAD, GAVE ESTIMATE FOR USED ENGINE, CAR HAD 56,738 MILES & WAS UNDER POWER TRAIN WARRANTY, THEY SAID DUE TO OIL SLUDGE, BLAMED ON NOT CHANGING OIL, HAD ALL MAINTENANCE RECORDS, ACCUSED MY MECHANIC OF FALSIFYING DOCS BUT FINALLY AGREED TO REPAIR. THEY DID NOT REPLACE ENGINE, THEY REPLACED CYLINDER HEADS, CAMS, VALVES, TIMING CHAIN & GUIDES, OIL PICKUP, CLEANED ENGINE & REASSEMBLED. 2ND INCIDENT - MID MAY 2009 - DRIVING, NO LIGHTS CAME ON, CAR STARTED LOSING POWER & SMOKING BAD, PULLED OVER, OIL WAS SPLATTERED CAUSING SMOKING, WAS NOT RUNNING HOT, STILL HAD SOME OIL EVEN AFTER SPLATTERING, TOWED TO MECHANIC, HE SAID DUE TO SLUDGE, DAMAGE INCLUDED 3 HOLES IN BLOCK, 1 HOLE IN OIL PAN, #4 CONNECTING ROD DAMAGED BAD, #4 PISTON SHATTERED, #4 CYLINDER HEAD DAMAGED, ENGINE A TOTAL LOSS, STILL HAVE OLD ENGINE, CAR HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. TOYOTA GAVE ME A CASE #, THEN ON 06-24-09 TOYOTA DENIED ANY KIND OF REPAIR STATING THE 2003'S WERE NOT COVERED UNDER THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT & CAR WAS TOO FAR OUTSIDE WARRANTY. CAR HAS APPROX 96,000 MILES. TOYOTA CLAIMS THEY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM WITH THE NEW ENGINES AFTER 2001, BUT APPARENTLY THE NEW ENGINES HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE ONES IN THE LAWSUIT. THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, TOO MANY TOYOTA OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE ALL MY MAINTENANCE RECORDS SHOWING TIMELY OIL CHANGES. I COULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT CAUSING INJURY AND/OR DEATH TO MYSELF OR PERSONS IN INCOMING TRAFFIC WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THANK GOD NO ONE WAS INJURED. *TR
Tires, Jun 4, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE VEHICLE HAS EHA VALVE STEMS, MODEL TR0413 (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE LOST COMPLETE TIRE PRESSURE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VALVE STEMS FRACTURED. THE TIRE AND VALVE STEMS WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STILL HAS POSSESSION OF THE VALVE STEMS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. UPDATED 7/1/09 *CN UPDATED 07/07/09.*JB
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 3, 2009
2002 ALTIMA 2.5S CATALYTIC CONVERTER BACKFIRED INTO THE ENGINE CAUSING HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION AND OTHER PROBLEMS REQUIRING THE ENGINE TO NEED REPLACEMENT IN MY CAR AT 107,000 MILES THERE WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT BUT A FAILURE ON THE CAR AND NISSAN REFUSAL TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT FINANCIALLY WARRANTY GONE. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, May 26, 2009
HEARD GURGLING IN THE DASHBOARD AND SOON AFTER THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. TOOK IT IN TO THE AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY DISCOVERED A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND WHEN THEY STARTED REMOVING THE HEAD BOLTS, THEY DISCOVERED THE BOLTS HAD PULLED THROUGH THE ALUMINUM BLOCK WHICH CAUSED THE HEAD GASKET TO BLOW. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, May 12, 2009
IT BEGAN WITH THE RUSHING SOUND OF FLUID (COOLANT) SOMEWHERE IN THE DASH. WHEN I TOOK IT IN BECAUSE I WAS SMELLING COOLANT AND NOTICED SOME SMOKE, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE HEAD GASKET BLEW. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 12 MONTHS THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED, I FULLY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE FOR THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM IN MAY 2008...CLEARLY A DEFECT SOMEWHERE IN THE DESIGN. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, May 12, 2009
IT BEGAN WITH THE RUSHING SOUND OF FLUID (COOLANT) SOMEWHERE IN THE DASH. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE HEAD GASKET BLEW. THE DEALER SAID THE BOLTS IN THE ENGINE WERE STRIPPED OUT AND THEY REPLACED THE SHORT BLOCK. IT WAS REPLACED AND WITHIN A YEAR THIS IS OCCURRING AGAIN. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 30, 2009
A CRACK IS DEVELOPED IN 'OIL SUB PAN' AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE BODY ON MY TOYOTA CAMRY 2003, WHICH HAVE ONLY 51000 MILES ON IT. AN INDEPENDENT AUTO TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT A CRACK IN THE OIL PAN IS UNUSUAL AND IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THERE AT THE TIME OF MANUFACTURE. A MECHANIC AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN METAIRIE TOLD ME THE SAME THING ALONG WITH THE FACT THAT SUCH A CRACK IS HARD TO DETECT. I AM LUCKY THAT THIS FAULT WAS DETECTED EARLY AND FIXED BEFORE A FATAL BREAKDOWN COULD HAVE OCCURRED. I HAVE FIXED THIS PROBLEM AT TOYOTA DEALER'S SHIP AND IT COST $3100, WHEN I RAISED THIS ISSUE THEY AGREED TO SPLIT COST FIFTY FIFTY AND STILL IT COST $1532 AND THAT IS TOO MUCH FOR ME SEEING AS HOW NONE OF THIS WAS MY FAULT. THE OLD PART IS STILL WITH TOYOTA DEALER SHIP THEY DIDN'T HAND OVER TO ME. I REGULARLY CHANGE OIL AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, AND I WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT THEY FAILED TO NOTICE THIS FAULT EARLIER. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 26, 2009
ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE. THERE IS A TSB ALREADY FOR THIS FAILURE, TSB-0034-08. THEY IS VERY HIGH FAILURE RATE THAT WAS CAUSED BY INADEQUATE BAFFLES IN THE INTAKE THAT WILL BREAK APART AND POSSIBLY CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE. THE PROBLEM STARTS WITH A LIGHT TAPPING NOISE AND GRADUALLY GETS LOUDER. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE VERY WIDESPREAD WITH TOYOTA OWNERS WITH THE 2.4L 4 CYLINDER ENGINE. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 16, 2009
MY TOYOTA CAMRY 2003 BECAME NOISY A FEW WEEKS AGO. YESTERDAY, I SENT THE CAR TO TOYOTA DEALER. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD SHOULD TO BE REPLACED. I SPEND ~$600 TO REPLACED THE MANIFOLD. NOW THE NOISE IS GONE. AFTER I SEARCH INTERNET, SAME PROBLEMS HAVE HAPPENED IN LOTS OF TOYOTA CAMRY 2003. THUS, I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT THIS INTAKE MANIFOLD PROBLEM IS A DEFICIENCY FROM MANUFACTURE. TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Latches/locks/linkages, Apr 14, 2009
THE ELECTRIC DOOR SWITCH, DRIVERS SIDE, DOES NOT ALWAYS OPEN OR LOCK. EITHER BY INSIDE DOOR LOCK/UNLOCK SWITCH OR WIRELESS/REMOTE CONTROL. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS, ON AND OFF. OTHER DOORS OPEN & UNLOCK WITH INSIDE SWITCH AND WIRELESS/REMOTE CONTROL. BUT NOT ALWAYS THE DRIVERS SIDE. THIS HAPPENS ON A WEEKLY BASIS. MOST TIMES IT CORRECTED, AFTER I TURNED THE LOCKING BUTTON MANUALLY IN, INSTEAD OF HITTING THE ELECTRONIC SWITCH. BUT MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY, I HAVE TO LOCK THE DOOR MANUALLY, BY PUSHING IN THE LOCK BUTTON. OR HAVING TO USE THE KEY, TO GET INSIDE THE CAR. THE CAR IS A 2003 CAMRY LE, WITH 29,500 MILES ON IT. DON'T DRIVE IT THAT MUCH. THE ELECTRONIC ACTUATOR SWITCH, SOLENOID SWITCH, OR PERHAPS THE MASTER LOCK SWITCH IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. A CAMRY SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS KIND OF A PROBLEM, WITH SO FEW MILES ON IT!!! ESPECIALLY WHEN THE PARTS TO REPLACE THEM WITH ARE SO EXPENSIVE! NOT COUNTING THE DIAGNOSIS LABOR FEE, THAN THE ACTUAL LABOR FEE TO REPAIR!!! *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 7, 2009
A SERPENTINE BELT PULLEY DETACHED FROM THE ENGINE DISABLING THE POWER STEERING MAKING TURNS DIFFICULT. THIS HAPPENED AT LOW SPEED, SO THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, BUT AT HIGH SPEED WOULD HAVE BEEN A REAL PROBLEM. *TR
Steering, Apr 3, 2009
I PURCHASED MY 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY IN AUGUST, 2003. TWO YEARS LATER, THE STEERING COLUMN STARTED TO MAKE NOISE. DEALER REPLACED THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY. AFTER 3 AND HALF YEARS, THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED AGAIN. I CAN NOT BELIEVE TOYOTA BUILT THIS KIND OF QUALITY VEHICLE. IT TOTALLY RUINED THEIR REPUTATION. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE TOYOTA'S VEHICLE ANY MORE. *TR
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Mar 23, 2009, crash
FOLLOWUP TO ODI #10256120. INFORMED BY TOYOTA REP THAT YOUR AGENCY PERFORMED TWO INVESTIGATIONS F THE 2003 CAMRY RESPECTING ACCELERATION SURGES BUT RETURNED NO FINDINGS OF VEHICLE FAILURE.YOUR WEBSITE RECOUNTS ABOUT 130 REPORTS OF SUCH 2003 CAMRY FAILURES MOSTLY (102) UNDER VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL , SOME UNDER POWER TRAIN AUTO TRANS & VSC ACCELERATOR PEDAL. FOR FORD TAURUS I COUNTED 12; HONDA ACCORD AND CHEVROLET MALIBU 20+ - ALL FOR MODEL YEAR 2003. AS % OF CARS SOLD QUITE SMALL EVEN FOR CAMRY BUT AS AN OCCURRENCE RATIO OF 6-1 OR 10-1 VS. THE OTHER MODELS QUITE IMPRESSIVE.. THE FACT YOU CONDUCTED TWO INVESTIGATIONS OF CAMRY IS TELLING IN AND OF ITSELF. HOW MANY ACCELERATOR INVESTIGATIONS DID YOU CONDUCT FOR THE 2003 TAURUS, ACCORD & MALIBU? ABSENT AN AIRPLANE LIKE RECORDER HOW CAN YOU BE ASSURED THAT THERE WAS NO VEHICULAR FAILURE? THE ALTERNATIVE IS TO IMPLY THAT CAMRY OPERATORS ARE LESS COMPETENT THAN DRIVERS OF OTHER MAKES... *TR HARVEY MILLER
Structure, Mar 2, 2009
IN JANUARY 2008, MY 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY V6, WITH 35000 MILES ON IT, DEVELOPED A SQUEAK IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURNED DURING PARKING OR DURING ANY 90 DEGREE TURN. THE TOYOTA DEALER GREASED THE STEERING COLUMN, AND THE SQUEAK WENT AWAY. IN JANUARY OF 2009, THE SAME PROBLEM RECURRED. THE DEALER WANTED TO REPACK THE STEERING COLUMN INSTEAD OF GREASING IT AT A COST OF $225.00, OR REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN AT A COST OF $700.00. I ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THAT PARTICULAR MODEL FOR THAT PROBLEM, AND THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE SAID NO. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE OR CONCERN ARISING FROM THIS PROBLEM, AND IS IT COMMON AMONG THAT MAKE AND MODEL TOYOTAS. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 18, 2009
THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS MAKING ALOT OF NOISE. APPARENTLY TOYOTA WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY REPLACE IT FOR FREE ON LOW MILEAGE VEHICLES (WITHIN THE 3 YR, 36K MILE FACTORY WARRANTY) OR ON HIGHER MILEAGE CARS UP TO 70K MILES. MY VEHICLE HAS 114K MILES SO IT WAS NOT COVERED. I WILL BE ISSUING A COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA AS WELL. *TR
Air bags, Feb 5, 2009, crash
THE FRONT OF MY CAR HIT HEAD ON INTO THE DRIVERS SIDE OF ANOTHER CAR. I WAS GOING APPROX. 35 TO40 MILES PER HOUR AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON EITHER SIDE,DRIVER AND PASSENGER. IN TURN, MY CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. I DO HAVE SEVERAL PICS. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Feb 2, 2009
THE GAS FILLING TUBE IS CORRODED, THE RESULT IS THE 'ENGINE' TROUBLE INDICATOR IS ALWAYS ON. MY MECHANIC TELLS ME THAT THIS OCCURS WITH ALL TOYOTA CAMRY'S THAT ARE OLDER THAN 5 YEARS. MINE IS A 2003 WITH 80,000 MILES. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TUBE LEADING TO THE FUEL TANK. IT SEEMS THAT THE METAL CORRODES AND THE GAS CAP CANNOT BE SEALED, THE RESULT IS THE ENGINE INDICATOR COMES ON THE DASH BOARD. *TR
Power train, Jan 23, 2009, crash
2003 TOYOTA CAMRY AUTOMATIC TRANS. PUT IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF GARAGE. SURGED CUT WHEELS TO AVOID HITTING HOUSE NEXT DOOR, BRICK 50 FT FROM GARAGE. AVOIDED A DIRECT COLLISION. BUT CLIPPED SOME BRICKS AT CORNER. ANOTHER 75FT INTO A SMALL CREEK OPPOSITE BANK STOPPED CAR. BRAKING WAS TO NO AVAIL. INJURY MINOR - PINCHED NERVE IN LEFT SHOULDER. COUNTED 75+ REPORTS FOR SAME MODEL YEAR INVOLVING SPONTANEOUS ACCELERATION ON YOUR SITE. YOUR INVESTIGATION IN '03 OR '04 FOUND NOTHING SUGGESTING UNFAMILIARITY W/VEHICLE. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS. A GOODLY NUMBER OF THE REPORTS ARE FOR RECENT YEARS TAKING UNFAMILIARITY OUT OF THE PLAY. WHAT ARE YOU DOING CURRENTLY RESPECTING CAMRY ACCELERATION ISSUES?....REGARDS, HARVEY MILLER *TR
Steering, Dec 31, 2008
THEY REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY AND CHARGED ME OVER $700 TO DO THIS AND I FOUND TECHNICAL BULLETINS STATING THIS WAS A DEFECT WITH THE CAMRY AND I WROTE TO TOYOTA AND NOTHING HAPPENED. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 30, 2008
THE INTAKE MANIFOLD OF MY 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY IS FAULTY FROM THE TIME THE CAR WAS BUILT. TOYOTA IS SAYING THAT THEY WON'T COVER AS ITS NOT IN WARRANTY. HOW CAN A PART THAT WAS FAULTY FROM THE DATE IT WAS INSTALLED NOT BE COVERED. IT IS CLEARLY A FACTORY ISSUE IN THEIR OWN ADMISSION. HOW CAN THEY NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING? *TR
Suspension, Dec 21, 2008
MY COMPLAINT IS ABOUT THE FRONT SUSPENSION OF MY CAMRY> SUSPENSION APPEARS TO BE OFF FROM FACTORY AND IT CAUSES UNEVEN WEAR OF THE FRONT TIRES> MY VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 52 K MILES AND IT'S HAD 4 SETS OF TIRES ALREADY. IT HAS BEEN ALIGNED 3 TIMES AND THE ALIGNMENT SHOP SAYS THERE IS NO ISSUES. MY MECHANIC SAYS HE HAS SEEN THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MANY TOYOTA CAMRY'S. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN CONTINUES SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 18, 2008
WHILE DRIVING HOME ONE DAY I BEGAN TO SMELL ANTIFREEZE IN MY CAR. MY HUSBAND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL GARAGE WHO INFORMED HIM THAT IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET. MY CAR HAS ONLY 77,000 MILES ON IT. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET. WHILE REPAIRING MY VEHICLE THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT ALL FOUR SCREWS POPPED OUT. IT COST ME OVER 1700.00 TO REPAIR. MY MECHANIC REPORTED THIS TO BE UNUSUAL FOR ANY CAR'S HEAD GASKET TO GO WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE. "IT'S UNHEARD OF". TOYOTA CLAIMS I AM NOT COVERED BECAUSE I'M OVER THE MILEAGE AND WOULD NOT HELP ME. CLEARLY THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR