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.
Air bags, Apr 9, 2006, crash
I REAR ENDED ANOTHER CAR IN MY MOM'S 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. ALTHOUGH MY MOM'S CAR WAS TOTALED, THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *NM
Vehicle speed control, Apr 4, 2006, crash
I WAS PARKED IN A STRIP MALL WHERE I HAD JUST PICKED UP SOME DRY CLEANING. I ENTERED MY CAR, A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE, AND STARTED THE ENGINE. I THEN PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE GEAR, AND REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE. THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED IN REVERSE,,AND WENT TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL, HITTING ANOTHER CAR PARKED ACROSS FROM MINE AND CONTINUED IN A SOMEWHAT CIRCULAR PATH UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKE AND COME TO A STOP. I HAVE CALLED NHTSA TODAY AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE HAVE BEEN 83 PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS FOR THIS VEHICLE UNDER "VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL," AND 15 COMPLAINTS UNDER "VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ACCELERATOR PEDAL." I HAVE ALSO CALLED TOYOTA MOTOR SALES (1 800 331-4331) AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH A NEARBY TOYOTA DEALER TO HAVE MY CAR INSPECTED FOR ANY DEFECTS. I HAVE ALSO GONE TO A AUTO BODY SHOP WHERE THE DAMAGES TO MY CAR HAVE BEEN ESTIMATED AT $3,879.13. IN ADDITION, THE POLICE ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND I WAS CITED FOR "CARELESS DRIVING," AND PAID A FINE OF $107.70. I AM ALSO BEEN REQUIRED TO ATTEND A 4 HOUR TRAFFIC SCHOOL WHERE THE FEE IS $35.95. I WISH TO HAVE THIS MATTER INVESTIGATED.
Vehicle speed control, Mar 27, 2006, crash
2003 CAMRY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL CAUSING CONSUMER TO CRASH INTO A WALL. *TS THE CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW IF ANY ACTION WILL BE TAKEN REGARDING HER COMPLAINT. *JB
Seat belts, Mar 23, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR PASSENGER SEATBELT WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHICH DETERMINED THE SEATBELT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 10, 2006
CAR MAKES CLICKING NOISE WHEN IDLE AND IN FIRST GEAR. I GOT A DIAGNOSTIC TEST BY TOYOTA DEALER AND THE PROBLEM IS A BROKEN AIRFLOW DEFLECTOR IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WHICH IS FLAPPING AROUND. THIS PROBLEM IS REPORTEDLY COMMON ON CAMRYS. *NM
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 4, 2006
THOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED ENTIRELY AT LEAST ONCE, THE BRAKES ON MY 2003 CAMRY STILL SQUEAK UPON A GRADUAL BRAKE DURING THE DAY. OTHER THAN THE SQUEAK, I MUST ADMIT THAT THEY BRAKES DO WORK WELL. THIS MAY NOT BE A SAFETY PROBLEM UNLESS I GET SO USED TO THE SQUEAK THAT I DON'T CATCH THE 'TELLTALE' THAT MANY PAD MANUFACTURERS PUT IN THEIR PADS TO GIVE AN AUDIO CLUE TO CHANGE THEIR BRAKE PADS. *JB
Steering, Mar 2, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP, THE STEERING WHEEL CONTINUED TO MOVE TO THE LEFT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE A PROBLEM. UPDATED 03/28/06. *JB
Steering, Mar 2, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TURNING, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A GRINDING NOISE. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE STEERING WHEEL NEEDED TO BE REMOVED AND LUBRICATED. UPDATED 03/20/06. *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Feb 11, 2006
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I AM WRITING WITH REGARD TO A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY, VIN [XXX], PURCHASED IN THE SUMMER OF 2003. ON DECEMBER 14, 2005, I TOOK THE CAR INTO JON LANCASTER TOYOTA/SCION DEALERSHIP. PRIOR TO BRINGING THE CAR IN, ON 3 OCCASIONS, THE BRAKES FAILED. UPON ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE, THE BRAKE PEDAL BEGAN VIBRATING AND THERE WAS A THUDDING SOUND. THE CAR DID NOT BRAKE AND I HAD TO PUSH THE PEDAL 5 TIMES IN ORDER FOR THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN. HOWEVER THE CAR DID NOT STOP COMPLETELY. ACCORDING TO THE DOCUMENTS, A TECHNICIAN CHECKED OVER THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND STATED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. AN EMPLOYEE STATED THAT THE THUDDING NOISE AND THE INABILITY TO STOP WAS NORMAL WHICH THIS TYPE OF BRAKE SYSTEM AND THAT HE HAS HAD SEVERAL CUSTOMERS IN THE PAST COMPLAIN OF THIS PROBLEM. SINCE THE INSPECTION, THE CAR HAS FAILED TO BRAKE ON TWO OCCASIONS. I CONTACTED ROSEMURGY TOYOTA, THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR, AND THEY INFORMED ME TO BRING THE CAR BACK TO JON LANCASTER. HOWEVER, JON LANCASTER DEALERSHIP IS INSISTING THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS FUNCTIONING NORMALLY. THIS CAR IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE NOT ONLY TO IT OCCUPANTS BUT ALSO TO OTHERS ON THE ROAD. THIS CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY AND I AM WRITING TO INSIST THAT THIS MATTER BE LOOKED INTO AND RESULTING IN REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF THE CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED AN ATTORNEY REGARDING THIS MATTER. ALSO, I WILL BE FORWARDING A COPY OF THIS LETTER TO THE WISCONSIN CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCY AND THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. *JB UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Vehicle speed control, Feb 8, 2006, crash
MY CAR IS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY LE WITH 4 CYLINDER ENGINE, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, CRUISE CONTROL AND ABS. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON JANUARY 21, 2006 IN NEW YORK CITY IN BROAD DAYLIGHT AND IN CLEAR WEATHER. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AS I ENTERED GAS STATION TO PUMP GAS. I LOST CONTROL WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION. I HIT ANOTHER CAR PARKED TO PUMP GAS.. *JB
Power train, Structure, Jan 25, 2006
RUST SPOTS APPEARED ON 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY LE, ESPECIALLY ON TRUNK LID , THROUGHOUT 2003-2006. TOYOTA DENYING ANY RESPONSIBILITY, STATING IT WAS ENVIRONMENTAL. MY SON' CAR AXLE OF SAME YEAR HAS SAME PROBLEM . HE LIVES 60 MILES FROM ME. *AK
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 9, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A HISSING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, AND THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS AN INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAK, AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED .*AK UPDATED 2/7/2006 - *NM
Vehicle speed control, Jan 6, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS BARELY BEING TOUCHED. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AND OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION. THE DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN ON A LEVEL HIGHWAY, WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED,IT WILL ACTIVATE AND DEACTIVATE ON ITS OWN. UPDATED 02/07/06. *JB
Structure, Jan 4, 2006
THE TORSION BARS ON OUR 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY SUDDENLY FAILED TO WORK. WHEN THE TRUNK WAS OPENED, IT THEN HAD TO BE MANUALLY PUSHED UP TO THE TOP OPEN POSITION, HOWEVER IT WOULD EASILY AND QUICKLY COME DOWN IF IT WAS WINDY OUTSIDE. TWICE I WAS HIT IN THE HEAD OR BACK WHILE LEANING INTO THE TRUNK AND PUTTING SOMETHING IN OR TAKING SOMETHING OUT, A MAJOR PROBLEM BECAUSE WE WERE ALWAYS PUTTING IN OR TAKING OUR BABY STROLLER OUT OF THE TRUNK, AND WE WERE AFRAID THE TRUNK MIGHT ALSO CLOSE ON OUR SON'S HAND OR HEAD IF HE WERE STANDING NEARBY. WE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER; THEY AT FIRST DENIED THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE TRUNK. BUT THE SERVICE MANAGER EVENTUALLY UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED WITH ME ABOUT THE PROBLEM. HE ORDERED AND REPLACED THE TORSION BARS IN OUR TRUNK; IT FIXED THE PROBLEM AT THAT TIME. THIS WAS ONE YEAR AGO. IN OCTOBER 2005, THE SAME THING STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN. WHILE THE TRUNK DOESN'T SLAM DOWN ON US YET, IT DOES IDLE HALFWAY UP AND MUST BE PUSHED UP OR DOWN TO LOCK THE POSITION. WE BROUGHT IT BACK TO OUR TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND ASKED FOR THE SAME SERVICE MANAGER DIRECTLY. HE REMEMBERED US AND IS GOING TO REPLACE THE TORSION BARS AGAIN, BUT CLAIMED THAT HE HASN'T SEEN THIS PROBLEM HAPPEN IN SEVERAL YEARS; APPARENTLY IT WAS A RECURRING PROBLEM ON OLDER MODELS. MY MAIN CONCERNS WITH THIS ISSUE ARE THAT FIRST, IT KEEPS ON HAPPENING AND SECONDLY, THIS PAST SUMMER ON LONG ISLAND, NY, TWO YOUNG BOYS WHO WERE MISSING, WERE LATER FOUND DEAD IN THE TRUNK OF A TOYOTA CAMRY ON THEIR STREET. APPARENTLY THE TRUNK WAS BROKEN AND IT SHUT ON THEM, TRAPPING THEM INSIDE THE VEHICLE DURING A HEAT WAVE. THE POLICE DIDN'T FIND THEM IN THE CAR UNTIL A FEW DAYS LATER. I DON'T KNOW IF THE BROKEN TRUNK HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE TORSION BARS THAT WE HAVE, BUT THE NEWS STORY CONCERNED US ENOUGH TO REPORT THIS TO YOU. *JB
Suspension, Jan 3, 2006
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT. HOWEVER, MORE TO THE LEFT. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN MAINTAINED WITH PROPER AIR INFLATION. ROAD CONDITIONS OR SPEED DID NOT APPEAR TO IMPACT THE PULLING. AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT THE DEALER ALIGNED THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PULLING PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER, AND THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS ALIGNED. THIS, TOO, DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN RETURNED TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. *AK
Visibility, Latches/locks/linkages, Dec 12, 2005
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH FRONT DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS, WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR LOCKS. AFTER A WHILE, BOTH REAR DOOR LOCKS FAILED. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE POWER WINDOW WAS INOPERATIVE. UPDATED 01/11/06. *JB
Vehicle speed control, Dec 7, 2005, crash
2003 CAMRY WAS INVOLVED IN 2 ACCIDENTS IN WHICH THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. *TS THE ELECTRONIC PART FOR THE ACCELERATOR WAS REPLACED AT THE DEALER AFTER EACH ACCIDENT. *NM
Seat belts, Dec 6, 2005, crash
DT: CONTACT STATED THE RIGHT REAR SEAT BELT CAME UNDONE ON A PASSENGER DURING AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE SLID IN A SNOW STORM AND CRASHED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER GAVE THE CONTACT CASE NUMBER, AND OFFERED NO FREE REMEDY. *AK
Latches/locks/linkages, Dec 5, 2005
INSIDE DOOR LATCH ON 2002 CAMRY MADE OF PLASTIC AND BREAK FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I HAVE PURCHASED 3 FOR MY CAR. I AM AFRAID THAT IN AN ACCIDENT SITUATION THAT THE HANDLE COULD BREAK PREVENTING EXITING THE CAR. *JB
Vehicle speed control, Nov 29, 2005, crash
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN PLACING FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. IT BECAME AIRBORNE AND DID NOT STOP UNTIL IT CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER HAVE FRACTURED VERTEBRAE'S. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK UPDATED 12/27/05. *JB
Child seat, Nov 16, 2005
WHEN CONSUMER BUCKLED CHILD IN SEAT SHIELD ARM BROKE OFF ON BOTH SIDES. *TS *NM (11/21/05) *SC
Vehicle speed control, Nov 14, 2005, crash
DT: THE CONTACT WAS PUTTING THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. IT WENT FROM 2 MPH, TO BEING OUT OF CONTROL. THE VEHICLE SURGED AND CRASHED INTO A WOODEN RETAINING WALL. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED IN THE CRASH. THERE WAS PROPERTY DAMAGE TO THE WALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOTALED. SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE THE INCIDENT. THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE MANUFACTURER IN TOUCH WITH THE CONTACT. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. *AK
Steering, Nov 7, 2005
THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY LOOSE AND DIFFICULT TO CONTROL WHEN DRIVING. I ALSO HEARD A STRANGE NOISE WHEN TURNING TO EITHER DIRECTION. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT ASSEMBLY FOR $1016.57. *JB
Visibility, Nov 3, 2005
GLASS IN SUNROOF UNEXPLAINABLY "EXPLODED" WHILE DRIVING.
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 15, 2005
INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE ON 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY 2.4 ENGINE (TOYOTA MOTOR CO.) WILL NOT REPLACE. THEY KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY REPLACED THEM WITH A NEW TYPE OF INTAKE MANIFOLD. MY CAMRY HAS 65000 MILES. *JB