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.
Latches/locks/linkages, Oct 11, 2005
FOR PAST 6 MONTHS MY POWER DOOR LOCKS TAKE TURNS NOT WORKING. SOMETIMES THEY STOP WORKING IN TWO AT A TIME AND REMAIN BROKEN FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS. THERE ARE TIME WHEN THEY WILL NOT EVEN OPEN MANUALLY(EVEN FROM THE INSIDE). THIS IS VERY SCARY IN THE EVENT I NEED TO GET OUT AND CANNOT BECAUSE OF THE LOCKS. IT USUALLY STARTS WITH THE LEFT FRONT, THEN LEFT FRONT AND REAR, THEN LEFT REAR, LEFT AND RIGHT REAR, THEN RIGHT REAR, RIGHT REAR AND RIGHT FRONT, THEN RIGHT FRONT, THEN RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT DOORS. THEN THEY WILL ALL WORK FINE FOR A MONTH. IT APPEARS, TO ME, TO BE SOME TYPE OF SHORT IN THE WIRING. *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 11, 2005, fire
DT: 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE ENGINE I 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY CAUGHT ON FIRE. HAD NOT CONTACTED DEALERSHIP OR THE MANUFACTURER. DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT THE WAY VEHICLE WAS OPERATING BEFORE THE FIRE STARTED. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS UP TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO INVESTIGATE HOW THE FIRE STARTED. DID NOT KNOW IF IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL OR FUEL. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS BURNED COMPLETELY. VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED BY THE FIRE. CALLED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THEY SAID IT WAS THE HIGHWAY PATROL DEPARTMENT WHO NEEDED TO DO THE REPORT. TOOK PICTURES OF VEHICLE AT THE JUNK YARD. VEHICLE HAD ALL THE ORIGINAL PARTS. THERE WAS NO INJURIES OR PROPERTY DAMAGE OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE. *AK
Vehicle speed control, Sep 29, 2005
DT: VEHICLE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD ON AUGUST 12, 2005. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND SENT THE CONSUMER HOME WITH THE INVOICE. THERE WAS NO FOR WARNING. ABOUT 6 WEEKS BEFORE WHEN PUSHING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IT SEEMED LIKE IT TOOK A FEW SECONDS FOR THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. *AK
Vehicle speed control, Sep 22, 2005
CAR SURGES TO MAXIMUM REVOLUTIONS ON TACHOMETER WHEN MOVING GEAR SHIFT FROM PARK TO REVERSE. HAS HAPPENED 2 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS. AT THE TIME OF BOTH INCIDENTS, CAR WAS IDLING WITH AIR CONDITIONER ON. APPLICATION OF BRAKE CONTROLLED SITUATION BUT I AM WORRIED ABOUT SEVERE ACCIDENT IF THIS OCCURS. THERE ARE 2 OTHER DRIVERS IN THE FAMILY, OF WHICH ONE IS A TEENAGER AND A FOURTH WILL START DRIVING IN 6 MONTHS. THIS IS THE SAME AS THE CURRENT DEFECT INVESTIGATION NHTSA ACTION NUMBER DP05002. MY COMPLAINT IS AGAINST THE MANUFACTURER, NOT THE DEALER. THE DEALER DID A DIAGNOSIS AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT AND DETECTED NO PROBLEM. THERE NEEDS TO BE A DIAGNOSIS FOR THIS ISSUE AND A NATIONAL RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. *JB
Suspension, Sep 21, 2005, crash
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HIS 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. THE CAR WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT WHEN DRIVING. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. THE ALIGNMENT HAS BEEN CHECKED FIVE TIMES TO SEE IF THAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THERE HAS BEEN SO SUCCESS IN THE CORRECTION OF THE PULLING TO THE LEFT. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND A CLAIM WAS FILED FOR THE CONSUMER. THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT SINCE THE LAST TIME THAT THE DEALER SAW IT. THE CAR PULLED TO THE LEFT AND RAN OFF THE ROAD. THEN, HIT A TREE. THE CONSUMER COULD NOT PROVE THAT THE CAR WAS AT FAULT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. AT THIS POINT, NO ONE COULD DETERMINE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR, IT COULD BE THE SUSPENSION OR THE STEERING. THE SPEED WAS 35 MPH WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. *AK
Vehicle speed control, Sep 15, 2005
2003 TOYOTA CAMRY DEVELOPED NUMEROUS PROBLEMS.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, IT REQUIRED 2 OR 3 ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE, THE RADIO WAS REPLACED, THE POWER DOOR LOCKS DID NOT WORK, THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON AND THE GAUGES WERE ERRATIC, THE RIGHT REAR STRUT AND MOUNT WERE BROKEN. *JB THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE. THE HOOD RELEASE LATCH WAS RECONNECTED, BECAUSE THE CONSUMER HEARD A RATTLE NOISE. THE EXHAUST CONVERTER WAS REPLACED. *JB UPDATED 03/04/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION TWICE. UPDATED 06/28/10*JB
Power train, Aug 29, 2005
MY 03 CAMRY WITH 22K MILES, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, HAS AN ISSUE WITH THE SAFETY BUTTON ON THE SHIFTER, OR THE SHIFTER ITSELF. WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND NO KEY IN THE IGNITION, I CAN SLIDE THE SHIFTER FROM PARK TO ANY OTHER GEAR, WITHOUT PRESSING IN THE SAFETY BUTTON. I CANNOT SLIDE THE SHIFTER BACK INTO PARK. HERE'S HOW I FOUND OUT. I PARKED IN MY DRIVE, PUT THE CAR IN PARK, REMOVED THE KEYS, GRABBED MY SHOPPING BAG AND WENT INSIDE. MY HUSBAND CAME IN A FEW MINUTES LATER WITH SOME SHOCKING NEWS. APPARENTLY, MY CAMRY HAD ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVE, TOOK OUT OUR MAILBOX, WENT ACROSS THE STREET AND STOPPED IN OUR NEIGHBOR'S FRONT YARD. OUR DRIVE IS OVER 100' LONG AND SLOPES DOWN TOWARD THE STREET. I HANDED MY HUSBAND THE KEYS AND HE WENT TO THE CAR. IT WAS IN DRIVE. WHAT I CAN FIGURE IS THAT WHEN I GRABBED MY SHOPPING BAG, WHICH WAS FAIRLY HEAVY, I HIT THE SHIFTER AND TOOK THE CAR OUT OF PARK. BUT THAT DOESN'T EXPLAIN HOW THE SHIFTER WAS ABLE TO MOVE WITHOUT MY PUSHING IN THE SAFETY BUTTON. I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER RELATIONS IN TORRANCE, AND THEY ARRANGED A SERVICE APPT FOR ME AT THE DEALER. THE DEALER INDICATED THEY HAD TO MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT. DURING A FOLLOW-UP CALL FROM THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE REP, THEY INDICATED THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM BEFORE. WHEN I ASKED IF IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN, THE REP SAID IF IT DOES, BRING IT IN. I WILL TRY VERY HARD TO REMEMBER TO USE MY EMERGENCY BRAKE WHENEVER I PARK MY CAR. BUT WHAT IF I FORGET? I DON'T WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MY CAR ROLLING INTO A CHILD, ADULT OR OTHER VEHICLE. IT IS ONLY DUMB LUCK THAT NO ONE WAS HURT WHEN THE CAR ROLLED DOWN OUR DRIVE. HAD IT BEEN DAYTIME, THE CHANCES ARE VERY HIGH THAT SOMEONE WOULD HAVE BEEN INJURED OR KILLED. WE LIVE ON A CUL DE SAC, AND THOSE IN OUR DEVELOPMENT WALK WITH THEIR CHILDREN ON A REGULAR BASIS THROUGHOUT THE DAY. THIS IS VERY FRIGHTENING. ARE YOU AWARE OF THIS ISSUE HAPPENING PREVIOUSLY?*JB
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 12, 2005
DT: THE VEHICLE ACCELARATED ON ITS OWN AND SURGED FORWARD 6 OR 7 TIMES. CONTACTED TOYOTA AND DEALT WITH THE LIABILITY DEPARTMENT. AND THEY DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THIS STARTED HAPPENING ON NOVEMBER 12, 2003. *AK SEE ALSO 10055728. *DSY
Wheels, Aug 6, 2005
THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE ALUMINUM ALLOY CHROME WHEELS. I PURCHASED NEW TIRES AT SEARS IN DECEMBER OF 2004 WITH ALL NEW VALVE STEMS AND SPEED BALANCES. APPROXIMATELY 2 TO 3 MONTHS LATER, 2 & 3 TIRES WERE LOSING AIR (SLOWLY) CONSTANTLY. SEARS SHOWED ME THAT THE ALLOY RIM WAS DETERIORATING AROUND THE VALVE STEMS AND THAT I SHOULD TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER. BECAUSE IT WAS OVER THE WARRANTY MILEAGE, THE DEALER (ROUTE 44 TOYOTA IN RAYNHAM, MASS.) WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. I EVEN WENT TO THE DISTRICT MANAGERS OFFICE WITH NO LUCK. I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT ALL I WANTED WAS THE STANDARD WHEEL FOR REPLACEMENT WITH WHEEL COVERS. MY POINT IS, IF TIRES LOSE THE AIR INFLATION, THERE'S LIKELY TO BE "TIRE FAILURE" CONTRIBUTING TO MORE ACCIDENTS ON OUR NATIONAL HIGHWAYS. I'M SURE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH "ALLOY WHEELS" WITH THIS PROBLEM. CAN WE DO SOMETHING TO PREVENT ROAD DEATHS ON OUR HIGHWAYS BECAUSE OF THESE FLAWED "ALUMINUM ALLOY WHEELS"?*JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jul 18, 2005, crash
THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS BUT THE CAR DOES NOT DECELERATE ANY HARDER. I HAVE NOTIFIED THE MFG NUMEROUS TIMES, EVEN GOT THEIR LEGAL DEPT INVOLVED (CASE # 200301090284) ACCORDING TO TOYOTA THIS IS BY DESIGN - EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL HEIGHT & STOPPING DISTANCES ARE OUTSIDE THE PUBLISHED SPECS. I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE NTTSA WEBSITE AND AM CONCERNED THIS HAS FALLEN IN A CRACK. THIS IS SO RAMPANT THAT I AM CONSIDERING A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT SHOULD ALL OTHER METHODS FAIL (I REALLY DON'T WANT TO DO THIS!!) THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION IN THIS CRUCIAL MATTER. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT A WHILE BACK - I CALLED THE 800 NUMBER TO INQUIRE WHAY NO RESEARCH HAS BEEN DONE & I KNOW YOU ARE SPREAD VERY THIN - PLEASE ACCEPT MY APOLGY BUT I REALLY THINK THIS IS A IMPORTANT MATTER
Visibility, Jul 8, 2005
WINDOW MOTOR BROKE WITHOUT WARNING. MECHANIC SAYS NO WAY SHOULD A MOTOR BREAK ON A 2 YEAR OLD CAR. INTERNET BLOGS FULL OF STORIES OF WINDOW MOTORS BREAKING ON TOYOTA VEHICLES. REPLACEMENT COST IS $700 WHICH IS RIDICULOUS.
Power train, Jul 8, 2005
DT: TOYOTA CAMRY 2003. THE CONSUMERS CAR HESITATES WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. IT ACTUALLY SLOWS DOWN BY 10-20 MPH. *AK THE VEHICLE WOULD LURCH FORWARD AFTER HESITATING. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED WHEN TURNING CORNERS OR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE ONTO THE HIGHWAY FROM A ROLLING START. *SC *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jul 7, 2005
BRAKE PEDAL FREQUENTLY GOES NEARLY TO FLOOR. HAS HAPPENED EVEN WHEN CAR STOPPED AT LIGHTS. WHEN PEDAL TRAVEL EXCESSIVE, BRAKING PERFORMANCE VERY POOR. NO WARNING. BRAKES WORK FINE FOR A WHILE THEN PEDAL TRAVEL AND BRAKE PERFORMANCE DRGRADE SEVERELY WITHOUT WARNING. NEARLY IN SEVERAL COLLISIONS. ALSO, FRAQUENT VIBRATION IN PEDAL LINKAGE, ESPECIALLY WHEN PEDAL PUSHED QUICKLY. DEALER REPLACED BRAKE BOOSTER BUT NO IMPORVEMENT IN PERFORMANCE. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING ELSE TO BE DONE. OFTEN FEELS LIKE INTERNAL LEAK IN MASTER CYLINDER. COMPLAINT TO TOYOTA TURFED BACK TO DEALER. FEEL CAR IS DANGEROUS IN THIS CONDITION BUT TOYOTA AND NORTHWAY TOYOTA NOT INTERESTED IN REPAIRING PROBLEM. LAST DATE LISTED IN INCIDENT DATE, BUT HAS HAPPENED MANY, MANY TIMES. AFRAID TO OPERATE VEHICLE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jun 28, 2005
DT: ON DECEMBER 8, 2003, AT 6918 MILES CONSUMER WAS AT A STOP SIGN AND TRIED TO APPLY BRAKES AND THEY FAILED. CONSUMER WAS IN A SCHOOL ZONE AND TRIED TO STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER TO BE INSPECTED, AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. AGAIN, HAD THE VEHICLE OUT AND WAS AT A 3 WAY STOP AND TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, AND THEY FAILED AGAIN. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP ON APRIL 21, 2005 AT 13096 MILES, AND THEY DID FIND THAT BECAUSE OF A BRAKE FAILURE THERE WAS INTERNAL FAILURE IN MASTER CYLINDER, AND THE FRONT ROTORS WERE WARPED.*AK
Latches/locks/linkages, Jun 16, 2005
DT: DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN ON DRIVER'S SIDE OR ANY OF THE OTHER DOORS, CONSUMER COULD NOT UNLOCK THE DOORS WITH KEY OR LOCK BUTTON. THE TRANSMITTER WOULD NOT RESPOND EITHER. BEFORE WHEN IT WOULD GET REAL HOT THE TRANSMITTER WOULDN'T WORK AND LIGHTS WOULDN'T WORK. BUT COULD OPEN THE DOORS AND GET OUT. LAST NIGHT HAD TO CRAWL OUT THE WINDOW TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. *AK
Steering, Power train, Jun 10, 2005
2003 TOYOTA CAMRY EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *MR THIS WOULD OCCUR AS THE CONSUMER WOULD ATTEMPT TO PASS OTHER VEHICLES. THERE WAS A BREAK AND OR CHATTER IN THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL. THE HESITATION WOULD OCCUR AT ALL SPEEDS AND THERE WAS A RUBBING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *SC *JB
Vehicle speed control, Jun 7, 2005, crash
DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE TAKES OFF BY ITSELF. THIS CAN HAPPEN WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH FOOT ON BRAKE. AT ONE TIME CONSUMER WAS PUTTING THE CAR ON PLANKS TO CHANGE OIL AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, AND HIT CONSUMER'S SPOUSE, WHO SUSTAINED INJURIES.*AK
Vehicle speed control, May 10, 2005
WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT IT WENT DOWN TOT HE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. JUST AS QUICKLY AS THE VEHICLE STARTED ACCELERATING IT STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TOT EH DEALER BUT HEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *AK *NM
Vehicle speed control, May 9, 2005
AS I PUT CAR ON DRIVE,IT JUST ACCELARATED OUT OF CONTROL..BRAKES DID NOT WORK,EMERGENCY BRAKE NEITHER,THANKS TO CURB I DID NOT RUN THRU A FENCE THAT SEPARATES SUPERMARKET'S PARKING LOT AND HOUSING'S PLAYGROUND FULL OF KIDS AND PARENTS ENJOYING MOTHER'S DAY.
Tires, May 4, 2005
TIRE FAILURE - CONTINENTAL TOURING CONTACT AS * P205/65R15 *(NOT P215/16 PER FORM) THE TIRE WAS OEM WITH 2003 CAMRY AND HAD 30,480 MILES ON IT AND HAD BEEN ROTATED AS DIRECTED BY MANUFACTURER. NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PUNCTURE THROUGH TREAD. TIRE FAILED ON HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR AND WAS DRIVEN A MILE WHEREIN SIDEWALL WAS CHEWED UP. UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF FAILURE.
Seats, May 2, 2005
THE CAR WAS STOLEN AND THE INTERIOR WAS SOAKED IN GAS. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WANTED TO CLEAN THE SEATS, BUT OWNER FEARED THAT THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE SAFETY ISSUE.
Seats, May 1, 2005
DRIVRERS SEAT IS LOOSE. IT WAS REPAIRED ONCE AT 12000 MILES, AND AT 26000 MILES, THE PROBLEM RESURFACED. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO REPAIR THE SEAT AGAIN. EVERY TIME I START AND STOP THE SEAT MOVES. THE PROBLEM GETS PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AS TIME GOES BY.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 29, 2005
THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED, CAUSING A RATTLE NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AREA. RATTLE WAS HEARD AT IDLE SPEED AND BECAME LOUDER WHEN ACCELERATING. TOYOTA REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AT A TOTAL COST OF OVER $500 (PART + LABOR) BECAUSE THE FAILURE OCCURRED JUST OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THIS PROBLEM IS DESCRIBED IN TSB EG018-2004. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Apr 26, 2005, fire
TOYOTA FAILED TO FIX DEFECT WITH BRAKES UNDER WARRANTY, LEFT FRONT BRAKE FAILED, AND CAUGHT FIRE AFTER SHORT DRIVE. DEALER FAILED TO FIX SECOND TIME CLAIMED IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM, CAR HAD BEEN TAMPERED WITH, TOYOT0 DEALERSHIP WAS LONE REPAIR SHOP EVER USED. *AK
Vehicle speed control, Apr 17, 2005, crash
I PULLED INTO A BUSINESS PARKING LOT AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, SLIGHTLY TOUCHED THE ACCELERATOR, REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED RAPIDLY ON ITS OWN. I FIRMLY APPLIED THE BRAKE TO STOP BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE ACTION OF THE BRAKES LEFT A LONG PATCH OF RUBBER, BUT DID NOT SLOW THE CAR. AFTER STRIKING AN SUV, MOVING IT OUT OF THE WAY AND INTO ANOTHER CAR, THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNTIL IT WAS STOPPED BY A METAL LIGHT POLE. THE CAR HAS YET TO BE EXAMINED BY A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP.*AK