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.
Power train, Jun 4, 2004
2003 V6 CAMRY EXPERIENCES SUDDEN AND RANDOM JERKSS/BUCKING/HESITATION AS DRIVER ACCELARATES INTO SECOND/THIRD GEARS. TOOK BACK TO DEALER 3X, 1ST TIME ECU WAS REPROGRAMMED; 2ND TIME DEALER SAID THE CAR WAS GETTING TO KNOW HOW I DRIVE; 3RD TIME THEY SAID THAT IS NORMAL FOR GEARS. I FOUND OUT THE LEXUS 300 ES, WHICH HAS THE SAME ENGINE, ALSO EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM. VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT EXPECTING THE JERKING/BUCKING/HESITATION.*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
Power train, Jun 4, 2004
WHILE DOWN SHIFTING AND BRAKING WHEN GOING DOWN HILL, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO OVER DRIVE WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK THE DEALER INSTALLED A REPLACEMENT SOFTWARE PROGRAM BUT NO IMPROVEMENT WAS NOTICED. *SC *JB
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
Visibility, May 27, 2004
THE OWNER INDICATED THAT THE DEFROSTER IN THE FRONT AND REAR WINDOWS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. WHEN THE OWNER PICKED UP THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
Visibility, May 21, 2004
REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING. *AK
Engine and engine cooling, May 15, 2004
WE PURCHASED A NEW 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY LE.AFTER ABOUT 6 MONTHS OR SO WE BEGAN TO HEAR A WATER SLOSHING SOUND UNDER OUR DASHBOARD.WE THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS BECAUSE OUR DRIVEWAY WAS AT A SLOPE AND MAYBE THE POSITION THE CAR WAS IN, THE FLUIDS WERE RUSHING THROUGH THE ENGINE.SO WE PARKED IN THE STREET.THE SAME NOISE CONTINUED WHEN WE BRAKED,TURNED AND STOPPED.AFTER TRYING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM WE TOOK OUR CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TEST DROVE THE CAR AND SAID"OH,THAT'S A NORMAL ENGINE SOUND" I SAID I DON'T THINK SO AND WENT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE AIR IN THE HOSES.THEY BLED THE SYSTEM AND IT WORKED FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AND THEN RETURNED.BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 5 MORE TIMES.FINALLY THEY THREW UP THEIR HANDS AND SAID FOR US TO GIVE THEM 60 MORE DAYS TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM WHICH IT WAS NOW IN ARBITRATION.HOW CAN THEY TRY TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM IF WE STILL HAD THE CAR IN OUR POSESSION? WE CONTINUED TO DRIVE THIS CAR PUTTING ON MILES NOT KNOWING THAT WHEN THEY BUY BACK YOUR CAR THEY DEDUCT THE MILES FROM THE COST OF WHICH THEY PAY YOU ON THE LEMON LAW BUYBACK.SO HAD THEY KEPT THE CAR ,KNOWING THEY COULDN'T REMEDY THE PROBLEM,OUR MONIES WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE.THEY ARE BUYING OUR CAR BACK AND WE FEEL EXTREMELY CHEATED.WE BOUGHT A NEW VEHICLE. NOT A TOYOTA. *AK
Air bags, May 11, 2004, crash
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. IT WAS HIT FROM THE REAR AND PUSHED INTO THE VEHICLE AHEAD. HOWEVER, UPON IMPACT, FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
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
Steering, Apr 30, 2004
IN AN ONLINE MESSAGE BOARD, I NOTICED A CAMRY OWNER DISCUSSING THEIR "LEAN LEFT" PROBLEM, WHICH I SHARE AS WELL. SHORTLY AFTER HAVING MY CAR FOR 6 MONTHS (2003 LE MODEL PURCHASED IN NOV 2002) I NOTICED THE CAR SLIGHTLY PULLING TO THE LEFT. OVER TIME, AND EVEN WITH NUMEROUS ALIGNMENTS, THE LEAN HAS GOTTEN WORSE. SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG MANY CAMRY OWNERS AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF TOYOTA HAS SOMETHING IN MIND TO HELP CORRECT THE SITUATION. ANY COMMENTS WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. *LA
Tires, Apr 29, 2004
BRIDGESTONE TIRES P205/65R15 92T/ A BOLT CAUSED A PUNCTURE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE. (NAR) *MR THE TECHNICIAN MENTIONED THAT BOTH THE DAMAGED TIRE AND THE THREE REMAINING TIRES ON THE VEHICLE SHOWED EXCESSIVE WEAR AT THE OUTSIDE. *NM *CB
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
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 29, 2004
THE EXHAUST FUMES SEEPED INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. AS A RESULT, THE SMELL MADE THE DRIVER SICK TO HIS STOMACH. *AK THE EXHAUST/EMISSION HAD COME INSIDE THE VEHICLE WITH THE WINDOWS CLOSED. *SC *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Apr 26, 2004
ADDING TO THE COMPLAINT ALREADY REGISTERED ABOUT LONG TRAVEL OF BRAKE PEDAL BEFORE BRAKES ACTUALLY BEING APPLIED. DEALER READJUSTED, BUT STILL FAR SHORT OF COMFORTABLE FEELING. DEALER ALSO SUGGESTED I WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH ABS. HA! ALSO ADDING TO COMPLAINT OF WINDSHIELD POPPING NOISE BEFORE ACTUAL CRACK APPEARS. OUR CAMRY'S WINDSHIELD HAS BEEN POPPING AND CREAKING SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR.. SEVERAL TRIPS TO DEALER HAVE NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM.*AK
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