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.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Service brakes, Air, Mar 13, 2004
WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL WHEN I APPLIED BRAKES TOWARDS BOTTOM OF HILL AND FRONT BRAKES BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND CAUSED FRONT END TO SHIMMY.*AK
Vehicle speed control, Mar 13, 2004
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE BRAKE PEDAL HAS GONE TO THE FLOOR WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO STOP OR SLOW THE CAR. BRAKING OR ACCELERATING THE CAR IS NOT SMOOTH AND THERE ARE SUDDEN ACCELERATIONS OR SURGES OF THE CAR. THE CAR WAS TESTED BY THE DEALER'S SERVICE MANAGER AND BY THE SALESMAN. BOTH AGREED THAT THE CAR HAD SPONGY BRAKING BUT STATED THAT ALL 2003 CAMRYS BEHAVED IN SIMILAR FASHION AND THAT THERE WAS NO "FIX" FOR THE PROBLEM. THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WHICH THEY WERE INVESTIGATING BUT THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM SO THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR ITS REPAIR.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Air bags, Mar 12, 2004, crash
AS I WAS DRIVING UP THE DRIVEWAY OF MY HOME/HOUSE AND IN THE PROCESS OF APPLYING THE BRAKES TO MY 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY THE CAR SURGED FORWARD IMPACTING THE FROM OF MY BRICK HOUSE AND GOING INTO THE MASTER BEDROOM CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE HOUSE AND TO PERSONAL PROPERTY INSIDE THE BEDROOM, ALSO THE CAR SUFFERED GREAT DAMAGE TO THE FRONT UP TO AND INCLUDING COMPLETE BREKAGE AND COLLAPSE OF THE WINSHIELD FOR A TOTAL CAR DAMAGED OF CLOSE TO $8.000.00 DOLLARAS AND OVER $5,000.00 DAMAGE TO THE HOUSE NOT INCLUDING THE DAMAGE DONE TO THE INTERIOR OF THE BEDROOM AND ITS CONTENTS. EXTIMATES OF THE COST OF REPAIRS STILL GOING ON. *AK
Vehicle speed control, Mar 12, 2004, crash
2003 TOYOTA CAMRY ACCELERATED AS I PULLED IN DRIVEWAY,CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE,MY SON-INLAW'S VEHICLE,MINOR DAMAGE TO HOUSE & BASKETBALL GOAL. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 11, 2004
AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM (ANTI-SKID) ACTIVATED PREMATURELY ON TWO OCCASIONS. *PH
Vehicle speed control, Mar 11, 2004, crash
WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES TO PARK VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE JUMPED THE CURB AND WENT INTO BUSHES. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 11, 2004
WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES BRAKE PEDAL PULSATED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK
Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Mar 10, 2004, crash
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES AT A TOLL BOOTH BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED HEAD AND BACK INJURIES, AND WERE TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK
Steering, Mar 9, 2004
I HAVE TAKEN MY 2003 CAMRY LE TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS 3 TIMES FOR THE PROBLEM OF IT PULLING TO THE LEFT. I BROUGHT MY BRAND NEW CAR IN FOR THE FIRST TIME WITHIN ONE MONTH OF PURCHASE. THE SECOND TIME I BROUGHT MY CAR IN, THE PULL LEFT HAD CAUSED MY TIRES UNEVEN, PREMATURE WEAR. MY TIRES NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT 15,000 MILES, ALTHOUGH THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD LAST FOR 20,000 AND THIS WAS "CLOSE ENOUGH." I TOOK MY CAR TO A SERPARATE BUSINESS AS I DID NOT RECEIVE AN ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE FROM SEVEAL EMPLOYEES AT THIS TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. ADDITIONALLY, THE OWNER REFUSED TO CALL ME DESPITE SIGNS PLASTERED AROUND THE DEALERSHIP STATING THAT HE CARES AND TO ASK FOR HIM. FOR THE THIRD TRIP REGARDING THE CAR PULLING LEFT, I TOOK IT TO A NEW TOYOTA DEALER. DESPITE AN IMPROVEMENT IN CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY WERE ALSO UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. BY THE NEXT DAY, MY CAR WAS PULLING LEFT AGAIN. THIS DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT I HAD A "TIRE PULL," AND PUT THIS IN WRITING. I WAS TOLD THAT THE TIRES THAT HAD BEEN PLACED ON MY CAR WERE MADE INCORRECTLY AND CAUSED THE CAR TO PULL TO THE LEFT. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED IN TOYOTA. THIS IS MY FIRST NEW CAR AND I SPECIFICALLY PURCHASED IT DUE TO ITS REPUTATION AND SUPPOSED RELIABILITY. I HOPE THAT CHANGES ARE MADE TO REGAIN CUSOTMER CONFIDENCE AND ALLOW FOR SATISFACTION AND SAFETY AMONG TOYOTA OWNERS.
Visibility, Mar 6, 2004
WINDSHIELD HAS ONE TINY MARK THAT I WOULD DESCRIBE EXACTLY THE WAY THE FIRST COMPLAINANT DESCRIBED IT, LIKE A TINY NAIL MARK. THE WINDSHIELD IS CRACKING BY THIS MARK. PERIODICALLY, I WOULD HEAR A LOUD NOISE LIKE A ROCK HAD HIT MY WINDSHIELD BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO DISCERN WHAT HAD HAPPENED. IT WAS A MYSTERY BECAUSE THE FIRST COUPLE OF TIMES THAT I HEARD THE NOISE, THERE WERE NO VEHICLES AROUND ME THAT COULD HAVE THROWN A ROCK. AFTER HEARING THIS NOISE A FEW TIMES, A CRACK STARTED APPEARING AT THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. I HAVE HAD THE DEALER THAT I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW FROM EXAMINE IT AND THEY CLAIM IT WAS CAUSED BY A ROCK. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT WHEN IT HAPPENED I HAD MY STEREO ON AND DID NOT KNOW IT HAPPENED. BUT THE STARTLING SOUND THAT A ROCK DOES MAKE WHEN IT HITS THE WINDSHIELD WITH THAT MUCH FORCE IS HARD TO MISS. *JB
Power train, Mar 3, 2004
2003 TOYOTA CAMRY V6 LE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT ONLY 4000 MILES. CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION, ENGINE. FAULTY, DELAYED SHIFTING, ENGINE NOISE/RESONANCE, LACK OF ACCELERATION FROM A STOP OR TO PASS. IDLE IS NOISY INTO THE CABIN. VEHICLE CONTINUES TO EXHIBIT TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE PROBLEMS. CAR HAS A REPUTATION FOR SMOOT, COMPLIANT RIDE. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. PROBLEMS PERSIST DEPSITE DEALER INSISTENCE THAT THE PROBLEMS ARE NORMAL.*AK
Suspension, Mar 2, 2004
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED VEHICLE VIBRATED. DEALER STATED THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Tires, Mar 1, 2004, crash
WHILE DRIVING (2003 TOYOTA) 60 MPH ON INTERSTATE HWY WITH MODERATE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC, THE LEFT, REAR TIRE BLEW OUT AND COMPLETELY SEPERATED. POTENZA RE92 IS THE OEM VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, WENT INTO MAJOR SKID. *AK
Tires, Feb 27, 2004
ON A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE, IT HAS COMPLETELY SEPARATED AT THE SIDEWALL AND HAS PARTIALLY SEPARATED ON THE INSIDE. THERE IS NO SIGN OF ANY PUNCTURE IN THE TIRE. THE TIRE IS A BRIDGESTONE POTENZA P215/60R16 94V OTHER NUMBERS ON THE TIRE: E92M2 34364EXBM25816-2 DM419E DOT 0BX8 PFA 1603 D03L. *AK
Air bags, Feb 25, 2004, crash
FAILURE OF AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY DURING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. VEHICLE TOTALED WITH MAJOR FRONT END DAMAGE. *AK
Service brakes, Air, Feb 24, 2004
OUR 2003 LEASED TOYOTA CAMRY HAS BEEN GREAT FOR THE FIRST YEAR. WE CURRENTLY HAVE APPROX 5600 MILES ON THE CAR. DURING JANUARY AND FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR WE EXPERIENCED TWO SEPARATE ABS (ANTISKID BRAKE SYSTEM) ACTIVATIONS. IN BOTH INCIDENTS THE CAR WAS ON DRY, CLEAN, HARD SURFACED ROADS. THERE WAS NO GRAVEL, DIRT, ICE, ETC OR ANY FOREIGN MATTER ON THE ROADS. THE ROADS WERE ALSO DRY. NO RAIN WAS FALLING. IN BOTH INCIDENTS THE CAR WAS GONG LESS THAN 30 MPH AND IN BOTH CASES THE CAR WAS DESCENDING A SLIGHT HILL. WHEN THE OPERATOR APPLIED BRAKES THE ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATED AND NO AMOUNT OF BRAKE PEDDLE PRESSURE CHANGED THE STOPPING ABILITY OF THE CAR. KICKBACK THRU THE BRAKE PEDDLE WAS FELT BY ME. THE STOPPING DISTANCE WAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY. IN THE FIRST INCIDENT MY WIFE WAS ALONE IN THE CAR AND COMING DOWN A HILL TO A STOP LIGHT. SHE COULD NOT STOP THE CAR BEFORE THE LIGHT AND HAD TO MAKE A HARD RIGHT HAND TURN TO PREVENT HITTING CARS OR BEING HIT BY CARS THAT WERE GOING 45+ MPH ON THEIR ROAD THRU THE LIGHT. AT THE INTERSECTION. FORTUNATELY THERE HAD BEEN A BREAK IN TRAFFIC SO WHEN SHE TURNED RIGHT AT THE RED LIGHT THERE WAS A BREAK IN TRAFFIC SO THEREE WAS NO IMPACT. IN MY SITUATION I WAS DRIVING MY WIFE TO A SHOPPING CENTER AND WAS ALSO COMING DOWN A SLIGHT HILL AND COMING UP BEHIND TRAFFIC WHICH WAS STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN. I COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. I WAS GETTING KICKBACK THRU THE BRADE PEDDLE AND THE CAR BRAKES WERE CYCLING ON AND OFF AND THUS I HAD TO SWING AROUND THE CAR AHEAD AND ONTO THE RIGHTHAND SHOULDER TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR AHEAD AND ALMOST HAD TO CLIMB AN EMBACKMENT TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER MY INCIDENT, THE LATER OF THE TWO INCIDENTS, WE DROVE RIGHT TO OUR TOYOTA LEASING AGENCY AND TURNED THE CAR OVER TO THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT. TOYOTA GOT US A RENTAL VEHICLE WHILE THEY CHECK THE CAR OUT. SO FAR THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT IN CHECKING THE ABS COMPUTER IT SHOWS NO FAULT CODES. *AK
Vehicle speed control, Feb 24, 2004, crash
AFTER GETTING THE VEHICLE WASHED, THE CONSUMER MOVED THE GEAR SHIFT FROM NEUTRAL TO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT AND INJURED A PEDESTRIAN STANDING IN BETWEEN THE TWO VEHICLES. THE PEDESTRIAN SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES TO THE LEGS AND WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL. *AK *JB
Vehicle speed control, Feb 24, 2004, crash
UPON PUTTING VEHICLE IN PARK WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP WITH FOOT DEPRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT A RAPID SPEED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE SIDE SWIPED ANOTHER VEHICLE ON IT'S RIGHT SIDE. A FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT COULDN'T LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE RAPID AND SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *NM *NM UPDATED 7/3/12 *CN UPDATED 07/12/12
Suspension, Feb 22, 2004
2003 CAMRY SE MAKES "THUMPING" SOUND OVER EVEN THE SLIGHTEST OF BUMPS. ON SOME PAVED ROAD CONDITIONS THE VEHICLE BOUNCES AND BUCKS SO MUCH IT IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. DEALER STATES THIS IS NORMAL FOR THE SE SINCE IT HAS A SPORT-TUNED SUSPENSION. *JB
Steering, Feb 22, 2004
2003 CAMRY SE DRIFTS TO THE LEFT, ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE ON THE FREEWAY. DEALER ADJUSTED ALIGNMENT TO SPECS. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *JB
Vehicle speed control, Feb 16, 2004
ENGINE REVS UP UNCONTROLLABLY WHILE IN PARK POSITION AND IN REVERSE ALSO. BRAKES HAVE WORKED SUFFUCIENTLY TO KEEP VEHICLE FROM CRASHING INTO ANYTHING. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SINCE I'VE HAD THE CAR ( A 10 MONTH PERIOD).*AK
Power train, Feb 6, 2004
2003 TOYOTA LIMITED 4-RUNNER V8- AWDFRONT-END VIBRATION PROBLEM. I FIRST PRESENTED THE VIBRATION PROBLEM TO MY DEALER THE LAST WEEK OF AUGUST! THEY TRIED BALANCING THE WHEELS WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. THEY AGREED THE PROBLEM WAS THERE AND NOTIFIED CORPORATE. THEIR TECHNICAL STAFF HAD THEM REMOVE THE FRONT AXELS AND RETEST THE VIBRATION WHICH STARTED AT 22 MPH, WENT TO 32MPH 42, 55, AND 62MPH NOW DISAPPEARED! A WEEK LATER A TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVE MET WITH ME AND MENTIONED THAT SEVERAL VEHICLES IN PHOENIX HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. HE SUGGESTED IT PROBABLY WOULD TAKE ABOUT TWO MONTHS TO GET A FIX. TWO MONTHS LATER I TALKED TO THE TECH. REP. AGAIN AND HE MENTIONED THAT THE ENGINEERING GROUP HAD DETERMINED THE PROBLEM TO BE INTERFERENCES IN THE SPIDER GEAR ASSEMBLY IN THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL, THEY WERE TRYING TO CORRECT THE CONDITION WITH THRUST WASHER SHIMS AND OTHER THINGS. I HAVE PRESENTED MY CLAIM TO THE CUSTOMER SUPPORT GROUP. I HAVE CALLED THEM REGULARLY ONCE A MONTH AND HAVE HAD NO SUCCESS AT FINDING WHAT THEIR SCHEDULE IS FOR THE FIX,--ONLY TO SAY WE ARE WORKING ON IT AND YOUR DEALER WILL NOTIFY YOU. IVE SINCE HEARD FROM MY DEALER STAFF THAT THEY HAVE A NUMBER OF LEXUS GX470'S AS WELL AS 4-RUNNERS INVOLVED. IM BEGINNING TO FEEL THAT THEY HAVE SO MANY VEHICLES WITH DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLIES INVOLVED, THAT IT MAY REQUIRE SOME KIND OF MAJOR REDESIGN AND BUILD. IT MIGHT BE A LONG TIME BEFORE WE SEE A FIX! I HAUL A POP-UP TRAILER AND DOES IT MAGNIFY THE PROBLEM!*AK
Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Jan 28, 2004, crash
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP, BUT MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK
Air bags, Jan 23, 2004, crash
WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS HIT ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE BY A TRUCK. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. *JB
Visibility, Jan 22, 2004
I PURCHASED A 2003 TOYOTA SOLARA IN OCT. 2003. ON JANUARY 17, 2004 I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH CARS ABOUT 50 YARDS OR MORE IN FRONT OF MINE AND NOTICED A CRACK IN THE CENTER OF MY WINDSHIELD THAT LOOKED LIKE IT STATED AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD. IT PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE UNTIL IT CAME UP ABOUT 10 INCHES FROM THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND CLEAR OVER TO THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CAR. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP (NOT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR) TO LOOK AT IT. THE SERVICE TECH. SAID SOMETHING MUST HAVE HIT IT BECAUSE THE HE SAW A CHIP IN THE GLASS JUST TO THE RIGHT OF THE CRACK ABOUT 2-3 MILLIMETERS IN DIAMETER AND ABOUT 1-2 MILLIMETERS IN DEPTH. THEY WILL NOT REPLACE IT AT ANY CHARGE TO ME. I KNOW NOTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND I FEEL THE GLASS IS DEFECTIVE AND CRACKED DUE TO THE COLD OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE AND HEAT FROM THE DEFROSTER.