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.
Suspension, Apr 9, 2003
WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT SUSPENSION WOULD VIBRATE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM
Power train, Mar 28, 2003
THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED BETWEEN GEARS WHEN SHIFTING, DEALER STATED TSB OUT ON THIS PROBLEM, SECOND TO THIRD GEAR ONLY. WHEN SLOWING DOWN VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD. BOTH PROBLEMS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER REPAIRED VEHICLE, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RECTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER 5 TIMES, UNABLE TO REPAIR. *JB
Power train, Mar 26, 2003
SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE WE BEGAN FEELING A "BUCKING" SENSATION IN THE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION WHEN OUR NEW 2003 CAMRY WOULD SHIFT FROM OVER DRIVE INTO A LOWER GEAR. IT ONLY HAPPENS IN A NARROW RANGE OF SPEED AND ENGINE RPM BUT WHEN IT HAPPENS - THERE IS NO MISTAKING THE "STUTTER". THIS "NARROW RANGE" IS RIGHT AT 38-40 MPH / ~1200 RPM WHICH IS THE SPEED WE COMMONLY TRAVEL ON THE SECONDARY ROADS. *JB
Visibility, Mar 11, 2003
MY 2003 TOYOTA XL CAMRY HAS A CONTROL THAT CLOSES THE DRIVER'S WINDOW. WHEN ACTIVATED YOU CAN RELEASE THE BUTTON AND THE WINDOW CONTINUES TO CLOSE. THERE IS NO SAFETY STOP WHICH STOPS THE ACTION WHEN THE BUTTON IS RELEASED. THIS CAN BE A FATAL EXPOSURE TO A CHILD OR ADULT CAUGHT IN THE PATH OF THE WINDOW. *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 3, 2003
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BRAKE PROBLEMS.*AK *JB
Electronic stability control, Feb 27, 2003
2003 TOYOTA MR2 SPYDER - COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE, BOTH STEERING AND BRAKING CONTROL, WITHOUT WARNING OR UNUSUAL CAUSE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AT SPEEDS LESS THAN 25 MPH. TOYOTA DEALER EXAMINED VEHICLE AND STATES THAT VEHICLE IS DRIVABLE AND MEETS DESIGN INTENT. TOYOTA DEALER STATES THAT PROBLEM CAN NOT BE REPAIRED AND RECOMMENDS SNOW TIRES. SNOW TIRES THAT MEET TOYOTA SPECS ARE NOT COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE.*JB
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 27, 2003
TAILPIPE ON 2003 CAMRY TO LOW TO GROUND. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD. *JB
Visibility, Feb 19, 2003
THE POWER WINDOWS WENT UP BY THEMSELVES, WITHOUT THE BUTTON BEING PRESSED.*JB
Exterior lighting, Feb 16, 2003
I PURCHASED A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY AND DISCOVERED WHAT I THINK IS A SAFETY CONCERN.THE TURN SIGNAL LEFT OR RIGHT DOES NOT SHUT OFF AUTOMATICLY WHEN EXITING OR ENTERING A RAMP OR WHEN TAKING A TURN THAT DOES NOT REQUIER A FULL TURN OF THE STEERING WHEEL.MY WIFE BEEN IN TWO ALTERCATIONS ,ONE OF ROAD RAGE FROM ANOTHER DRIVER AND THE OTHER WAS A NEAR ACCIDENT ALL DUE TO SIGNAL NOT SHUTING OFF AUTOMATICLY WHEN RETURNING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK FROM MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN .NEVER IN THE 26 YEARS OF MY DRIVING CARS AND TRUCKS HAVE I HAD VEHICLE THAT HAS DONE THIS AND I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I CALLED TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY SAID FLAT OUT THAT THEY DO NOT OWE ME AN EXPLINATION .ITS TO BAD I EXPECTED A MORE RESPONSIBLE REPLY FROM ONE OF THE WORLD'S BEST CAR MANUFACTURERS
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Feb 15, 2003
CAR STALLS (GAS PEDAL DOES NOT RESPOND) WHEN TURNING INTO TRAFFIC. ALSO WHEN SLOWING TO A LOW SPEED AND THEN ACCELERATING. THIS HAS CAUSED US TO ALMOST BE HIT SEVERAL TIMES IN THE SIDE AND IN THE REAR. MOST OF THE TIME WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE CAR WITH TIRE MARKS LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL COMES ON AND FLASHES. THERE IS NO WAY TO PREDICT WHEN THIS SUDDEN LOSS OF THE ACCELERATOR WILL HAPPEN. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. THIS HAPPENS AT LEAST ONCE ALMOST EVERY TIME WE DRIVE. ALSO SOMETIMES WHEN YOU START THE CAR AND BEGIN TO GO YOU HEAR DINGING SOUNDS AND FEEL AND HEAR BUMPS AND GRINDING NOISES. 2 LIGHTS COME ON IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHEN THIS HAPPENS. 1 READS VSC TRAC AND THE OTHER READS TRAC OFF. IF YOU STOP AND RESTART THE ENGINE IT WILL EVENTUALLY STOP DOING IT. SOMETIMES THIS IS AFTER 1 RESTART AND SOMETIMES IT HAS TAKEN 5 AND 6. ON DAY IT WOULD NOT STOP NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU RESTARTED AND WE HAD TO DRIVE WITH LIGHTS ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 10 DIFFERENT TIMES.
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 5, 2003
CONSUMER IS LOOSING ENGINE POWER. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. PH
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Vehicle speed control, Jan 27, 2003, crash
I HAD BACKED OUT OF PARKING SPACE. WHEN I PUT 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY IN DRIVE, IT SURGED FORWARD. I BRAKED BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. I DEPRESSED BRAKE FULLY, NONETHELESS THE CAR ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY AND VERY QUICKLY. VEHICLE ONLY STOPPED BY VIOLENT COLLISION WITH TWO PARKED VEHICLES AND CEMENT BLOCKS. ONLY GOOD FORTUNE PREVENTED DEATHS OF ANY PASSERS BY. WITNESSES OBSERVED MY FOOT FULLY ON THE DEPRESSED BRAKE PEDAL AS THE CAR WAS AT REST AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
Other or unspecified, Jan 7, 2003
I PURCHASED A 2003 TOYOTA SOLARA THE LAST WEEK IN SEPTEMBER2002. WITHIN 3 WEEKS OF BUYING MY CAR THE PAINT STARTED TO CHIP OFF AND COME OFF IN CHUNKS. I HAVE MADE REPORTS TO THE COMPANY EACH TIME A NEW CHIP HAS OCCURRED (THE CHIPS AND HUNKS ARE DOWN TO THE BARE METAL) THE COMPANY HAD A REP COME IN TO LOOK AT MY CAR AND THEY CONTINUE TO KEEP SAYING IT IS ROAD DAMGE WHEN IN FACT IT IS NOT. THEY HAVE OFFERED NO HELP, OPTIONS OR SOLUTIONS TO MY PROBLEM. ALL I WANT THE CAR TO BE ANALYZED TO SEE WHAT IS CAUSING THE PAINT TO COME OFF. IT COULD BE BAD PAINT, OR THAT THE CARS METAL WAS NOT PREPPED AND TREATED PROPERLY BEFORE PAINTING OR IT COULD EVEN BE THE PRIMER ITSELF. I JUST WANT A SOLUTION TO MY PROBLEM, THIS IS THE FIRST NEW CAR I HAVE PURCHASED AND IT WAS AN EXPENSIVE CAR. I HAVE OWNED MUCH OLDER CARS IN THE PAST WHERE I HAVE NEVER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE PAINT ON THEM.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jan 6, 2003
VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP. CONSUMER HAD THEIR FOOT ON THE BRAKES, AND THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE PEDAL ARE TOO SOFT. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THEY WERE HAVING PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL/YEAR BRAKES, AND THINKS THE CAUSE IS THE MASTER CYCLINDER. PH
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 20, 2002, fire
WHILE DRIVING, STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT SO CONSUMER PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT. VEHICLE WAS VERY HARD TO TURN. CONSUMER INSPECTED UNDER HOOD AND NOTICED A SMALL FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. TS
Air bags, Nov 7, 2002, crash
ESTIMATED SPEED WAS BETWEEN 30 - 35 MPH WHILE PERSUING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION ANOTHER VEHICLE CROSSED RIGHT IN FRONT OF HER. THE FRONT HAD IMPACTED THE OTHER VEHICLE AND THEN WAS KNOCKED AROUND. THE OTHER VEHICLES' AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND EVEN AFTER THE OWNER OF THE CAMRY HIT A TREE, NEITHER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS TS