2003 Toyota Camry Brakes Problems

I WAS COMING TO A STOP PRESSING THE BRAKE THE CAR ACCELLARATE UP TO 70 TO 100 SPEED AND KEPT PRESSING THE BRAKES THE MORE I PRESS THE FASTER IT WENT I HAD TO RUN LIGHTS TO AVOID HITTING CARS FINALLY IT DECIDED TO STOP WHEN I SWIRL INTO A WALGREENS IT DID THIS 4 TIMES THAT DAYTHANK GOD I NEED TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS CAR THAT IS SCARY IT ACELLLARATE FAST AND WONT STOP ....

I HAVE OWNED MY 2003 CAMRY SINCE IT WAS BRAND NEW. DURING ALL THAT TIME, I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHENEVER I BRAKE AS THE CAR TRAVELS OVER SMALL BUMPS, CRACKS OR OTHER IMPERFECTIONS IN THE ROAD (ESPECIALLY IF I BRAKE HARD), THE ABS SYSTEM KICKS IN AND APPEARS TO PUMP THE BRAKES (THOUGH IT DOES NOT ACTUALLY STOP THE CAR) AND DOES NOT SHUT DOWN UNTIL I LIFT MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE THEREBY PREVENTING A PROPER STOP AND SIGNIFICANTLY LENGTHENING THE STOP. NOTE THAT THIS OCCURS ON DRY ROADS. THIS ALSO SEEMS TO OCCUR IF THERE IS A NEED TO STOP HARD JUST AS I AM ACCELERATING, SUCH AS AN UNEXPECTED SHORT STOP BY THE CAR IN FRONT. IT HAS NOT LED TO ANY SERIOUS ACCIDENTS (THOUGH A COUPLE OF LIGHT REAR-ENDS), WHICH I CREDIT TO MY BEING ABLE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE PROBLEM, UNTIL LAST WEEK WHEN THE PROBLEM CAUSED A MORE SERIOUS REAR-END COLLISION. ALL THE OTHER CARS IN FOUR CAR CHAIN MANAGED TO STOP SHORT, NOT MY CAMRY EVEN AS I MAINTAINED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, AS IT SEEMED TO BARELY SLOW DOWN, CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. THE CAR IS PROBABLY BETTER OFF WITHOUT THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM ALTOGETHER THAN WITH THIS DEFECTIVELY DEPLOYING SYSTEM THAT DOESN'T REALLY EVEN SEEM TO STOP THE CAR, BUT JUST LIGHTLY PUMPS THE BRAKES, PREVENTING PROPER BRAKING.

I WAS DRIVING IN MANO ROAD N E BEEN I SANTI TO USE THE BRAKE TO MAKE A CHANCE LINE BEVANDE I ATTIVE TO MY APPARTAMENTO I ROUND TENERE SAS NO BRAKE IN SECONDA AT THATCHER TIME I DEPENDANCE ON UDINE HANBRAKE TO STOP THE CAR N THAI CHALLENGER ERICE WITH IN 15 MINUTES. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

ON OCTOBER 21 I WAS RETURN TO MY HOME MY SPEED WAS 40 ON A MAIN STREET AND WHEN I START TO SLOW MY SPEED USING THE BRAKE I SHOCKED THERE WAS NO BRAKE N I TRIED THEN I USED THE HAND BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR .ALL THAT HAPPENED IN SECONDS .... AND WHEN I TRIED TO GO TO THE NEAREST MECHANICS THE SAME THINGS HAPPENED .... THE 2 THINGS WERE WITHIN 15 MINUTES ... I STILL TERRIFIED WHAT I WILL DO IF THAT HAPPENED AND I USUALLY PICK MY SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD WITH ME ... THE MECHANIC CHECK THE CAR N HE DID NOT FIND ANY SERIES THING.... SO WHAT IS GOING ON??? *TR

I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE, STOPPED, AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF PULLING UP THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CAR BOLTED GOING OVER THE PARKING CURB AND CONTINUING ON INTO A BUILDING, ALL WITH NO MOMENTUM AS THE CAR WAS STOPPED. ONE WITNESS SAID IT WAS A VERY LOUD REVVING SOUND. TWO OTHERS SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE A TRUCK. THE PERSON WHO WAS BEHIND ME SAID MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ON. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WHEN APPLIED. THE BRAKE PEDAL ALSO ABNORMALLY TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS TO BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,885.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL UNTIL THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE BUT REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER AS A SAFETY PRECAUTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,740 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 142,754.

THE NIGHT BEFORE THE INCIDENT HAD SLIGHT RAIN DURING. EARLY MORNING, I WAS DRIVING IT KEEPING IT IN MIND THAT IT HAS SOME PROBLEM.... DRIVING AT 35-40 M/HR. THE CAR BEFORE ME STOPS ON THE STOP SIGN AND TRY TO STOP FOLLOWING 3 SECONDS RULE, HIT THE BRAKES ALL THE WAY BUT HEARD GRINDING SOUND AND DIDN'T STOP AND NEED TO GO TO ANOTHER INCOMING LANE ON THE LEFT TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR INFRONT OF ME. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I HAD THE SIMILAR PROBLEM..... ONE IN 2010 ONE IN 2011. I WENT TO JAY WOLFE TOYOTA OF WEST COUNTY MO AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT. IT WAS THEIR CLOSING TIME.... MET WITH ONE OF THE MAINTENANCE MANAGER .... EXPLAINED BUT WAS TOLD THAT IT SHOULD BE BECAUSE OF ABS. I TOLD HIM THAT I HAD HONDA 2002 AND NEVER HAVE TO SCARE ABOUT THESE TYPE OF INCIDENTS BUT WHY IT IS HAPPENING WITH TOYOTA. HE INSISTED THAT IT SHOULDN'T BE . LATER DURING REGULAR OIL CHANGE I ASKED TO CHECK BRAKES AND THEY DIDN'T FIND ANY FAULT THERE. I TOLD THEM THE INCIDENT THEY DIDN'T TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.... THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENED AGAIN. ONE DAY WAS DRIVING WITH FEAR ON INTERSTATE AT 60 MPH. THE SAME THING HAPPENED AND I WAS ABLE TO CHANGE LANE. AFTER THAT I RARELY TAKE THE CAR FOR INTERSTATE DRIVING. IF DO I ALWAYS SCARE AND START USING BRAKES BEFORE 1/4TH OF THE MILE. AT THIS POINT I WOULD LIKE TO GET HELP FROM TOYOTA COMPANY WHY IT IS HAPPENING AND FIX THE PROBLEM. I DON'T WANT TO SUE THEM LATER WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENED. IF THEY ARE SERIOUS ABOUT SAFETY OF THEIR CUSTOMER, TAKE MY CAR AND FIX IT. *TR

I WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN GETTING READY TO STOP WHEN I REALIZED I WAS UNABLE TO STOP. FINALLY AFTER REALLY PUSHING HARD I GOT STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AND I HEARD THE GAS ACCELERATING. I ALMOST HIT A BACK END SIDE OF A CAR WITHOUT THE PEOPLE EVEN KNOWING WHAT HAPPEN. *TR

I GOT IN THE CAR AND ATTEMPTED TO MOVE IT FROM THE GARAGE TO MY DRIVEWAY. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR SURGED AND SPIRALED OUT OF CONTROL. THE ACCELERATOR 'LOCKED' AND I WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AS THE BRAKE WOULD NOT WORK. THE CAR CRASHED IN MY NEIGHBOR'S YARD AGAINST HIS TREE. *TR

I HAVE A 96 AND 03 TOYOTA CAMRY AND MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND SHE HIT THE BRAKES AND COULD NOT STOP. SHE CONTINUED HITTING THE BRAKES AND LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND HIT A BEAM UNDER A BRIDGE. I AM GLAD SHE DIDN'T GET HURT BUT THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS BADLY DAMAGED. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE. I HAVE HAD DIFFERENT CAR MECHANICS TELL ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ANYBODY HAS AN ANSWER ON WHAT I CAN DO. *TR

WHEN I APPLY MY BRAKES ON ICE, MY ABS SYSTEM IMMEDIATELY ACTIVATES AND SLOWS MY 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY DOWN. WHEN I APPLY MY BRAKES ON DRY ROADS, (COMING UP ON A RED LIGHT FOR INSTANCE), AND HIT A BUMP OR POTHOLE IN THE ROAD, THE BRAKES IMMEDIATELY RELEASE. AFTER A 1-2 SECOND DELAY, THE ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES. THOSE TWO SECONDS HAVE NEARLY CAUSED NUMEROUS CRASHES OVER THE LIFE OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR

FOR OVER FOUR YEARS I HAVE BEEN ASKING TOYOTA DEALER TO LOOK AT THE BRAKES ON MY 2003 CAMRY. THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSES OVER HALF WAY BEFORE IT GRABS. I HAD TO STOP FAST TWO MONTHS AGO AND THE PEDAL WAS TO THE FLOOR AND I SKIDDED TO THE SIDE BEFORE THE BRAKES GRABBED. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE BRAKES AND THEY WERE FINE, THEY SAID THAT THE PEDAL WAS WORKING JUST FINE AND THEY COULD NOT ADJUST THE PEDAL FREE PLAY. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND THEY WON'T DO ANY THING ABOUT IT. THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL REGARDING THE BRAKES OR PEDAL ON A 2003 CAMRY. *TR

MY WIFE'S WAS DRIVING OUR 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE TO STORE WHEN COMING TO CASUAL STOP HIT BRAKE PEDAL AND HAD LOST ALL BRAKING POWER WHILE MERGING ONTO EXIT. MY WIFE KEPT PUMPING THE BRAKES UNTIL AFTER 8-10 PUMPS OF BRAKE PEDAL CAR FINALLY REGAINED BRAKING POWER. SHE WAS TELLING ME SHE WAS ALMOST PREPARED TO RUN THE CAR OFF THE ROAD INTO DITCH TO AVOID REAR-ENDING CARS IN FRONT OF HER. MY WIFE WAS SCARED AND UPSET AND SAID SHE WON'T PUT OUR 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER OR 7 YEARS OLD SON IN THIS CAR EVER AGAIN. I HAVE HAD INTERMITTENT LOSS OF BRAKES PROBLEM SINCE NEW. WHEN WE TAKE IT TO THE DEALER THE TELL US THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN FIND WRONG. THIS HAS HAPPENED 10 TIMES SINCE NEW,BUT THIS EVENT BEING THE WORST. I AM CALLING DEALER TOMORROW MORNING TO GET THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED. MY WIFE DOES NOT WANT THE CAR AND STRONGLY BELIEVES THE PROBLEM WON'T BE FIXED BECAUSE IT IS A ENGINEERING PROBLEM NOT A MAINTENANCE PROBLEM. I AM SURE OF ALL THE TIMES WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR THIS ISSUE THAT THEY CANNOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. I AM SURE THAT WHEN I TAKE IT THERE TOMORROW NOT UNDER WARRANTY THEY WILL TURN THIS ENGINEERING PROBLEM INTO A PROFIT MAKER. THE CAR IS A GARAGE KEPT CAR WITH 44,000 MILE AND NEW FRONT AND REAR BRAKES PADS AT 40,000. MY WIFE AND I READ MANY OF THE COMPLAINTS ON BRAKING PROBLEMS AND ARE EXACTLY WHAT WE EXPERIENCE ON OUR TOYOTA CAMRY XLE. I WAS NOT IN THE CAR SO I'M NOT SURE IT WAS BRAKES OR ACCELERATOR. MY OPINION IS IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. WHEN CAR WAS NEW I HAD A PANIC STOP ON HIGHWAY ON A HOT SUMMER DAY. I HIT THE BRAKES HARD AND REAR TIRES LOCKED UP AND SKIDDED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO 30 MPH FROM 65MPH. IF THIS CAR HAS ABS HOW CAN YOU SKID THE REAR TIRES AT ANYTIME. DEALER CLAIMED TO FIND NOTHING WRONG EVERY TIME . TOMORROW AT THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD BE INTERESTING, MY WIFE WANTS ME TO TRADE IT IN AND SWEARS SHE WON'T DRIVE IT EVER AGAIN. *TR

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

I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY 2003 CAMRY SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT. THE ANTILOCK BRAKES KICK IN FOR NO OBVIOUS REASONS, EVEN FOR SMALL BUMPS/POTHOLES AND I LOOSE CONTROL OF STOPPING THE CAR. LUCKILY I HAVE NOT GONE INTO ANY ACCIDENT, BUT IT IS SCARY. NOW MY 17 YEAR DAUGHTER IS GETTING HER LICENSE AND I AM SCARED THAT SHE MIGHT NOT KNOW HOW TO CONTROL THE SITUATION. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH 2003 CAMRY BRAKING SYSTEM. READING ALL THESE POSTS, I THINK THAT TOYOTA IS NOT HONEST WITH US SEE OTHER COMPLAINS AT HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/FORUM/TOYOTA/CAMRY/CONSUMER+COMPLAINT/760-760. *TR

AFTER READING THE RECENT DESCRIPTION OF THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES ON THE 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS I REALIZED THAT THE DESCRIPTION IS IDENTICAL TO THE PROBLEM I HAVE ON MY 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED AND AT THE SAME TIME I HAPPEN TO HIT A POTHOLE OR A ROUGH OR UNEVEN SURFACE THE CAR WILL LOSE BRAKING ABILITY AND IT IS OFTEN ACCOMPANIED BY THE CHATTERING SOUND LIKE YOU HEAR WHEN ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ARE ENGAGING, EXCEPT IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE THE BRAKES DO NOT SEEM TO HAVE ANY EFFECT. ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT IT IS VERY MUCH A SENSE OF LOST OF CONTROL WHEN IT HAPPENS, AND MOST RECENTLY WHEN THIS HAPPENED I HAD TO SHIFT LANES SUDDENLY TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. AS STATED THIS PHENOMENA HAS OCCURRED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. *TR

2003 TOYOTA CAMRY LE WE HAVE A 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY AND A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. MY WIFE GENERALLY DRIVES THE 2003 CAMRY. I HAVE ALWAYS FELT THAT THE BRAKES WERE UNRESPONSIVE OR PRESSING THE BRAKES WOULD GENERALLY CAUSE THE CAR TO SKID IRRESPECTIVE OF ROAD CONDITIONS - WET /DRY. I HAVE TAKEN THE CARE TO THE SHOP TO CHECK IF THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM, ENSURED THAT THE BRAKE PADS WERE NEW ETC. 3 WEEKS AGO I WAS IN A REAR END COLLISION - I HAD PLENTY OF ROOM TO STOP AND HIT THE BRAKES AND THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN AND CONTINUED TO SKID. I USED THE CAR IN FRONT TO EFFECTIVELY HALT OUR CAR. WITH ALL THE DISCUSSION OF THE TOYOTA RECALLS, I BELIEVE THERE ARE MORE CARS THAT TOYOTA IS NOT REVEALING. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, I DROVE THE 1999 CAMRY AND THERE IS DEFINITELY A DIFFERENCE I THE RESPONSIVENESS AND PERFORMANCE OF THE BRAKES/BRAKING SYSTEM. *TR

I WATCHED THE CNN EVENING NEWS COVERAGE YESTERDAY, FEBRUARY 9 ON THE PRIUS RECALL DUE TO A BRAKE PROBLEM. THE CNN NEWS REPORTER ACTUALLY OWNS A PRIUS AND WAS RELAYING HER EXPERIENCE. HER STORY RESONANT WITH ME BECAUSE I HAVE CONTINUALLY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY 2003 CAMRY. THOUGH I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER A NUMBER OF TIMES AND THE TECHNICIAN HAS EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING ROAD TESTS, NO MECHANICAL PROBLEM IS FOUND. *TR

IN WET WEATHER, I OFTEN FIND THE BRAKES ON MY 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY FAILING, EVEN AFTER I HAVE HAD NEW BRAKE PADS INSTALLED. ESPECIALLY WHEN I GO DOWNHILL NEAR MY HOUSE, WHEN I SLOWLY APPLY THE BRAKES IN WET WEATHER I HEAR A CRUNCHING SOUND AND GET LITTLE, AND OCCASIONALLY, NO BRAKE ACTION. N.B. I AM NOT SURE OF THE DAY I AM PUTTING IN BELOW, BUT AM PICKING THE 4TH AS AN APPROXIMATE DATE SO I CAN CONTINUE WITH THE FORM. *TR