2003 Toyota Camry Complaint Log

THIS CAR PULLS LEFT AND TRACKS POORLY UNDER MOST DRIVING CONDITIONS. IT IS ESPECIALLY BAD IN CROSSWINDS AND ON WET ROADWAYS. IT WAS ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT LOW CASTER ANGLE WAS TO BLAME. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO LOOSEN AND JIGGLE THE ENGINE CRADLE TO GET THE CASTER ON THE MINIMUM SPECIFICATION FOR CASTER, BUT THIS HAS DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT THE POOR HANDLING. AFTER 4 VISITS AND MUCH UNNECESSARY DELAY, THE DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA NOW CLAIM THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THIS DEFECT REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE WITH LANE DRIFTAGE, AND LIMITS THE USE OF THE CAR. I AM DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE DEALERSHIP'S AND TOYOTA'S POSITION. I SELECTED TOYOTA FOR THEIR APPARENT GOOD REPUTATION FOR INTEGRITY AND SERVICE, BUT MY EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN OTHERWISE. MY INTERACTIONS WITH TOYOTA THROUGH THEIR AGENTS HAS SHOWN THAT THEIR REPUTATION APPEARS TO BE LARGELY BASED ON THEIR OWN PUBLIC RELATIONS CAMPAIGN--NOT ON SERVICE AND QUALITY. I AM NOW FACED WITH THE PROSPECT OF ARBITRATION AND LAWSUIT TO FORCE TOYOTA MOTOR CORP TO HONOR THEIR WARRANTY. I CANNOT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE KNOWINGLY SELL THIS VEHICLE TO ANOTHER UNSUSPECTING BUYER, SO I MUST CHOOSE TO EITHER SUE TOYOTA OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE MYSELF.

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

ON THE FREEWAY WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES FOR EMERGENCY STOP IT WENT TO THE FLOOR.T TOOK EXTENDED DISTANCE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER CHANGED THE MAIN CYLINDER, BUT AFTER A WEEK THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE. THE BRAKE PEDAL DOES NOT HAVE ANY RESERVE DISTANCE AS IT SPECIFIED IN THE MAINTANANCE AND REPAIR MANUAL, THE PEDAL IS TOO SOFT AND SPONGY. BECAUSE THE BRAKE PEDAL SOFTNESS THE BRAKING TIME IS INCREASED BY 3 SECONDS. WHEN I ASKED THE ASSITANT MANGER HAD THEY PERFORMED ACTUAL TESTS ON THE VEHICLE AFTER THE REPAIR HE TOLD ME THAT THEY DID A COMPUTERIZED BRAKE TEST, BUT WHEN I ASKED FOR HTE PRINTOUT HE SAID THAT THE COMPUTER CANNOT PRINT IT. *AK

WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THIS RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED, THEN THE DEALERSHIP CLEANED AND READJUSTED THE REAR BRAKES. *AK THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE GROUND. *SCC *JB

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

WHILE CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 15MPH THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AND APPLYING BRAKES DRIVER'S SEAT MOVES FORWARD, RELEASED BRAKE AND SEAT WILL MOVE BACK. DEALER REPLACED ALL SEATS, AND STILL EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE JERKED. ALSO, GEARS WERE HARD TO CHANGE UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS OVER 35 MPH. DEALER CLAIMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE, BUT THE WAY CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES PEDAL IT TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN CONTACTED. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD TRAVEL TIME ON THE PEDAL ABOUT ONE INCH AND SPONGY. DEALER STATED ALL 2002'S AND 2003'S HAD THAT PROBLEM. *PH *JB

SURGE PROBLEM. I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY SE. AT TIMES, WHEN I SLOW DOWN ALMOST TO A STOP AND THEN RE-ACCELERATE MY CAR SURGES FORWARD RATHER THAN ACCELERATING SMOOTHLY.*AK

MY 2003 CAMRY HAD BEEN GREAT SINCE THE DATE OF PURCHASE. ONLY HAD 2 PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR, ONE MINOR THE OTHER WAS MAJOR. I HAVE 25000 MILES ON THE CAR, AND BOTH THE FRONT TIRES WERE BARE. I WAS ABLE TO SEE ALL THE TREADS FROM THE TIRES. THE MAJOR PROBLEM I GOT WAS MY CAMRY CAUGHT ON FIRE AND MELTED THE ENTIRE ENGINE. I'D PULLED UP TO THE PARKING LOT AT WORK, AND 20 MINUTES LATER, I WAS NOTIFIED THAT MY ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. SPOKE WITH FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEY SAID IT LOOKS LIKE FAULTY/MALFUNCTION WIRE/CABLES. NOT SURE IF TOYOTA KNOWS OF THIS, BUT NOW I'M LEFT W/O A CAR UNTIL M INSURANCE FIGURES EVERYTHING OUT. TOYOTA SHOULD BE NOTIFY IN CASE THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE 2003 MODELS. *AK

2003 TOYOTA CAMRY V6 (MIDYEAR 210 HP MOTOR). THE BRAKES ON THIS CAR FADE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WHEN DEPRESSING THE PEDAL. THIS IS VERY DISCONCERTING AS THERE ISN'T ANY "PEDAL" TO THE BRAKE AND HAS TO JUST KEEP PRESSING, PRESSING, PRESSING THE PEDAL UNTIL THE CAR STOPS. THE TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE SAYS THIS IS HOW THE CAMRY BRAKES ARE DESIGNED AND IT IS NORMAL. THE TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE INSISTS THAT SINCE HE CAN NOT REENGINEER THE CAR HE CANNOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP WITH THE PROBLEM. HE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER WAS "OBVIOUSLY" CONCERNED WITH THE PROBLEM, BUT THE TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE DISMISSED HIS CONCERN. IT APPEARS THAT TOYOTA "THINKS" IT'S SMARTER THAN THE REST OF US. BUT PERHAPS THEY SHOULD TAKE A STEP BACK AND LOOK AT WHERE THAT ATTITUDE HAS GOTTEN A FEW OF THE OTHER AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURERS. THE CAMRY'S BRAKES DO NOT GIVE THE DRIVER A FEELING THAT THE BRAKES WILL STOP THE CAR. IN FACT, THE CAR DOES NOT STOP. THESE BRAKES ARE DANGEROUS. *AK *SCC

2003 CAMRY SE, DESPITE TWO RETURNS TO DEALER, STILL CONSISTANTLY DRIFTS AND/OR VEERS TO THE LEFT. HEAD TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THIS WAS THE #2 COMPLAINT ON LATE MODEL CAMRY'S, AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE, AS IT WAS THE "NATURE" OF THE CAR.*AK I FEEL THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION (ESPECIALLY SINCE IT IS MOST EVIDENT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS), AND HAVE READ THAT IT IS, IN FACT, A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT AMONG 2002/2003 CAMRY OWNERS. SOMEONE COULD EASILY GET HURT OR KILLED, WITH THIS MANY CAMRY'S OUT ON THE ROAD AND, EVIDENTALLY, MANY (ALL?) HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.

I PURCHASED A TOYOTA CAMRY V6 SE MODEL IN JULY OF 2003. SINCE PURCHASE THERE IS A STEERING PULL/VEER TO THE LEFT REQUIRING OVER CORRECTION TO THE RIGHT. I BROUGHT CAR INTO SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS 4 TIMES, 1ST TIME WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS NONEXISTENT; 2ND TIME, NO PROBLEM, NOTICEABLE AGAIN; 3RD TIME TIRE ROTATION PERFORMED, BUT CAR STILL VEERS TO THE LEFT. TWO WEEKS AGO, CAR WAS DRIVEN BY FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE WHO COMMENTED THAT THE CAR WAS MECHANICALLY PERFECT. SERVICE MANAGER SUGGESTED CHECKING TIRES BUT WOULD NOT ADMIT THAT THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM. I TEST DROVE A BRAND NEW SE V6 MODEL DIRECTLY FROM THE DEALERS LOT AND FOUND THE SAME CHARACTERISTIC STEERING BEHAVIOR, WITNESSED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER. I HAVE DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THIS VEHICLE (BETWEEN 20 & 40 MPH) BUT HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS THE NATURE OF THE CAR AND I CAN BEGIN ARBITRATION IF I CHOOSE. I AM EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED AND HAVE BEEN GREATLY INCONVENIENCED BY THE NUMBER OF FRUITLESS TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP. THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING THAT THE DEALERSHIP AND APPARENTLY TOYOTA'S SPECIALISTS WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE IS ABNORMAL AND IN MY OPINION (AS WELL OF THOSE I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET) IS A DRIVING HAZARD. I WANT THIS TO BE FIXED, BUT BASICALLY HAVE NOWHERE TO TURN. ANY ASSISTANCE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.*JB

2003 TOYOTA CAMRY IS EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRONIC COMPUTER CONTROLLED THROTTLE, ELECTRONIC COMPUTER CONTROLLED TRANSMISSION, AND CRUISE CONTROL. AT VARIOUS TIMES THE CAR WILL EITHER HESITATE FOR 5-10 SECONDS WHEN ACCELARATION IS DEMANDED OR ALTERNATIVELY UNDER LIGHT THROTTLE IT WILL SHIFT DOWN SEVERAL GEARS THE ENGINE RACING MADLY AND ACCELARATE. IN CRUISE CONTROL IT SOMETIMES SHIFTS DOWN AND ACCELARATES 15 MPH OVER THE SETPOINT.*AK

SINCE SOON AFTER I PURCHASE MY TOYOTA CAMRY NEW I HAVE NOTICED THAT IT PULLS HARD TO THE LEFT. FORTUNATELY I HAVE YET TO HAVE A VEHICLE ACCIDENT, THOUGH SEVERAL TIMES MY CAR HAS DRIFTED INTO THE ONCOMING LANE. *NM

TRANSMISSION/ENGINE AT MODERATE SPEEDS (50 MPH) STUMBLES WHEN THROTTLE INPUT IS REMOVED. THE CONCERN IS INCREASED BRAKING DISTANCE WHEN THE CONDITION OCCURS. DOES NOT OCCUR EVERYTIME THROTTLE INPUT IS REMOVED. DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE FAILURE MODE.

FROM ORIGINAL PURCHASE DATE OF VEHICLE, THE CAR TRACKS LEFT. THE TRACKING TO THE LEFT OCCURS IN ANY LANE AT ANY TIME. I HAVE HAD INTO DEALER THREE TIMES FOR REPAIR. FIRST TWO VISITS RESULTED IN COMMENTS THAT THIS WAS "NORMAL" AND THE CROWN OF THE ROAD. A THIRD VISIT, AT ANOTHER DEALER INDICATED THAT THE TOE WAS "SLIGHTLY" OFF. WHILE THIS HAS AMELIORATED THE PROBLEM, IT CONTINUES. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS "TYPICAL" FOR CAMRY'S WITH 16" WHEELS. I FIND THIS SITUATION UNACCEPTABLE. THE 15" WHEEL CAMRY DOES NOT APPEAR TO SUFFER FROM THIS CONDITION.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD, SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A FENCE. *AK CONSUMER WAS MANEUVERING THE VEHICLE IN A PARKING SPOT AND LIFTED HER FOOT FROM THE BRAKE TO ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO DRIFT FORWARD A SHORT DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND RAN OVER A PARKING STOP, A SIDEWALK CURB AND THEN RAN INTO A WOODEN FENCE WHERE IT STOPPED. ON PRIOR OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE HAD SIMILARLY SURGED FORWARD WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC WAITING AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL. IN THESE INSTANCES, THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING THE BRAKES.

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

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, AND WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN ENOUGH TO AVOID A COLLISION. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. HOWEVER, CONSUMER WAS CITED. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER TWICE CONCERNING THE BRAKES. DEALER WOULD SIMPLY REMOVE THE RUST AND DO NOTHING ELSE. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE WENT INTO EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY DEALER. TECHNICIAN ADJUSTED BOTH REAR BRAKE SHOES.*AK *CB

A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY, V-6, WITH ALL SAFETY EQUIPMENT EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGEMENT, ACTUAL TURN-OFF, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. SOMETIMES THE BRAKE PEDAL NEEDED TO BE LIFTED WITH THE LEFT FOOT TO RESTART/RE-ENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. LATER, WHILE PARALLEL PARKING, ON APPLYING THE BRAKE, THE CAR SURGED AHEAD HITTING THE SUV PARKED AHEAD. TOYOTA DEALER, AND FIELD TECHNICIAN DROVE VEHICLE AND THE ONLY THING NOTICED WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL WENT OFF WHEN TURNING AROUND IN A DRIVEWAY. THE PROBLEM WAS SPORADIC ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN FIRST OBSERVED. TOYOTA LEGALLY DENIED THE CLAIM AFTER OVER 3 MONTHS TIME FROM REPORTING TO THEIR REGIONAL CENTER. NO INJURIES OCCURRED. THE MASTER CYLINDER HAS BEEN REPLACED AND THE FRONT END REPAIRED. THE CAR APPEARS TO BE OPERATING SATISFACTORILY. *LA THE CONSUMER STATED IF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED SLIGHTLY TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL, HE STILL HAS TO LIFT THE PEDAL TO ENGAGE IT AGAIN. UPDATED 03/05/10

THE FUEL LINE UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CAR HAD A CRACK IN IT THAT WAS LEAKING GAS. *NLM

SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAUSED CAR TO JUMP CONCRETE CURB AND HIT A TREE. DRIVER WAS ENTERING A 90 DEGREE PARKING STALL. VEHICLE SPEED BEFORE SUDDEN ACCELERATION WAS LESS THAN TWO MILES PER HOUR (NEARLY STOPPED).*AK UPDATED 7/5/12 *CN

WITHIN 3 WEEKS FROM PURCHASE DATE THE CAR ACCELERATED WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE. THIS HAPPENED TWICE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THEY HAD THE CAR FOR A MONTH IN THAT TIME CORPORATION REPS ALSO TRIED TO FIND THE FAULT. THEY WERE UNABLE TO. I WAS TOLD CAR WAS FINE. I WAS TERRIFIED TO DRIVE IT AND WOULD NOT TAKE IT . THE DEALER WOULD ASUME NO RESPONSIBILITY AND SAID IF I WANTED A NEW CAR I WOULD HAVE TO TRADE THIS MODEL IN TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A NEW CAR. BECAUSE I WAS SO AFRAID TO DRIVE IT AND WOULD NOT TAKE THE CAR ANYPLACE ELSE TO SELL BECAUSE I KNEW HOW DANGEROUS IT WAS (AND SO DID THE DEALER AND IF THEY SOLD THAT DANGEROUS CAR TO ANOTHER IT WAS ON THEIR RESPONSIBILITY NOT MINE) I ACCEPTED THE CONDITIONS PUT FORTH BY MY DEALER AND TRADED MY 3 WEEK OLD TOYOTA IN FOR A NEW TOYOTAAND HAD TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL $4000.00 BECAUSE THE 3 WEEK OLD CAR WITH LESS THAN 1200 MILES ON IT WAS NOW A USED CAR. *AK

I PARKED MY 2003 CAMRY (WITH UNDER 5000 MILES ON IT) ON A STEEP, CIRCULAR DRIVEWAY ON A DRIZZLY MORNING. WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE, CREEPING FROM A DEAD START, MY BRAKES FAILED...OR MY TIRES DIDN'T GRIP THE ASPHALT. I DON'T KNOW WHICH. I JAMMED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I WENT SKIDDING DOWN THE INCLINE. WHEN I REACHED THE BOTTOM, MY CAR FINALLY STOPPED. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO CROSS TRAFFIC, SO I AVOIDED A COLLISION. I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE EXTENSIVE SKID MARKS LEFT BY MY CAR. *NLM

2003 V6 CAMRY HAS ENGINE SURGES/SHUDDERING THROUGH ALL SPEEDS. IS REALLY NOTICEABLE AT38-40 MPH. DIAGNOSTICS SHOWED ENGINE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMED - PROBLEM WAS MORE NOTICEABLE WHEN DRIVING IN CITTY WHERE SPEEDS WERE MORE INCREASED AND DECREASED. CONTINUED TO TAKE BACK TO DEALERSHIP. *AK

IN 2003, I PURCHASED ANEW 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY SE AND WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH OR SO HAD A "SUDDEN ACCELERATION" AND A MINOR ACCIDENT-- NO INJURIES. I REPORTED DETAILS TO NHTSA AT THAT TIME, AND TO TOYOTA WHO DENIED ANY LIABILITY. A LONG STORY. EVENTUALLY, THE DEALER REPLACED THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER @ MY REQUEST, WHICH IS THE LOCATION OF THE CRUISE CONTROL CUT-OFF, I BELIEVE. I HAVE HAD NO RECURRENCE SINCE THEN. HOWEVER, THE CRUISE CONTROL IS STILL AN ISSUE, FOR IF ONE JUST TAPS THE BRAKE TO COME OFF CONTROL, IT DOES THAT. BUT TO RE-NTER THE CRUISE SYSTEM, THE PEDAL MUST BE LIFTED MANUALLY, OR DEPRESSED AND RELEASED QUICKLY, OR THE CONTROL RE-ENGAGED AT THE STEERING WHEEL SWITCH. DETAILS OF THIS EXPERIENCE ARE IN MY EARLIER SUBMISSION. I BELIEVE THIS DEMONSTRATES AN ELECTRONIC PROBLEM WITH THIS SYSTEM AND I FELT TOYOTA WAS DERELICT IN THEIR HANDLING OF MY CONCERN AND PERHAPS SINCE THEN WITH THE WHOLE SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEM. I THOUGHT YOU SHOULD BE REMINDED AND SHOULD, PERHAPS, REVIEW MY EARLIER SUBMISSION.. *TR

2003 CAMRY PURCHASED JAN 03: COMPLAINT WAS--CAR HAS TO BE "HERDED" CONTINUALLY. WILL NOT MAINTAIN STRAIGHT LINE OF TRAVEL. FEELS LIKE IT IS "ON TOP OF THE BUBBLE." ANNOYING. DEALER CHECKED ALIGNMENT AND SAID "ALL WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS--NO PROBLEM FOUND." IT STILL DOES IT! (CHECKED 5/22/03) *LA THE VEHICLE DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT ABOUT 3 SECONDS AFTER THE PRESSURE WAS RELEASED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE ONLY DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT NOT THE LEFT, THEREFORE CONSTANT PRESSURE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ALWAYS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE TIRES WERE REPLACED BUT THAT DID NOT STOP THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT DRIFT EXCLUSIVELY TO THE RIGHT WAS ACCEPTABLE TO TOYOTA. *NM

I BOUGHT MY TOYOTA CAMRY 2003 LE BRAND NEW FROM KOONS TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN TYSONS CORNER, VIRGINIA BACK IN 2003. FEW MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE I NOTICED CAR ALWAYS PULLING TO THE LEFT. I WENT BACK TO DEALER BUT THEY CLAIM IT WAS JUST ROAD PULLING AND THAT IT WAS NORMAL. I ACCEPTED THAT AS AN ANSWER FROM CERTIFIED TOYOTA DEALER AND WENT ON WITH MY LIFE. THIS WAS MY SECOND CAR SO I WAS NOT DRIVING IT MUCH AT THE TIME BUT I HAD REPLACED TIRES TWICE AND HAD DONE ALIGNMENT SEVERAL TIMES IN LESS THEN TWO YEARS. I STARTED DRIVING THIS CAR MORE AROUND THE TIME MY WARRANTY EXPIRED AND THEN REALIZED THAT THIS PROBLEM REQUIRES ME TO REPLACE MY TIRES AFTER EACH MAJOR TRIP...WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES. I KEPT ON DOING ALIGNMENT AND EVEN TRIED DIFFERENT TYPE OF TIRES, DIFFERENT DEALERS, ETC. I EVEN FOUND A TSB RELEASE FROM TOYOTA THAT MANY CLAIM FIXES THIS PROBLEM BUT DEALERS CLAIM IT DOES NOT APPLY TO TOYOTA CAMRY 2003 LE, THE DOCUMENT IN QUESTION IS TSB-ST0002-04. DO THIS DAY I HAVE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND NO WAY TO FIX IT. SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH ON TOYOTA CAMRY 2003 LE LEFT PULL PROBLEM WILL SHOW HOW BIG AND WIDESPREAD PROBLEM THIS IS. THIS IS A RATHER FRUSTRATING PROBLEM BECAUSE EACH DEALER CLAIMS THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR YET I CANT BUY ENOUGH TIRES TO DRIVE THIS CAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CLUNK. THE VEHICLE THEN TURNED LEFT AND LANDED IN A DITCH. AFTER THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND STRUCK HER IN THE FACE. SHE AND HER GRANDSON SUSTAINED INJURIES AND WERE TRANSPORTED TO AN AREA HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,309 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,359.

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

ABS BRAKING SYSTEM ON 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY LE. AFTER READING THE NHTSA'S FEBRUARY 4, 2010 RELEASE ABOUT YOUR INVESTIGATION INTO TOYOTA PRIUS' ALLEGATIONS OF MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY WHILE TRAVELING OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE, POTHOLE OR BUMP, I FINALLY FELT VINDICATED, ALBEIT I STILL HAVE A PROBLEM. MY 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY LE HAS HAD THE SAME TYPE OF BRAKING PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED IT APRIL 2003 FROM THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN DELTA, CO. WHENEVER I WAS BRAKING TO TURN A CORNER OR SLOW DOWN GOING STRAIGHT AHEAD, IF I HIT A BUMP OR POTHOLE THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD SHUDDER, THE PEDAL DECREASES AND I LOSE MY BRAKES! I HAVE TO START PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL IMMEDIATELY TO GET THE BRAKES TO WORK. ONE TIME RECENTLY, MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I HAD TO SLOW DOWN WITH THE HELP OF MY EMERGENCY BRAKE WHICH DIDN'T REALLY WORK THAT WELL. AND I WAS GOING SLOWLY AT THE TIME. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DELTA, COLORADO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SHORTLY AFTER MY PURCHASING THE CAR, HOWEVER, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THEY FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM. CAN YOU GUYS HELP ME? I AM NOT LOOKING FOR REVENGE AGAINST TOYOTA, MY WHOLE FAMILY SAVE ONE PERSON, DRIVES TOYOTAS. I JUST WANT BRAKES THAT WORK CORRECTLY. THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE ME. *TR

I OWN A NEW, 2003, TOYOTA CAMRY THAT HAS A VERY LOW VOLUME CLICKING SOUND WHEN THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS ARE ON. BECAUSE I CAN NOT HEAR THE CLICKING SOUND WITH THE NORMAL BACKGROUND ROAD NOISES, THE TURN SIGNALS STAY ON EVEN THOUGH I AM NOT GOING TO TURN. I SEE THIS AS A SAFETY AND TRAFFIC VIOLATION ISSUE AND HAVE COMPLAINED TO BOTH MY TOYOTA DEALER AND TO THE CAR MANUFACTURER DIRECTLY, BUT THEY TELL ME THEY HAVE NO SOLUTION FOR MY COMPLAINT. PLEASE ADVISE ME AS TO HOW TO GET SATISFACTION AND RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. *NLM

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AN INTERMITTENT ACCELERATION PROBLEM. WHEN THIS OCCURRED CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT, VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. CONSUMER HAD TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. *AK DEALER CAN'T LOCATE THE PROBLEM ON VEHICLE. *LA

COMPLAINT HAVING DRIVEN A TOYOTA AND HAD THE PROBLEMS THAT'S IN THE NEWS TODAY. *TR

THE CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM IN MANUFACTURING OR QUALITY CONTROL OF 2003 CAMRY BRAKE SYSTEM. *MR THE CONSUMER BELIEVED WHEN THE VEHICLE LEFT THE FACTORY, THE BRAKES WERE OUT OF ADJUSTMENT. WHEN THE CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES, HE DISCOVERED THE BRAKES WERE SPONGY AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR. IT WAS DISCOVERED THE REAR BRAKES WERE OUT OF ADJUSTMENT, THE FRONT BRAKE PADS CONTAINED GLAZE AND THE FRONT SPRINGS WERE INOPERATIVE. *TS *JB *CB

I HAVE AN 2003 CAMRY XLE WHICH I PURCHASED NEW IN MARCH 2003, I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION. IT USUALLY OCCURS ONLY A COUPLE OF TIMES A YEAR. I DID NOT REPORT IT TO THE DEALER BECAUSE IT WAS NOT A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM AND NOT A PROBLEM WHICH COULD BE REPRODUCED ON COMMAND. UNTIL ALL THE PUBLICITY THE LAST FEW MONTHS I ASSUMED IT WAS ONLY A PROBLEM WITH MY CAR WHICH HAPPENS INFREQUENTLY. *TR

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN TRYING TO APPLY THE BRAKES THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL GO TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

GAS TANK THUMP WHEN STARTING FROM STOP. SLIGHT THUMP AND HEAVY THUMP ALL DEPENDS HOW MUCH FUEL IN TANK. SUSPENSION BOLTS TIGHTENED TO FACTORY SPECS. PARKING BRAKE OUT OF ADJUSTMENT COMING UP TO HIGH HARD HOLDING ON HILL AND BRAKE PEDAL TO SOFT.

WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT SUSPENSION WOULD VIBRATE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM

WHEN A BUMP WAS HIT IN THE ROAD, THE SEAT MADE A LOUD NOISE. *JB THE SEAT WAS LOOSE AND MADE A LOUD VIBRATING NOISE ESPECIALLY WHEN HITTING A BUMP. DEALER TRIED TO FIX TWO TIMES. HOWEVER SEAT WILL NOT REMAIN FIRM. *TT

THE VEHICLE RACED BACKWARDS WHEN THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. *MR *TT *JB SEE ODI 10019875 *DSY

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE, AND COLLIDED WITH SEVEN OTHER VEHICLE'S. *JB CONSUMER TRIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING THE BRAKES HOWEVER THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE. *TT *JB SEE ALSO ODI 10025068 *DSY

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE PURCHASE OF A CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE BUT THE VEHICLE DIDN'T RESPOND. THE IGNITION HAD TO BE TURNED OFF IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. (MODEL XLE) MR SCC *JB THE CONSUMER STATED ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED IN FRONT OF HIM, HE BRAKED AND SWERVED TO AVOID A COLLISION. AS HE BRAKED AN SWERVED TO THE RIGHT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AS HE STEERED TO THE LEFT AND ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE TO CORRECT THE INITIAL SWERVE TO THE RIGHT. HE THEN STEERED BACK TO THE RIGHT, THEN LEFT, THEN RIGHT, IN AN ATTEMPT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. ALL OF THAT TIME, HE WAS APPLYING THE BRAKE. IN TRYING TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER CROSSED THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC BEFORE THE VEHICLE FINALLY SLAMMED SIDEWAYS INTO A CONCRETE MEDIAN. *JB UPDATED 04/09/10. *JB

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN REVERSE, IT ALL OF SUDDEN SURGED FORWARD. *JB UPDATED7/2/12 *CN

IN 3/2003 I PURCHASED A TOYOTA CAMRY. WITHIN 1-2 YEARS I NOTICED MINOR CRACKS DEVELOPING ON THE TWO SPEAKER COVERS AT THE BACK OF THE CAR UNDER THE BACK WINDOW AND BEHIND THE BACK SEATS. THE CRACKS PROGRESSED WITH TIME BUT I HAD FORGOTTEN TO BRING IT UP TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE SPEAKERS ARE LOCATED IN A PLACE I DO NOT NORMALLY LOOK AND BECAUSE I THOUGHT THEY WERE ONLY CHEAP PLASTIC COVERS. BY 2006 THE PLASTIC WAS ACTUALLY DISINTEGRATING AND FALLING INTO THE LOUDSPEAKER ASSEMBLY CREATING AN EVER BIGGER BLACK HOLE. THE DEALER POINTED OUT TO ME THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTS ON CAMRYS AND THAT YOU MUST REPLACE THE WHOLE BACK PANEL BEHIND THE BACK SEATS NOT JUST THE PLASTIC COVER FOR $450 PLUS LABOR. I WAS TOLD THAT OTHER TOYOTAS DO NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM SINCE THEY USE A DIFFERENT VENDOR FOR THE SPEAKER COVERS. SINCE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY TOYOTA DECLINED TO REPLACE THE COVERS. ON THE ADVICE OF THE CA NMVB I SEARCHED THE INTERNET (HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.NET/FORUM/AUTOS/TOYOTA-CAMRY/TTPVEUN8TERT6NBKJ) AND WAS SURPRISED TO FIND THAT OWNERS OF 2002-2004 CAMRYS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE DISCOVERED CAMRYS IN PARKING LOTS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IT NOW APPEARS TO ME THAT THIS PROBLEM IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WHICH TOYOTA FAILED TO DISCLOSE TO NEW CAMRY BUYERS. THE TOYOTA DEALER ALSO FAILED TO DISCLOSE THIS PROBLEM WHENEVER THEY INSPECT THE CAR, INCLUDING THE INTERIOR, DURING SERVICE. I AM REQUESTING THAT TOYOTA REPAIR MY CAMRY AND RETURN IT TO ITS ORIGINAL APPEARANCE. I AM RECOMMENDING THAT A FINE BE LEVIED ON TOYOTA FOR FAILING TO DISCLOSE A KNOWN MANUFACTURING DEFECT TO NEW AND USED CAMRY BUYERS. I BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL ALL 2002-2004 CAMRYS. THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ALSO BE CONCERNED FOR THE PUBLIC'S POTENTIAL EXPOSURE IN THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR TO FINE PARTICLES/GASSES FROM THIS DISINTEGRATING PLASTIC AND EXPOSURE TO TODDLERS WHO PLACE THEIR HANDS IN THE LOUDSPEAKERS AND THEN EAT POTENTIALLY TOXIC MATERIAL. (SEE HTTP://WWW.MSNBC.MSN.COM/ID/22360355/). *TR

TAILPIPE ON 2003 CAMRY TO LOW TO GROUND. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING LOW SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGED. I TOOK TWO TO THREE SECONDS BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT IN GEAR. THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMPUTER CHIP AND UPGRADED THE TRANSMISSION WHICH ONLY MINIMALLY CORRECTED THE FAILURE. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 87,000. UPDATED 03/11/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO HESITATE FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION DID ENGAGE, THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD. UPDATED 05/05/10.*JB