2003 Toyota Camry Powertrain & Transmission Problems

Having purchased w 2003 Toyota Camry 2.4l, (with good paint, no rust, great interior, and new clear headlights) 3 days prior, the previous owner reported no current issues. The check engine light come on the 3 rd day as I drove away from the DMV having just titled it. AC was blowing cold, no other dash lights were on and I couldn't feel any apparent issues driving, so I proceed to my place of employment, where a friend whom is an independent mechanic had the machine to read check engine codes. I never made it. Had driven approximately 25 miles and came to a full stop for a red light. Upon turning green and beginning to accelerate, my Camry's engine died and would not start. When the key was turned it made no noise at all. Towed to a mechanic shop, I was asked if it had overheated, it had not. Without investing further and me acquiring a diagnostics charge, he said one apparent issue was the fact that there was absolutely no coolant in the engine. Dumfounded I had ittowed home where another Mechanic friend (licensed) was going to see about reapiring it. One of the code//errors read, was that the was no combustion, the radiator was full, but there was no traces of coolant in the engine, when took of the engine mainfold right away he noticed 3 cool packs that were damaged, as well as what appeared to be a used head gasket poorly installed, and worse if all the timing chain had jumped and made a mad mesh nightmare to the engine...so previous owners obviously sold me their night mare, I now am stuck with either replacing the engine (not) or bring carless once again.?? Note: Contacted the acclaimed christian, God fearing sellers, whom I paid $4000 and they kindly refunded me $1000, as they stated it was no fault of theirs ..

I WAS IN THE DRIVER SEAT WAITING TO TURN LEFT, WHEN SUDDENLY I GOT HIT FROM THE REAR RIGHT PART OF MY CAR. FROM THAT MOMENT THE CAR COULD NOT DRIVE.. THE REAR LEFT PART OF THE CAR BODY AND THE TIRE WAS TOTALLY DAMAGED. THE REPAIR SHOP DECLARED THAT THE CAR COULD NOT BE REPAIRED ANY MORE. ONLY LATER OF THE INCIDENT DID I REMEMBER THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT WORK AT ALL. *TR

ON OCTOBER 24, 2012, I PARALLEL PARKED MY 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY ON THE STREET. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WAS LEAVING, SO HE ASKED ME TO MOVE BACK A FEW INCHES SO HE COULD GET OUT. MY CAR WAS STILL RUNNING SO I SHIFTED THE CAR INTO REVERSE, AND AS I BEGAN TO TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL, MY CAR ACCELERATED BACKWARDS AT A VERY FAST SPEED INTO THE CAR BEHIND ME. WANTING TO PULL UP A FEW INCHES TO GET OUT AND ASSESS THE DAMAGE, I SHIFTED THE CAR INTO DRIVE AND AS I DID, MY CAR ACCELERATED FORWARDS INTO THE PARKED CAR IN FRONT OF ME. IT ACCELERATED AT SUCH A HIGH SPEED THAT IT PUSHED THE THREE CARS IN FRONT OF ME TOGETHER. AT NO POINT DURING THESE TWO RAPID ACCELERATIONS DID I EVER APPLY MY FOOT TO THE GAS PEDAL. THIS INCIDENT CAUSED DAMAGE TO SEVERAL CARS AND COULD HAVE ENDED UP WITH MUCH MORE SEVERE CONSEQUENCES HAD I NOT BEEN IN THAT LOCATION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION IN JANUARY OF 2009, BUT THEY WERE NOT TOLD WHY. A REBUILT TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED AND NOW THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANS AXLE FAILED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED BECAUSE OF THE GEAR SHIFT BOX, WHICH CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO SLIP AND MAKE A BANGING NOISE WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 70,000 MILES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED; HOWEVER, THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS VALID UP TO 75,000 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 03/15/11*LJ UPDATED 1/3/11 *CN

ACCORDING TO TOYOTA'S TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN T-SB-0034-08 (APRIL 15, 2008), THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IN 2002 ? 2004 CAMRY EQUIPPED WITH 2AZ ENGINE MAY PRODUCE A LOUD RATTLE NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AREA, MOST NOTICEABLE AT IDLE OR ON LIGHT ACCELERATION. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAS BEEN UPDATED / MODIFIED TO SOLVE THIS ISSUES ON THE NEWER VEHICLES. A FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD WILL AFFECT ENGINE PERFORMANCE AND AFFECT EMISSIONS. TOYOTA USA SHOULD RECALL ALL THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WITH THIS FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD, BUT THEY ONLY COVER THE REPAIR TO THE VEHICLES WHICH ARE UNDER WARRANTY. THIS FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS SERIOUS ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF THE PARK GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 120,000.

2003 TOYOTA CAMRY LE WAS RUNNING, SITTING IN DRIVEWAY, BUT IN PARK WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE ON. CAR "TOOK OFF" IN REVERSE, AND ONLY CAME TO A STOP WHEN DRIVER JUMPED INTO CAR, PUSHED HARD ON FOOT BRAKE, TURNED OFF IGNITION, AND CAR DOOR SLAMMED INTO ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE AND EXITING IT, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND BEGAN ROLLING BACKWARDS. THE OCCUPANT SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO TRAVEL OVER A CURB WHICH FLATTENED BOTH REAR TIRES. NO ONE WAS INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT HAD THE PAWL MECHANISM AND TIRES REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60000. UPDATED 05/10/10 *BF THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE ENGINE WAS LEFT RUNNING; THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN THE PARK POSITION; BUT THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ON AN UPHILL SLANT,DOWNHILL BEING TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. MINUTES AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS. THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION LEVER DID MOVE INTO REVERSE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT THE PAWL MECHANISM FAILED. UPDATED 05/12/10 UPDATED 07/01/10 *BF UPDATED 07/02/10.*JB

ON 2 OCCASIONS OUR 2003 CAMRY LE ACCELERATED. THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE HIT A TREE IN A PARKING LOT. THE SECOND TIME IT OCCURRED WHILE PREPARING TO MOVE INTO TRAFFIC FROM A STOP. NO INJURIES BUT MINOR DAMAGE TO THE BUMPER FROM THE FIRST INCIDENT. *TR

VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS ONE IN DRIVEWAY AFTER SHIFTING INTO DRIVE. *TR

2003 TOYOTA CAMRY AUTOMATIC TRANS. PUT IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF GARAGE. SURGED CUT WHEELS TO AVOID HITTING HOUSE NEXT DOOR, BRICK 50 FT FROM GARAGE. AVOIDED A DIRECT COLLISION. BUT CLIPPED SOME BRICKS AT CORNER. ANOTHER 75FT INTO A SMALL CREEK OPPOSITE BANK STOPPED CAR. BRAKING WAS TO NO AVAIL. INJURY MINOR - PINCHED NERVE IN LEFT SHOULDER. COUNTED 75+ REPORTS FOR SAME MODEL YEAR INVOLVING SPONTANEOUS ACCELERATION ON YOUR SITE. YOUR INVESTIGATION IN '03 OR '04 FOUND NOTHING SUGGESTING UNFAMILIARITY W/VEHICLE. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS. A GOODLY NUMBER OF THE REPORTS ARE FOR RECENT YEARS TAKING UNFAMILIARITY OUT OF THE PLAY. WHAT ARE YOU DOING CURRENTLY RESPECTING CAMRY ACCELERATION ISSUES?....REGARDS, HARVEY MILLER *TR

REAR MAIN SEAL LEAK, LARGE AMOUNT. *TR

TRANSMISSION STARTED TO ACT UP AT AROUND 40 MPH. TOOK IT TO CERTIFIED TRANSMISSION WHO IN TURN TRIED DIFFERENT PARTS, THEY EVEN TOOK TO THE TOYOTA DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE WITH THE PROBLEM. AFTER OVER A MONTH, THEY DECIDED I SHOULD REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. EVEN AFTER THE NEW TRANSMISSION CERTIFIED TRANSMISSION STILL WAS TESTING THE CAR AND WOULD STALL. THE CAR NEVER STALLED BEFORE THE NEW TRANNY. CERTIFIED FINALLY CALLED FOR ME TO PICK UP MY CAR. I ASKED IF HE WAS SURE IT WAS SAFE AND HE SAID YES. FRIDAY LATE AFTERNOON I PICKED UP THE CAR AND PAID $4,000 FOR TRANSMISSION. DROVE IT SATURDAY ONCE AND IT STARTED TO DOG A FEW TIMES. SUNDAY I WENT TO GROCERY STORE AND ON THE WAY HOME THE CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BUSIEST STREET IN KANSAS CITY. I WAS PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE CALLING MY INS. TOW SERVICE WHEN I WAS REARENDED AT ABOUT 40 MPG. WHEN IT WAS ALL SAID AND DONE WITH FIGHTING WITH EVERYONE, WITH NO CARE OR CONCERN FROM ANYONE, I FINALLY GAVE UP FIGHTING. I ENDED UP LOSING MONEY WITH THE OTHER INS. CO. BECAUSE EVEN IF THEY REPAIRED THE DAMAGE, THE CAR STILL DIDN'T WORK AND CERTIFIED TRIED TO SAY IT COULD HAVE BEEN SOMETHING ELSE. NOW AFTER WHAT I KNOW, I FEEL CERTIFIED TRANSMISSION DID NOT TREAT ME FAIRLY. *TR

CAR CONSTANTLY ROLLS WHEN VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE. IT IS AN AUTOMATIC AND WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL WHEN COMPLETELY STOPPED AND A FLAT ROAD. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 4RUNNER THAT HAS A HORRIBLE CLUNKING SOUND THAT HAPPENS AT RANDOM. THE TOYOTA DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX IT 3 TIMES. IT WILL HAPPEN WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR STARTING FROM A STOP. IT'S VERY ANNOYING AND NOT VERY COMFORTING. IF THE DRIVESHAFT IS SLAMMING AND MAKING THIS NOISE, I CAN'T IMAGING ANYONE THINKING THAT IS VERY SAFE. THE THING COULD BREAK AT ANY MOMENT. WHO KNOWS WHAT DAMAGE THE SLAMMING DOES TO IT! TOYOTA NEEDS TO FIX THIS BEFORE SOME GETS HURT FROM IT. *TR

MY 03 CAMRY WITH 22K MILES, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, HAS AN ISSUE WITH THE SAFETY BUTTON ON THE SHIFTER, OR THE SHIFTER ITSELF. WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND NO KEY IN THE IGNITION, I CAN SLIDE THE SHIFTER FROM PARK TO ANY OTHER GEAR, WITHOUT PRESSING IN THE SAFETY BUTTON. I CANNOT SLIDE THE SHIFTER BACK INTO PARK. HERE'S HOW I FOUND OUT. I PARKED IN MY DRIVE, PUT THE CAR IN PARK, REMOVED THE KEYS, GRABBED MY SHOPPING BAG AND WENT INSIDE. MY HUSBAND CAME IN A FEW MINUTES LATER WITH SOME SHOCKING NEWS. APPARENTLY, MY CAMRY HAD ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVE, TOOK OUT OUR MAILBOX, WENT ACROSS THE STREET AND STOPPED IN OUR NEIGHBOR'S FRONT YARD. OUR DRIVE IS OVER 100' LONG AND SLOPES DOWN TOWARD THE STREET. I HANDED MY HUSBAND THE KEYS AND HE WENT TO THE CAR. IT WAS IN DRIVE. WHAT I CAN FIGURE IS THAT WHEN I GRABBED MY SHOPPING BAG, WHICH WAS FAIRLY HEAVY, I HIT THE SHIFTER AND TOOK THE CAR OUT OF PARK. BUT THAT DOESN'T EXPLAIN HOW THE SHIFTER WAS ABLE TO MOVE WITHOUT MY PUSHING IN THE SAFETY BUTTON. I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER RELATIONS IN TORRANCE, AND THEY ARRANGED A SERVICE APPT FOR ME AT THE DEALER. THE DEALER INDICATED THEY HAD TO MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT. DURING A FOLLOW-UP CALL FROM THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE REP, THEY INDICATED THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM BEFORE. WHEN I ASKED IF IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN, THE REP SAID IF IT DOES, BRING IT IN. I WILL TRY VERY HARD TO REMEMBER TO USE MY EMERGENCY BRAKE WHENEVER I PARK MY CAR. BUT WHAT IF I FORGET? I DON'T WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MY CAR ROLLING INTO A CHILD, ADULT OR OTHER VEHICLE. IT IS ONLY DUMB LUCK THAT NO ONE WAS HURT WHEN THE CAR ROLLED DOWN OUR DRIVE. HAD IT BEEN DAYTIME, THE CHANCES ARE VERY HIGH THAT SOMEONE WOULD HAVE BEEN INJURED OR KILLED. WE LIVE ON A CUL DE SAC, AND THOSE IN OUR DEVELOPMENT WALK WITH THEIR CHILDREN ON A REGULAR BASIS THROUGHOUT THE DAY. THIS IS VERY FRIGHTENING. ARE YOU AWARE OF THIS ISSUE HAPPENING PREVIOUSLY?*JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE AND THEN STALLED. OWNER CONTACTED THE DEALER , AND HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

THE CONSUMER PARKED THE VEHICLE AND EXITED TO RETRIEVE A GAS CAN. WHEN THE CONSUMER TURNED AROUND THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING FORWARD INTO HER GARAGE. *NM *SC *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 55-65 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO JERK EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURES WITH REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSIONS. THE FOUR TRANSMISSIONS FAILED WITHIN 45,000 MILES. WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. ALSO, DURING BRAKING THERE WAS A DELAYED RESPONSE. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

WHILE AT A STOP VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD AS IF WANTING TO ACCELERATE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK