Toyota Camry Complaints (2003)

782 consumer complaints on file.

#10436156November 16, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND PUTTING THE CAR IN GEAR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS AND THE GAS PEDAL HAS NO EFFECT ON THE ENGINE. THE CAR WILL IDLE ALONG WHILE IN DRIVE; HOWEVER, PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL DOES NOTHING. THE CHECK ENGINE ERROR CODE POINTS TO THE THROTTLE BODY. MY MECHANIC SAYS THAT THE THROTTLE BODY IS STUCK IN THE "CLOSED" POSITION WHEN THIS ERROR HAPPENS. I'VE READ ABOUT THE NUMEROUS TOYOTA CAMRY OWNERS WHO HAVE ALL EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE THROTTLE BODY ON THEIR VEHICLES AT -- HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/TOYOTA-CAMRY/TM6GC5T4DHVFS52CS -- IT SEEMS THAT TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS ALL STATE THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM OCCURRING AND CONTINUE TO CHARGE UPWARDS OF $1200 TO REPLACE AN OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY WITH A NEW THROTTLE BODY THAT STILL HAS THE SAME DEFECTIVE DESIGN. ESSENTIALLY, THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO SWAP OUT ONE DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY FOR ANOTHER DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY. SIMILARLY, TOYOTA CORPORATE IN TORRANCE, CA DENIES THAT THE THROTTLE BODY PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY A PRODUCT DEFECT. MOST LIKELY THIS IS DUE TO THE HIGH COST OF THE PART AND EXPENSE TO INSTITUTE A RECALL OF THE THROTTLE BODY. A CURSORY REVIEW OF THE ONLINE MESSAGE BOARDS CONCERNING THE THROTTLE BODY FAILURES FOR TOYOTA CAMRY OWNERS SHOWS THAT THIS COMPONENT IN PARTICULAR IS FAILING TOO OFTEN TO BE CHALKED UP TO BAD LUCK OR NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. A CONSUMER CLASS ACTION IS APPROPRIATE FOR THIS SORT OF DEFECT. I WOULD ASSUME THAT AN EXPERT WITNESS COULD TESTIFY AS TO THE DEFECT AND OPINE AS TO THE STATISTICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE THROTTLE BODY FAILING MORE THAN ANY OTHER COMPONENT IN THE TOYOTA CAMRY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435987November 15, 2011
STEERING
I HAVE A 2003 CAMRY AND WHEN I STEER THERE'S A NOISE AS IF PLASTIC IS RUBBING WHEN I STEER RIGHT OR LEFT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435585November 14, 2011
STEERING
SQUEAKING STEERING COLUMN. ABNORMAL SOUNDS (SQUEAKING, CRACKING) CAN BE HEARD WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. TOYOTA SAYS IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND THERE WERE NO RECALL FOR 2003 MODEL, ONLY TSB--0296-08 WAS ISSUED. HAS TO PAY TO REPAIR THE DEFECT YOURSELF BECAUSE CAR IS BEYOND THE WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10434961November 9, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE EMITS WHITE SMOKE DURING COLD START UP. WAS TOLD THE ENGINE HEAD BOLTS ARE STRIPPED DUE TO MANUFACTURING DESIGN WHICH MAY LEAD TO ENGINE OVERHEATING AND FAILURE. ENGINE WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435095November 9, 2011
STEERING
I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY LE THAT I BOUGHT USED IN MAY 2007. I CAN NOT TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES I TOOK MY CAR BACK AND FORTH TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE STEERING WOULD MAKE SOME KIND OF NOISE WHENEVER I TURNED RIGHT OR LEFT. I WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THERE'S A PLASTIC PART IN THE STEERING THAT GETS DRY AND IT HAS TO BE LUBRICATED EVERY NOW AND THEN. WELL, NEEDLESS TO SAY, APRIL 2011 I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THAT MY RACK AND PINION IS SOOO BAD AND HE'S ONLY SEEN THIS PROBLEM ONE OTHER TIME. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THE CAR ISN'T OLD ENOUGH FOR THIS PROBLEM TO AFFECT THE STEERING THIS BADLY. IT COST ME $553! I DO HAVE THE STEERING PART IN MY TRUNK IN CASE THERE IS A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10419830August 17, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED AND PARKING HER VEHICLE, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GLASS WINDOW OF A BUSINESS. NO ONE WAS INJURED IN THE CRASH. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE IS PENDING AN INVESTIGATION. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 115,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10413621July 19, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2003 TOYOTA CAMRY LE ENGINE DRIVING FROM SNELL VILLE GA TO SOUTH CAROLINA TOYOTA CAMRY OIL LIGHT CAME ON THEN CAR CUTOFF FIRST TIME EVER. FAILURE DUE TO TIMING CHAIN BROKE IN ENGINE CAUSING DAMAGE TO ENGINE; NEEDS ANOTHER ENGINE REBUILT OR NEW ONE ETC. AVAILABLE BUT CANNOT AFFORD ONE. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10410487July 5, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR OF AN UNOCCUPIED PARKED VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES TO THE CHEST AREA AND SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE LOWER BACK AND LEFT WRIST. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10410045June 30, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THE HEADLIGHTS LOOKED EXTREMELY DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIANS STATED THE PLASTIC COVER ON THE SIDE OF THE HEADLIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY FOG UP MAKING THE HEADLIGHTS SEEM DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10409494June 22, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I PURCHASED A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE BRAND NEW. RECENTLY I HAD THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE ONLY TO LEARN THAT COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO THE #2 CYLINDER. AFTER FURTHER EXAMINATION THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE BOLTS GOING INTO THE ALUMINUM ENGINE BLOCK WERE STRIPPED. RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS CAMRYS OF THE SAME YEAR THAT ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THE COST TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE IS PROHIBITIVE AND THE CAR IS WORTHLESS AFTER ONLY 8 YEARS OF USE. THIS IS AN APPARENT MANUFACTURE DEFECT THAT TOYOTA REFUSES TO REMEDY. DRIVING THE CAR AS IS WOULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD AND WE ARE STUCK WITH A CAR OF NO VALUE TO US.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10407207June 17, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY MOTHER HAD COMPLAINED OF HER 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY HAVING MINOR SUDDEN ACCELERATION. SHE ASKED MY UNCLE (A "BACKYARD" MECHANIC). MY UNCLE SAID HE DIDN'T HAVE THE EXPERTISE TO CHECK THAT; SO SHE HAD MY SISTER CHECK ONLINE WHO FOUND THAT HER CAR WAS NOT UNDER RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. WE BELIEVE MOTHER HAD IT CHECKED OUT AT AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP. SINCE DEALERSHIPS ARE TYPICALLY MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE THAN LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOPS, WE BELIEVE SHE HAD THE CAR CHECKED OUT AT THE LATTER. THIS WAS ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. ON MAY 2, 2011, SHE WAS KILLED IN A SINGLE AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. WHEN WE RECEIVED THE POLICE REPORT, IT SAID THE WITNESSES SAID THE CAR SEEMED TO ACCELERATE WHEN IT LEFT THE CITY STREET. SINCE SHE WAS COMING UP TO A STOP SIGN, SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN GOING BETWEEN 15-25 MPH, BUT THE CAR WAS TOTALED, AND THE POLICE OFFICER SAID THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE REPORTS THAT SHE ACCELERATED. THE WAY I INTERPRET THE POLICE REPORT DRAWING IS THAT MOTHER TRIED TO AVOID A COLLISION TWICE: IT APPEARS TO ME THAT SHE MAY HAVE SWERVED TO THE LEFT LANE TO AVOID HITTING THE REAR OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER AND, SEEING THE CAR IN THE OPPOSITE LANE COMING TOWARD HER, SHE MAY HAVE SWERVED AGAIN, WHICH TOOK HER OFF THE STREET AND DIRECTLY, ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, IN THE PATH TO THE TREE WHICH SHE HIT WITH GREAT FORCE. ACCORDING TO PARAMEDICS, SHE PROBABLY NEVER HAD CONSCIOUSNESS AFTER IMPACT, SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED FOR SURE. THE HOSPITAL ER PHYSICIAN REPORTED IN ERROR TO THE POLICE THAT MOTHER HAD BRAIN CANCER AND MAY HAVE HAD SOME SORT OF EVENT (BLOOD CLOT BURSTING IN HER BRAIN). SHE DID NOT HAVE BRAIN CANCER, AND FROM WHAT I'VE LEARNED FROM SPEAKING WITH MY PHYSICIAN, IT IS VERY RARE THAT AN EVENT CAUSING A PERSON'S LEG TO STIFFEN FORCING ACCELERATION. ADD ALL THE INFORMATION WE HAVE ABOUT THIS ACCIDENT COMBINED WITH THE FACT THAT SHE HAD COMPLAINED OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION LEADS US TO WONDER ABOUT THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
1
#10405470June 7, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY 4CYL CAR WITH 52,000 MILES, THAT HAS A COOLANT LEAK FROM THE BACK OF THE ENGINE NEXT TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. ON FURTHER INSPECTION AND RESEARCH, IT WAS REVEALED THAT THE LEAK IS COMING FROM THE HEAD GASKET AREA, DUE TO STRIPPED OUT BLOCK/HEADBOLT, AS A CLEAR SIGN OF MANUFACTURER DEFECT INDICATED AND SUBSTANTIATED BY THE AMOUNT OF SIMILAR CASES FOUND ON INTERNET FORUMS SUCH AS: HTTP://WWW.TUNDRASOLUTIONS.COM/FORUMS/CAMRY/148454-CAMRY-WITH-STRIPPED-HEAD-BOLTS-2/. I CALLED TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM, SEEKING HELP WITH THIS $6,000 ISSUE AND WAS TOLD "NOTHING WE WILL DO". IT SEEMS CAR MAKERS WILL NOT DO THE RIGHT THING UNLESS THEY ARE FORCED TO AND THIS IS WHY I AM TRYING TO DO MY PART TO JOLT A VEHICLE RECALL FOR THIS DESIGN FAILURE, BY A COMPANY CLAIMING TO PUT COSTUMERS FIRST, BUT INSTEAD SNUBS SO MANY OF US THE FIRST CHANCE THEY GET. CONSUMERS NEED HELP WITH THIS ISSUE WITH TOYOTA; PLEASE HELP US. THE BEST FIX SO FAR REPORTED IS PURCHASING ANOTHER TOYOTA 4CYL MOTOR WITH THE SAME FLAWED ENGINEERING AND TOYOTA WANTS NO PART OF BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR SHORT COMING. I'VE OWN A FEW TOYOTA'S, THIS IS ABSOLUTELY THE MOST DISAPPOINTING EXPERIENCE WITH THEM AND TO KNOW THERE ARE SO MANY INSTANCES OF THE SAME PROBLEM AND YET THIS COMPANY REFUSES TO DO THE RESPONSIBLE ACTION AND ISSUE A RECALL TO FIX THEIR FAILURE. ANY AND ALL THE ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER IS NEEDED. THANK YOU *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10402123May 19, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE WAS EMITTED FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE AS IT STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS WERE PULLED OUT, THE HEAD GASKET EXHIBITED AN OIL LEAK AND AFTER PRESSURE TESTING THE COOLING SYSTEM, THE CYLINDERS FILLED UP WITH COOLANT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO OFFERED INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,422. UPDATED 06/17/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND POWER STEERING, ALONG WITH THE BRAKES FAILED TO WORK. UPDATED 11/23/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10398819May 3, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT LOUD, ABNORMAL NOISES WHEN FIRST STARTED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BE INSPECTED AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10397357April 25, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL GURGLING FROM BEHIND THE DASHBOARD.THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEAD GASKET BOLTS FAILED. THE FAILURE DAMAGED THE ENGINE AND MANIFOLD AND THE CONTACT HAD TO EVENTUALLY REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,914 UPDATED 5/24/11 *CN UPDATED 06/06/11. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10396017April 15, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE FAILURE DO TO HEAD BOLTS STRIPPED OUT. HUNDREDS OF OTHER CARS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. TOYOTA IS AWARE THEY HAVE A PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10393782March 30, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN A CONSTRUCTION AREA WITH VERY FEW SHOULDERS THE CAR STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME VERY DIFFICULT AND THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR CAME ON. MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO A SHORT SHOULDER AREA AND CALLED THE AUTO CLUB FOR A TOW. THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED WITH THE HIGHWAY PATROL. SHE HAD TO WAIT IN A VERY DANGEROUS LOCATION WITH MANY HIGH SPEED HEAVY TRUCKS PASSING A FEW INCHES AWAY. OUR MECHANIC SAID THAT THE BELT TENSIONER FAILED CAUSING THE BELT TO FAIL THEN THE POWER STEERING AND ENGINE COOLING TO FAIL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10393638March 29, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE REAR OF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE HEAD BOLTS STRIPPED AND AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY THE DEALER WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 149,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10386807March 8, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. SHE THEN APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE INTO AN OPEN FIELD AND WITHIN SECONDS, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT. A FIRE AND POLICE REPORT WERE FILED (FIRE REPORT: 11-003597 AND POLICE REPORT NUMBER: 11-004293). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL JUNKYARD. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10386576March 6, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY LE (4 CYLINDER, 2.4 L) WHICH BEGAN LEAKING ENGINE COOLANT FROM AROUND THE BACK OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT IT WAS LIKELY A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH, HE DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE LEAK WAS MOST LIKELY LOOSE HEAD BOLTS IN THE ENGINE BLOCK WHICH WERE DUE TO THE BOLTS STRIPPING THE THREAD FROM THE BLOCK. HE SAID MY ONLY OPTION WAS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT THAT POINT. APPARENTLY THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2002 AND 2003 CAMRYS, AND TOYOTA NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS! I BOUGHT A TOYOTA BECAUSE I WANTED A VEHICLE WHICH I COULD BE DRIVING YEARS FROM NOW. NOW I'M LEFT WITH A VEHICLE I DON'T KNOW IF I WILL BE ABLE TO DRIVE NEXT WEEK! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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