Toyota Camry / 2003
2003 Toyota Camry problems
Owners have filed 946 complaints about the 2003 Toyota Camry with NHTSA. Vehicle speed control accounts for 27.6% of them — the clear leader, ahead of engine and engine cooling at 12.2%.
Complaints946
Crashes300
Fires13
Injuries140
Deaths5
What owners report breaking
Vehicle speed control 27.6% · 261
Engine and engine cooling 12.2% · 115
Service brakes, hydraulic 10.1% · 96
Air bags 7.8% · 74
Steering 5.6% · 53
Engine 5.5% · 52
Power train 4.2% · 40
Suspension 3.1% · 29
Severity
Of those complaints, 300 describe a crash, 13 describe a fire, 140 report an injury and 5 report a death.
Reading the numbers
Across the 33 model years of the Toyota Camry in this data, 2003 sits 6th by complaint volume. 2007 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 3 in the last three years against 23 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 47,000 miles.
In owners' own words
I was driving my 2003 Toyota Camry on highway with cruise control on interstate I-40. I was driving 55 mph along a construction zone when it suddenly speed up, became uncontrollable and crash into the wall. I was unable to stop the vehicle by pumping on the brake and it was finally stopped when the vehicle was deep in the sand on the side of the highway. The vehicle was a total loss due to its severe damages. Vehicle speed control · reported at 82,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Camry. While driving 5 mph the vehicle accelerated across the parking lot and as she depressed the brake pedal the vehicle would not stop and crashed into a tree. There were no injuries. A police report is available if needed. The vehicle was towed to a dealer to be repaired. A claim was filed with the Toyota manufacturer. The failure mileage was 52,700. See odi 10306036 *dsy Vehicle speed control · reported at 52,700 miles
After backing out of the driveway and coming to a stop sign consumer depressed the brakes and vehicle surged forward. When the brake pedal was depressed again at another stop vehicle surged, nearly causing an accident. Vehicle surged forward while depressing the brakes on three occasions. Vehicle was taken to the dealer on two occasions but, the problem was not resolved. *Ak *nm updated 7/5/12 Vehicle speed control · reported at 1,100 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…
Other Toyota Camry years
2000 577 complaints · 18.9% vehicle speed control 2001 356 complaints · 13.5% engine and engine cooling 2002 1,183 complaints · 23.8% vehicle speed control 2004 799 complaints · 30.2% vehicle speed control 2005 905 complaints · 30.3% vehicle speed control 2006 393 complaints · 27.5% vehicle speed control