2003 Toyota Camry problems

NHTSA lists 781 complaints for the 2003 Toyota Camry, 228 of them mention a crash and 10 mention a fire. 71 complaints mention an injury, with 106 injuries and 5 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-09.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as TOYOTA CAMRY.

At a glance

Complaints: 781
With crash: 228
With fire: 10
With injury (complaints): 71
Injuries: 106
Deaths: 5
Recalls: 1
Do not drive recalls: 0
Park outside recalls: 0
Recall potential units (maximum): 128,316
Investigations: 3
Open investigations: 0
Manufacturer communications: 157

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. The required sales year is missing.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
System	Complaints	Share of this vehicle's complaints
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	259	33.2%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	112	14.3%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC	91	11.7%
AIR BAGS	72	9.2%
STEERING	53	6.8%
ENGINE	52	6.7%
POWER TRAIN	40	5.1%
STRUCTURE	29	3.7%
SUSPENSION	29	3.7%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	20	2.6%

Top subsystems
System	Subsystem	Complaints
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	ENGINE	34
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	ACCELERATOR PEDAL	28
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC	ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP	27
POWER TRAIN	AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION	24
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	EXHAUST SYSTEM	21
AIR BAGS	FRONTAL	17
STRUCTURE	BODY	16
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC	FOUNDATION COMPONENTS	9
STEERING	COLUMN	9
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	COOLING SYSTEM	7

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

1 recalls.

04V346000

Date: 2004-07-13. Systems: AIR BAGS.

Defect: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CURTAIN SHIELD AIR BAGS (CSA), ONE OR BOTH OF THE CURTAIN AIR BAGS MAY BE TWISTED NEAR THE INFLATOR DUE TO IMPROPER ASSEMBLY.

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE CSA MAY NOT DEPLOY RAPIDLY ENOUGH WHEN ACTIVATED IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION. THIS MAY RESULT IN FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE INTENDED HEAD PROTECTION, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE CSAS AND REPLACE THE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 6, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

3 investigations; 0 open.

DP06003

Opened: 2006-09-14. Closed: 2007-04-03.

ENGINE SURGING

THE PETITIONER OWNS A MY 2006 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH A 4-CYLINDER ENGINE THAT WAS PURCHASED NEW IN JANUARY 2006. THE PETITIONER ALSO PREVIOUSLY OWNED A MY 2005 CAMRY. HE ALLEGES THAT BOTH VEHICLES EXHIBITED VEHICLE ENGINE SURGING, WHICH HE DESCRIBED AS A SHORT DURATION (1 TO 2 SECOND) INCREASE IN ENGINE SPEED OCCURRING WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS NOT DEPRESSED. IN AN INITIAL INTERVIEW, THE PETITIONE

Systems: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.

Linked campaign numbers: None listed.

DP05002

Opened: 2005-08-05. Closed: 2006-01-05.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

IN A LETTER DATED JULY 8, 2005, AND AFTER EXPERIENCING TWO INCIDENTS (AND ONE CRASH) WHERE HE ALLEGES HIS MODEL YEAR (MY) 2002 CAMRY ACCELERATED WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT, MR. JORDAN ZIPRIN PETITIONED THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION?S (NHTSA) OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) TO COMMENCE A PROCEEDING TO DETERMINE THE EXISTENCE OF A DEFECT WITHIN THE ETC SYSTEM IN MY 2002 TO 2005

Systems: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.

Linked campaign numbers: None listed.

PE04021

Opened: 2004-03-03. Closed: 2004-07-22.

THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM

THE LEXUS MODELS WERE THE SUBJECT OF DEFECT PETITION (DP) 04-003.TWELVE ODI COMPLAINTS ARE DUPLICATIVE TO TOYOTA REPORTS, INCLUDING THE TWO MINOR CRASHES.THE V6 EQUIPPED SOLARA MODELS HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED BECAUSE THEY DO NOT CONTAIN THE SUBJECT THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM.TOYOTA INTRODUCED ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL (ETC) ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES BEGINNING IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2002.ODI OPENED THE INVESTIG

Systems: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.

Linked campaign numbers: None listed.

Manufacturer communications

157 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
System	Count
EQUIPMENT	42
STRUCTURE	27
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	24
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	20
POWER TRAIN	11
ENGINE	8
AIR BAGS	7
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC	7

11012742

Date: 2024-12-06. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.

Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfa

11012743

Date: 2024-12-06. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.

To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer.

11012744

Date: 2024-12-06. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.

The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof,

11012735

Date: 2024-12-05. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.

Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. Follow the Removal Procedure in this bulletin to remove the RapgardTM protective film wi

11012727

Date: 2024-12-03. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.

Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. This type of contamination can be identified by the presence of small, red or brown particles on the paint surfa