CarComplaints.com Notes: Beware of the NHTSA complaint data for the 2003 Camry. It is almost certainly misleading.
The problem with NHTSA data for the 2003 Camry is that for months on end, the news media repeatedly told the public that several Toyota models had an unintended acceleration defect, & to go to safercar.gov (the NHTSA's website) to file a complaint.
So, the NHTSA received a disproportionate number of complaints about Toyota unintended acceleration issues because of the national news media attention, to the point where their data is unreliable taken in context with any other vehicle that did not receive national news attention.
CarComplaints.com typically receives more complaints per day about vehicles than the NHTSA does, but the news media did not repeatedly say "go to CarComplaints.com to report your Camry acceleration problems" like they did about the NHTSA -- so although we have less complaint data than the NHTSA for the 2003 Camry, our data for the Camry is a far more statistically accurate representation of the Camry's reliability than what the NHTSA data shows.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
153 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
51 / 4
Average Mileage:
38,621 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
When driving at low speeds vehicle surged foward when depressing the brakes, causing extended stopping distance. Consumer contacted the dealer on three separate occasions, but problem recurred.
While pulling inside of a parking space vehicle suddenly accelerated. Consumer was unable to maintain control of the vehicle. The consumer placed both feet on the brakes, but the vehicle continued to accelerate. It jumped a curb and collided with a glass window inside a store. Upon impact, both frontal air bags did not deploy. However, there were no injuries.
While driving 35 mph, consumer depress brakes to make a stop. Without any indication, the vehicle surged. The driver tried to stop the vehicle but at an extended distance. In order to stop the vehicle the consumer shift gear into neutral.
On May 12, 2004 at time 15:33.my wife was driving our 2003 Toyota Camry. Nd was two blocks from our house, making a right turn from farms rd circle onto Ranger road. As she made the right turn, the car suddenly accelerated, ausing her to lose control of the car, causing her to jump the curb on the left ide of the street, and strike a portable bassketball net/pole on the curb in front of the corner house. The pole smashed in the front roof of the car and smashed the windshield. The car continued down the grass curb and its undercarriage struck the curb while going back onto Ranger road. The airbags did not deploy. Fortunately, no one was injured. The car was damaged.
As we were pulling out of our parking space on this day, our 2003 Toyota Camry seemed to accelerate while the brake was pressed. In turn we slammed into a parked car which then hit another car, that hit another car. Luckily none was critically injured though some minor injuries occurred to my wife upon impact. Also, ever since we have bought the car it has done this from time to time or we have had trouble with the brakes. Upon taking to the dealership numerous times, they assured me that nothing was wrong with the brakes or anything else. I feel that this needs to be thoroughly investigated before someone is killed or critically injured. In my eyes this is a major safety concern. Not to mention the damage that was done to our car and the other innocent victim's vehicles.
Ltr fm eugene karol (md) writer owner of a 2003 Toyota Camry seeking information on previous investigation conducted by NHTSA re: Sudden acceleration of Toyota vehicles reply to the baltimore district ofc dot #2004-4208 (ref ES04-03508 due 5/20/04). See voqs 10067327, 10072208 and 10073435.
Ltr fm eugene karol (md) writer owner of a 2003 Toyota Camry seeking information on previous investigation conducted by nthsa re: Sudden acceleration of Toyota vehicles. See voq 10067327, 10072208 and 10073396 also. There were at least 11 more Toyota's that have experienced a similar problem. Toyota advised the consumer that they were holding off on actions until dot compiles the investigation.
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. Updated 7/5/12
When the consumer took his foot off the brake, while sitting at an intersection, the vehicle accelerated and crashed into three vehicles at a used car dealership and a utility pole. The consumer's vehicle was totaled along with one of the used vehicles. No injuries or fatalities were reported. Updated 7/5/12
When driving at low speeds, the vehicle surged forward. The consumer took the vehicle to the dealer for an inspection and the mechanic was unable to duplicate the problem. See voqs 10072208, 10073396 and 10073435. When the gear shifter was moved from drive to park the engine raced and revved. The consumer immediately turned off the ignition. The consumer feels that if the shifter was moved from park to drive that sudden acceleration would have occurred. Updated 7/5/12
Request information on the failure report summary on Toyota Camry's 2002 & 2003, Solara's and Lexus ES 300. Report summary in regards to the throttle control system.
When the brake pedal was depressed vehicle suddenly accelerated. Consumer heard the engine motor racing. This occurred while pulling into a driveway. Vehicle hit a parked vehicle's bumper, a post, and a fence before stopping. Insurance claims department said that a number of complaints regarding on the vehicle on the electronic system which gives information to the throttle control system.
There have been a number of incidences of possible unexplained acceleration of my 2003 Camry, where car seems to surge forward without me doing anything.
When coming out of a parking lot accelerator stuck, causing the vehicle to accelerate out of control. Vehicle grazed another vehicle, went across a street, grazed a building, and drove straight into another building. Driver was conscious when paramedic arrived. They found the driver with both feet still on the brake pedal. Driver was transported to the hospital, and later died due to fatal injuries from the crash. The insurance company preserved the vehicle as evidence. The police report stated the crash was due to a mechanical defect. Updated 02/26/10 updated 09/02/10 update 9/21/2011
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). Updated 7/5/12
While making a right turn at 5 mph, the vehicle hesitated, then it accelerated on its own. This caused the vehicle to hit the curb. The problem was with the antilock brakes.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Fergus Falls, MN, USA