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.
The vehicle continued to accelerate upon depression of the brake pedal. This resulted in the consumer broad siding another vehicle. The dealer informed the consumer that the brakes would eventually adjust to the consumer as the computer sets itself.
The vehicle failed to respond when the driver pressed the brake pedal, instead the vehicle experienced unwanted acceleration, and crashed into some bushes and a cement embankment.
On several occasions the brake pedal has gone to the floor when I attempted to stop or slow the car. Braking or accelerating the car is not smooth and there are sudden accelerations or surges of the car. The car was tested by the dealer's service manager and by the salesman. Both agreed that the car had spongy braking but stated that all 2003 Camry behaved in similar fashion and that there was no "fix" for the problem. The Toyota manufacturer stated that they had received similar complaints which they were investigating but they did not know what caused the problem so they could not provide any suggestions for its repair.
Consumer stated the brakes locked when he attempted to stop at a toll booth. This caused a rear end collision upon impact, air bags did not deploy consumer sustained a bruised chest, and consumer's wife sustained 2 two broken ribs. Consumer stated that when he hit the vehicle in front it was as if the vehicle accelerated, and even though he had feet on the brakes, vehicle kept going. He states that he pushed the vehicle in front of him, immediately cut the ignition off, put on emergency brakes, and coasted to the side of the road. Vehicle came to a stop on the shoulder. He says that the only thing that saved he and his wife was the seat belts. Consumer stated he saw on tv that Toyota was recalling 2002-2003 Camry for excessive acceleration.
The consumer experienced sudden acceleration upon making a right turn into a parking space. The vehicle hit a concrete wall. This failure also occurred while turning right onto a main street. The failure occurred on another occasion, but there was no collision as the consumer attempted to accelerate to move up behind another vehicle at a red light, the vehicle attempted to accelerate by itself. The consumer immediately braked to stop the vehicle. See ODI 10101616 and 10101790. Updated 7/5/12
Consumer stated the vehicle experienced sudden acceleration when shifting from park TO1 reverse and the vehicle collided with fuel pump guard rail. Drove though it and crashed into the rear of a vehicle.
When applying the brake pedal it would proceed to the floor and the vehicle would continued to accelerate. The vehicle surged forward and crashed into a building. The consumer stated the brakes were soft. Updated 7/5/12 the consumer stated after braking and coming to a complete stop, he used the emergency brake before putting the gear in park. Updated 07/12/12
While applying the brakes at a toll booth brake pedal went to the floor and vehicle suddenly accelerated. As a result, consumer's vehicle rear end another vehicle. Upon impact, both air bags did not deploy. Driver and passenger sustained head and back injuries, and were transported by ambulance to the hospital. Vehicle was totaled.
Consumer pulled into a parking spot and stopped and vehicle suddenly surged forward on a concrete curb. The plastic under guard was pulled off when attempting to free the vehicle. There were no injuries involved in the incident. The vehicle also surged when the cruise control light was on, but not engaged.
After getting the vehicle washed, the consumer moved the gear shift from neutral to drive and the vehicle lurched forward. The consumer's vehicle collided with the vehicle in front and injured a pedestrian standing in between the two vehicles. The pedestrian suffered serious injuries to the legs and was taken to a hospital.
While driving consumer applied the brakes and vehicle suddenly accelerated. Consumer was unable to maintain control of the vehicle, and it hit another vehicle head on. Upon impact, both airbags did not deploy. Consumer had vehicle towed to repair shop, but mechanic was not able to duplicate the problem.
Upon putting vehicle in park while at a complete stop with foot depressed on the brake pedal, the vehicle accelerated at a rapid speed. As a result, the vehicle side swiped another vehicle on it's right side. A factory representative inspected the vehicle but couldn't locate the cause of the rapid and sudden acceleration. Updated 7/3/12 updated 07/12/12
The vehicle accelerated on its own which caused the consumer to crash into a wall and damaged the front of the vehicle. The sudden acceleration occurred on three separate occasions. The first incident happened when the consumer was trying to make a turn. The second time, the vehicle accelerated on its own, it collided with another vehicle. The third incident, the consumer crashed into a wall. The consumer took the to the dealership, where it was examined, but no repairs were done because the employees went on strike. See also 10132649. Updated 7/3/12
In November 2003 vehicle experienced sudden acceleration, two months later, once again while driving, vehicle experienced sudden acceleration. Dealer indicated both times that nothing was wrong with the vehicle.
Consumer complained about an acceleration problem. Vehicle was accelerating without the use of the gas pedal. Once put the vehicle in gear and it revved without driver's assistance.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Pawtucket, RI, USA