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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.

3.8

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
33,150 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.

2003 Toyota Camry accessories - interior problems

accessories - interior problem

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2003 Toyota Camry Owner Comments

problem #5

Mar 162010

Camry

  • 100,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Attempted to park auto in usps lot in fairfield. Pa; applied brake, auto accelerated and went over cement stop, I was able to stop car before crashing into post office with auto resting on cement stop. Reversed back over cement stop and parked auto. Left post office and put auto in reverse, backed up, turned auto to straighten and engine accelerated. I put auto into park and applied brake to stop auto. Had auto towed in to Toyota dealer where it now sits to be diagnosed today.

- Orrtanna, PA, USA

problem #4

Jan 212009

Camry 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Camry. After examining the vehicle, the contact noticed that the driver side floor mat clips would not secure the floor mat while he was driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealership where the contact was informed that the clips needed to be replaced. The current and failure mileages were 50000. Updated 4/26/10 the consumer stated he should be reimbursed. He stated the floor mat slid forward and blocked the accelerator. Update 06/15/10.

- Fort Wayne, IN, USA

problem #3

Jan 012003

Camry

  • miles
Toyota Camry- speaker grills disintegrate--defective product. Grills in the rear of the car. Sunlight causes the plastic to disintegrate and crumble. Very little use and happened shortly after car purchase. Researched online to discover hundreds of similar complaints regarding the speaker grills.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #2

Mar 012003

Camry 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 15,000 miles
In 3/2003 I purchased a Toyota Camry. Within 1-2 years I noticed minor cracks developing on the two speaker covers at the back of the car under the back window and behind the back seats. The cracks progressed with time but I had forgotten to bring it up to the dealer because the speakers are located in a place I do not normally look and because I thought they were only cheap plastic covers. By 2006 the plastic was actually disintegrating and falling into the loudspeaker assembly creating an ever bigger black hole. The dealer pointed out to me that this problem exists on Camry and that you must replace the whole back panel behind the back seats not just the plastic cover for $450 plus labor. I was told that other Toyota do not have this problem since they use a different vendor for the speaker covers. Since the car was out of warranty Toyota declined to replace the covers. On the advice of the ca nmvb I searched the internet (www.topix.net/forum/autos/Toyota-Camry/ttpveun8tert6nbkj) and was surprised to find that owners of 2002-2004 Camry have the same problem. I have discovered Camry in parking lots have the same problem. It now appears to me that this problem is a manufacturing defect which Toyota failed to disclose to new Camry buyers. The Toyota dealer also failed to disclose this problem whenever they inspect the car, including the interior, during service. I am requesting that Toyota repair my Camry and return it to its original appearance. I am recommending that a fine be levied on Toyota for failing to disclose a known manufacturing defect to new and used Camry buyers. I believe Toyota should recall all 2002-2004 Camry. The government should also be concerned for the public's potential exposure in the interior of the car to fine particles/gasses from this disintegrating plastic and exposure to toddlers who place their hands in the loudspeakers and then eat potentially toxic material. (see www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22360355/).

- Pasadena, CA, USA

problem #1

Jan 152003

Camry

  • Automatic transmission
  • 750 miles
The cd changer initially had issues with playing cdr (cds made on a computer at home). It would skip all of the time. It also had issues with regular cds when attempting to fast-forward or reverse to a specific area of a song track. It took a visit and a couple telephone calls to Toyota's customer service to get them to agree to replace the cd changer. Ever since this was replaced, I have had no further issues with the vehicle since then. However, in the Camry that I had as a loaner when the vehicle was in on 7/28/03, that vehicle had the same issue with its cd changer and I told the service manager about it. The moon roof has had issues since the vehicle was originally purchased in January 2003. Basically, it has been leaking and a water noise is heard when operating the vehicle at highway speeds, which is not normal and the radio needs to be turned up to drown the sound out. The vehicle has been to the dealership for repairs for four times. The last time it was in was on 7/28/2003. At that point of time, the moon roof was not even closing completely. Toyota flew a field technician from California to Kansas City for the repair. He claims that the reason for the moon roof not closing was because the battery was disconnected when the heated leather seats were installed and that caused the timing for the roof to become corrupted. The dealership never saw this problem ever with any 2002-2003 model Camry and that is why a field tech was sent out. After he fixed the sunroof, I was assured by charles epp, Toyota's regional manager, that my vehicle was fully repaired and he personally assured me that it was tested for water issues too and that everything was corrected by resetting the timing. While operating the vehicle shortly after the repair, the moon roof is still leaking and having water noises during highway operations during rainstorms. Recently, I had an arbitration hearing at jay wolfe Toyota with an arbitrator from ncds.

- Kansas City, MO, USA

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