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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.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
57,310 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 fuel system problems

fuel system problem

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2003 Toyota Camry Owner Comments

problem #6

Feb 062010

Camry

  • 74,175 miles

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

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that when the vehicle was turned on, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who performed a diagnostic test. The failure was located at the fuel filler neck. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 74,175 and the current mileage was 74,275.

- Pittsburg , PA, USA

problem #5

Oct 302010

Camry

  • 77,005 miles
The car stalls when in motion. No warning at all. Could be going 10mph or 65mph, and it suddenly goes to idle speed. Dealer said it is throttle body (electronic sensor?) issue and must be replaced for $1200. Warranty is 36 months or 36,000 miles. My car has 77,000 miles. According to the internet, this is apparently a common problem with Toyota. Outrageous!!!!!! not only is this one of the most dangerous problems that I have ever heard of, but Toyota and NHTSA seem to be ignoring the problem. My congressman and ct consumer protection will hear about this and I urge you to do something to help-------save (lives) Toyota drivers.

- Hamden, CT, USA

problem #4

Jun 202010

Camry 4-cyl

  • 62,481 miles
On June 20 shortly before 6:00 pm I backed out of the parking space of our condo building, and I proceeded to drive the car with about 10 mls/hour toward a street cca 50 yards away. Before entering the street the car has to be stopped, however, without pressing the gas pedal, the car on its own accelerated. Immediately I applied the brakes, but the car did not respond. The car speeded into a grassy area, and from there to our overflow parking lot, and from there to a second parking lot. The tires burned the grass due to the applied brakes. Picture of the burned grass can be supplied if requested. The unstoppable car traveled about 170 yards. Due to the force by which the car hit four curves, the front tires were flattened and the front right wheel was severely damaged. The front end collapsed to the ground and the car finally stopped. My wife and myself were wearing the safety belts, which prevented to be thrown into the front windshield..my wife was sitting next to me, there were no other passengers in the car. In addition the force caused both of the front airbags to deploy. Minimizing the human damage. The airbags caused a second degree burn on my left arm as determined in the er. The airbag also hit the front of my face. And slightly burned the finger on her left hand. Needless to stay that we were extremely shaken and frightened. Upon exiting the car I called 911 and reported what happened. An unknown neighbor called an ambulance, which came very soon with a large fire truck. We were taken to the er of a local hospital. We spent at 4-5 hours in the er of the hospital where we were X-rayed. Even as of the date of this report, some 2 months after the accident both my wife and I remain extremely shaken by this traumatic experience. My wife's spinal problems were enhanced by the crash, and her condition is being monitored by specialists. The car was not on the recall list.. I suspect the original micro chip to cause the malfunction of the gas flow.

- Rockvilee, MD, USA

problem #3

Feb 252010

Camry

  • 55,000 miles

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

Sudden increase in rpms as I was backing up my car up to my wood pile..it rammed into my wood pile and the wheels were still spinning when I finally turned off the car. Same thing happen when I was coasting up to a stop sign Feb 2010.. both times I put all the strength I could on the brake pedal to stop the car. It never stopped in 2009 but I did get it stopped on the 2010 incident because I put the car in neutral. Some minor damage to the back end of the car on the 2009 incident from the car hitting the stack of wood.. went to the dealer and they said it was nothing they could do about it..

- St. Mary, MO, USA

problem #2

Jul 102008

Camry

  • 75,000 miles
The gas filling tube is corroded, the result is the 'engine' trouble indicator is always on. My mechanic tells me that this occurs with all Toyota Camry's that are older than 5 years. Mine is a 2003 with 80,000 miles. The only solution is to replace the entire tube leading to the fuel tank. It seems that the metal corrodes and the gas cap cannot be sealed, the result is the engine indicator comes on the dash board.

- Leonia, NJ, USA

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problem #1

Apr 152003

Camry

  • Automatic transmission
  • 200 miles
Gas tank thump when starting from stop. Slight thump and heavy thump all depends how much fuel in tank. Suspension bolts tightened to factory specs. Parking brake out of adjustment coming up to high hard holding on hill and brake pedal to soft.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

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