2003 Toyota Camry Complaint Log

INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE ON 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY 2.4 ENGINE (TOYOTA MOTOR CO.) WILL NOT REPLACE. THEY KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY REPLACED THEM WITH A NEW TYPE OF INTAKE MANIFOLD. MY CAMRY HAS 65000 MILES. *JB

IN 2005, I WAS DRIVING EAST ON U.S. HWY 74 BETWEEN I-26 AND SHELBY, NC IN MY 2003 CAMRY. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET FOR 65 MPH, THE SPEED LIMIT. A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE CAR BEGAN INCREASING SPEED TO 75 MPH. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND TURNED OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. THIS WAS THE ONLY TIME THIS HAPPENED. I REPORTED THIS TO A SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AT MY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHEN I RETURNED TO CHATTANOOGA. HE SAID TO LET HIM KNOW IF IT EVER HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS YEAR, I SENT MY DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA E-MAILS REMINDING THEM OF THE PROBLEM ENCOUNTERED IN 2005. NEITHER RESPONDED. THEN, I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TALKED WITH A SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE. THE GENTLEMAN SAID THAT TOYOTA HAD BEEN HAVING THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM WITH ITS CRUISE CONTROL FOR MANY YEARS (HE MENTIONED A SPECIFIC PIECE THAT WAS CAUSING THE MALFUNCTION), BUT IT WAS NOT REGARDED AS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE TAPPING ON THE BRAKE DISCONNECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL. *TR

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN PLACING FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. IT BECAME AIRBORNE AND DID NOT STOP UNTIL IT CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER HAVE FRACTURED VERTEBRAE'S. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK UPDATED 12/27/05. *JB

DT: 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE ENGINE I 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY CAUGHT ON FIRE. HAD NOT CONTACTED DEALERSHIP OR THE MANUFACTURER. DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT THE WAY VEHICLE WAS OPERATING BEFORE THE FIRE STARTED. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS UP TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO INVESTIGATE HOW THE FIRE STARTED. DID NOT KNOW IF IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL OR FUEL. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS BURNED COMPLETELY. VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED BY THE FIRE. CALLED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THEY SAID IT WAS THE HIGHWAY PATROL DEPARTMENT WHO NEEDED TO DO THE REPORT. TOOK PICTURES OF VEHICLE AT THE JUNK YARD. VEHICLE HAD ALL THE ORIGINAL PARTS. THERE WAS NO INJURIES OR PROPERTY DAMAGE OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE. *AK

CAR SURGES TO MAXIMUM REVOLUTIONS ON TACHOMETER WHEN MOVING GEAR SHIFT FROM PARK TO REVERSE. HAS HAPPENED 2 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS. AT THE TIME OF BOTH INCIDENTS, CAR WAS IDLING WITH AIR CONDITIONER ON. APPLICATION OF BRAKE CONTROLLED SITUATION BUT I AM WORRIED ABOUT SEVERE ACCIDENT IF THIS OCCURS. THERE ARE 2 OTHER DRIVERS IN THE FAMILY, OF WHICH ONE IS A TEENAGER AND A FOURTH WILL START DRIVING IN 6 MONTHS. THIS IS THE SAME AS THE CURRENT DEFECT INVESTIGATION NHTSA ACTION NUMBER DP05002. MY COMPLAINT IS AGAINST THE MANUFACTURER, NOT THE DEALER. THE DEALER DID A DIAGNOSIS AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT AND DETECTED NO PROBLEM. THERE NEEDS TO BE A DIAGNOSIS FOR THIS ISSUE AND A NATIONAL RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. *JB

I PURCHASED THE 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY IN SEPTEMBER 2005. WHILE I LOVE MY CAR I DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS AFTER HEARING THE OTHER COMPLAINTS. I HEAR SLOSHING SOUND UNDER THE DASH. IT IS REALLY LOUD WHEN BRAKING, ACCELERATING, OR PARKING. I ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT IT SEVERAL TIMES, AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NORMAL FOR YOUR CAR. ALSO , HEAR A SQUEAKY, GRINDING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO EITHER SIDE. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I TURN THE WHEEL, NO MATTER HOT OR COLD WEATHER. THE DELAERSHIP COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT THEM. THEY KEPT IT 2 DAYS, AND SAID NOTHIGN WAS WRONG. IT CONTINUED FOR ANTOHER WEEK, AND I RETURNED WITH IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY KEPT IT OVERNIGHT AND CALLED ME THE NEXT DAY, AND TOLD ME THEY DID NOT HAVE TIME TO LOOK AT IT, BUT THEY WERE SURE NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. THEY WILL NOT RETURN ANY PHONE CALLS OR EVEN TALK TO ME WHEN I GO THERE. THE LAS THING, WAS THE PAINT CONTINUALLY CHIPPING AND PEELING OF IN CHUNKS ON THE HOOD, FRONT BUMPER, AND REAR BUMPER. I HAVE SPOKEN TO TOYOTA ABOUT THIS SEVERAL TIMES, AND THEY CONTINUED TO SAY IT WAS NOT THEIR FAULT, AND MY CAR WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. SO THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING. THIS ALL STARTED ABOUT 3 WEEKS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR AND CONTINUED TODAY. PLEASE ADVIS ME IF THEREWAS ANYTHING I COULD DO TO FIX ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS. THANKS. AK

AT ABOUT 40,000 MILES, A KNOCKING SOUND BEGAN TO BE AUDIBLE WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY PRECIPITATING INCIDENT; NO COLLISIONS OR HARD CONTACT WITH CURBING, POT HOLES, ETC.. THE KNOCK COULD ALSO BE FELT AS A SLIGHT JERK IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE WAS (AND STILL IS) NO NOTICEABLE DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE CAR. THE NOISE AND SLIGHT JERK IN THE STEERING WHEEL GRADUALLY WORSENED WITH TIME, AND THE CAR WAS JUST BEYOND THE GENERAL WARRANTY PERIOD WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER. DIAGNOSIS BY THE DEALER WAS "BAD STEERING COLUMN; NEEDS TO BE REPLACED". AS IT WAS NOT CONSIDERED A DRIVE TRAIN COMPONENT, THERE WAS NO WARRANTY COVERAGE. THE COST WOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT $1000 AT THE TIME. NO REPAIR HAS YET BEEN DONE. *NM

MY 03 CAMRY WITH 22K MILES, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, HAS AN ISSUE WITH THE SAFETY BUTTON ON THE SHIFTER, OR THE SHIFTER ITSELF. WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND NO KEY IN THE IGNITION, I CAN SLIDE THE SHIFTER FROM PARK TO ANY OTHER GEAR, WITHOUT PRESSING IN THE SAFETY BUTTON. I CANNOT SLIDE THE SHIFTER BACK INTO PARK. HERE'S HOW I FOUND OUT. I PARKED IN MY DRIVE, PUT THE CAR IN PARK, REMOVED THE KEYS, GRABBED MY SHOPPING BAG AND WENT INSIDE. MY HUSBAND CAME IN A FEW MINUTES LATER WITH SOME SHOCKING NEWS. APPARENTLY, MY CAMRY HAD ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVE, TOOK OUT OUR MAILBOX, WENT ACROSS THE STREET AND STOPPED IN OUR NEIGHBOR'S FRONT YARD. OUR DRIVE IS OVER 100' LONG AND SLOPES DOWN TOWARD THE STREET. I HANDED MY HUSBAND THE KEYS AND HE WENT TO THE CAR. IT WAS IN DRIVE. WHAT I CAN FIGURE IS THAT WHEN I GRABBED MY SHOPPING BAG, WHICH WAS FAIRLY HEAVY, I HIT THE SHIFTER AND TOOK THE CAR OUT OF PARK. BUT THAT DOESN'T EXPLAIN HOW THE SHIFTER WAS ABLE TO MOVE WITHOUT MY PUSHING IN THE SAFETY BUTTON. I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER RELATIONS IN TORRANCE, AND THEY ARRANGED A SERVICE APPT FOR ME AT THE DEALER. THE DEALER INDICATED THEY HAD TO MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT. DURING A FOLLOW-UP CALL FROM THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE REP, THEY INDICATED THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM BEFORE. WHEN I ASKED IF IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN, THE REP SAID IF IT DOES, BRING IT IN. I WILL TRY VERY HARD TO REMEMBER TO USE MY EMERGENCY BRAKE WHENEVER I PARK MY CAR. BUT WHAT IF I FORGET? I DON'T WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MY CAR ROLLING INTO A CHILD, ADULT OR OTHER VEHICLE. IT IS ONLY DUMB LUCK THAT NO ONE WAS HURT WHEN THE CAR ROLLED DOWN OUR DRIVE. HAD IT BEEN DAYTIME, THE CHANCES ARE VERY HIGH THAT SOMEONE WOULD HAVE BEEN INJURED OR KILLED. WE LIVE ON A CUL DE SAC, AND THOSE IN OUR DEVELOPMENT WALK WITH THEIR CHILDREN ON A REGULAR BASIS THROUGHOUT THE DAY. THIS IS VERY FRIGHTENING. ARE YOU AWARE OF THIS ISSUE HAPPENING PREVIOUSLY?*JB

DT: VEHICLE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD ON AUGUST 12, 2005. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND SENT THE CONSUMER HOME WITH THE INVOICE. THERE WAS NO FOR WARNING. ABOUT 6 WEEKS BEFORE WHEN PUSHING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IT SEEMED LIKE IT TOOK A FEW SECONDS FOR THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. *AK

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH FRONT DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS, WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR LOCKS. AFTER A WHILE, BOTH REAR DOOR LOCKS FAILED. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE POWER WINDOW WAS INOPERATIVE. UPDATED 01/11/06. *JB

BRAKE PEDAL FREQUENTLY GOES NEARLY TO FLOOR. HAS HAPPENED EVEN WHEN CAR STOPPED AT LIGHTS. WHEN PEDAL TRAVEL EXCESSIVE, BRAKING PERFORMANCE VERY POOR. NO WARNING. BRAKES WORK FINE FOR A WHILE THEN PEDAL TRAVEL AND BRAKE PERFORMANCE DRGRADE SEVERELY WITHOUT WARNING. NEARLY IN SEVERAL COLLISIONS. ALSO, FRAQUENT VIBRATION IN PEDAL LINKAGE, ESPECIALLY WHEN PEDAL PUSHED QUICKLY. DEALER REPLACED BRAKE BOOSTER BUT NO IMPORVEMENT IN PERFORMANCE. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING ELSE TO BE DONE. OFTEN FEELS LIKE INTERNAL LEAK IN MASTER CYLINDER. COMPLAINT TO TOYOTA TURFED BACK TO DEALER. FEEL CAR IS DANGEROUS IN THIS CONDITION BUT TOYOTA AND NORTHWAY TOYOTA NOT INTERESTED IN REPAIRING PROBLEM. LAST DATE LISTED IN INCIDENT DATE, BUT HAS HAPPENED MANY, MANY TIMES. AFRAID TO OPERATE VEHICLE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

WINDOW MOTOR BROKE WITHOUT WARNING. MECHANIC SAYS NO WAY SHOULD A MOTOR BREAK ON A 2 YEAR OLD CAR. INTERNET BLOGS FULL OF STORIES OF WINDOW MOTORS BREAKING ON TOYOTA VEHICLES. REPLACEMENT COST IS $700 WHICH IS RIDICULOUS.

POWER LOCKS - BEGINNING IN 2005, THE POWER LOCKS IN MY 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY BEGAN TO FAIL. THE DRIVER'S DOOR WAS THE FIRST TO MALFUNCTION, FOLLOWED BY THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER DOOR AND, MOST RECENTLY, THE LEFT REAR PASSENGER DOOR. THE FAILURE BEGINS WITH INTERMITTENT FUNCTIONING OF THE LOCKS - THE DOORS WILL LOCK/UNLOCK UNPREDICTABLY. I HAVE REPLACED 2 OF THE 3 MECHANISMS AT SIGNIFICANT COST. NOW THE THIRD IS FAILING. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS - CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND THE RISK OF THEFT FROM A CAR THAT FAILED TO LOCK.

THOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED ENTIRELY AT LEAST ONCE, THE BRAKES ON MY 2003 CAMRY STILL SQUEAK UPON A GRADUAL BRAKE DURING THE DAY. OTHER THAN THE SQUEAK, I MUST ADMIT THAT THEY BRAKES DO WORK WELL. THIS MAY NOT BE A SAFETY PROBLEM UNLESS I GET SO USED TO THE SQUEAK THAT I DON'T CATCH THE 'TELLTALE' THAT MANY PAD MANUFACTURERS PUT IN THEIR PADS TO GIVE AN AUDIO CLUE TO CHANGE THEIR BRAKE PADS. *JB

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HIS 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. THE CAR WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT WHEN DRIVING. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. THE ALIGNMENT HAS BEEN CHECKED FIVE TIMES TO SEE IF THAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THERE HAS BEEN SO SUCCESS IN THE CORRECTION OF THE PULLING TO THE LEFT. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND A CLAIM WAS FILED FOR THE CONSUMER. THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT SINCE THE LAST TIME THAT THE DEALER SAW IT. THE CAR PULLED TO THE LEFT AND RAN OFF THE ROAD. THEN, HIT A TREE. THE CONSUMER COULD NOT PROVE THAT THE CAR WAS AT FAULT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. AT THIS POINT, NO ONE COULD DETERMINE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR, IT COULD BE THE SUSPENSION OR THE STEERING. THE SPEED WAS 35 MPH WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. *AK

DT: DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN ON DRIVER'S SIDE OR ANY OF THE OTHER DOORS, CONSUMER COULD NOT UNLOCK THE DOORS WITH KEY OR LOCK BUTTON. THE TRANSMITTER WOULD NOT RESPOND EITHER. BEFORE WHEN IT WOULD GET REAL HOT THE TRANSMITTER WOULDN'T WORK AND LIGHTS WOULDN'T WORK. BUT COULD OPEN THE DOORS AND GET OUT. LAST NIGHT HAD TO CRAWL OUT THE WINDOW TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

AS I PUT CAR ON DRIVE,IT JUST ACCELARATED OUT OF CONTROL..BRAKES DID NOT WORK,EMERGENCY BRAKE NEITHER,THANKS TO CURB I DID NOT RUN THRU A FENCE THAT SEPARATES SUPERMARKET'S PARKING LOT AND HOUSING'S PLAYGROUND FULL OF KIDS AND PARENTS ENJOYING MOTHER'S DAY.

TIRE FAILURE - CONTINENTAL TOURING CONTACT AS * P205/65R15 *(NOT P215/16 PER FORM) THE TIRE WAS OEM WITH 2003 CAMRY AND HAD 30,480 MILES ON IT AND HAD BEEN ROTATED AS DIRECTED BY MANUFACTURER. NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PUNCTURE THROUGH TREAD. TIRE FAILED ON HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR AND WAS DRIVEN A MILE WHEREIN SIDEWALL WAS CHEWED UP. UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF FAILURE.

DRIVRERS SEAT IS LOOSE. IT WAS REPAIRED ONCE AT 12000 MILES, AND AT 26000 MILES, THE PROBLEM RESURFACED. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO REPAIR THE SEAT AGAIN. EVERY TIME I START AND STOP THE SEAT MOVES. THE PROBLEM GETS PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AS TIME GOES BY.*AK

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED, CAUSING A RATTLE NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AREA. RATTLE WAS HEARD AT IDLE SPEED AND BECAME LOUDER WHEN ACCELERATING. TOYOTA REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AT A TOTAL COST OF OVER $500 (PART + LABOR) BECAUSE THE FAILURE OCCURRED JUST OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THIS PROBLEM IS DESCRIBED IN TSB EG018-2004. *AK

DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE TAKES OFF BY ITSELF. THIS CAN HAPPEN WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH FOOT ON BRAKE. AT ONE TIME CONSUMER WAS PUTTING THE CAR ON PLANKS TO CHANGE OIL AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, AND HIT CONSUMER'S SPOUSE, WHO SUSTAINED INJURIES.*AK

TOYOTA FAILED TO FIX DEFECT WITH BRAKES UNDER WARRANTY, LEFT FRONT BRAKE FAILED, AND CAUGHT FIRE AFTER SHORT DRIVE. DEALER FAILED TO FIX SECOND TIME CLAIMED IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM, CAR HAD BEEN TAMPERED WITH, TOYOT0 DEALERSHIP WAS LONE REPAIR SHOP EVER USED. *AK

THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE CONSUMER WAS ON THE ROAD. SHE WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE TIRES COMPLETELY SEPARATED. *AK

I PULLED INTO A BUSINESS PARKING LOT AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, SLIGHTLY TOUCHED THE ACCELERATOR, REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED RAPIDLY ON ITS OWN. I FIRMLY APPLIED THE BRAKE TO STOP BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE ACTION OF THE BRAKES LEFT A LONG PATCH OF RUBBER, BUT DID NOT SLOW THE CAR. AFTER STRIKING AN SUV, MOVING IT OUT OF THE WAY AND INTO ANOTHER CAR, THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNTIL IT WAS STOPPED BY A METAL LIGHT POLE. THE CAR HAS YET TO BE EXAMINED BY A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP.*AK

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW TOYOTA CAMRY XLE IN MAY 2003. ABOUT 1 1/2 YEARS AFTER PURCHASING IT, I BEGAN TO HEAR A SLOSHING SOUND UNDER THE DASH BOARD. THE PRODUCING OF THE SOUND WASN'T CONSISTENT BECAUSE SOME DAYS IT WASN'T PRESENT AT ALL. WHEN THE SOUND FIRST STARTED IT WAS VERY FAINT AND THE PASSENGER COULD NOT HEAR IT EVEN WHEN I POINTED IT OUT. I CHECKED FOR LEAKS BUT I COULD NOT FIND ANY. TODAY, THE SOUND IS A LOT MORE NOTICABLE; HOWEVER, IT STILL DOES NOT PRESNET ITSELF EVERYDAY. I TRIED TO OBSERVE IF IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN IT IS COLD OUT SIDE OR HOT, BUT THE SOUND IS NOT CONSISTENT. WHEN THE SOUND IS PRESENT, I WOULD HAVE TO TURN MY MUSIC UP A LITTLE TO IGNORE IT. MY CAR'S PERFORMANCE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE HAMPERED BY THIS SLOSHING OR SPLASHING NOISE SO I THOUGHT MY FLUIDS WERES JUST CIRCULATING. BUT IT HAS BECOME QUITE EMBARASSING AND ANNOYING HAVING TO DEAL WITH IT. I READ ANOTHER CONSUMER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND TOYOTA COULD NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE SO THEY BOUGHT THEIR CAR BACK. I AM NOW INQUIRING TO TOYOTA ABOUT THE ISSUE, BUT I WISHED I HAD WHEN MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND THE PROBLEM FIRST ARISED AT THE 20,000 MILE MARK. *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT IT WENT DOWN TOT HE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. JUST AS QUICKLY AS THE VEHICLE STARTED ACCELERATING IT STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TOT EH DEALER BUT HEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *AK *NM

THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE ALUMINUM ALLOY CHROME WHEELS. I PURCHASED NEW TIRES AT SEARS IN DECEMBER OF 2004 WITH ALL NEW VALVE STEMS AND SPEED BALANCES. APPROXIMATELY 2 TO 3 MONTHS LATER, 2 & 3 TIRES WERE LOSING AIR (SLOWLY) CONSTANTLY. SEARS SHOWED ME THAT THE ALLOY RIM WAS DETERIORATING AROUND THE VALVE STEMS AND THAT I SHOULD TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER. BECAUSE IT WAS OVER THE WARRANTY MILEAGE, THE DEALER (ROUTE 44 TOYOTA IN RAYNHAM, MASS.) WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. I EVEN WENT TO THE DISTRICT MANAGERS OFFICE WITH NO LUCK. I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT ALL I WANTED WAS THE STANDARD WHEEL FOR REPLACEMENT WITH WHEEL COVERS. MY POINT IS, IF TIRES LOSE THE AIR INFLATION, THERE'S LIKELY TO BE "TIRE FAILURE" CONTRIBUTING TO MORE ACCIDENTS ON OUR NATIONAL HIGHWAYS. I'M SURE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH "ALLOY WHEELS" WITH THIS PROBLEM. CAN WE DO SOMETHING TO PREVENT ROAD DEATHS ON OUR HIGHWAYS BECAUSE OF THESE FLAWED "ALUMINUM ALLOY WHEELS"?*JB

FOR PAST 6 MONTHS MY POWER DOOR LOCKS TAKE TURNS NOT WORKING. SOMETIMES THEY STOP WORKING IN TWO AT A TIME AND REMAIN BROKEN FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS. THERE ARE TIME WHEN THEY WILL NOT EVEN OPEN MANUALLY(EVEN FROM THE INSIDE). THIS IS VERY SCARY IN THE EVENT I NEED TO GET OUT AND CANNOT BECAUSE OF THE LOCKS. IT USUALLY STARTS WITH THE LEFT FRONT, THEN LEFT FRONT AND REAR, THEN LEFT REAR, LEFT AND RIGHT REAR, THEN RIGHT REAR, RIGHT REAR AND RIGHT FRONT, THEN RIGHT FRONT, THEN RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT DOORS. THEN THEY WILL ALL WORK FINE FOR A MONTH. IT APPEARS, TO ME, TO BE SOME TYPE OF SHORT IN THE WIRING. *JB

2003 TOYOTA CAMRY LE, ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. *BF THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT EVERY TIME WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND CONTINUE TO STEADILY HOLD IT DEPRESSED, THE ABS WOULD ACTIVATE IMMEDIATELY, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO COME TO A TIMELY STOP. *JB

WHEN DRIVING AND GOING DOWN HILL BRAKES WERE HARD, AND A NOISE COULD BE HEARD. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING IN THE ICE AND SNOW ON BOTH OCCASIONS. VEHICLE WENT INTO A FISH TAIL, ALMOST CAUSING A COLLISION. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK

2003 TOYOTA CAMRY HAS PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE EQUIPMENT.*MR THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE BRAKES FADED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES BUT THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *NM

2003 CAMRY WAS INVOLVED IN 2 ACCIDENTS IN WHICH THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. *TS THE ELECTRONIC PART FOR THE ACCELERATOR WAS REPLACED AT THE DEALER AFTER EACH ACCIDENT. *NM

THE CAR WAS STOLEN AND THE INTERIOR WAS SOAKED IN GAS. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WANTED TO CLEAN THE SEATS, BUT OWNER FEARED THAT THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE SAFETY ISSUE.

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE AND THEN STALLED. OWNER CONTACTED THE DEALER , AND HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

EXTREME SULPHUR SMELL INSIDE CABIN OF AUTOMOBILE. THIS AIR QUA;ITY CANNOT BE BENEFICIAL TO THE OCCUPANTS COMPLAINT HAS BEEN ONGOING TO LOCAL DEALER, BUT NOT YET RESOLVED ECU MUST BE ADJUSTED AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER CHANGED. *AK

WHEN DISENGAGING THE VEHICLE FROM PARK THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES WITHOUT WARNING. NO IMPACT REPORTED. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE ACCELERATED EVEN MORE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE COLLIDED INTO TWO PARKED CARS AND A BRICK WALL. DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES. *AK THE CONSUMER RECIEVED A CHECK 18,636.18 IN FULL PAYMENT FOR AUTO LOSS. WHEN THE CONSUMER PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL THE RPMS WHERE HIGH. ONE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *TC

THE SPEAKER PANEL BEHIND THE BACK SEAT HAS CRACKED AND THIS HAS MADE HOLES IN THIS BACK PANEL. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN ANYTHING PLACED IN THE BACK WINDOW TO HAVE CREATED THIS TO HAPPEN. WE CONTACTED OUR TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST $500.00 DOLLARS TO FIX WHICH IN MY OPINION IT WAS CAUSED BY FAULTY MATERIAL THAT THE TOYOTA COMPANY USED. IN ALL OF THE CARS I HAVE BOUGHT OVER THE YEARS MANY DIFFERENT MAKES THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED. I WENT INTO A PART SITE TO SEE IF THIS CAN BE REPLACED AND MANY OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS PANEL. I LOVE MY 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY BUT IF I HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THIS PART FIXED I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER TOYOTA. I ALSO EMAILED THE TOYOTA CORP OFFICE AND THEY DID NOT GIVE ME ANY RESPONDS TO THIS MATTER. *TR

WENT TO DRIVE 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE OUT OF THE GARAGE. STARTED THE CAR TRIED TO PUT IN REVERSE AND GEAR SHIFT WOULD NOT MOVE OUT OF PARK, THE MOTOR STARTED RACING DURING THIS TIME. TURNED OFF CAR GOT OUT OF CAR TO WAIT TILL LATER TO RUN ERRAND AND DECIDED TO TRY ONE MORE TIME. START CAR AGAIN TRIED TO PUT IN REVERSE. IT SECEEDED THIS TIME BUT THE CAR ACCELLERATED OUT OF THE GARAGE RAPIDLY W/ OUT MY ASSISTANCE. DAMAGING SEVERAL ITEMS ON ITS WAY OUT OF THE GARAGE.*AK

ANTI-SKID BRAKE SYSTEM ON MY 2003 CAMRY XLE V6 MALFUNCTIONED, AND CAUSED THE CAR TO CROSS 3 LANES AND CRASH INTO A GUARD RAIL. I WAS UNINJURED, BUT THE CAR SUSTAINED $11,000 DAMAGE. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AT ANY SPEED HE HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING NORMALLY. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FAILURE SINCE THE DAY THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 90000.

APPROACHING INTERSECTION THE TRAFFIC LIGHT CHANGED AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP VEHICLE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR BOARD, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP BEFORE IMPACT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. SPEED AT IMPACT WAS APPROX. 20 MPH AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. JUST RECENTLY HAD VEHICLE AT DEALERSHIP TO HAVE SOFT BRAKE PEDAL CHECKED, AND WAS TOLD OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS CONCERNING PROBLEM. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH FRONT END VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. *AK

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM HER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND THE CONSUMER CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. JB UPDATED 03/04/10 *BF UPDATED 04/12/10.*JB UPDATED 08/26/10. *JB

THE TORSION BARS ON OUR 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY SUDDENLY FAILED TO WORK. WHEN THE TRUNK WAS OPENED, IT THEN HAD TO BE MANUALLY PUSHED UP TO THE TOP OPEN POSITION, HOWEVER IT WOULD EASILY AND QUICKLY COME DOWN IF IT WAS WINDY OUTSIDE. TWICE I WAS HIT IN THE HEAD OR BACK WHILE LEANING INTO THE TRUNK AND PUTTING SOMETHING IN OR TAKING SOMETHING OUT, A MAJOR PROBLEM BECAUSE WE WERE ALWAYS PUTTING IN OR TAKING OUR BABY STROLLER OUT OF THE TRUNK, AND WE WERE AFRAID THE TRUNK MIGHT ALSO CLOSE ON OUR SON'S HAND OR HEAD IF HE WERE STANDING NEARBY. WE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER; THEY AT FIRST DENIED THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE TRUNK. BUT THE SERVICE MANAGER EVENTUALLY UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED WITH ME ABOUT THE PROBLEM. HE ORDERED AND REPLACED THE TORSION BARS IN OUR TRUNK; IT FIXED THE PROBLEM AT THAT TIME. THIS WAS ONE YEAR AGO. IN OCTOBER 2005, THE SAME THING STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN. WHILE THE TRUNK DOESN'T SLAM DOWN ON US YET, IT DOES IDLE HALFWAY UP AND MUST BE PUSHED UP OR DOWN TO LOCK THE POSITION. WE BROUGHT IT BACK TO OUR TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND ASKED FOR THE SAME SERVICE MANAGER DIRECTLY. HE REMEMBERED US AND IS GOING TO REPLACE THE TORSION BARS AGAIN, BUT CLAIMED THAT HE HASN'T SEEN THIS PROBLEM HAPPEN IN SEVERAL YEARS; APPARENTLY IT WAS A RECURRING PROBLEM ON OLDER MODELS. MY MAIN CONCERNS WITH THIS ISSUE ARE THAT FIRST, IT KEEPS ON HAPPENING AND SECONDLY, THIS PAST SUMMER ON LONG ISLAND, NY, TWO YOUNG BOYS WHO WERE MISSING, WERE LATER FOUND DEAD IN THE TRUNK OF A TOYOTA CAMRY ON THEIR STREET. APPARENTLY THE TRUNK WAS BROKEN AND IT SHUT ON THEM, TRAPPING THEM INSIDE THE VEHICLE DURING A HEAT WAVE. THE POLICE DIDN'T FIND THEM IN THE CAR UNTIL A FEW DAYS LATER. I DON'T KNOW IF THE BROKEN TRUNK HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE TORSION BARS THAT WE HAVE, BUT THE NEWS STORY CONCERNED US ENOUGH TO REPORT THIS TO YOU. *JB

I PURCHASED A 2003 CAMRY NEW,THE VEHICLE HAS SINCE BEEN INVOLVED IN TWO SIGNIFIGANT FRONTAL COLLISIONS IN WHICH NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED,THE LATTER RESULTING IN INJURY TO MYSELF AND MY WIFE. I AM ALARMED THAT THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURENCE OF AIRBAG FAILURE ON THIS SAME VEHICLE AND THE DEGREE OF INJURY WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED DUE TO THEIR FAILURE. WE ARE CURRENTLY CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER TO HOPEFULLY RESOLVE THIS MATTER.*AK

CAR DEALER SAYS TWO OF THE CAR'S ORIGINAL TIRES ARE WORN OUT WITH CAR AT 19,970 MILES. TIRES ARE WORN TO THE INDICATORS ON THE OUTSIDE. TIRES WERE ROTATED TO THE BACK OF THE CAR. DEALER DID NOT INDICATE IF OTHER TWO TIRES WERE WEARING ALSO. MY SON NOTICED SIDE WEAR ON THE TIRES AT ABOUT 18,000 MILES. DEALER SAYS CAR NEEDS ALIGNMENT BUT NO ALIGNMENT CHECK WAS MADE TO MY KNOWLEDGE. DEALER COULD NOT DO ALIGNMENT THIS DAY, I WILL TAKE CARE OF ASAP. TIRES HAVE BEEN ROTATED AT MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND KEPT AT PROPER INFLATION.CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED ON A REGULAR BASIS. TIRES ARE BRIDGESTONE, POTENZA, P205/65R15 92T.*AK

WHILE BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AND SHIFTING FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT-OF-CONTROL INTO ADJACENT NEIGHBOR'S YARD. IMMEDIATE AND CONTINUAL APPLICATION OF BRAKES DID NOTHING -- ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV AND I NARROWLY AVOIDED STRIKING A HOUSE. INSTEAD, I WAS FORCED TO STRIKE A ROW OF TREES TO STOP RUN-AWAY VEHICLE. FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY ON EITHER SIDES. HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE TREES, I WOULD'VE STRUCK A 500 GALLON PROPANE TANK, 2 PARKED PICKUP TRUCKS, AND THE ORIGINAL HOUSE FROM WHICH I WAS DEPARTING FROM. MY LONE PASSENGER AND I WILL BE EMOTIONALLY SCARRED FOREVER BY THIS INCIDENT. PLEASE FORCE TOYOTA TO ISSUE A RECALL HERE! PLEASE DON'T WAIT FOR A DEATH... PLEASE!!!*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, YET, NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8856 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35000.

THE VEHICLE SURGED BACKWARDS WITH INAPPROPRIATE SPEED, SHOT THROUGH A PARKING SPACE BEHIND ME, INTO NEXT ROW OF PARKED CARS, AND HIT A PARKED VEHICLE, TOTALING IT. *BF *SC