2003 Toyota Camry Engine Problems

I have a 2003 Toyota Camry le (4 cylinder, 2. 4 l) which began leaking engine coolant from around the engine block. My mechanic determined that the root cause of the leak was loose head bolts in the engine block. I was advised to either replace the engine or rebuild it both of which are cost prohibitive given the value of the car at 114,000 miles. I have come to learn that this is a very common problem with 2003 Camrys and Toyota has issued no recall for this issue. This particular car was well maintained by Toyota dealership service.

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that oil was leaking from the vehicle onto her driveway. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the engine bolts had sheared off. The contact stated that the bolts were replaced and torqued to specs however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted and notified of the failure however, no assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 215,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TO SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN DRIVEN TO HER DESTINATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED OR NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCREASED TO HOT, INDICATING THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER RAY BRANDT TOYOTA LOCATED AT 2460 VETERANS BLVD, KENNER, LA 70062, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE'S HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN, DUE TO THE ENGINE BOLTS FAILING AND COOLANT WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

HEAD BOLTS STRIPPED CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO LEAK INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF ENGINE. THIS IS A COMMON AND KNOWN PROBLEM FOR THIS ENGINE. A GOOGLE SEARCH TURNS UP HUNDREDS OF EXAMPLES OF THIS EXACT PROBLEM. EXAMPLE: GOOGLE "2003 CAMRY STRIPPED HEAD BOLTS".

ENGINE OVERHEATED AND HEAD GASKET BLOWN DUE TO HEAD BOLT THREADS BEING STRIPPED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE OF BEING STUCK ON A DANGEROUS ROAD OR LEFT TO WALK ALONE IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. TOYOTA SHOULD REPAIR THIS.

CAR ENGINE HEAD BOLTS ARE STRIPPED AND CAUSED THE COOLANT TO LEAK INTO ENGINE AND AND DAMAGE ENGINE,THE HEAD BOLTS WON'T TORGUE TO TOYOTA STANDARDS BECAUSE THE ENGINE BLOCK IS ALUMINIUM AND BOLTS ARE STEEL ,THIS HAS BEEN WIDELY REPORTED BUT STILL TOYOTA HAS NOT ISSUED RECALL

TOYOTA CAMRY 2003 - HEAD GASKET LEAK CAUSED BY HEAD BOLTS THAT COME LOOSE DUE TO BOLT HOLE PROBLEMS AT THE BLOCK. A MACHINIST WILL BE REQUIRED TO FIX THE ISSUE. THE COST TO FIX EXCEEDS WHAT THE CAR IS WORTH. ESTIMATES RANGE FROM $2500-$8000. ISSUE WAS IDENTIFIED AT 162,000 MILES. TOYOTA WILL NOT COMPENSATE BECAUSE THERE IS NO RECALL AND THE CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. DUE TO THIS ISSUE, THE ENGINE COOLANT CONTINUES TO LEAK. MANY PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE FOR 2002-2006.

OIL CONSUMPTION AFTER 1200 MILES DRIVEN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE CONTACT DETECTED LIQUID LEAKING UNDER THE MOTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD BOLTS ON THE ENGINE WERE STRIPPED OUT AND LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.

ONE DAY I START MY CAR AND LEAVE IT TO WARM UP FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES, WHEN I GOT IN IT I NOTICE IT WAS BLOWING COLD AIR FROM VENTS,I STARTED DRIVING AND IT START GETTING HOT ,SO DIDN'T PAY MUCH ATTENTION, ABOUT FEW DAYS AFTER MY WIFE DROVE TO CHURCH AND CALL ME TO SAY THERE'S NO HEAT INSIDE, I TOLD HER CO COME BACK HOME ,WHEN I CHECK THE RADIATOR IT WAS ALMOST DRY,I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT,I FILL IT BACK UP AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION, AND I START GETTING HEAT INSIDE AGAIN, TOOK IT ON THE ROAD FOR A TEST DRIVE ONLY TO START GETTING COLD AIR AGAIN SO I WENT HOME BACK PUT ABOUT A CUP OF ANTIFREEZE AND LIFT THE CAR ONLY TO FIND THAT THE LEAKING IS COMING FROM BETWEEN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD,MY MECHANIC TOLD ME IT'S LEAKING FROM THE HEAD BECAUSE THE BOLTS GO STRIPED AND THE HEAD IS SEPARATED FROM THE BLOCK AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE MODELS,AND IT'S GOING TO NEED A KNEW ENGINE, WHICH I DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY TO BUY, TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE ISSUES, THERE'S A LOT OF OWNER GOING THROUGH THE SAME THING. *TR

I MUST SADDLY ADD MY NAME TO THE LIST OF DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED TOYOTA OWNERS WITH THE HEAD GASKET/ STRIPPED BOLTS PROBLEM. MY 2003 CAMRY HAS 105K MILES AND HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED WHEN THE HEAD GASKET BLEW LAST WEEK DURING NORMAL USAGE. I HAVE DONE ENOUGH RESEARCH NOW TO REALIZE THAT THE CAR WAS POORLY ENGINEERED AND THE STRIPPED BOLTS ARE PERVASIVE WITH THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR OF CAR. I NOW REQUIRE A NEW ENGINE, WHICH IS A COST PROHIBITIVE REPAIR. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND HAPPENED TO BE LOOKING AT THE DASHBOARD AND WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT FROM NORMAL TO THE THE HOTTEST POSSIBLE. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER, LET THE ENGINE COOL, ADDED OIL AND THEN WAITED A BIT LONGER TO ENSURE IT HAD COOLED SUFFICIENTLY. I RESTARTED THE CAR, PUT IN IN DRIVE AND WENT ABOUT 20 FT BEFORE THE TEMPERATURE SHOT BACK UP AGAIN. I PARKED IT IMMEDIATELY, CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE REPAIR REQUIRES REPLACING THE ENGINE AND WILL COST IS EQUIVALENT TO THE CAR'S VALUE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY TWO MECHANICS THAT REPLACEMENT REBUILT ENGINES ARE HARD TO FIND BECAUSE THIS ISSUE IS SO COMMON WITH THIS CAR. AND, THAT THE BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT WILL HAVE THE SAME ENGINEERING FLAW IT IS BOUND TO HAPPEN AGAIN. BOTH MECHANICS, ALONG WITH MANY OWNERS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE FORUMS AND BLOGS I HAVE READ HAVE TOLD ME THE CAR IS USELESS NOW SO I PLAN TO DONATE IT TO CHARITY TOMORROW.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: MY 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY MAKES A RATTLE NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AREA AND IT'S MOST NOTICEABLE DURING IDLE OR LIGHT ACCELERATION. MY CAR HAS ONLY 35,000 MILES INSPITE OF IT BEING 13 YEARS OLD. CLEARLY, TOYOTA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE MANIFOLD BUT SINCE MY CAR IS MORE THAN 6 YEARS OLD , TOYOTA WOULD NOT COVER IT BUT MY CAR HAS ONLY 35,000 MILES AND THIS PROBLEM DID NOT SHOW UP UNTIL NOW. HOPEFULLY, YOUR OFFICE CAN HELP ME WITH THIS MATTER. THANK YOU SO MUCH *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE ODOR OF COOLANT WAS PRESENT, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE SUDDENLY INCREASED TO HIGH, AND SMOKE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN DUE TO FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKET BOLTS. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. ABOUT 2 MINUTES LATER, A RATTLING SOUND COULD BE HEARD UNDER THE HOOD. WHILE CHANGING LANES TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND A LOUD POUNDING SOUND COULD BE HEARD WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. JUST AFTER TURNING ONTO THE SIDE STREET FROM EXITING THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR DIED. ALL OF THIS OCCURRED WITHIN A 5 MINUTE PERIOD. UPON OPENING THE HOOD, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA OF THE VEHICLE AND THE RESERVOIR FOR THE RADIATOR FLUID WAS BONE DRY. THE RADIATOR HAD BEEN FLUSHED AND REFILLED ONLY 2 MONTHS EARLIER. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC. UPON THEIR INSPECTION, I WAS TOLD THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. THERE HAD BEEN NO WARNING LIGHTS OR INDICATION THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING HOT PREVIOUS TO THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT COMING ON MINUTES BEFORE THE HEAD GASKET BLEW. IN AUGUST, 2012, A RUSHING FLUID SOUND COULD BE HEARD IN THE DASH AREA. I HAD THE CAR INSPECTED AND THE WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT, ALL HOSES AND A RADIATOR FLUSH WERE DONE TO THE VEHICLE. IN FEBRUARY 2013, THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE RUSHING FLUID SOUND COULD STILL BE HEARD OFTEN. IF THE RADIATOR FLUID RESERVOIR WAS TOPPED OFF, GENERALLY THE SOUND WOULD STOP. THE FLUID SOUND BEGAN AGAIN IN JANUARY 2015. THAT WAS THE MAIN REASON FOR GETTING THE RADIATOR FLUSHED. A NEW RADIATOR CAP WAS ALSO INSTALLED AT THAT TIME. I NEVER HEARD THE RUSHING FLUID SOUND AFTER THAT FLUSH. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. I AM FORCED TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE. THE COST OF A USED MOTOR AND ALL LABOR IS ALMOST $5,000. THAT'S APPROXIMATELY WHAT THE CAR IS WORTH. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS OF ALMOST IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS LISTED ON THE INTERNET. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE AND TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO CORRECT IT. *TR

BAD OIL LEAKS. MECHANICS COULDN'T FIND WHERE LEAKS WERE COMING FROM. TOOK IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT THE HEAD BOLTS ARE MOST LIKELY STRIPPED. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND A LOT OF OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. AND FUMES WERE COMING INTO THE CAR. IF THIS VEHICLE HAS THIS PROBLEM , WHY WASN'T IT RECALLED TO BE FIXED. I CAN'T GET ANYONE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. TOYOTA JUST WANTS TO SELL ME A USED ENGINE FOR THE SAME THING TO HAPPEN AGAIN ACCORDING TO OTHERS OWNERS WHO REPLACED THE ENGINE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE ENGINE SEIZED WHILE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE RADIATOR AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,259.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY LE. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 45 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE BOLT CONNECTED TO THE INTAKE VALVES TO THE ENGINE HAD BECOME LOOSE AND ALLOWED COOLANT TO RUN ON TO THE EXHAUST. AS A RESULT, EXHAUST FUMES EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY AND NOTICED THAT IT WAS OVERHEATING!!! WENT TO REPLACE THE GASKET AND THE HEAD BOLTS WERE STRIPPED AND HAD TO HAVE TO HAVE A HEAD BOLT REPAIR KIT PUT IN ALONG WITH THE GASKET KIT WHICH WITH LABOR COST ME OVER 4,000 DOLLARS IN REPAIRS! THE FIRST PROBLEM WAS THE ALUMINUM BLOCK THAT OVER HEATED BECAUSE OF THE COOLANT LEAK WHICH IN THAT OVERHEATED THE BLOCK/BOLTS AND CAUSED THEM TO STRIP THE THREAD FROM THE BLOCK BOLT, IN THAT HAD TO GET A REPAIR KIT DRILL THE HOLE OUT INSERT A STEAL COIL TO HOLD THE STEAL BOLT IN THE ALUMINUM BLOCK!!! POINT BEING I HAD TO PAY FOR THIS FACTORY ERROR OF AN ALUMINUM HEAD THAT EITHER SHOULD HAVE HAD STEAL INSERTS OR A STEAL BLOCK TO BEGIN WITH FOR ABOUT 4,000 WHICH IS CLOSE TO WHAT THE CAR WOULD COST IF I BOUGHT IT AT THIS TIME WITH THE MILES CURRENTLY ON IT!!! A WASTE OF MY MONEY WHEN THIS COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN PREVENTED FROM TOYOTA IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!! I HONESTLY CAN SAY THAT THIS IS MY 3RD CAMRY I HAVE OWNED AND I HAVE ALWAYS SWORE BY THE TOYOTA CAMRY BUT AFTER MY RESEARCH AND MY MONEY AND MY HEADACHE I AM REALLY DISAPPOINTED IN HOW THERE NOT STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE ON THIS ONE AND US AS TOYOTA OWNERS LOVE AND VALUE THE TOYOTA NAME COME ACROSS THIS PROBLEM AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT ITS VERY UPSETTING I'VE DROVE THE CAMRY SINCE 2004 AND BEEN SO PROUD OF THE NAME AND PASSED ALONG THE GOOD QUALITY OF THE CAMRY NAME ON AND ON THEN I COME ACROSS THIS ISSUE AND THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS AND TOYOTA WON'T STEP UP TO THE PLATE ON IT REALLY TARNISHES THE NAME FOR ME!!!! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OIL LEAKED FROM THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE LEAK WAS DUE TO A FAULTY HEAD GASKET. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.