RoadVitals

2003 Toyota Camry Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
118
Latest May 7, 2021
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
15%
of 780 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
31
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
12

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Toyota Camry submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 118 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming brake

The 25 most recent of 118, in the owner's own words

BrakesEngineInterior & seats
Filed May 7, 2021

DRIVERS SIDE POWER SEAT IS STUCK IN FORWARD. EMERGENCY BRAKE DOES NOT WORK. ENGINE REQUIRES 1 GALLON OF OIL EVERY 2 THOUSAND MILES.

NHTSA ID
11415494
Incident
Jul 27, 2019
Mileage
240,000 mi
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Feb 21, 2020
Crash reported1 injury reported

ALMOST AT END OF EXIT RAMP FROM I264 TO BARDSTOWN RD NEAR GARDINER LANE INTERSECTION. HAD GREEN LIGHT. MY VEHICLE WAS GOING APPROX 25 MPH WITH NO CAR IN FRONT OF ME TO EXIT ONTO BARDSTOWN RD (HWY 31?). ONLY MYSELF, DRIVER. I WAS IN LEFT HAND LANE TO EXIT TO WESTBD (?) BARDSTOWN RD. TOWARD DOWNTOWN AND A SMALLER CAR WHIPPED RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME FROM RIGHT HAND KANE (TWO EXIT LANES GOING IN SAME DIRECTION. PERHAPS, THIS CAR WANTED TO CROSS OVER THREE LANES ON BARDSTOWN RD TO GET TO FAT LEFT TURN LANE AT GARDINER LN. THIS LIGHT IS OFTEN BACKED-UP. EVEN THOUGH I APPLIED MY BRAKES, THEY WERE NOT STOPPING MY CAR IN TIME AND I HOPPED CURB TO LEFT TO SMSLL TRIANGULAR MEDIAN. AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I COULD NOT MAKE WISE DECISIONS WITHOUT SEEING AND I WAS HIT BY AIRBAGS, BRUISED IN FACE, ETC. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT. I VIEWED THAT THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC COMING TOWARD ME AS I WAS NOW PERPENDICULAR TO TRAFFIC INTO TEO LANES OF BARDSTOWN RD. I COULD HAVE TURNED RIGHT AND AVOIDED HITTING ANY OTHRR VEHIVLE IF IT WERE NOT FOR AIRBAGS BLOCKING MY VIEW. I HAD NOT HIT ANY OBJECT OR VEHICLE AT THIS POINT. I KEPT APPLYING PRESSURE TO MY BRAKES ON WHICH I HAD SPENT THOUSANDS IN REPAIR. THE BRAKES STILL DID NOT STOP ME. I NEVER SAW WHY I STOPPED. AIRBAG BLOCKED VIEW. THE CAR I WAS DRIVING FINALLY HIT SOMETHING (LATER FOUND OUT) ANOTHER CAR IN TURN LANE TO GET ONTO I 264 IT FINALLY STOPPED. MY HEARING AID IN MY RIGHT EAR WAS EJECTED WHEN AIRBAG DEPLOYED. I FOUND IT LATER ON PASSENGER MAT IN REAR. THE AIRBAGS HAD TO BE DEFECTIVE TO DEPLOY FROM JUMPING ONE SMALL CURB. NO AIRBAG I AM ABLE TO TURN RIGHT WHETHER BRAKES WORK OR NOT. NO ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID
11310623
Incident
Feb 17, 2020
Mileage
139,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Feb 25, 2019

COMING TO RED LIGHT CAR WOULD NOT STOP I PRESSED HARDER ON BRAKES ASB CAME IN THEN THE CAR WENT INTO HIGH RPMS,AND STOPPED SOUNDED LIKE IT WOULD BLOW UP?.. I QUICKLY PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, FROM MY EXPERIENCE TO SLOW RPMS YOU PRESS GAS PETAL HARD UNTIL THE RPMS SLOW, I DO NOT HAVE FLOOR MAPS, NEVER HAD THEM...

NHTSA ID
11182465
Incident
Feb 19, 2019
Mileage
55,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceSteering
Filed Dec 11, 2017

ON DECEMBER 7,2017, I WAS IN A PARKING LOT IN FLORIDA. AS I STARTED GOING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE CAR BEGAN TO SURGE. I HAD A LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKING.I ALMOST HIT THE CAR NEXT TO ME. LUCKILY THAT DID NOT HAPPEN. I KEPT PRESSING DOWN ON THE BRAKE, BUT IT TOOK TIME FOR THE STEEERING WHEEL TO RESPOND TO ME. I SHUT OFF THE CAR BECAUSE IT SEEMED LIKE THE CAR HAD A MIND OF ITS OWN. I HAD 2 WITNESSES IN THE CAR.WHO SAW THAT MY CAR WAS IN DRIVE, AND THAT MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE PASSENGER CHECKED THE FLOOR MAT, AND IT WAS LYING COMPLETELY FLAT. I DO NOT KNOW WHY I HAD THIS LOSS OF CONTROL. THIS ALSO HAPPENED TO ME IN 2010, WHEN I HAD UNINTENDED ACCELERATION,AND MY CAR HIT A TREE. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR, AND WILLL NOT DO SO BECAUSE I FEEL IT IS UNSAFE.

NHTSA ID
11053915
Incident
Dec 7, 2017
Mileage
103,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 30, 2017

I WAS COMING TO A STOP PRESSING THE BRAKE THE CAR ACCELLARATE UP TO 70 TO 100 SPEED AND KEPT PRESSING THE BRAKES THE MORE I PRESS THE FASTER IT WENT I HAD TO RUN LIGHTS TO AVOID HITTING CARS FINALLY IT DECIDED TO STOP WHEN I SWIRL INTO A WALGREENS IT DID THIS 4 TIMES THAT DAYTHANK GOD I NEED TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS CAR THAT IS SCARY IT ACELLLARATE FAST AND WONT STOP ....

NHTSA ID
10948582
Incident
Jan 30, 2017
Mileage
1,206 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 15, 2016
Crash reported

I HAVE OWNED MY 2003 CAMRY SINCE IT WAS BRAND NEW. DURING ALL THAT TIME, I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHENEVER I BRAKE AS THE CAR TRAVELS OVER SMALL BUMPS, CRACKS OR OTHER IMPERFECTIONS IN THE ROAD (ESPECIALLY IF I BRAKE HARD), THE ABS SYSTEM KICKS IN AND APPEARS TO PUMP THE BRAKES (THOUGH IT DOES NOT ACTUALLY STOP THE CAR) AND DOES NOT SHUT DOWN UNTIL I LIFT MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE THEREBY PREVENTING A PROPER STOP AND SIGNIFICANTLY LENGTHENING THE STOP. NOTE THAT THIS OCCURS ON DRY ROADS. THIS ALSO SEEMS TO OCCUR IF THERE IS A NEED TO STOP HARD JUST AS I AM ACCELERATING, SUCH AS AN UNEXPECTED SHORT STOP BY THE CAR IN FRONT. IT HAS NOT LED TO ANY SERIOUS ACCIDENTS (THOUGH A COUPLE OF LIGHT REAR-ENDS), WHICH I CREDIT TO MY BEING ABLE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE PROBLEM, UNTIL LAST WEEK WHEN THE PROBLEM CAUSED A MORE SERIOUS REAR-END COLLISION. ALL THE OTHER CARS IN FOUR CAR CHAIN MANAGED TO STOP SHORT, NOT MY CAMRY EVEN AS I MAINTAINED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, AS IT SEEMED TO BARELY SLOW DOWN, CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. THE CAR IS PROBABLY BETTER OFF WITHOUT THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM ALTOGETHER THAN WITH THIS DEFECTIVELY DEPLOYING SYSTEM THAT DOESN'T REALLY EVEN SEEM TO STOP THE CAR, BUT JUST LIGHTLY PUMPS THE BRAKES, PREVENTING PROPER BRAKING.

NHTSA ID
10926207
Incident
Nov 10, 2016
BrakesPowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Dec 9, 2015

"TAKATA RECALL" - I AM EXPERIENCING A CLICKING NOISE FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT & RIGHT, THE WHOLE DASH BOARD SHAKES WHEN THE AC OR HEAT IS ON, BRAKES PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR & MAKING SOUNDS, AND WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR IN PARK IT WILL MOVE FORWARD.

NHTSA ID
10809228
Incident
Jul 16, 2015
BrakesPowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Dec 8, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT AFTER SWITCHING INTO THE PARK POSITION, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SWITCHED IN THE REVERSE POSITION WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,705.

NHTSA ID
10809104
Incident
Jul 17, 2015
Mileage
33,705 mi
BrakesElectrical
Filed Sep 25, 2015
Crash reported

TODAY I PULLED OVER TO DROP OFF CHILD AT SCHOOL, WAS ALREADY TO PARK AND CAR ACCELERATED AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. MY FOOT WAS CLEARLY ON BRAKE AS I WAS ALREADY GOING NO MORE THAN 5 MILES AN HOUR TO PARK. IT WAS NOT DRIVER ERROR. THAT FEELING OF THE CAR THRUSTING FORWARD WHEN MY FOOT WAS ON BRAKE WAS SOMETHING I NEVER FELT BEFORE. I CALLED TOYOTA AND CHECKED THE RECALL LIST THE CAR IS NOT LISTED. I AM SENDING IT TOMORROW TO TOYOTA FOR SERVICE. THE IMPACT WAS SO HARD, MY BODY IS COMPLETELY TENSE EVEN 5 HOURS LATER. THE THRUST WAS NOT DRIVER ERROR, THANK GOD FOR THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME THAT I HIT OR ELSE WOULD HAVE BEEN WORSE. ALL I COULD DO OUT OF PANIC WAS PUT THE CAR IN PARK BUT I THINK IT STOPPED BECAUSE I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME.

NHTSA ID
10776634
Incident
Sep 25, 2015
Mileage
110,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 24, 2014

ON OCTOBER 21 I WAS RETURN TO MY HOME MY SPEED WAS 40 ON A MAIN STREET AND WHEN I START TO SLOW MY SPEED USING THE BRAKE I SHOCKED THERE WAS NO BRAKE N I TRIED THEN I USED THE HAND BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR .ALL THAT HAPPENED IN SECONDS .... AND WHEN I TRIED TO GO TO THE NEAREST MECHANICS THE SAME THINGS HAPPENED .... THE 2 THINGS WERE WITHIN 15 MINUTES ... I STILL TERRIFIED WHAT I WILL DO IF THAT HAPPENED AND I USUALLY PICK MY SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD WITH ME ... THE MECHANIC CHECK THE CAR N HE DID NOT FIND ANY SERIES THING.... SO WHAT IS GOING ON??? *TR

NHTSA ID
10649652
Incident
Oct 21, 2014
Mileage
8,989 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 24, 2014

I WAS DRIVING IN MANO ROAD N E BEEN I SANTI TO USE THE BRAKE TO MAKE A CHANCE LINE BEVANDE I ATTIVE TO MY APPARTAMENTO I ROUND TENERE SAS NO BRAKE IN SECONDA AT THATCHER TIME I DEPENDANCE ON UDINE HANBRAKE TO STOP THE CAR N THAI CHALLENGER ERICE WITH IN 15 MINUTES. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10649580
Incident
Oct 21, 2014
Mileage
8,269 mi
BrakesEngine
Filed May 9, 2014
Crash reported

I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE, STOPPED, AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF PULLING UP THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CAR BOLTED GOING OVER THE PARKING CURB AND CONTINUING ON INTO A BUILDING, ALL WITH NO MOMENTUM AS THE CAR WAS STOPPED. ONE WITNESS SAID IT WAS A VERY LOUD REVVING SOUND. TWO OTHERS SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE A TRUCK. THE PERSON WHO WAS BEHIND ME SAID MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ON. *TR

NHTSA ID
10587442
Incident
May 8, 2014
Mileage
49,500 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 10, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WHEN APPLIED. THE BRAKE PEDAL ALSO ABNORMALLY TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS TO BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,885.

NHTSA ID
10578952
Incident
Mar 20, 2014
Mileage
107,885 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 26, 2012

THE NIGHT BEFORE THE INCIDENT HAD SLIGHT RAIN DURING. EARLY MORNING, I WAS DRIVING IT KEEPING IT IN MIND THAT IT HAS SOME PROBLEM.... DRIVING AT 35-40 M/HR. THE CAR BEFORE ME STOPS ON THE STOP SIGN AND TRY TO STOP FOLLOWING 3 SECONDS RULE, HIT THE BRAKES ALL THE WAY BUT HEARD GRINDING SOUND AND DIDN'T STOP AND NEED TO GO TO ANOTHER INCOMING LANE ON THE LEFT TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR INFRONT OF ME. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I HAD THE SIMILAR PROBLEM..... ONE IN 2010 ONE IN 2011. I WENT TO JAY WOLFE TOYOTA OF WEST COUNTY MO AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT. IT WAS THEIR CLOSING TIME.... MET WITH ONE OF THE MAINTENANCE MANAGER .... EXPLAINED BUT WAS TOLD THAT IT SHOULD BE BECAUSE OF ABS. I TOLD HIM THAT I HAD HONDA 2002 AND NEVER HAVE TO SCARE ABOUT THESE TYPE OF INCIDENTS BUT WHY IT IS HAPPENING WITH TOYOTA. HE INSISTED THAT IT SHOULDN'T BE . LATER DURING REGULAR OIL CHANGE I ASKED TO CHECK BRAKES AND THEY DIDN'T FIND ANY FAULT THERE. I TOLD THEM THE INCIDENT THEY DIDN'T TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.... THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENED AGAIN. ONE DAY WAS DRIVING WITH FEAR ON INTERSTATE AT 60 MPH. THE SAME THING HAPPENED AND I WAS ABLE TO CHANGE LANE. AFTER THAT I RARELY TAKE THE CAR FOR INTERSTATE DRIVING. IF DO I ALWAYS SCARE AND START USING BRAKES BEFORE 1/4TH OF THE MILE. AT THIS POINT I WOULD LIKE TO GET HELP FROM TOYOTA COMPANY WHY IT IS HAPPENING AND FIX THE PROBLEM. I DON'T WANT TO SUE THEM LATER WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENED. IF THEY ARE SERIOUS ABOUT SAFETY OF THEIR CUSTOMER, TAKE MY CAR AND FIX IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10490155
Incident
Jun 6, 2012
Mileage
95,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 8, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL UNTIL THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE BUT REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER AS A SAFETY PRECAUTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,740 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 142,754.

NHTSA ID
10469716
Incident
Aug 4, 2012
Mileage
142,740 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 2, 2011

I WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN GETTING READY TO STOP WHEN I REALIZED I WAS UNABLE TO STOP. FINALLY AFTER REALLY PUSHING HARD I GOT STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AND I HEARD THE GAS ACCELERATING. I ALMOST HIT A BACK END SIDE OF A CAR WITHOUT THE PEOPLE EVEN KNOWING WHAT HAPPEN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10438155
Incident
Dec 1, 2011
Brakes
Filed Feb 11, 2011
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, CAUSING HIM TO BE INVOLVED IN THREE VEHICLE CRASHES CRASHING INTO THE REAR OF TWO VEHICLES AND THE DRIVER SIDE OF ANOTHER. THERE WAS ONE REPORTED INJURY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE DEALER DID NOT PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOR THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURING ENGINEER EXAMINED THE EVENT DATA RECORDER BUT THERE WAS NO RECORDED BRAKE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 191,600.

NHTSA ID
10381602
Incident
Jun 13, 2008
Mileage
87,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Aug 12, 2010
Crash reported1 injury reported

I GOT IN THE CAR AND ATTEMPTED TO MOVE IT FROM THE GARAGE TO MY DRIVEWAY. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR SURGED AND SPIRALED OUT OF CONTROL. THE ACCELERATOR 'LOCKED' AND I WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AS THE BRAKE WOULD NOT WORK. THE CAR CRASHED IN MY NEIGHBOR'S YARD AGAINST HIS TREE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10349005
Incident
Jul 31, 2010
Mileage
80,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 25, 2010
Crash reported

I HAVE A 96 AND 03 TOYOTA CAMRY AND MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND SHE HIT THE BRAKES AND COULD NOT STOP. SHE CONTINUED HITTING THE BRAKES AND LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND HIT A BEAM UNDER A BRIDGE. I AM GLAD SHE DIDN'T GET HURT BUT THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS BADLY DAMAGED. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE. I HAVE HAD DIFFERENT CAR MECHANICS TELL ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ANYBODY HAS AN ANSWER ON WHAT I CAN DO. *TR

NHTSA ID
10345150
Incident
Jul 25, 2010
Mileage
88,500 mi
Brakes
Filed May 27, 2010

FOR OVER FOUR YEARS I HAVE BEEN ASKING TOYOTA DEALER TO LOOK AT THE BRAKES ON MY 2003 CAMRY. THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSES OVER HALF WAY BEFORE IT GRABS. I HAD TO STOP FAST TWO MONTHS AGO AND THE PEDAL WAS TO THE FLOOR AND I SKIDDED TO THE SIDE BEFORE THE BRAKES GRABBED. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE BRAKES AND THEY WERE FINE, THEY SAID THAT THE PEDAL WAS WORKING JUST FINE AND THEY COULD NOT ADJUST THE PEDAL FREE PLAY. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND THEY WON'T DO ANY THING ABOUT IT. THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL REGARDING THE BRAKES OR PEDAL ON A 2003 CAMRY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10332587
Incident
Apr 28, 2010
Mileage
54,465 mi
Brakes
Filed May 15, 2010

WHEN I APPLY MY BRAKES ON ICE, MY ABS SYSTEM IMMEDIATELY ACTIVATES AND SLOWS MY 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY DOWN. WHEN I APPLY MY BRAKES ON DRY ROADS, (COMING UP ON A RED LIGHT FOR INSTANCE), AND HIT A BUMP OR POTHOLE IN THE ROAD, THE BRAKES IMMEDIATELY RELEASE. AFTER A 1-2 SECOND DELAY, THE ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES. THOSE TWO SECONDS HAVE NEARLY CAUSED NUMEROUS CRASHES OVER THE LIFE OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10330533
Incident
May 13, 2010
BrakesSteering
Filed Apr 13, 2010

SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW IT HAS HAD STRANGE SOUNDS IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER DISMISSED IT AS NORMAL SOUNDS RELATED TO THE WEATHER [IT IS COLD OUT OR IT IS HOT OUTSIDE]. THE SOUND PROGRESSIVELY BECAME WORSE. I HAD THE POWER STEERING FLUID CHANGED AND WAS TOLD BY THE REPAIR SHOP THAT IT HAD THE WRONG FLUID. THE FLUID WAS THE PRODUCT THE CAR WAS DELIVERED WITH. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER CHANGING THE FLUID AND HAVING A WHEEL ALIGNMENT DONE- THE SOUNDS (LOUD SQUEAKING) PERSISTED. I TOOK THE CAR RECENTLY TO A DIFFERENT TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY "GREASED" THE STEERING COLUMN WHICH ELIMINATED THE SQUEAKING, BUT NOW CLUNKING CAN BE HEARD FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE MECHANIC AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP CAUTIONED ME TO "KEEP MY EYE ON THIS" BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE THE STEERING COLUMN IS BAD. THIS TOYOTA ONLY HAS 28,000 MILES ON IT, HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, AND HAS BEEN DEALER MAINTAINED. I FIND IT SUSPICIOUS THAT NO MENTION OF A BAD STEERING COLUMN WAS MADE WHILE THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY. I DRIVE THE CAR AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE I AM FRIGHTENED TO USE IT. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES ON THIS CAR. THE BRAKE PROBLEMS DATE BACK TO THE DAY I DROVE THE CAR HOME (NEW) FROM THE DEALERSHIP. THE STEERING PROBLEMS STARTED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. THIS CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED AT THE MANUFACTURERS EXPENSE FOR THE STEERING PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10325462
Incident
Mar 15, 2010
Mileage
500 mi
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+3 more
Filed Apr 12, 2010

CONSUMERS 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY HAS BRAKE PROBLEMS, WATER LEAKS IN THE TRUNK AND GAS RESERVOIR, DOORS DO NOT CLOSE PROPERLY RELEASING AIR INTO THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. *TS SMOKE WOULD EMIT FROM THE EXHAUST ON COLD STARTS. THE ENGINE VALVE STEM SEALS WERE REPLACED DUE TO LOSS OF TENSION AND OIL WAS LEAKING INTO THE CYLINDERS. THE STRUT SUPPORTS WERE REPLACED DUE THEM BEING WORN. THE POWER STEERING RACK WAS LEAKING, THE ENGINE MOUNT WAS CRACKED AND THE BATTERY WAS LEAKING.*JB THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE WAS A VIBRATION COMING FROM THE BRAKES WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED. THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE DASHBOARD. UPDATED 04/223/10.*JB

NHTSA ID
10316533
Incident
Apr 12, 2010
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Mar 23, 2010
Crash reported

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY ON HIGHWAY WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON INTERSTATE I-40. I WAS DRIVING 55 MPH ALONG A CONSTRUCTION ZONE WHEN IT SUDDENLY SPEED UP, BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AND CRASH INTO THE WALL. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY PUMPING ON THE BRAKE AND IT WAS FINALLY STOPPED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DEEP IN THE SAND ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS DUE TO ITS SEVERE DAMAGES.

NHTSA ID
10321499
Incident
Mar 17, 2010
Mileage
82,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 19, 2010

MY WIFE'S WAS DRIVING OUR 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE TO STORE WHEN COMING TO CASUAL STOP HIT BRAKE PEDAL AND HAD LOST ALL BRAKING POWER WHILE MERGING ONTO EXIT. MY WIFE KEPT PUMPING THE BRAKES UNTIL AFTER 8-10 PUMPS OF BRAKE PEDAL CAR FINALLY REGAINED BRAKING POWER. SHE WAS TELLING ME SHE WAS ALMOST PREPARED TO RUN THE CAR OFF THE ROAD INTO DITCH TO AVOID REAR-ENDING CARS IN FRONT OF HER. MY WIFE WAS SCARED AND UPSET AND SAID SHE WON'T PUT OUR 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER OR 7 YEARS OLD SON IN THIS CAR EVER AGAIN. I HAVE HAD INTERMITTENT LOSS OF BRAKES PROBLEM SINCE NEW. WHEN WE TAKE IT TO THE DEALER THE TELL US THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN FIND WRONG. THIS HAS HAPPENED 10 TIMES SINCE NEW,BUT THIS EVENT BEING THE WORST. I AM CALLING DEALER TOMORROW MORNING TO GET THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED. MY WIFE DOES NOT WANT THE CAR AND STRONGLY BELIEVES THE PROBLEM WON'T BE FIXED BECAUSE IT IS A ENGINEERING PROBLEM NOT A MAINTENANCE PROBLEM. I AM SURE OF ALL THE TIMES WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR THIS ISSUE THAT THEY CANNOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. I AM SURE THAT WHEN I TAKE IT THERE TOMORROW NOT UNDER WARRANTY THEY WILL TURN THIS ENGINEERING PROBLEM INTO A PROFIT MAKER. THE CAR IS A GARAGE KEPT CAR WITH 44,000 MILE AND NEW FRONT AND REAR BRAKES PADS AT 40,000. MY WIFE AND I READ MANY OF THE COMPLAINTS ON BRAKING PROBLEMS AND ARE EXACTLY WHAT WE EXPERIENCE ON OUR TOYOTA CAMRY XLE. I WAS NOT IN THE CAR SO I'M NOT SURE IT WAS BRAKES OR ACCELERATOR. MY OPINION IS IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. WHEN CAR WAS NEW I HAD A PANIC STOP ON HIGHWAY ON A HOT SUMMER DAY. I HIT THE BRAKES HARD AND REAR TIRES LOCKED UP AND SKIDDED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO 30 MPH FROM 65MPH. IF THIS CAR HAS ABS HOW CAN YOU SKID THE REAR TIRES AT ANYTIME. DEALER CLAIMED TO FIND NOTHING WRONG EVERY TIME . TOMORROW AT THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD BE INTERESTING, MY WIFE WANTS ME TO TRADE IT IN AND SWEARS SHE WON'T DRIVE IT EVER AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10320826
Incident
Mar 18, 2010
Mileage
44,000 mi

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