Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. 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. 24 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2003 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 127,888, and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 165,064.
I started my car and began to back up, when the rear-view mirror burst into smoke, it began filling the car with smoke. I reached up and pulled the wires out of the mirror and the wires were arcing. After I pulled the wires out the smoke started subsiding. I opened the doors and aired out the car.
THE CAR HAS LOST POWER. DOES NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY!
TAKATA INFLATORS: EVERY TIME I FIX MY VEHICLE INDIVIDUALS CAUSE HATE CRIMES DAMAGING MY VEHICLE AS I GO TO SLEEP OR WHEN I AM NOT VIEWING MY VEHICLE THEY MUST KNOW EXACTLY WHEN I GO TO SLEEP BECAUSE I CANT CATCH THEM EVEN THOUGH I THINK I KNOW WHO IT IS I CAN NOT PROVE IT SO THIS IS WHY I AM COMPLAINING I REMEMBER CHECKING MY TIRES IN THE NIGHT NOTICING NOTHING WRONG WITH THEM THEN CHECKED IN THE MOURNING AND NOTICED NAILS NAILED IN THE TIRES THEN I NOTICED DRIED TURTLE WAX ALL OVER THE BODY OF THE CAR MESSING UP THE PAINT WHEEL ALIGNMENT OUT OF LINE RIGHT DOOR POWER WINDOW MALFUNCTION TRUNK OPEN POWER SWITCH BROKEN POWER SUN ROOF SLIDING WINDOW BROKEN VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY THIS HAPPENED ON DIFFERENT DATE IN COMBINATION TO THE DAMAGE BETWEEN 06/16/06 TO 04/21/17.
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.
CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN TO GET GAS 1/2 MILE DOWN ROAD. WHEN RETURNED FROM GAS STATION WE PULLED ONTO PROPERTY , TURNED OFF CAR AND THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM THE HOOD. FIRE DEPT ARRIVED AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. TOTAL LOSS FOR CAR. *TR
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, THE ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE FIRST FEW TIMES THIS HAPPENED, I WAS ABLE TO SIMPLY RE-START THE CAR WITH EVERYTHING WORKING AGAIN. I THEN BROUGHT THE CAR TO 3 DIFFERENT MECHANICS WHO COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE BATTERY OR ALTERNATOR (OR ANYTHING ELSE). THE PROBLEM WAS ERRATIC SO IT NEVER OCCURRED WITH THE MECHANICS. NOW THE PROBLEM OCCURS OCCASIONALLY WHEN I TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OR BRIGHTS OF THE CAR ON. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED (10/11/14) WAS WHILE I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH. THE ENGINE SHUT OUT, THE DASH LIGHTS WENT OFF (AS WELL AS ALL THE OTHER ELECTRICAL THINGS: GPS, AC, RADIO, ETC). EVEN THE FLASHERS WOULD NOT TURN ON. THEN, IN A MATTER OF MOMENTS, EVERYTHING TURNED ON AGAIN. THE CAR'S ENGINE DID NOT EVEN NEED TO BE RESTARTED. I WAS ABLE TO KEEP DRIVING WITHOUT INCIDENT FOR 20+ MILES. THIS INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED A TOTAL OF ABOUT 3-4 TIMES IN THE PAST, HOWEVER, IT WAS NOT TRIGGERED IN THE PAST BY TURNING THE LIGHTS ON. THERE WAS NO APPARENT TRIGGER AT ALL. THE PROBLEM IS ERRATIC AND DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. *TR
THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS DON'T WORK AS THEY SHOULD. HAVE ADJUSTED THEM, INSTALLED NEW BULBS AS WELL AS INSTALLED THE BRIGHTEST BULBS AVAILABLE WITH NO SUCCESS AT GETTING THEM TO ILLUMINATE THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT AS THEY SHOULD. I HAVE ALSO POLISHED THE LENSES TO VERIFY IF THAT WAS THE ISSUE AS WELL, BUT WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. THEY ARE VERY LOW INTENSITY AND NOT SAFE AT ALL THE TOYOTA DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND THE REPAIR MANAGER SAID HIS VENZA HAS THE SAME ISSUE. I MUST USE THE BRIGHT BEAMS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. ON ANOTHER NOTE, I WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS WEBSITE UNTIL RECENTLY, OR I WOULD HAVE REPORTED THIS A LOT SOONER. *TR
DRIVER SIDE DOOR DOES NOT OPEN, AS LOCK REFUSES TO MOVE. INITIALLY IT REFUSED TO LISTEN TO POWER OR REMOTE LOCKING, BUT NOW IT REFUSES TO MOVE FROM MANUAL LOCKING. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AND SHOULD LEAD TO AN INVESTIGATION AND RECALL. EVERYTHING ONLINE POINTS TO FAULTY DOOR ACTUATORS. HUNDREDS (IF NOT THOUSANDS) OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM ONLINE. THE YEAR RANGE IS GUESSED TO BE 2002 TO 2005 OR 2007. 14 OTHER COMPLAINTS EXIST FOR THIS YEAR RANGE WITH THE DOOR ACTUATORS NOT WORKING: 10489801, 10483194, 10479564, 10461669, 10384238, 10369665, 10361184, 10342871, 10308523, 10308206, 10297834, 10284015, 10265333, AND 10253429. PLEASE, INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM. *TR
2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ACCESSORY OUTLET(CIGARETTE LIGHTER) AND REAR WINDOWS NOT WORKING. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO HER, SHE WAS INFORMED THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER HAD A SHORT AND HAD BEEN FIXED. SHE WAS ALSO TOLD THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW MOTOR WAS BURNED OUT AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE TWO FRONT WINDOWS WERE WORKING. THE CONSUMER DECLINED THE REPAIRS FOR THE WINDOW. HOWEVER, THE NEXT WEEK, THE PASSENGER WINDOW STOPPED WORKING. A FEW WEEKS LATER, SHE RECEIVED A NOTICE IN THE MAIL, IN WHICH A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR A FAULTY WINDOW CONTROL BUTTON ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR, BUT FOR THE 2006 MODELS. THE CONSUMER STATED ONE DAY IT RAINED, AND AFTER IT STOPPED, THE WINDOWS STARTED TO WORK AGAIN. *JB
I HEARD ABOUT THE RECALL THAT TOYOTA HAD ON OR ABOUT TUESDAY 10/9/2012 ON THE PWMS DRIVERS SIDE LAST MONTH I STARTING HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE IS A RECALL , SO I E-MAIL TOYOTA TO LET THEM KNOW THAT MY TOYOTA WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND WASN'T IT INCLUDED THE AUTO BUTTON STARTING STICKING AND THE WINDOW SOMETIMES STICKS TRYING TO GO DOWN, THEY STATED THAT MY CAR WAS NO LONGER IN WARRANTY I DIDN'T THINK A RECALL HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH A WARRANTY,MY 2003 MEANS THE SAME TO ME AS A PERSON WHO HAS A 2007 THAT MAY NOT STILL HAVE A WARRANTY. MY WINDOW HAD NOT DONE THIS BEFORE THIS TIME STATED,MY LAST ANSWER FROM ASK TOYOTA STATED THAT THE 2003 IS NOT INCLUDED SO I DID ASK THEM TO LET ME KNOW WHO THE REPORTING AGENCY WAS BUT I STARTED TO DO A LITTLE RESEARCH ON MY ON AND I FOUND YOUR AGENCY. I PAID FOR MY TOYOTA THE SAME AS A PERSON WITH A 2007 OR 2009. PLEASE HELP WITH SOME INFO. *TR
THE KEY IS UNABLE TO MANUALLY OPEN THE DRIVERS' SIDE DOOR. THE KEY FOB STILL IS ABLE TO UNLOCK ALL DOORS. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO WAY POSSIBLE TO USE THE KEY IN THE KEY HOLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. THE KEY WILL NOT TURN AND DISENGAGE THE DOOR LOCK. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE PARKED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED TWO OXYGEN SENSORS. AFTER THE REPAIR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE INTERIOR LIGHTS, RADIO AND THE MILEAGE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE AFTER THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BATTERY BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO FURTHER REPAIRS PERFORMED TO THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000.
DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND PUTTING THE CAR IN GEAR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS AND THE GAS PEDAL HAS NO EFFECT ON THE ENGINE. THE CAR WILL IDLE ALONG WHILE IN DRIVE; HOWEVER, PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL DOES NOTHING. THE CHECK ENGINE ERROR CODE POINTS TO THE THROTTLE BODY. MY MECHANIC SAYS THAT THE THROTTLE BODY IS STUCK IN THE "CLOSED" POSITION WHEN THIS ERROR HAPPENS. I'VE READ ABOUT THE NUMEROUS TOYOTA CAMRY OWNERS WHO HAVE ALL EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE THROTTLE BODY ON THEIR VEHICLES AT -- HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/TOYOTA-CAMRY/TM6GC5T4DHVFS52CS -- IT SEEMS THAT TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS ALL STATE THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM OCCURRING AND CONTINUE TO CHARGE UPWARDS OF $1200 TO REPLACE AN OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY WITH A NEW THROTTLE BODY THAT STILL HAS THE SAME DEFECTIVE DESIGN. ESSENTIALLY, THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO SWAP OUT ONE DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY FOR ANOTHER DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY. SIMILARLY, TOYOTA CORPORATE IN TORRANCE, CA DENIES THAT THE THROTTLE BODY PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY A PRODUCT DEFECT. MOST LIKELY THIS IS DUE TO THE HIGH COST OF THE PART AND EXPENSE TO INSTITUTE A RECALL OF THE THROTTLE BODY. A CURSORY REVIEW OF THE ONLINE MESSAGE BOARDS CONCERNING THE THROTTLE BODY FAILURES FOR TOYOTA CAMRY OWNERS SHOWS THAT THIS COMPONENT IN PARTICULAR IS FAILING TOO OFTEN TO BE CHALKED UP TO BAD LUCK OR NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. A CONSUMER CLASS ACTION IS APPROPRIATE FOR THIS SORT OF DEFECT. I WOULD ASSUME THAT AN EXPERT WITNESS COULD TESTIFY AS TO THE DEFECT AND OPINE AS TO THE STATISTICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE THROTTLE BODY FAILING MORE THAN ANY OTHER COMPONENT IN THE TOYOTA CAMRY. *TR
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. *TR
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
2003 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE 4-CYL WITH 79,000 MILES. I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, CAR STARTED REVVING. WHEN I SHIFTED INTO PARK, IT REVVED OUT OF CONTROL, JUMPED A CURB AND SIDEWALK, AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THAT WAS THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED THE CAR. BRUISED AND SHAKEN BUT NO LASTING INJURIES FOR ME OR PASSENGER. TOYOTA CLAIMED THEY NEVER HEARD OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND CLOSED MY INQUIRY. *TR
CAR ACCELERATED, COULD NOT STOP IN 5 DIFFERENT INCIDENTS. THE LATEST ONE WAS ON BACKING OUT OF GARAGE. PRESSED HARD ON BRAKE AND CAR STOPPED JUST SHORT OF HITTING ANOTHER CAR. *CN
REAR SPEAKER COVERS DISINTEGRATING. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT NOTICED HOLES IN THE REAR SPEAKER COVERS AND PIECES OF THE COVERS HAD FALLEN INTO THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE BEGAN IN MARCH OF 2007 AND STILL PERSISTS. THE DEALER AGREED TO SPLIT THE COST FOR PARTS, BUT THE CONTACT MUST PAY THE LABOR FEES. WHEN THE WINDOWS ARE ROLLED DOWN, THE SPEAKER COVER FRAGMENTS FLOAT AROUND INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 45,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 02-01-08 *BF UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE IS A GLITCH IN THE COMPUTER THAT PREVENTS THE VEHICLE FROM STOPPING SAFELY. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED TWICE WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 90,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.
ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON FREQUENTLY FOR THE LAST 30 TO 35K MILES AND HEADQUARTER TOYOTA HAS CHARGED ME TOO REPLACE SEVERAL DIFFERENT ITEMS RELATED TO THE COMPUTER CODE GIVEN, TOTALING SOME $1,200.00 AND NOW THEY HAVE HAD MY CAR FOR NEARLY 1-MONTH AND NOW SAYS THEY CAN NOT FIX THE PROBLEM WE WENT TODAY TOO PICKUP THE CAR , OF COURSE THEIR IS NO FURTHER PAPER WORK EXCEPT THAT THEY CHECKED THE CAR IN BACK IN SEPTEMBER/2006. I HAVE BEEN CHARGED FOR ALL TYPES OF CURES FOR WHICH THEY TOO DID NOT WORK, NOT AFFORDED A RENTAL REPLACEMENT BUT FOR 3 PRIOR DAYS ???? *NM
MY 2003 CAMRY HAD BEEN GREAT SINCE THE DATE OF PURCHASE. ONLY HAD 2 PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR, ONE MINOR THE OTHER WAS MAJOR. I HAVE 25000 MILES ON THE CAR, AND BOTH THE FRONT TIRES WERE BARE. I WAS ABLE TO SEE ALL THE TREADS FROM THE TIRES. THE MAJOR PROBLEM I GOT WAS MY CAMRY CAUGHT ON FIRE AND MELTED THE ENTIRE ENGINE. I'D PULLED UP TO THE PARKING LOT AT WORK, AND 20 MINUTES LATER, I WAS NOTIFIED THAT MY ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. SPOKE WITH FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEY SAID IT LOOKS LIKE FAULTY/MALFUNCTION WIRE/CABLES. NOT SURE IF TOYOTA KNOWS OF THIS, BUT NOW I'M LEFT W/O A CAR UNTIL M INSURANCE FIGURES EVERYTHING OUT. TOYOTA SHOULD BE NOTIFY IN CASE THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE 2003 MODELS. *AK
CONSUMER STATES BATTERY DOSE NOT PRODUCE ENOUGH POWER TO RUN A/C AND RADIO AT SAME TIME. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED,AND REPLACED ALTERNATOR. *AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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