2003 Toyota Camry Engine Problems

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.

NHTSA ID

11488229

Incident

Nov 15, 2021

Mileage

215,000 mi

Having purchased w 2003 Toyota Camry 2.4l, (with good paint, no rust, great interior, and new clear headlights) 3 days prior, the previous owner reported no current issues. The check engine light come on the 3 rd day as I drove away from the DMV having just titled it. AC was blowing cold, no other dash lights were on and I couldn't feel any apparent issues driving, so I proceed to my place of employment, where a friend whom is an independent mechanic had the machine to read check engine codes. I never made it. Had driven approximately 25 miles and came to a full stop for a red light. Upon turning green and beginning to accelerate, my Camry's engine died and would not start. When the key was turned it made no noise at all. Towed to a mechanic shop, I was asked if it had overheated, it had not. Without investing further and me acquiring a diagnostics charge, he said one apparent issue was the fact that there was absolutely no coolant in the engine. Dumfounded I had ittowed home where another Mechanic friend (licensed) was going to see about reapiring it. One of the code//errors read, was that the was no combustion, the radiator was full, but there was no traces of coolant in the engine, when took of the engine mainfold right away he noticed 3 cool packs that were damaged, as well as what appeared to be a used head gasket poorly installed, and worse if all the timing chain had jumped and made a mad mesh nightmare to the engine...so previous owners obviously sold me their night mare, I now am stuck with either replacing the engine (not) or bring carless once again.✔️✔️ Note: Contacted the acclaimed christian, God fearing sellers, whom I paid $4000 and they kindly refunded me $1000, as they stated it was no fault of theirs ..

NHTSA ID

11471000

Incident

Apr 26, 2022

I was going 45 to 50 mph and my car shut off in middle of highway and we barely got out of highway before getting hit there is recall on same kind of car for throttle body and that's what's wrong with mine so it has too be that they missed my car

NHTSA ID

11469268

Incident

Jun 1, 2022

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.

NHTSA ID

11441755

Incident

Nov 26, 2021

After oxygen sensors were changed the VSC and track off lights came on and wouldn't turn off and it's using a lot of fuel consumption and it takes a second for the car to pick up after stepping on the gas pedal

NHTSA ID

11432702

Incident

Jan 27, 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

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.

NHTSA ID

11377127

Incident

Nov 23, 2020

Mileage

100,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11350393

Incident

Aug 1, 2020

Mileage

89,000 mi

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".

NHTSA ID

11315823

Incident

Dec 16, 2019

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.

NHTSA ID

11291428

Incident

Aug 1, 2019

Mileage

212,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11164921

Incident

Jan 1, 2018

Mileage

162,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11165711

Incident

Dec 19, 2018

Mileage

2 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11111221

Incident

Mar 29, 2018

Mileage

162,000 mi

OIL CONSUMPTION AFTER 1200 MILES DRIVEN

NHTSA ID

11063464

Incident

Jan 3, 2018

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.

NHTSA ID

10979713

Incident

Jun 16, 2006

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

NHTSA ID

10934912

Incident

Dec 9, 2016

Mileage

180 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10862496

Incident

Apr 29, 2016

Mileage

113,623 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10859919

Incident

Apr 13, 2016

Mileage

35,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10809735

Incident

Nov 1, 2015

Mileage

160,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10758989

Incident

Feb 20, 2015

Mileage

252,000 mi

I TOO HAVE BEEN NOTICING A SURGE WHEN I BACK UP AND TURN THE VEHICLE AND STEP ON THE GAS TO DRIVE OUT. I HAVE AVOIDED CRASHES WITH CARS NEAR BY, I HAVE FOUND THAT I HAVE TO KEEP THE SPEED ON LOW AND OUT OF DRIVE TO AVOID HITTING A CAR NEAR MY PARKED CAR. I AM NOT SURE OF THE MILEAGE ABOVE AS I AM JUST BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND TURNING MY CAR TO DRIVE, I MAKE SURE IT IS ON LOW.

NHTSA ID

10723244

Incident

Jun 3, 2015

Mileage

62,000 mi

DRIVING ON RURAL HIGHWAY THE CAR HEATS UP THE COOLANT FROM THE RESERVOIR OVERFLOWS. IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AFFECTING STEERING AND YOUR ABILITY TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF THE VAPOR FRON THE BURNING COOLANT. REPAIR MAN SAYS HEAD GASKET IS GONE....THIS IS THE THIRD TIME NOW TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET .BECAUSE THE HEAD BOLTS AND THREADS ALL STRIPPED DUE TO BAD ENGINEERING OR IMPROPER TORQUE BY TOYOTAS ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT ....I BEEN RWADING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBKEM WITH THESE CARS FROM 2003-2006 ... I FEEL THAT IF IT WAS SOMETHING SIMPLE TO FIX THEN TOYOTA WOULD ADDRESS THE PROBLEM BUT SINCE ITS SEENS LIKE A NEW ENGINE IS THE ONLY FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM SO THEY ARE HUSH HUSH ...BECAUSE IT WOULD BE A COSTLY RECALL FOR TOYOTA . *TR

NHTSA ID

10714573

Incident

Jul 15, 2013

Mileage

229,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY LUNGED FORWARD. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO AVOID A COLLISION. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

NHTSA ID

10706652

Incident

Apr 17, 2015

Mileage

25,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10706467

Incident

Apr 12, 2015

Mileage

126,800 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10691323

Incident

Feb 28, 2015

Mileage

180,000 mi