2003 Toyota Camry Interior & seats Problems

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

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

NHTSA ID

10511513

Incident

May 6, 2013

Mileage

96,495 mi

THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR IN MY 2003 CAMRY HAD A FAILURE OF THE LOCK ACTUATOR. IN MID JANUARY 2011, IT JUST WOULD NOT OPEN, NOT MANUALLY UNLOCKING AT THE DOOR HANDLE, WITH THE LOCK SWITCH IN THE CAR, OR THE REMOTE UNLOCK. THE CAR WAS NOT HIT OR DAMAGED BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, FOR $90 THEY TOOK APART THE DOOR AND SAID THE LOCK ACTUATOR WAS FAILING, AND IT WOULD BE ALMOST $500 TO REPLACE IT. I DECLINED HAVING IT REPLACED AT THIS TIME, SINCE IT WORKED AFTER THE MECHANIC TOOK IT APART AND PUT IT BACK TOGETHER (IT HAS BEEN ONE WEEK AND HAS NOT LOCKED UP AGAIN YET). I WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO HAVE IT REPLACED SINCE MY CHILD RIDES IN THE BACK SEAT, AND I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A LIFE SAFETY PROBLEM. IF THE CAR WERE HIT IN THE SIDE THAT WORKED, I WOULD BE UNABLE TO GET HER OUT OF THE CAR, WITHOUT PULLING HER THROUGH THE FRONT SEAT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10384238

Incident

Jan 15, 2011

Mileage

62,000 mi

DOOR LOCKS FOR 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY WORK INTERMITTENTLY?? THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ON HERE NOW I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE PART (ACTUARIES) FOR THE DOOR LOCK? I DO ALSO AGREE THAT IT COULD POSE A SAFETY PROBLEM AS SOMETIMES THE DOOR WON'T UNLOCK AT ALL WITHOUT HAVING TO FORCE IT AND DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE IN A POND OR DITCH FILLED WITH WATER THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS!! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10369665

Incident

Jan 7, 2010

Mileage

67,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WITHIN TWO WEEKS, THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR, BOTH REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGERS SIDE DOOR LOCKS FAILED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED DUE TO A DEFECTIVE ACTUATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOORS WHENEVER HE WAS OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 25,000.

NHTSA ID

10329193

Incident

May 3, 2010

Mileage

25,000 mi

IN THE SPRING OF 2008 THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK ON OUR 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY "FROZE" IN THE LOCKED POSITION. THE DOOR COULD NOT BE UNLOCKED BY ANY MEANS INCLUDING THE ELECTRONIC KEYLESS ENTRY, THE KEY IN THE DOOR OR MANUALLY FROM THE INSIDE. THERE WAS NO "WARNING" THAT THIS WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN IT JUST COULDN'T BE UNLOCKED. FORTUNATELY WE WERE NOT IN THE CAR WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THEM TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE LOCK. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE "ACTUATOR" HAD GONE OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED, AT A COST TO ME OF APPROX. $380.00 WHICH I PAID. THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN IN 9-09 ONLY THIS TIME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND AGAIN WITH NO "WARNING". THIS TIME WE WERE IN THE VEHICLE AND DIDN'T REALIZE IT HAD HAPPENED AGAIN UNTIL WE PARKED AND TRIED TO EXIT. AGAIN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN ( TO AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE) AND THE ACTUATOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD TO BE REPLACED, AGAIN AT A COST OF APPROX $350. MY CONCERN IS THAT WITH NO "WARNING OF WHEN THIS IS GOING TO OCCUR THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT IT COULD HAPPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN AND IF THERE WERE AN ACCIDENT AND THE DOOR WAS UNABLE TO BE UNLOCKED THIS COULD POSE A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD IF A PERSON WAS UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THEIR VEHICLE DUE TO THIS FAILURE. I ASKED BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MAIN OFFICES OF TOYOTA IF THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THESE VEHICLES AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO REPORTS OF THIS SORT OF PROBLEM. I HAVE A HARD TIME BELIEVING THAT I HAVE THE ONLY 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY THAT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL THIS BEARS INVESTIGATING FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL CONSUMERS WHO OWN A VEHICLE THAT THIS PROBLEM MAY OCCUR IN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10308206

Incident

Apr 5, 2008

Mileage

93,000 mi

I PURCHASED A NEW TOYOTA CAMRY IN 2003. APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS LATER THE DRIVER'S ELECTRIC SEAT FAILED. THE GEARS LOWERING AND RAISING THE BACK PART OF THE SEAT WERE GRINDING AND COULD NOT POSITION THE SEAT BACK IN A COMFORTABLE POSITION. TOYOTA OF MANHATTAN BEACH REPAIRED THE SEAT IN UNDER WARRANTY INSTEAD OF REPLACING IT AS I HAD REQUESTED. APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS LATER THE CHAIR FAILED AGAIN IN THE SAME MANNER. TOYOTA OF PASADENA REPAIRED IT UNDER WARRANTY IN 7/07 INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE SEAT AS I HAD REQUESTED. HOWEVER, THEY FAILED TO FIX THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. IN SEPTEMBER/09 THE SEAT FAILED YET A THIRD TIME IN THE SAME MANNER. (IT IS HARD TO TELL WHEN EXACTLY THE SEAT ACTUALLY FAILED SINCE I EXERCISE THE CONTROLS NO MORE THAN ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR). I BROUGHT IT IN TO TOYOTA OF PASADENA FOR INSPECTION. THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD LOOK INTO HAVING TOYOTA REPAIR IT UNDER WARRANTY BUT NEVER CALLED BACK. AFTER COMPLAINING TO TOYOTA CORPORATE TOYOTA OF PASADENA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER CALLED BACK AND TOLD ME THEY ONLY WARRANT THEIR WORK FOR ONE YEAR. I TOLD HER THAT THE SEAT WAS A LEMON AND SHOULD BE REPLACED UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY. I ALSO POINTED OUT TO HER THAT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE IF THE SEAT BECAME STUCK IN THE WRONG POSITION BUT SHE DIDN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING MORE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10292197

Incident

Oct 25, 2009

Mileage

25,000 mi

THE ELECTRIC DOOR SWITCH, DRIVERS SIDE, DOES NOT ALWAYS OPEN OR LOCK. EITHER BY INSIDE DOOR LOCK/UNLOCK SWITCH OR WIRELESS/REMOTE CONTROL. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS, ON AND OFF. OTHER DOORS OPEN & UNLOCK WITH INSIDE SWITCH AND WIRELESS/REMOTE CONTROL. BUT NOT ALWAYS THE DRIVERS SIDE. THIS HAPPENS ON A WEEKLY BASIS. MOST TIMES IT CORRECTED, AFTER I TURNED THE LOCKING BUTTON MANUALLY IN, INSTEAD OF HITTING THE ELECTRONIC SWITCH. BUT MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY, I HAVE TO LOCK THE DOOR MANUALLY, BY PUSHING IN THE LOCK BUTTON. OR HAVING TO USE THE KEY, TO GET INSIDE THE CAR. THE CAR IS A 2003 CAMRY LE, WITH 29,500 MILES ON IT. DON'T DRIVE IT THAT MUCH. THE ELECTRONIC ACTUATOR SWITCH, SOLENOID SWITCH, OR PERHAPS THE MASTER LOCK SWITCH IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. A CAMRY SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS KIND OF A PROBLEM, WITH SO FEW MILES ON IT!!! ESPECIALLY WHEN THE PARTS TO REPLACE THEM WITH ARE SO EXPENSIVE! NOT COUNTING THE DIAGNOSIS LABOR FEE, THAN THE ACTUAL LABOR FEE TO REPAIR!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10265333

Incident

Apr 14, 2009

Mileage

29,500 mi

THE DRIVER'S SEAT WHICH IS ADJUSTED USING BUTTONS ON THE SIDE OF THE SEA BECAME STUCK ALL THE WAY FORWARD 3 TIMES, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR MY HUSBAND TO DRIVE. THE TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT REMOVED THE SEAT, AND FOUND SHARDS OF PLASTIC IN THE TRACK. THEY SUGGESTED THAT I REFRAIN FROM MOVING THE SEAT ALL THE WAY FORWARD, WHICH IS TRICKY WHEN YOU ARE 5' 1" TALL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10190190

Incident

May 1, 2007

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.

NHTSA ID

10177350

Incident

Jul 1, 2005

HAVE A 2002 CAMRY AND I HAVE NOW PURCHASED MY THIRD INSIDE DOOR LATCH. TOYOTA MUST HAVE DISCOVERED THEY HAVE A PROBLEM BECAUSE THE NEWER CAMRY'S ARE METAL. I WOULD HOPE THE NHTSA WOULD GIVE CONSUMERS SOME HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ID

10162995

Incident

Jul 14, 2006

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

NHTSA ID

10144952

Incident

Jul 20, 2005

Mileage

37,926 mi

INSIDE DOOR LATCH ON 2002 CAMRY MADE OF PLASTIC AND BREAK FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I HAVE PURCHASED 3 FOR MY CAR. I AM AFRAID THAT IN AN ACCIDENT SITUATION THAT THE HANDLE COULD BREAK PREVENTING EXITING THE CAR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10144501

Incident

Dec 4, 2005

Mileage

42,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10139380

Incident

Mar 10, 2005

Mileage

38,500 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10125455

Incident

Jun 15, 2005

Mileage

29,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10119398

Incident

Feb 9, 2005

Mileage

50,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10118771

Incident

May 1, 2005

Mileage

12,000 mi

WHEN A BUMP WAS HIT IN THE ROAD, THE SEAT MADE A LOUD NOISE. *JB THE SEAT WAS LOOSE AND MADE A LOUD VIBRATING NOISE ESPECIALLY WHEN HITTING A BUMP. DEALER TRIED TO FIX TWO TIMES. HOWEVER SEAT WILL NOT REMAIN FIRM. *TT

NHTSA ID

10018251

Incident

Mar 29, 2003

Mileage

1,400 mi