2003 Toyota Camry Problems, Recalls & Reliability
946 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2003 Toyota Camry, alongside 1 recall campaign and 3 defect investigations. It scores 37/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Speed control leads the reports, typically around 40,000 miles.
Below average
Where 2003 sits among all Camry years
What owners report
“I was backing out of a parking spot. When my car staled and was shaking in reverse. I slammed on my breaks because i thought i backed up into something. When i put my car in drive and took my foot off of the brake pedal. My car immediately accelerated to full speed out of no where and caused me to…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2003 Camry
“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”— owner report to NHTSA, 2003 Camry
“Vehicle was at a complete stop. Consumer had their foot on the brakes, and the pedal went all the way to the floor. Consumer feels that the pedal are too soft. The dealership indicated that they were having problem with this model/year brakes, and thinks the cause is the master cyclinder. Ph”— owner report to NHTSA, 2003 Camry
“No accident yet...but my passenger airbag seam is splitting. I am concerned for the safety of my family.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2003 Camry
“"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.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2003 Camry
“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…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2003 Camry
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 628 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 51,773 miles. Half of those reports fall between 20,000 and 100,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (1)
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CURTAIN SHIELD AIR BAGS (CSA), ONE OR BOTH OF THE CURTAIN AIR BAGS MAY BE TWISTED NEAR THE INFLATOR DUE TO IMPROPER ASSEMBLY.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE CSAS AND REPLACE THE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 6, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Federal defect investigations
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2003 Toyota Camry reliable?
The 2003 Toyota Camry drew 946 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 37/100, scored against the model's worst year (2007).
What are the most common 2003 Toyota Camry problems?
The top reported problems for the 2003 Toyota Camry are speed control (261 complaints), engine (167), and brakes & stability (117).
At what mileage do 2003 Toyota Camry problems show up?
Owners most often report 2003 Toyota Camry problems around 51,773 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 20,000 and 100,000 miles.
Does the 2003 Toyota Camry have recalls?
1 recall campaign applies to the 2003 Toyota Camry. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.