2003 Toyota Camry

Family: Camry · filed with NHTSA as CAMRY, CAMRY SOLARA

Summary

In its first three years the 2003 Camry drew 271 complaints — 1.0× the median of its generation (2002–2006). It does not stand out from the other years of this generation.
These are complaint counts, not failure rates: they are not divided by how many cars were sold, because no public source reports U.S. sales by model year.
Complaints are spread across systems: the largest, Accelerator & Cruise Control, holds 33% of the 794 that name a component.
1 recall filed for this model year.
3 federal defect investigations cover this model year.

At a glance

Owner complaints: 806
Recalls: 1
Investigations: 3
NCAP overall: Not rated
Combined MPG: 19–24
Annual fuel cost: $2,600–$3,300
Median mileage at complaint: 50,000 mi (n = 592)
Crashes / fires / injuries / deaths: 239 / 10 / 111 / 5

What owners report

Accelerator & Cruise Control

263 complaints · 33% of complaints that name a component · median 38,000 mi (n = 202)

Owner report The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that the vehicle would suddenly accelerate or lunge forward and had done so several times, both while idle, pressing the brakes, and while driving at various speeds. Suddenly accelerated downhill, and when approaching the inner section, the contact immediately tu…

Owner report COMING TO A STOP AND ABOUT READY TO STOP AND ALL OF SUDDEN STEERING WHEEL WAS PULLED TO LEFT AND ACCELERATED. THEN I HIT A PARKED CAR AND WAS FINALLY ABLE TO STOP.

Engine

166 complaints · 21% of complaints that name a component · median 90,000 mi (n = 129)

Owner report 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…

Owner report 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…

Brakes

120 complaints · 15% of complaints that name a component · median 25,000 mi (n = 87)

Owner report 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 W…

Owner report 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…

1% of complaints name no specific component and are left out of the shares above.

Across the generation (2002–2006)

To compare years fairly, each year is counted over the same span: complaints received up to two calendar years after its model year. A year is compared only when that span is over and it holds at least 50 complaints. Median of the comparable years: 270.

Model year	All complaints	First three years	Note
2002	1,013	409	most complaints
2003	806	271
2004	799	270
2005	813	186
2006	435	91	fewest complaints

Recalls

Whether a recall has been fixed on a specific car depends on its VIN; check it at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

04V346000 · AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

Filed 2004-07-13 · 128,316 vehicles

Defect: 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.

Risk: IF THIS OCCURS, THE CSA MAY NOT DEPLOY RAPIDLY ENOUGH WHEN ACTIVATED IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION. THIS MAY RESULT IN FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE INTENDED HEAD PROTECTION, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.

Remedy: 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 investigations

Action	Component	Opened	Closed
DP06003	VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL	2006-09-14	2007-04-03
DP05002	VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	2005-08-05	2006-01-05
PE04021	VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	2004-03-03	2004-07-22

DP06003: ENGINE SURGING

DP05002: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

PE04021: THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM

Engines and fuel economy

Version	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Fuel cost / yr
Camry	2.4L 4cyl	Automatic 4-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	21	29	24	$2600
Camry	2.4L 4cyl	Manual 5-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	21	30	24	$2600
Camry	3.0L 6cyl	Automatic 4-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	18	26	21	$2950
Camry	3.0L 6cyl	Automatic 5-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	18	26	21	$2950
Camry Solara	2.4L 4cyl	Automatic 4-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	21	29	24	$2600
Camry Solara	2.4L 4cyl	Manual 5-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	21	30	24	$2600
Camry Solara	3.0L 6cyl	Automatic 4-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	17	25	20	$3100
Camry Solara Convertible	2.4L 4cyl	Automatic 4-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	20	28	23	$2700
Camry Solara Convertible	3.0L 6cyl	Automatic 4-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	17	24	19	$3300

Fuel cost is EPA's estimate at the fuel prices of its last update, not today's.

Crash test ratings (NCAP)

Variant	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover
2003 Toyota Camry 4-DR.	Not Rated	Not Rated	Not Rated	Not Rated

Service bulletins

Toyota issued 258 service bulletins listed against this model year, most often about equipment.

A bulletin tells dealers how to fix a known condition. It is not a recall and not a defect finding. Most bulletins cover several model years at once, so one listed here may not be specific to this year. The number of bulletins tracks how long and how widely a model was sold, so it is not a measure of reliability.

Date	Component	Summary
2024-12-06	STRUCTURE:BODY	Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood…
2024-12-06	STRUCTURE:BODY	To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and in…
2024-12-06	STRUCTURE:BODY	The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicl…
2024-12-06	STRUCTURE:BODY	Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood…
2024-12-06	STRUCTURE:BODY	To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and in…
2024-12-06	STRUCTURE:BODY	The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicl…
2024-12-05	STRUCTURE:BODY	Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. Follow the Removal Procedure …
2024-12-05	STRUCTURE:BODY	Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. Follow the Removal Procedure …
2024-12-03	STRUCTURE:BODY	Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. This type of contamination can be identified by the …
2024-07-12	STRUCTURE:BODY	Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood…

How to read this page

Complaint counts are not failure rates. A model that sells more cars draws more complaints, and owners file more often after news coverage or a recall. That is why this page compares a model year only with other years of the same generation, never with other models.

Each complaint is counted once, even when it names several components; a complaint that names several systems appears under each of them. Owner reports are quoted as filed and have not been verified by NHTSA or by us.

Every model year of this Camry, including the ones without a page of their own, is listed on the Toyota Camry model page.

Sources

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: complaints, recalls and investigations (bulk files, data as of 2026-10-28).
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program: crash test ratings.
U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov: engines, transmissions and fuel economy.

MotorAlmanac is independent and not affiliated with NHTSA, EPA or any manufacturer. This page summarises public records; it is not a mechanical inspection. Before buying a used car, check its VIN for open recalls and have it inspected.