CarComplaints.com Notes: Beware of the NHTSA complaint data for the 2003 Camry. It is almost certainly misleading.
The problem with NHTSA data for the 2003 Camry is that for months on end, the news media repeatedly told the public that several Toyota models had an unintended acceleration defect, & to go to safercar.gov (the NHTSA's website) to file a complaint.
So, the NHTSA received a disproportionate number of complaints about Toyota unintended acceleration issues because of the national news media attention, to the point where their data is unreliable taken in context with any other vehicle that did not receive national news attention.
CarComplaints.com typically receives more complaints per day about vehicles than the NHTSA does, but the news media did not repeatedly say "go to CarComplaints.com to report your Camry acceleration problems" like they did about the NHTSA -- so although we have less complaint data than the NHTSA for the 2003 Camry, our data for the Camry is a far more statistically accurate representation of the Camry's reliability than what the NHTSA data shows.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
11 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
10,361 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
When depressing the brakes brake pedal pulsated, causing the vehicle to have extended stopping distance. Consumer contacted the dealer on two separate occasions, but problem still occurs.
While making left turns and without any warning steering wheel and brake pedal locked up. As result, consumer was involved in a head on collision, and air bags did not deploy.
2003 Toyota Camry V6 (midyear 210 hp motor). The brakes on this car fade all the way to the floor when depressing the pedal. This is very disconcerting as there isn't any "pedal" to the brake and has to just keep pressing, pressing, pressing the pedal until the car stops. The Toyota representative says this is how the Camry brakes are designed and it is normal. The Toyota representative insists that since he can not reengineer the car he cannot do anything to help with the problem. He acknowledges that the pedal goes to the floor. The dealer service manager was "obviously" concerned with the problem, but the Toyota representative dismissed his concern. It appears that Toyota "thinks" it's smarter than the rest of us. But perhaps they should take a step back and look at where that attitude has gotten a few of the other automobile manufacturers. The Camry's brakes do not give the driver a feeling that the brakes will stop the car. In fact, the car does not stop. These brakes are dangerous.
Consumer noticed that after applying the brakes vehicle went into extended stopping distance. Vehicle was serviced by dealer. Technician adjusted both rear brake shoes.
- Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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I parked my 2003 Camry (with under 5000 miles on it) on a steep, circular driveway on a drizzly morning. When I went to leave, creeping from a dead start, my brakes failed...or my tires didn't grip the asphalt. I don't know which. I jammed my foot on the brakes and nothing happened. I went skidding down the incline. When I reached the bottom, my car finally stopped. Fortunately there was no cross traffic, so I avoided a collision. I have photos of the extensive skid marks left by my car.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Baltimore, MD, USA