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:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
38 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.
Brake pedal goes down low close to the gas pedal by itself. When master cylinder fluid is added the pedal returns to its correct position. Dealership replaced the master cylinder, but the problem recurs.
A 2003 Toyota Camry, V-6, with all safety equipment experienced intermittent cruise control disengagement, actual turn-off, at highway speeds. Sometimes the brake pedal needed to be lifted with the left foot to restart/re-engage the cruise control. Later, while parallel parking, on applying the brake, the car surged ahead hitting the SUV parked ahead. Toyota dealer, and field technician drove vehicle and the only thing noticed was the cruise control went off when turning around in a driveway. The problem was sporadic on the highway when first observed. Toyota legally denied the claim after over 3 months time from reporting to their regional center. No injuries occurred. The master cylinder has been replaced and the front end repaired. The car appears to be operating satisfactorily. The consumer stated if the brake pedal is depressed slightly to disengage the cruise control, he still has to lift the pedal to engage it again. Updated 03/05/10
- Lake Leelanau, MI, USA
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- Apple Valley, CA, USA