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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.

7.3

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$1,400
Average Mileage:
116,850 miles
Total Complaints:
3 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (1 reports)
  2. replace head gasket (1 reports)
  3. replace the engine (1 reports)
2003 Toyota Camry cooling system problems

cooling system problem

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2003 Toyota Camry Owner Comments

problem #3

Sep 112016

Camry LE 4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 118,682 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Compounded with a problem of strip head bolts this will be an expensive gasket to change about 1400$

- danielgaston, Orléans, ON, Canada

problem #2

May 032015

Camry LE 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 95,543 miles

Just bought this car. Everything was fine for a while but then I noticed the temp rising and rising. I pulled over to check my reservoir and it was completely empty! So I let it cool down and drove to the nearest gas station to fill it up with water, and the radiator of course. The next day when I was changing the thermostat the one they has in there was cut off and really only the gasket remained. Still haven't fixed the problem yet and I'm really hoping its not the head gasket or a cracked head.

- Joseph A., Davenport, FL, US

problem #1

Apr 012014

Camry LE 4 cylindres

  • Automatic transmission
  • 136,220 miles

lose head bolts. antifreezer and oil leaks under engine

Even though I did good maintenance to my car, the engine started to leak antifreeze and oil. A mechanic from Toyota toll that is a defect from the manufacture, but Toyota never did a recall about it. My car has 136220 miles. a saw many people in the internet complaining about it. This is NOT good for the customers. I will not buy another Toyota.

- Leo M., Snohomish, WA, US

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