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:
15 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
19,499 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.
Surge problem. I have a 2003 Toyota Camry SE. At times, when I slow down almost to a stop and then re-accelerate my car surges forward rather than accelerating smoothly.
Consumer complained about unexpected acceleration problem. Consumer was driving and pulled into a parking space, and vehicle unexpectedly accelerated, knocking down a parking sign. B
Consumer complained about an intermittent acceleration problem. When this occurred consumer applied the brakes, but, vehicle did not stop. Consumer had to shut off the engine in order to get the vehicle to stop. Dealer can't locate the problem on vehicle.
Engine revs up uncontrollably while in park position and in reverse also. Brakes have worked suffuciently to keep vehicle from crashing into anything. This has happened 3 times since I've had the car ( a 10 month period).
On two separate occasions while at a complete stop and attempting to put vehicle into park, it suddenly accelerated. On both occasions, driver's foot was pressing on brake pedal. After the failure occurred the second time, and vehicle failed to stop, another vehicle was rearended due to sudden acceleration.
- Navarre, FL, USA
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2003 Toyota Camry is equipped with electronic computer controlled throttle, electronic computer controlled transmission, and cruise control. At various times the car will either hesitate for 5-10 seconds when accelaration is demanded or alternatively under light throttle it will shift down several gears the engine racing madly and accelarate. In cruise control it sometimes shifts down and accelarates 15 mph over the setpoint.
The consumer experienced sudden acceleration immediately after the purchase of a certified used vehicle. The consumer applied the brake but the vehicle didn't respond. The ignition had to be turned off in order to stop the vehicle. (model xle) mr scc the consumer stated another vehicle pulled in front of him, he braked and swerved to avoid a collision. As he braked an swerved to the right, the vehicle suddenly and unexpectedly accelerated. The vehicle continued to accelerate as he steered to the left and attempted to brake to correct the initial swerve to the right. He then steered back to the right, then left, then right, in an attempt to control the vehicle. All of that time, he was applying the brake. In trying to gain control of the vehicle, the consumer crossed three lanes of traffic before the vehicle finally slammed sideways into a concrete median. Updated 04/09/10.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Mccalla, AL, USA