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.
3.2
definitely annoying
Typical Repair Cost:
$10
Average Mileage:
66,200 miles
Total Complaints:
5 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
not sure (4 reports)
spray wd40 into rubber boot where the steering shaft leaves the cabin (1 reports)
As was mentioned with another report of moaning, mine started as the weather got colder. Today at 15 degrees F. it is really moaning. At temps in the 20's it would seem to warm up and the noise go away. I am curious to find out what is needed to fix it.
I've got a Japanese manual transmission Camry se; the nicest car I've ever owned and haven't had any other problems with yet; bought it at 30k miles and it has 140k miles now. I just sprayed WD-40 into the rubber boot where the steering column exits the cabin and there are no more noises now, not even at the coldest temperatures.
Took 2003 Camry to dealership last week and they said steering shaft was knocking and it needed packing. I've never heard it knock, only the steering wheel moan like every Camry I've ever had (4). So now I am wondering if I need to get it fixed. I agree Toyota needs to recall cars with the knocking problem. It made me doggone sick, plus just out of warranty and I had to have a new water pump.
It's an intermittent problem. It mostly occurs below 32 degrees and the colder it is the more pronounced. It occurs backing out of the driveway, and in the first couple of minutes of driving in turning the wheel, then goes away. Doesn't seem to affect steering, but it happened couple of years after buying it new, and continues each winter.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
As was mentioned with another report of moaning, mine started as the weather got colder. Today at 15 degrees F. it is really moaning. At temps in the 20's it would seem to warm up and the noise go away. I am curious to find out what is needed to fix it.
- Dan B., Watertown, SD, US