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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.

4.5

definitely annoying
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
100,650 miles
Total Complaints:
4 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (2 reports)
  2. reflash computer (2 reports)
2003 Toyota Camry transmission problems

transmission problem

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2003 Toyota Camry Owner Comments

problem #4

Dec 092016

Camry LE V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 140,000 miles

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

My 2003 Toyota Camry transmission (gear) has been given me a tough time for over two months now. When it's about changing from gear 2

to 3 it makes a loud jerk or sound as if something hit it. It has been very inconveniencing. I took it repeatedly for repairs but no solution. I was

told to change the gear box, I bought another one but it still continued. Again I was advised to change the car brain box, I bought another one

and the problem stopped for about a week and later started again. Pls I'm desperate and confused on what to do next. I NEED YOUR URGENT HELP! I have also carried out a scan on my car and no positive result.

- weezy, Uyo, Nigeria

problem #3

May 012014

Camry XLI 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 102,526 miles

When the car accelerates from 15-20 MPH gear transmission becomes jerky and its really very much annoying.

- Aurang Z., Dubai, UAE, United Arab Emirates

problem #2

Dec 162010

Camry LE V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 112,000 miles

the car winds up in 1st to 3 to 4 rpm and is starting to do it 2nd gear also, when driving down the road n have to slow down in traffic for vehicle to turn in front of you , when you give it gave it will periodically have a delayed reaction then jerk you forward, also when driving down road it will jerk 3 to 4 times lightly, it it also starting to downshift hard, bought the car with 103000 miles, come to find out the transmission has already been replaced once,also last month had brakes redone, they said it was last time they can resurface rotors, their already to thin to do again, and my back brakes did not work at all. and now the rack and pinion steering is leaking and making noise, love the inside of car but the other problems are big money problems that i cannot afford, looks like I'm gonna have to get a different car,

- lisaw243, Tucson, AZ, US

problem #1

May 182009

Camry XLE V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 48,000 miles

This problem has been re-occurring since we bought the car about once every 6 - 9 months. They said the problem was that the computer was learning the way I drive and it makes adjustments accordingly. My other car does not do this and have never experienced a problem like this. I have to take the car in to the Toyota Service Center to have the computer re-flashed to stop the problem. It is really scary when you get into traffic and hit the gas and nothing happens. Toyota opened a ticket on this problem but have no idea how to fix this issue.

- Bill H., Charlotte, NC, US

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