2003 Toyota Camry Body & Structure Problems

While turning into your parking space and easing off the gas pedal toward the brake, your car suddenly accelerated on its own and crashed through a gate. The front bumper, grille, hood, and headlights were damaged in the collision. This could involve a problem with the throttle control system, cruise control, or fuel system that caused unexpected acceleration.

Your mechanic found that several components under your car—the subframe (which supports the engine and suspension), muffler, brakes, and gas tank—have severe rust and corrosion. This level of rust can affect the structural integrity of your vehicle and the safety of critical systems like braking. Addressing this will likely require replacing or repairing the corroded parts, which could be extensive given the vehicle's age and mileage.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BULGE ON THE DASHBOARD WHERE THE FRONTAL AIR BAG WAS LOCATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SEAM HAD SEPARATED AND THERE WAS A COLORED SUBSTANCE AROUND THE SEPARATION AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DASHBOARD PADS ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF PARKING THE CAR IN A PARKING LOT WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES THERE WAS NO EFFECT. IN ORDER TO AVOID TRAFFIC I HAD TO STEER THE VEHICLE INTO A STONE WALL. *TR

FLOODING OF FLOOR BOARDS. RUGS, AND THE WELLS UNDER RUGS LIKE A POOL FILLING UP WITH WATER ABOUT THREE INCHES DEEP, AFFECTING FRONT DRIVERS AREA AND THE REST OF THE CAR FLOOR BOARDS FRONT AND BACK. MECHANIC ADVISES DUE TO OPENING OF BODY SEAMS IN THREE PLACES. COST TO REPAIR, AND REPLACEMENT OF RUGS THAT WERE UNABLE TO BE DRIED $2,000. NOT DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR. AUTO IN IMPECCABLE SHAPE OTHERWISE AND MAINTAINED SCRUPULOUSLY. OWNED BY LITTLE OLD LADY. *TR

I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A SIGNALED LEFT TURN INTO A PAKING SPACE AT CVS PHARMACY. AS I BRAKED AND TURNED, THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD HITTING A STACKED STONE PILLAR AND CAME TO A CRASHED STOP. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND I HAD A SCRAPE ON MY SCALP FROM THE SUN VISOR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AUTOMATICALLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE BEFORE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ACTUATOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

IN JANUARY 2008, MY 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY V6, WITH 35000 MILES ON IT, DEVELOPED A SQUEAK IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURNED DURING PARKING OR DURING ANY 90 DEGREE TURN. THE TOYOTA DEALER GREASED THE STEERING COLUMN, AND THE SQUEAK WENT AWAY. IN JANUARY OF 2009, THE SAME PROBLEM RECURRED. THE DEALER WANTED TO REPACK THE STEERING COLUMN INSTEAD OF GREASING IT AT A COST OF $225.00, OR REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN AT A COST OF $700.00. I ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THAT PARTICULAR MODEL FOR THAT PROBLEM, AND THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE SAID NO. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE OR CONCERN ARISING FROM THIS PROBLEM, AND IS IT COMMON AMONG THAT MAKE AND MODEL TOYOTAS. *TR

THE SPEAKER PANEL BEHIND THE BACK SEAT HAS CRACKED AND THIS HAS MADE HOLES IN THIS BACK PANEL. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN ANYTHING PLACED IN THE BACK WINDOW TO HAVE CREATED THIS TO HAPPEN. WE CONTACTED OUR TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST $500.00 DOLLARS TO FIX WHICH IN MY OPINION IT WAS CAUSED BY FAULTY MATERIAL THAT THE TOYOTA COMPANY USED. IN ALL OF THE CARS I HAVE BOUGHT OVER THE YEARS MANY DIFFERENT MAKES THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED. I WENT INTO A PART SITE TO SEE IF THIS CAN BE REPLACED AND MANY OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS PANEL. I LOVE MY 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY BUT IF I HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THIS PART FIXED I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER TOYOTA. I ALSO EMAILED THE TOYOTA CORP OFFICE AND THEY DID NOT GIVE ME ANY RESPONDS TO THIS MATTER. *TR

IN 3/2003 I PURCHASED A TOYOTA CAMRY. WITHIN 1-2 YEARS I NOTICED MINOR CRACKS DEVELOPING ON THE TWO SPEAKER COVERS AT THE BACK OF THE CAR UNDER THE BACK WINDOW AND BEHIND THE BACK SEATS. THE CRACKS PROGRESSED WITH TIME BUT I HAD FORGOTTEN TO BRING IT UP TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE SPEAKERS ARE LOCATED IN A PLACE I DO NOT NORMALLY LOOK AND BECAUSE I THOUGHT THEY WERE ONLY CHEAP PLASTIC COVERS. BY 2006 THE PLASTIC WAS ACTUALLY DISINTEGRATING AND FALLING INTO THE LOUDSPEAKER ASSEMBLY CREATING AN EVER BIGGER BLACK HOLE. THE DEALER POINTED OUT TO ME THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTS ON CAMRYS AND THAT YOU MUST REPLACE THE WHOLE BACK PANEL BEHIND THE BACK SEATS NOT JUST THE PLASTIC COVER FOR $450 PLUS LABOR. I WAS TOLD THAT OTHER TOYOTAS DO NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM SINCE THEY USE A DIFFERENT VENDOR FOR THE SPEAKER COVERS. SINCE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY TOYOTA DECLINED TO REPLACE THE COVERS. ON THE ADVICE OF THE CA NMVB I SEARCHED THE INTERNET (HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.NET/FORUM/AUTOS/TOYOTA-CAMRY/TTPVEUN8TERT6NBKJ) AND WAS SURPRISED TO FIND THAT OWNERS OF 2002-2004 CAMRYS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE DISCOVERED CAMRYS IN PARKING LOTS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IT NOW APPEARS TO ME THAT THIS PROBLEM IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WHICH TOYOTA FAILED TO DISCLOSE TO NEW CAMRY BUYERS. THE TOYOTA DEALER ALSO FAILED TO DISCLOSE THIS PROBLEM WHENEVER THEY INSPECT THE CAR, INCLUDING THE INTERIOR, DURING SERVICE. I AM REQUESTING THAT TOYOTA REPAIR MY CAMRY AND RETURN IT TO ITS ORIGINAL APPEARANCE. I AM RECOMMENDING THAT A FINE BE LEVIED ON TOYOTA FOR FAILING TO DISCLOSE A KNOWN MANUFACTURING DEFECT TO NEW AND USED CAMRY BUYERS. I BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL ALL 2002-2004 CAMRYS. THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ALSO BE CONCERNED FOR THE PUBLIC'S POTENTIAL EXPOSURE IN THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR TO FINE PARTICLES/GASSES FROM THIS DISINTEGRATING PLASTIC AND EXPOSURE TO TODDLERS WHO PLACE THEIR HANDS IN THE LOUDSPEAKERS AND THEN EAT POTENTIALLY TOXIC MATERIAL. (SEE HTTP://WWW.MSNBC.MSN.COM/ID/22360355/). *TR

BACK HATCH UNLOCKED AND FLEW OPEN ON HIGHWAY WHILE I HAD CUSTOMERS IN MY 4 RUNNER. PULLED OVER AND TRIED TO SHUT...WOULD NOT SHUT. HAVING TO DRIVE NOW WITH BACK TAILGATE TIED SHUT. EXHAUST COMES IN THROUGH BACK OF VEHICLE. HAVING REPAIRED ON 10/24 FOR A COST OF OVER $400! *TR

2003 TOYOTA CAMRY PASSENGER AIR BAG COVER COMING APART. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THIS GAP IN BETWEEN THE DASHBOARD AND THE AIR BAG COVER AFFECTING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE AIR BAG IF IT IS NEEDED. *KB THE DEALER STATED THE SEPARATION APPEARED TO BE CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE HEAT.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLINER ROOFING MATERIAL FELL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY FAULTY GLUE OR WEAR AND TEAR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10. UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEADLINER IS DETACHING FROM THE BACK BY THE REAR ALL THE WAY ACROSS. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE IS A GAP IN THE DASHBOARD ABOVE THE AIR BAG COVER. THE AIR BAG CAN BE SEEN THROUGH THE GAP. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE AIR BAG IS IN STILL IN PLACE AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH BEING ABLE TO SEE THE AIR BAG THROUGH THE GAP. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 46,009.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT NOTICED HOLES IN THE REAR SPEAKER COVERS AND PIECES OF THE COVERS HAD FALLEN INTO THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE BEGAN IN MARCH OF 2007 AND STILL PERSISTS. THE DEALER AGREED TO SPLIT THE COST FOR PARTS, BUT THE CONTACT MUST PAY THE LABOR FEES. WHEN THE WINDOWS ARE ROLLED DOWN, THE SPEAKER COVER FRAGMENTS FLOAT AROUND INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 45,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 02-01-08 *BF UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR

THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR ON MY VEHICLE DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. THE LATCH DOES NOT ENGAGE AND THE "DOOR OPEN" LIGHT GOES ON. *JB

THE TORSION BARS ON OUR 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY SUDDENLY FAILED TO WORK. WHEN THE TRUNK WAS OPENED, IT THEN HAD TO BE MANUALLY PUSHED UP TO THE TOP OPEN POSITION, HOWEVER IT WOULD EASILY AND QUICKLY COME DOWN IF IT WAS WINDY OUTSIDE. TWICE I WAS HIT IN THE HEAD OR BACK WHILE LEANING INTO THE TRUNK AND PUTTING SOMETHING IN OR TAKING SOMETHING OUT, A MAJOR PROBLEM BECAUSE WE WERE ALWAYS PUTTING IN OR TAKING OUR BABY STROLLER OUT OF THE TRUNK, AND WE WERE AFRAID THE TRUNK MIGHT ALSO CLOSE ON OUR SON'S HAND OR HEAD IF HE WERE STANDING NEARBY. WE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER; THEY AT FIRST DENIED THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE TRUNK. BUT THE SERVICE MANAGER EVENTUALLY UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED WITH ME ABOUT THE PROBLEM. HE ORDERED AND REPLACED THE TORSION BARS IN OUR TRUNK; IT FIXED THE PROBLEM AT THAT TIME. THIS WAS ONE YEAR AGO. IN OCTOBER 2005, THE SAME THING STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN. WHILE THE TRUNK DOESN'T SLAM DOWN ON US YET, IT DOES IDLE HALFWAY UP AND MUST BE PUSHED UP OR DOWN TO LOCK THE POSITION. WE BROUGHT IT BACK TO OUR TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND ASKED FOR THE SAME SERVICE MANAGER DIRECTLY. HE REMEMBERED US AND IS GOING TO REPLACE THE TORSION BARS AGAIN, BUT CLAIMED THAT HE HASN'T SEEN THIS PROBLEM HAPPEN IN SEVERAL YEARS; APPARENTLY IT WAS A RECURRING PROBLEM ON OLDER MODELS. MY MAIN CONCERNS WITH THIS ISSUE ARE THAT FIRST, IT KEEPS ON HAPPENING AND SECONDLY, THIS PAST SUMMER ON LONG ISLAND, NY, TWO YOUNG BOYS WHO WERE MISSING, WERE LATER FOUND DEAD IN THE TRUNK OF A TOYOTA CAMRY ON THEIR STREET. APPARENTLY THE TRUNK WAS BROKEN AND IT SHUT ON THEM, TRAPPING THEM INSIDE THE VEHICLE DURING A HEAT WAVE. THE POLICE DIDN'T FIND THEM IN THE CAR UNTIL A FEW DAYS LATER. I DON'T KNOW IF THE BROKEN TRUNK HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE TORSION BARS THAT WE HAVE, BUT THE NEWS STORY CONCERNED US ENOUGH TO REPORT THIS TO YOU. *JB

DURING THE DAY ODOMETER IS HARD TO VIEW. DEALER STATES THAT IT IS THE NEW DESIGN FOR THE 2003 MODELS. *AK

CONTINUAL WATER FLOODING REAR PASSENGER COMPARTMENT RUG AND FLOOR. DRAIN PLUG WAS MISSING FROM FACTORY AND REPLACED AFTER 3 TRIES. FLOODING STILL OCCURRING.