2003 Toyota Camry Engine Problems

Your engine is leaking oil onto your driveway due to engine bolts that have sheared off. A mechanic replaced and properly torqued the bolts to specification, but the problem happened again. The issue occurred around 215,000 miles, and Toyota was unable to provide assistance. The fix will likely involve replacing the engine bolts and investigating why they keep failing, possibly requiring a new engine gasket or seal.

Your engine is leaking coolant from around the engine block due to loose head bolts. Your mechanic says you'd need to either replace or rebuild the entire engine to fix it properly, which is very expensive for a car with 114,000 miles. This is reportedly a common issue with 2003 Camrys that Toyota hasn't recalled. Fixing this will require either a complete engine replacement or a full engine rebuild.

While driving at 55 mph on the highway, your car suddenly lost power and stalled without warning. The engine had to be restarted and the car was shifted into neutral to get it running again. This happened twice total. The issue occurred around 100,000 miles and hasn't been diagnosed or repaired yet. You should have a mechanic diagnose why the engine is stalling, which may involve checking the fuel system, ignition system, or engine sensors.

Your engine temperature gauge climbed into the hot zone, indicating your engine was overheating. A Toyota dealer diagnosed a blown head gasket caused by failed engine bolts, which allowed coolant to leak from the cylinder head. Fixing this will require replacing the head gasket and engine bolts, and possibly inspecting the cylinder head for damage.

HEAD BOLTS STRIPPED CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO LEAK INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF ENGINE. THIS IS A COMMON AND KNOWN PROBLEM FOR THIS ENGINE. A GOOGLE SEARCH TURNS UP HUNDREDS OF EXAMPLES OF THIS EXACT PROBLEM. EXAMPLE: GOOGLE "2003 CAMRY STRIPPED HEAD BOLTS".

ENGINE OVERHEATED AND HEAD GASKET BLOWN DUE TO HEAD BOLT THREADS BEING STRIPPED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE OF BEING STUCK ON A DANGEROUS ROAD OR LEFT TO WALK ALONE IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. TOYOTA SHOULD REPAIR THIS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE CONTACT DETECTED LIQUID LEAKING UNDER THE MOTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD BOLTS ON THE ENGINE WERE STRIPPED OUT AND LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.

CAR ENGINE HEAD BOLTS ARE STRIPPED AND CAUSED THE COOLANT TO LEAK INTO ENGINE AND AND DAMAGE ENGINE,THE HEAD BOLTS WON'T TORGUE TO TOYOTA STANDARDS BECAUSE THE ENGINE BLOCK IS ALUMINIUM AND BOLTS ARE STEEL ,THIS HAS BEEN WIDELY REPORTED BUT STILL TOYOTA HAS NOT ISSUED RECALL

TOYOTA CAMRY 2003 - HEAD GASKET LEAK CAUSED BY HEAD BOLTS THAT COME LOOSE DUE TO BOLT HOLE PROBLEMS AT THE BLOCK. A MACHINIST WILL BE REQUIRED TO FIX THE ISSUE. THE COST TO FIX EXCEEDS WHAT THE CAR IS WORTH. ESTIMATES RANGE FROM $2500-$8000. ISSUE WAS IDENTIFIED AT 162,000 MILES. TOYOTA WILL NOT COMPENSATE BECAUSE THERE IS NO RECALL AND THE CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. DUE TO THIS ISSUE, THE ENGINE COOLANT CONTINUES TO LEAK. MANY PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE FOR 2002-2006.

OIL CONSUMPTION AFTER 1200 MILES DRIVEN

ONE DAY I START MY CAR AND LEAVE IT TO WARM UP FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES, WHEN I GOT IN IT I NOTICE IT WAS BLOWING COLD AIR FROM VENTS,I STARTED DRIVING AND IT START GETTING HOT ,SO DIDN'T PAY MUCH ATTENTION, ABOUT FEW DAYS AFTER MY WIFE DROVE TO CHURCH AND CALL ME TO SAY THERE'S NO HEAT INSIDE, I TOLD HER CO COME BACK HOME ,WHEN I CHECK THE RADIATOR IT WAS ALMOST DRY,I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT,I FILL IT BACK UP AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION, AND I START GETTING HEAT INSIDE AGAIN, TOOK IT ON THE ROAD FOR A TEST DRIVE ONLY TO START GETTING COLD AIR AGAIN SO I WENT HOME BACK PUT ABOUT A CUP OF ANTIFREEZE AND LIFT THE CAR ONLY TO FIND THAT THE LEAKING IS COMING FROM BETWEEN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD,MY MECHANIC TOLD ME IT'S LEAKING FROM THE HEAD BECAUSE THE BOLTS GO STRIPED AND THE HEAD IS SEPARATED FROM THE BLOCK AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE MODELS,AND IT'S GOING TO NEED A KNEW ENGINE, WHICH I DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY TO BUY, TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE ISSUES, THERE'S A LOT OF OWNER GOING THROUGH THE SAME THING. *TR

I MUST SADDLY ADD MY NAME TO THE LIST OF DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED TOYOTA OWNERS WITH THE HEAD GASKET/ STRIPPED BOLTS PROBLEM. MY 2003 CAMRY HAS 105K MILES AND HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED WHEN THE HEAD GASKET BLEW LAST WEEK DURING NORMAL USAGE. I HAVE DONE ENOUGH RESEARCH NOW TO REALIZE THAT THE CAR WAS POORLY ENGINEERED AND THE STRIPPED BOLTS ARE PERVASIVE WITH THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR OF CAR. I NOW REQUIRE A NEW ENGINE, WHICH IS A COST PROHIBITIVE REPAIR. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND HAPPENED TO BE LOOKING AT THE DASHBOARD AND WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT FROM NORMAL TO THE THE HOTTEST POSSIBLE. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER, LET THE ENGINE COOL, ADDED OIL AND THEN WAITED A BIT LONGER TO ENSURE IT HAD COOLED SUFFICIENTLY. I RESTARTED THE CAR, PUT IN IN DRIVE AND WENT ABOUT 20 FT BEFORE THE TEMPERATURE SHOT BACK UP AGAIN. I PARKED IT IMMEDIATELY, CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE REPAIR REQUIRES REPLACING THE ENGINE AND WILL COST IS EQUIVALENT TO THE CAR'S VALUE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY TWO MECHANICS THAT REPLACEMENT REBUILT ENGINES ARE HARD TO FIND BECAUSE THIS ISSUE IS SO COMMON WITH THIS CAR. AND, THAT THE BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT WILL HAVE THE SAME ENGINEERING FLAW IT IS BOUND TO HAPPEN AGAIN. BOTH MECHANICS, ALONG WITH MANY OWNERS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE FORUMS AND BLOGS I HAVE READ HAVE TOLD ME THE CAR IS USELESS NOW SO I PLAN TO DONATE IT TO CHARITY TOMORROW.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: MY 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY MAKES A RATTLE NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AREA AND IT'S MOST NOTICEABLE DURING IDLE OR LIGHT ACCELERATION. MY CAR HAS ONLY 35,000 MILES INSPITE OF IT BEING 13 YEARS OLD. CLEARLY, TOYOTA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE MANIFOLD BUT SINCE MY CAR IS MORE THAN 6 YEARS OLD , TOYOTA WOULD NOT COVER IT BUT MY CAR HAS ONLY 35,000 MILES AND THIS PROBLEM DID NOT SHOW UP UNTIL NOW. HOPEFULLY, YOUR OFFICE CAN HELP ME WITH THIS MATTER. THANK YOU SO MUCH *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE ODOR OF COOLANT WAS PRESENT, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE SUDDENLY INCREASED TO HIGH, AND SMOKE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN DUE TO FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKET BOLTS. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

BAD OIL LEAKS. MECHANICS COULDN'T FIND WHERE LEAKS WERE COMING FROM. TOOK IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT THE HEAD BOLTS ARE MOST LIKELY STRIPPED. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND A LOT OF OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. AND FUMES WERE COMING INTO THE CAR. IF THIS VEHICLE HAS THIS PROBLEM , WHY WASN'T IT RECALLED TO BE FIXED. I CAN'T GET ANYONE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. TOYOTA JUST WANTS TO SELL ME A USED ENGINE FOR THE SAME THING TO HAPPEN AGAIN ACCORDING TO OTHERS OWNERS WHO REPLACED THE ENGINE.

THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. ABOUT 2 MINUTES LATER, A RATTLING SOUND COULD BE HEARD UNDER THE HOOD. WHILE CHANGING LANES TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND A LOUD POUNDING SOUND COULD BE HEARD WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. JUST AFTER TURNING ONTO THE SIDE STREET FROM EXITING THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR DIED. ALL OF THIS OCCURRED WITHIN A 5 MINUTE PERIOD. UPON OPENING THE HOOD, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA OF THE VEHICLE AND THE RESERVOIR FOR THE RADIATOR FLUID WAS BONE DRY. THE RADIATOR HAD BEEN FLUSHED AND REFILLED ONLY 2 MONTHS EARLIER. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC. UPON THEIR INSPECTION, I WAS TOLD THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. THERE HAD BEEN NO WARNING LIGHTS OR INDICATION THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING HOT PREVIOUS TO THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT COMING ON MINUTES BEFORE THE HEAD GASKET BLEW. IN AUGUST, 2012, A RUSHING FLUID SOUND COULD BE HEARD IN THE DASH AREA. I HAD THE CAR INSPECTED AND THE WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT, ALL HOSES AND A RADIATOR FLUSH WERE DONE TO THE VEHICLE. IN FEBRUARY 2013, THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE RUSHING FLUID SOUND COULD STILL BE HEARD OFTEN. IF THE RADIATOR FLUID RESERVOIR WAS TOPPED OFF, GENERALLY THE SOUND WOULD STOP. THE FLUID SOUND BEGAN AGAIN IN JANUARY 2015. THAT WAS THE MAIN REASON FOR GETTING THE RADIATOR FLUSHED. A NEW RADIATOR CAP WAS ALSO INSTALLED AT THAT TIME. I NEVER HEARD THE RUSHING FLUID SOUND AFTER THAT FLUSH. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. I AM FORCED TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE. THE COST OF A USED MOTOR AND ALL LABOR IS ALMOST $5,000. THAT'S APPROXIMATELY WHAT THE CAR IS WORTH. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS OF ALMOST IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS LISTED ON THE INTERNET. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE AND TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO CORRECT IT. *TR

MY WIFE HAD TAKEN HER 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY IN FOR REGULAR SERVICE IN JANUARY, 2012 AND TOLD THE DEALER THAT SHE HAD BEEN HEARING UNUSUAL NOISES FROM THE ENGINE FOR SOME TIME. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE THE SERVICE PERSON SAID THAT TOYOTA HAD ISSUED A BULLETIN TO THE DEALERS REGARDING REPLACEMENT OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD DATED APRIL 15, 2008. IT IS CURIOUS THAT THE BULLETIN STATED THAT "THIS REPAIR IS COVERED UNDER THE TOYOTA FEDERAL EMISSION WARRANTY. THIS IS IN EFFECT FOR 36 MONTHS OR 36,000 MILE, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST-". THE BULLETIN IS DATED APRIL 15, 2008 AND IS TO COVER VEHICLES OF THE 2002-2004 MODEL YEAR CAMRY. THIS MAKES NO SENSE AS SUPPOSEDLY COVERING VEHICLES BUILT 2002-2004 AND ISSUE A BULLETIN IN 2008 AND THEN SAY THERE IS A 36 MONTH WARRANTY FROM THE DATE THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN SERVICE. WE WERE NEVER ADVISED OF THIS BULLETIN UNTIL 2012 AND REPAIRS WERE DONE AT THE COST OF $ 765.52 ON MARCH 27, 2012. WE SENT A LETTER OF COMPLAINT TO TOYOTA IN TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA ON FEBRUARY 28, 2014 WITH NO RESPONSE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY LE. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 45 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE BOLT CONNECTED TO THE INTAKE VALVES TO THE ENGINE HAD BECOME LOOSE AND ALLOWED COOLANT TO RUN ON TO THE EXHAUST. AS A RESULT, EXHAUST FUMES EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE ENGINE SEIZED WHILE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE RADIATOR AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,259.

I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY AND NOTICED THAT IT WAS OVERHEATING!!! WENT TO REPLACE THE GASKET AND THE HEAD BOLTS WERE STRIPPED AND HAD TO HAVE TO HAVE A HEAD BOLT REPAIR KIT PUT IN ALONG WITH THE GASKET KIT WHICH WITH LABOR COST ME OVER 4,000 DOLLARS IN REPAIRS! THE FIRST PROBLEM WAS THE ALUMINUM BLOCK THAT OVER HEATED BECAUSE OF THE COOLANT LEAK WHICH IN THAT OVERHEATED THE BLOCK/BOLTS AND CAUSED THEM TO STRIP THE THREAD FROM THE BLOCK BOLT, IN THAT HAD TO GET A REPAIR KIT DRILL THE HOLE OUT INSERT A STEAL COIL TO HOLD THE STEAL BOLT IN THE ALUMINUM BLOCK!!! POINT BEING I HAD TO PAY FOR THIS FACTORY ERROR OF AN ALUMINUM HEAD THAT EITHER SHOULD HAVE HAD STEAL INSERTS OR A STEAL BLOCK TO BEGIN WITH FOR ABOUT 4,000 WHICH IS CLOSE TO WHAT THE CAR WOULD COST IF I BOUGHT IT AT THIS TIME WITH THE MILES CURRENTLY ON IT!!! A WASTE OF MY MONEY WHEN THIS COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN PREVENTED FROM TOYOTA IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!! I HONESTLY CAN SAY THAT THIS IS MY 3RD CAMRY I HAVE OWNED AND I HAVE ALWAYS SWORE BY THE TOYOTA CAMRY BUT AFTER MY RESEARCH AND MY MONEY AND MY HEADACHE I AM REALLY DISAPPOINTED IN HOW THERE NOT STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE ON THIS ONE AND US AS TOYOTA OWNERS LOVE AND VALUE THE TOYOTA NAME COME ACROSS THIS PROBLEM AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT ITS VERY UPSETTING I'VE DROVE THE CAMRY SINCE 2004 AND BEEN SO PROUD OF THE NAME AND PASSED ALONG THE GOOD QUALITY OF THE CAMRY NAME ON AND ON THEN I COME ACROSS THIS ISSUE AND THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS AND TOYOTA WON'T STEP UP TO THE PLATE ON IT REALLY TARNISHES THE NAME FOR ME!!!! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OIL LEAKED FROM THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE LEAK WAS DUE TO A FAULTY HEAD GASKET. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

MY FAMILY AND I WERE OUT OF STATE ON A TRIP FOR A FUNERAL IN FEBRUARY. IT WAS VERY COLD WHERE WE WERE, SO I STARTED OUR CAMRY TO WARM UP THE CAR. HOWEVER, INSTEAD OF WARMING UP, IT ACTUALLY STARTED TO OVERHEAT DUE TO LOW COOLANT. SUSPECTING A CRACKED HOSE OR A RADIATOR ISSUE, I SEARCHED FOR THE LEAK, BUT COULD NOT FIND ONE. WE KEPT THE CAR FILLED WITH FLUID, WATCHED THE TEMP GAUGE LIKE A HAWK, AND LIMPED THE CAR HOME TO OUR MECHANIC. THANKFULLY, IT DIDN'T EVEN COME CLOSE TO OVERHEATING AGAIN THE ENTIRE TRIP HOME. WHEN I TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP, THEY SAID THAT IT WAS LEAKING FROM THE HEAD GASKET. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THREE BOLTS NEAR THE HEAT SHIELD WERE NOT ONLY LOOSE, BUT ACTUALLY STRIPPED. THIS SOUNDED ODD TO ME. I HAVE AN 89 TOYOTA PICKUP THAT I BOUGHT BRAND NEW, AND IT IS STILL RUNNING LIKE A CHAMP 25 YEARS AND 250,000+ MILES LATER. I EXPECTED THE SAME KIND OF SERVICE LIFE FROM OUR WELL MAINTAINED CAMRY WITH LESS THAN 150,000. STRIPPED HEAD BOLTS JUST SOUNDED OFF TO ME FOR A TOYOTA, SO I DID AN ONLINE SEARCH. IMAGINE MY SURPRISE WHEN I FOUND WEB PAGE AND FORUM AFTER WEB PAGE AND FORUM DEDICATED TO THIS ISSUE ALONE. ONE SITE - CARCOMPLAINTS.COM - HAS 36 COMPLAINTS FILED ALREADY FOR JUST THE 2002 AND 2003 MODEL YEARS, AND THIS PROBLEM EXTEND TO ENGINES UP TO THE 2007 MODEL YEAR. ANOTHER WEB SITE - CAMRYFORUMS.COM - HAS 6 PAGES OF FORUMS DEDICATED TO THIS ISSUE. SIX PAGES. ALL OF THEM WITH THE SAME EXACT ISSUE - COOLANT LEAKS FROM THE STRIPPED HEAD BOLTS NEXT TO THE INSULATION. AND THERE ARE MORE SITES AND MORE FORUMS THAN JUST THOSE. CONSIDERING THAT ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO FILE THESE KINDS OF COMPLAINTS OR POST ON AN ONLINE FORUM, THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. THEY SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED. *TR

MY CAR WAS LEAKING OIL AND WHEN I HAD IT DIAGNOSED, THERE WAS NO MORE THREAD ON THE SCREWS TO HOLD THE MOTOR ON CORRECTLY, AFTER A MONTH OF THE RETHREADING, MY HEAD GASKET/MOTOR BOTH STOPPED WORKING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS OIL LEAKING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO INDICATED THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 188,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE SEEMED HARD TO START. IT FELT AS THOUGH IT WAS MISFIRING. THE AIR CONDITION STOPPED WORKING, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND STARTED SMOKING PROFUSELY. WHEN THE CONSUMER ARRIVED HOME, SHE DISCOVERED THERE WAS NO COOLANT IN THE RADIATOR. SHE FILLED THE RADIATOR WITH COOLANT AND MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE TO HER LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC FOUND A BAD AIR CONDITION FAN, NO FREON IN THE SYSTEM, AND THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING. THE CONSUMER PAID $1200.00 TO FIX THE ISSUES. HOWEVER, AFTER DRIVING 10 MILES, THE AC STOPPED WORKING, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND SMOKE WAS EMITTING FROM THE ENGINE, AGAIN. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED TWO YEARS PRIOR, BUT DESPITE HAVING 3 DIFFERENT MECHANICS INSPECT THE VEHICLE, THE COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM, INDICATED NO PROBLEM. IT WAS RE-SET 3 TIMES, BUT EVENTUALLY CAME BACK ON EVERY TIME. *JB

THIS IS TO REPORT A FAILURE ON ENGINE MODEL #2AZ-FE (EFFECTS 2002-2007 CAMRYS, HIGHLANDERS AND RAV4) DUE TO STRIPPED CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE ENGINE. THERE IS AT LEAST ONE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED BY TOYOTA TSB2740 THAT RELATES TO THIS RECOGNIZED PROBLEM OF STEEL CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS STRIPPING OUT OF THE ALUMINUM ENGINE, ESPECIALLY ON THE FIREWALL OR BACKSIDE OF THE ENGINE POSSIBLY DUE TO A FOAM INSULATION PIECE TO PROTECT A PLASTIC MANIFOLD PART FROM HEAT. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE FOAM PIECE ALLOWS A HEAT BUILD UP ON THE ENGINE SIDE. THE COSTS TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM WAS $2,131. AND INCLUDES MACHINING THE WARPED HEAD, NEW HEAD GASKET AND BOLTS AND A LONG THREAD INSERT SET. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED TO LEARN THAT TOYOTA KNEW YEARS AGO OF THIS DESIGN PROBLEM AND ISSUED A TSB; BUT DID NOT RECALL FOR A SOLUTION BEFORE THIS LED TO METAL FAILURE AND ENGINE OVERHEATING. MANY OF THESE ENGINES WILL FAIL AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD OF 60K HAS EXPIRED. IF YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS AS TO REMEDIES WITH TOYOTA CORP FOR THIS FAILURE, I WOULD APPRECIATE KNOWING ABOUT IT. I AM GLAD TO REPORT THIS AS I SEE THAT MANY, MANY ENGINE FAILURES HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THIS BASICALLY UNADDRESSED DESIGN PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CYLINDER HEADS WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE.

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. AT 65,000 MILES I NOTICED WHITE SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE ON MORNING STARTUP. RESEARCH LED ME TO THE ENGINE HEAD NOT BEING SECURED BECAUSE OF THE STRIPPED BOLT PROBLEM. I STARTED USING A DIP STICK TO MEASURE THE AMOUNT OF COOLANT IN MY OVERFLOW BOTTLE BEFORE MORNING STARTUP. I PHYSICALLY MARK THE DIP STICK. THE COOLANT LOSS IS MINIMAL SO FAR. I NOW HAVE 85,000 MILES ON THE CAR. THE QUESTION IS: DO I DARE TAKE THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY? APPARENTLY THERE IS NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO BE MADE FOR A LAW OFFICE TO START A CLASS ACTION SUIT. *JB

AFTER TEN YEARS, MY 2003 CAMRY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, MY HUSBAND WAS ON ROUTE 20 WITH THE OIL SHOT OUT, STARTED SMOKING HE HAD TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY STOP, THE 511 EMERGENCY SAW THE SMOKE FROM FAR AWAY WHICH MADE THEM FOLLOW THE SMOKE. MY HUSBAND COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. ALL OF THE OIL AND ANTIFREEZE EMPTIED OUT IN A MATTER OF MINUTES. TWO TOWS AT $189 A PIECE AND A DIAGNOSTIC FROM THE AUTO REPAIR AT $112. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE OXYGEN SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER DID NOT PROVIDE A REASON FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 59,000. *TR

2002-2006 TOYOTA CAMRY & OTHER MODELS WITH 4 CYLINDER ENGINES ( 2AZ) ENGINES BLOWN HEAD GASKET / STRIPPED HEAD BOLT PROBLEM. *TR

VIBRATIONS IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD - VEHICLE BECAME SLUGGISH AND NOISY DUE TO INTAKE MANIFOLD ISSUE -IT IS BROKEN AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

WE FOUND COOLANT ON OUR GARAGE FLOOR. WE TOOK THE CAMRY TO OUR TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS WERE STRIPPED AND COOLANT WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE BOLTS. WE WERE TOLD THAT A USED ENGINE REPLACEMENT WAS NEEDED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, AND THAT TOYOTA WOULD NOT COVER ANY OF THE COST. APPARENTLY, TOYOTA HAD ISSUED SERVICE BULLETINS TO THEIR DEALERS ABOUT THE PROBLEM SOME YEARS BEFORE, BUT WHEN I CALLED TOYOTA'S 1-800-331-4331 NUMBER I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTY EXTENSIONS FOR THIS PROBLEM. BASED ON WHAT I FOUND ON THE INTERNET, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2003 CAMRY. *TR

IN NOVEMBER 2012, I WAS TOLD BY MY THE DEALER THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN MY WATER PUMP IN MY 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. I GOT A SECOND OPINION AND I WAS TOLD THAT MY WATER PUMP HAD A SLOW LEAK AND THAT I SHOULD GET IT REPAIRED. IN DECEMBER 2012, MY CAR RAN HOT AND WAS SMOKING REALLY BAD. DEALER STATED THAT MY I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. I ASKED WHAT WAS THE ISSUE AND THEY STATED THAT MY HEAD GASKETS WERE BLOWN. I ASKED THE DEALER COULD THEY REPAIR THE HEAD GASKETS AND THE ANSWER WAS I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. GOT A SECOND OPINION WHO THEN TOLD ME THAT I HAD STRIPPED HEAD BOLTS AND CAR COULD BE REPAIRED. HAD CAR REPAIRED AND THE CAR IS RUNNING FINE 173,000. I STARTED DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND LITERALLY I FOUND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME ISSUE. I PROCEEDED TO CALL TOYOTA (TWICE) AND THE SECOND CALL DID ADMIT THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED IN NOV 2011 ALERTING THE DEALERS HOW TO REPAIR THE STRIPPED HEAD BOLTS. I COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE HAVING THIS ISSUE AND THE FACT THAT THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE 2.4 ENGINE FOR THE 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. TOYOTA WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE WAS A MAJOR DEFECT WITH THIS YEARS CAMRY. AND WHAT IS FURTHER MORE DISHEARTENING IS THAT THE REPRESENTATIVE AT TOYOTA SAID THAT I SHOULD EXPECT TO MAKE REPAIRS ON MY CAR WITH THE TYPE OF MILEAGE I HAVE. AND I DO AGREE BUT I SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET MORE WITHOUT THE DEFECT. IS THERE ANY WAY I CAN GET TOYOTA TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEFECT BY FILING THIS CLAIM AND IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER CLAIMS ON THIS WEBSITE. *TR

IT WAS AN UNUSUALLY COLD DAY FOR OCTOBER AND I WAS DRIVING MY SON TO SCHOOL WITH MY THREE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN HER CAR SEAT WHEN THE HEAT WOULD NOT WORK. ONLY COLD AIR CAME OUT OF THE VENTS. THE WINDOWS WERE FOGGED UP AND WOULD NOT DEFROST. I THEN NOTICED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAGE WAS IN THE RED ZONE. IT KEPT CLIMBING UP AND DOWN. I COULD NOT SEE OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD AT ALL AND HAD TO PULL OVER FOR SAFETY REASONS. THANK GOD I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY AS USUAL, BUT ON A LOCAL ROAD. I STOPPED AND I WIPED OFF THE WINDSHIELD AND WINDOWS MANUALLY. THIS WAS A TERRIFYING ORDEAL. THE NEXT MORNING I TOOK THE CAMRY TO THE COOPER TIRE GARAGE HERE IN FINDLAY. AFTER INSPECTION I WAS TOLD THAT THE HEAD GASKET PULLED OUT OF THE BLOCK AND THAT IT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS AN ALUMINUM BLOCK. THEY ARE NOT MADE OUT OF STEEL ANYMORE. PREVIOUS TO THIS INCIDENT, I EXPERIENCED ABSOLUTELY NO SYMPTOMS THAT MY TOYOTA'S ENGINE WAS GOING TO MALFUNCTION. MY CAMRY'S ENGINE IS SHOT. I CONTACTED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THEY COULD HELP ME WITH. I WAS ACTUALLY CRYING WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE REPRESENTATIVE. I HAVE BEEN A PROUD OWNER OF TWO CAMRYS. MY DAUGHTER DRIVES A 1995 CAMRY THAT IS STILL RUNNING VERY WELL AND MY MOTHER IS DRIVING A 1999 CAMRY THAT SHE HAS HAD NO ENGINE ISSUES WITH. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A NEWER MODEL DEFECT. MY CAMRY HAS BEEN PAID OFF SINCE NOVEMBER OF 2011. I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING ANOTHER 100,000 MILES OF USE OUT OF IT. THE REPUTATION THAT TOYOTA CAMRY'S HAVE STATES THAT IF I REGULARLY MAINTAIN MY CAMRY I SHOULD HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. I NOW HAVE THE URGE TO WARN ALL CAMRY DRIVERS TO BE AWARE THAT THEY COULD VERY WELL EXPERIENCE ENGINE FAILURE WITH NO SYMPTOMS AT ALL AND EVEN IF THEY REGULARLY MAINTAIN THEIR CAMRY. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ISSUE. MY CAMRY STILL LOOKS AND DID RUN LIKE NEW. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT ALL OF THE COOLANT FLUID HAD LEAKED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE BOLTS BECAME DETACHED FROM THE ENGINE BASE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

INTAKE MANIFOLD NOISE. DOCUMENTED PROBLEM. NO RECALL AVAILABLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING COOLANT FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE ENGINE HEAD BOLT STRIPS ITSELF CAUSING THE COOLANT TO LEAK OUT AND BLEW THE HEAD GASKET. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

CAR SMOKES DURING START UP. STARTED LAST WINTER. RESEARCH INDICATES STRIPPED HEAD BOLTS. PULL AND CLEAN THE PLUGS ABOUT ONCE A MONTH DUE TO FOULING. WAITING FOR IT TO BLOW. WILL NOT TAKE IT OUT OF TOWN OR THE HIGHWAY. *TR

THE VEHICLE ENGINE WAS RUNNING VERY RUFF AFTER START THEN SHORTLY AFTER THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE FAULT CODES ON THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS A NUMBER TWO AND THREE CYLINDER MISFIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ANALYSIS. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING BETWEEN THE NUMBER TWO AND THREE CYLINDERS (NO COOLANT WAS LEAKING OUTSIDE THE ENGINE). THE DEALERSHIP ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE HEAD, BUT THE FIRST BOLT STARTED TO STRIP AND THE TECHNICIANS STOPPED AT THAT POINT. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT REPAIRABLE AND THE REPLACEMENT COST WAS $4,600 FOR A USED 80,000 MILE ENGINE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL SHOP AND HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED WITH A 30,000 MILE ENGINE FOR $3,000. COMPLAINTS LIKE THIS ONE (THE HEAD BOLTS STRIPING OUT THE ALUMINUM ENGINE BLOCK) ARE ALL OVER THE INTERNET. TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE DESIGN FLAWS. 1) THE HEAD GASKETS SHOULD NOT BE FAILING ON VEHICLES WITH LOW MILLAGE. 2) THE HEAD BOLTS SHOULD BE REMOVABLE WITHOUT DAMAGING THE ENGINE.

I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY 4CYL CAR WITH 150,000 MILES, THAT HAS A COOLANT LEAK FROM THE BACK OF THE ENGINE NEXT TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AFTER REPLACE MOST OF THE COOLING SYSTEM SUCH AS FAN, THERMOSTAT TRYING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM ON FURTHER INSPECTION AND RESEARCH, IT WAS REVEALED THAT THE LEAK IS COMING FROM THE HEAD GASKET AREA, DUE TO STRIPPED OUT BLOCK/HEADBOLT, AS A CLEAR SIGN OF MANUFACTURER DEFECT INDICATED AND SUBSTANTIATED BY THE AMOUNT OF SIMILAR CASES FOUND ON INTERNET FORUMS SUCH AS: HTTP://WWW.TUNDRASOLUTIONS.COM/FORUMS/CAMRY/148454-CAMRY-WITH-STRIPPED-HEAD-BOLTS-2/. IT SEEMS CAR MAKERS WILL NOT DO THE RIGHT THING UNLESS THEY ARE FORCED TO AND THIS IS WHY I AM TRYING TO DO MY PART TO INVOKE A VEHICLE RECALL FOR THIS DESIGN FAILURE, BY A COMPANY CLAIMING TO PUT COSTUMERS FIRST, BUT INSTEAD IGNORES SO MANY OF US THE FIRST CHANCE THEY GET. CONSUMERS NEED HELP WITH THIS ISSUE WITH TOYOTA; PLEASE HELP US. THE BEST FIX SO FAR REPORTED IS PURCHASING ANOTHER TOYOTA 4CYL MOTOR WITH THE SAME FLAWED ENGINEERING AND TOYOTA WANTS NO PART OF BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR SHORT COMING. , THIS IS ABSOLUTELY THE MOST DISAPPOINTING EXPERIENCE WITH THEM AND TO KNOW THERE ARE SO MANY INSTANCES OF THE SAME PROBLEM AND YET THIS COMPANY REFUSES TO DO THE RIGHT AND RESPONSIBLE ACTION AND ISSUE A RECALL TO FIX THEIR FAILURE. ANY AND ALL THE ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER IS NEEDED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FLUID FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BOLTS WERE STRIPPED AND AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE AND THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 03/27/12*LJ UPDATED 06/13/2012 *JS

THE ENGINE HEAD BOLTS ARE STRIPPED OUT IN THE BLOCK CAUSING THE HEAD GASKET TO BLOW AND CAUSING A COOLANT LEAK. IN TALKING WITH MY REPAIR PERSON AND SEARCHING THE INTERNET THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE 4 CYL 2.4 L ENGINE. TOYOTA ISSUED A NEW PART NUMBER FOR THE BLOCK (TSB REF #EG015-07) SO THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT DO A RECALL. THE ONLY FIX IS A NEW ENGINE WHICH IS ABOUT $8000.00. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RATTLED AND VIBRATED AS IT ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT'SS MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS FAILING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,767 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,025.

EARLY HEAD GASKET FAILURE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT HEARD WATER MOVING FROM ONE END OF THE VEHICLE TO THE OTHER WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE TURNS OR WHEN SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING COOLANT. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. IN AUGUST 2007 WITH 98,000 MILES, THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED BY A PRIVATE MECHANIC YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 167,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE ENGINE OVER HEAT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. AFTER DIAGNOSIS, THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENGINE HEAD BOLTS FAILED AND THE ENGINE WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND PUTTING THE CAR IN GEAR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS AND THE GAS PEDAL HAS NO EFFECT ON THE ENGINE. THE CAR WILL IDLE ALONG WHILE IN DRIVE; HOWEVER, PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL DOES NOTHING. THE CHECK ENGINE ERROR CODE POINTS TO THE THROTTLE BODY. MY MECHANIC SAYS THAT THE THROTTLE BODY IS STUCK IN THE "CLOSED" POSITION WHEN THIS ERROR HAPPENS. I'VE READ ABOUT THE NUMEROUS TOYOTA CAMRY OWNERS WHO HAVE ALL EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE THROTTLE BODY ON THEIR VEHICLES AT -- HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/TOYOTA-CAMRY/TM6GC5T4DHVFS52CS -- IT SEEMS THAT TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS ALL STATE THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM OCCURRING AND CONTINUE TO CHARGE UPWARDS OF $1200 TO REPLACE AN OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY WITH A NEW THROTTLE BODY THAT STILL HAS THE SAME DEFECTIVE DESIGN. ESSENTIALLY, THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO SWAP OUT ONE DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY FOR ANOTHER DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY. SIMILARLY, TOYOTA CORPORATE IN TORRANCE, CA DENIES THAT THE THROTTLE BODY PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY A PRODUCT DEFECT. MOST LIKELY THIS IS DUE TO THE HIGH COST OF THE PART AND EXPENSE TO INSTITUTE A RECALL OF THE THROTTLE BODY. A CURSORY REVIEW OF THE ONLINE MESSAGE BOARDS CONCERNING THE THROTTLE BODY FAILURES FOR TOYOTA CAMRY OWNERS SHOWS THAT THIS COMPONENT IN PARTICULAR IS FAILING TOO OFTEN TO BE CHALKED UP TO BAD LUCK OR NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. A CONSUMER CLASS ACTION IS APPROPRIATE FOR THIS SORT OF DEFECT. I WOULD ASSUME THAT AN EXPERT WITNESS COULD TESTIFY AS TO THE DEFECT AND OPINE AS TO THE STATISTICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE THROTTLE BODY FAILING MORE THAN ANY OTHER COMPONENT IN THE TOYOTA CAMRY. *TR

ENGINE EMITS WHITE SMOKE DURING COLD START UP. WAS TOLD THE ENGINE HEAD BOLTS ARE STRIPPED DUE TO MANUFACTURING DESIGN WHICH MAY LEAD TO ENGINE OVERHEATING AND FAILURE. ENGINE WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

2003 TOYOTA CAMRY LE ENGINE DRIVING FROM SNELL VILLE GA TO SOUTH CAROLINA TOYOTA CAMRY OIL LIGHT CAME ON THEN CAR CUTOFF FIRST TIME EVER. FAILURE DUE TO TIMING CHAIN BROKE IN ENGINE CAUSING DAMAGE TO ENGINE; NEEDS ANOTHER ENGINE REBUILT OR NEW ONE ETC. AVAILABLE BUT CANNOT AFFORD ONE. *KB

I PURCHASED A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE BRAND NEW. RECENTLY I HAD THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE ONLY TO LEARN THAT COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO THE #2 CYLINDER. AFTER FURTHER EXAMINATION THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE BOLTS GOING INTO THE ALUMINUM ENGINE BLOCK WERE STRIPPED. RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS CAMRYS OF THE SAME YEAR THAT ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THE COST TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE IS PROHIBITIVE AND THE CAR IS WORTHLESS AFTER ONLY 8 YEARS OF USE. THIS IS AN APPARENT MANUFACTURE DEFECT THAT TOYOTA REFUSES TO REMEDY. DRIVING THE CAR AS IS WOULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD AND WE ARE STUCK WITH A CAR OF NO VALUE TO US.

I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY 4CYL CAR WITH 52,000 MILES, THAT HAS A COOLANT LEAK FROM THE BACK OF THE ENGINE NEXT TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. ON FURTHER INSPECTION AND RESEARCH, IT WAS REVEALED THAT THE LEAK IS COMING FROM THE HEAD GASKET AREA, DUE TO STRIPPED OUT BLOCK/HEADBOLT, AS A CLEAR SIGN OF MANUFACTURER DEFECT INDICATED AND SUBSTANTIATED BY THE AMOUNT OF SIMILAR CASES FOUND ON INTERNET FORUMS SUCH AS: HTTP://WWW.TUNDRASOLUTIONS.COM/FORUMS/CAMRY/148454-CAMRY-WITH-STRIPPED-HEAD-BOLTS-2/. I CALLED TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM, SEEKING HELP WITH THIS $6,000 ISSUE AND WAS TOLD "NOTHING WE WILL DO". IT SEEMS CAR MAKERS WILL NOT DO THE RIGHT THING UNLESS THEY ARE FORCED TO AND THIS IS WHY I AM TRYING TO DO MY PART TO JOLT A VEHICLE RECALL FOR THIS DESIGN FAILURE, BY A COMPANY CLAIMING TO PUT COSTUMERS FIRST, BUT INSTEAD SNUBS SO MANY OF US THE FIRST CHANCE THEY GET. CONSUMERS NEED HELP WITH THIS ISSUE WITH TOYOTA; PLEASE HELP US. THE BEST FIX SO FAR REPORTED IS PURCHASING ANOTHER TOYOTA 4CYL MOTOR WITH THE SAME FLAWED ENGINEERING AND TOYOTA WANTS NO PART OF BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR SHORT COMING. I'VE OWN A FEW TOYOTA'S, THIS IS ABSOLUTELY THE MOST DISAPPOINTING EXPERIENCE WITH THEM AND TO KNOW THERE ARE SO MANY INSTANCES OF THE SAME PROBLEM AND YET THIS COMPANY REFUSES TO DO THE RESPONSIBLE ACTION AND ISSUE A RECALL TO FIX THEIR FAILURE. ANY AND ALL THE ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER IS NEEDED. THANK YOU *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE WAS EMITTED FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE AS IT STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS WERE PULLED OUT, THE HEAD GASKET EXHIBITED AN OIL LEAK AND AFTER PRESSURE TESTING THE COOLING SYSTEM, THE CYLINDERS FILLED UP WITH COOLANT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO OFFERED INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,422. UPDATED 06/17/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND POWER STEERING, ALONG WITH THE BRAKES FAILED TO WORK. UPDATED 11/23/11

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT LOUD, ABNORMAL NOISES WHEN FIRST STARTED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BE INSPECTED AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL GURGLING FROM BEHIND THE DASHBOARD.THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEAD GASKET BOLTS FAILED. THE FAILURE DAMAGED THE ENGINE AND MANIFOLD AND THE CONTACT HAD TO EVENTUALLY REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,914 UPDATED 5/24/11 *CN UPDATED 06/06/11. *JB

ENGINE FAILURE DO TO HEAD BOLTS STRIPPED OUT. HUNDREDS OF OTHER CARS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. TOYOTA IS AWARE THEY HAVE A PROBLEM. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN A CONSTRUCTION AREA WITH VERY FEW SHOULDERS THE CAR STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME VERY DIFFICULT AND THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR CAME ON. MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO A SHORT SHOULDER AREA AND CALLED THE AUTO CLUB FOR A TOW. THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED WITH THE HIGHWAY PATROL. SHE HAD TO WAIT IN A VERY DANGEROUS LOCATION WITH MANY HIGH SPEED HEAVY TRUCKS PASSING A FEW INCHES AWAY. OUR MECHANIC SAID THAT THE BELT TENSIONER FAILED CAUSING THE BELT TO FAIL THEN THE POWER STEERING AND ENGINE COOLING TO FAIL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE REAR OF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE HEAD BOLTS STRIPPED AND AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY THE DEALER WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 149,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. SHE THEN APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE INTO AN OPEN FIELD AND WITHIN SECONDS, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT. A FIRE AND POLICE REPORT WERE FILED (FIRE REPORT: 11-003597 AND POLICE REPORT NUMBER: 11-004293). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL JUNKYARD. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY LE (4 CYLINDER, 2.4 L) WHICH BEGAN LEAKING ENGINE COOLANT FROM AROUND THE BACK OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT IT WAS LIKELY A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH, HE DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE LEAK WAS MOST LIKELY LOOSE HEAD BOLTS IN THE ENGINE BLOCK WHICH WERE DUE TO THE BOLTS STRIPPING THE THREAD FROM THE BLOCK. HE SAID MY ONLY OPTION WAS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT THAT POINT. APPARENTLY THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2002 AND 2003 CAMRYS, AND TOYOTA NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS! I BOUGHT A TOYOTA BECAUSE I WANTED A VEHICLE WHICH I COULD BE DRIVING YEARS FROM NOW. NOW I'M LEFT WITH A VEHICLE I DON'T KNOW IF I WILL BE ABLE TO DRIVE NEXT WEEK! *TR

2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. COOLANT LEAKING, PROBLEM WITH ENGINE, SAY MANY OTHER PEOPLE STATING HAVING THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET UNDER VEHICLE REVIEWS AND COMPLAINTS. HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT 100,000 MILES. VERY UPSET. SAME DESCRIPTION AS EVERY ONE ELSE, GURGLING NOISE, COOLANT BEING QUICKLY REMOVED, MECHANIC CHASING THE PROBLEM TO THE ENGINE, ENGINE REPLACED. CALLED TOYOTA, JOKE OF A REACTION, NO APOLOGY OR ANY OFFER OF COMPENSATION. *TR

MY 2003 CAMRY WAS NO LONGER HEATING THE INSIDE OF THE CAR EVEN WITH THE HEAT ON 'HIGH.' THEN I REALIZED THE THERMOSTAT WAS IN THE 'RED.' I HAD ANTIFREEZE ADDED AND IT WORKED FINE FOR 24 HOURS. THEN, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. SINCE I WAS DRIVING, I TURNED THE AIR CONDITIONER ON AND THE THERMOSTAT WENT DOWN TO 'NORMAL' RANGE. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE MECHANIC, WHO ADDED MORE ANTIFREEZE. IT WORKED FINE UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING. THEN, IT HAPPENED AGAIN: NO HEAT IN CABIN AND THERMOSTAT ON 'RED.' I COOLED IT DOWN AND TOOK IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO SAID THE HEAD BOLTS ARE STRIPPED, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK AND THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. HE SAID THE BOLTS WERE NOT PUT IN PROPERLY DURING MANUFACTURING. I SEE MANY CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET. I CALL TOYOTA (1800 331-4331). THE REP SAYS TOYOTA HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL ABOUT THIS, LEAVING ME SOL (SIMPLY OUT OF LUCK). RIGHT NOW, I'M LOOKING AT HAVING TO SPEND AT LEAST $1600 TO REPAIR A CAR THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE RELIABLE. REMEMBER, 'TOYOTA TOUGH?' I'VE BEEN A LOYAL TOYOTA OWNER FOR YEARS ' BUT I BELIEVE THIS WILL BE MY LAST. ' SIGNED, DISAPPOINTED CUSTOMER

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A SMELL OF FUEL WHEN THE CONTACT CHECKED THE OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS FUEL MIXED IN WITH THE OIL BUT COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SMELL MOVED THROUGH THE VENTS AND BURNED HER EYES. A MECHANIC REPLACED THE VALVE GASKETS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 114,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING HOT. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED YET THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE EXACT CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A FAULTY THERMOSTAT OR THE HEADERS. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE WAS DESTROYED AND WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 169,668.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK ON THE HEAD GASKET AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM UNLESS THE MOTOR WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THIS FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 99,600. UPDATED 03/02/11 *BF UPDATED 04/29/11

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY LE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS HE NOTICED THAT THE LOW ANTI FREEZE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING DUE TO THE BOLTS SEPARATING FROM THE ENGINE BLOCK. HE WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 66,000.

IN MARCH 2010 I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY WIFE'S TOYOTA THAT I BELIEVE I EITHER SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY TO FIX OR HAVE TOYOTA SHARE IN THE COST. WHEN I CALLED TOYOTA TO REGISTER THE COMPLAINT THEY SAID COULDN'T HELP ME, SO I AM ASKING FOR YOUR HELP. MY WIFE'S CAMRY (2003 WITH JUST UNDER 100,000 MILES) DEVELOPED A LEAK IN ITS HEAD GASKET, SO I TOOK IT INTO OUR LOCAL GARAGE. THEY LOOKED AT IT (PRESSURE TEST) CONFIRMED IT WAS LEAKING AND WENT ON LINE (IDENTIFIX.COM) TO SEE WHAT EXPERIENCES OTHER MECHANICS HAD WITH THIS PROBLEM AND RECOMMENDED FIXES. THE RESEARCH SHOWED THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS BEING REPORTED FREQUENTLY AND MORE OFTEN THAN NOT ALSO RESULTED IN A MORE SEVERE PROBLEM OF STRIPPING THE ENGINE BOLTS OUT OF THE BLOCK, REQUIRING AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. MY MECHANIC SAID I WOULD BE BEST OFF TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR AND HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT, BECAUSE IF IT WAS MORE THAN JUST THE HEAD GASKET, I MAY BE ABLE TO WORK SOMETHING OUT WITH THEM. IT WAS HIS OPINION THAT A LEAK IN THE HEAD GASKET SHOULDN'T CAUSE THE STRIPPING OF THE ENGINE BOLTS. WE TOOK IT INTO OUR TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY INVESTIGATED - TOOK THE HEAD OFF - AND FOUND THAT IT WAS WHAT MY MECHANIC HAD FEARED, THREE ENGINE BOLTS WERE STRIPPED AND THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. COST FOR A NEW ENGINE BLOCK, HEAD, LABOR, ETC. $7,500. I TOLD THEM WHAT MY MECHANIC HAD FOUND ONLINE - THIS WAS HAPPENING A LOT TO THIS TYPE ENGINE (2003 - 6) - AND MY BELIEF THAT THIS WAS A DESIGN FLAW AND ASKED THEM IF THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT TOYOTA COULD DO TO HELP DEFRAY THE COST OR WAS THERE A RECALL, ETC. THE SERVICE REP SAID NO... NO HELP FROM TOYOTA. I HAVE ALL THE PAPERWORK AND CAN YOU SEND YOU COPIES, INCLUDING THE IDENTIFIX REPORT. CONSIDERING ALL THE PRESSURE PEOPLE, GOVERNMENT, AND LAWYERS HAD TO EXERT ON TOYOTA TO GET THEM TO ADMIT AND ADDRESS THE RECENT ACCELERATOR PROBLEMS, I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD CHECK OR ADD MY CASE TO A DATABASE TO SEE IF SOME LEGAL ACTION IS WARRANTED. *TR

I AM THE OWNER OF 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY . AND I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAIN DUE TO THE ENGINE DEFECTS IN MY VEHICLE . IN APRIL 2008 , I DISCOVERED THE ENGINE COOLANT WAS LEAKING AND IT WAS SO SEVERE THAT I HAD TO TAKE TO THE MECHANIC SHOP FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR. THE MECHANIC DID THE PRESSURE TEST COOLING SYSTEM TEST AND FOUND COOLANT LEAK COMING FROM CYLINDER HAD BY THE INTAKE MANIFOLD . THE MECHANIC REMOVED VALVE COVER AND FOUND 2 HEAD BOLTS LOOSE .MY VEHICLE WAS ONLY 56000 MILES AT THAT TIME. I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE CAR COULD OVERHEAT ANY MINUTES. SO THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED .IT COSTS ME $2700 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE .SO I REPORT THE INCIDENT TO THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURE /DEALERS IN TORRANCE . THEY RESPOND TO ME THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. I REQUESTED NEW MOTOR VEHICLE BOARD FROM CALIFORNIA TO HELP ME TO RESOLVE THE MATTER . THE TOYOTA STILL INSISTED THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR IT . *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTAKE AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 108,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS DISPLAYING A READING THAT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS AN EXTERNAL LEAK WITHIN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE BOLT STRIPS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 75,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT LOW SPEEDS THE CONTACT HEARD A VIBRATING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL GARAGE AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTING LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE GARAGE REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT IF HE WANTED THEM TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR, HE MUST HAVE THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,050. UPDATED 12/03/10. *LJ

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON SHE SMELLED A BURNING ODOR THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FIVE MINUTES AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PRIOR TO OR WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT ADDED WATER TO THE COOLANT RESERVOIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND CAUSED THE HEAD GASKET TO MALFUNCTION. THROUGH FURTHER INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO DAMAGED BOLTS THAT WERE CONNECTED BETWEEN THE HEAD GASKET AND THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE TECHNICIAN CONFIRMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $4,000 MINUS THE COST OF LABOR. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 116,503. UPDATED 11/03/10. *LJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOR AN UNRELATED REPAIR. WHEN SHE RECEIVED THE VEHICLE BACK, THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL GRINDING NOISE FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. UPDATED 07/30/10. *LJ UPDATED 09/30/10 THE CONSUMER STATED HE WOULD LIKE FOR SOMEONE TO RESPOND TO HER COMPLAINT. UPDATED EVOQ 10/13/10*JB

MY TOYOTA CAMRY 2003 HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN. MY AUTO MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT TOYOTA BOLTED THE HEADS IN A FAULTY WAY AND THE LEAK CAN ONLY BE FIXED TEMPORARILY. *TR

2003 CAMRY WITH 120,000 MI. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND OVERNIGHT FOUND LOTS OF ANTIFREEZE ON GARAGE FLOOR. BROUGHT TO MECHANIC. HEADGASKET BLOWN. WENT TO REPLACE HEADGASKET ONLY TO FIND THAT ENGINE BOLTS WERE LOOSE AND HAD STRIPPED THREAD FROM THE ALUMINUM BLOCK. ONLY CHOICE IS TO REPLACE ENGINE - $3,800 FOR A USED ENGINE WITH 50,000 MI. TOYOTA HAS NOT RESPONDED. HAVE HEARD THIS HAS BECOME A COMMON PROBLEM. VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH TOYOTA.

FATAL CAR ACCIDENT. *TR

I WAS NOT GETTING HEAT IF MY CAR WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT. UPON EXAMINATION BY MY MECHANIC HE FOUND THERE WAS A GAP BETWEEN THE HEAD AND THE ENGINE BLOCK. IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THE SCREWS THAT HOLD THE HEAD TO THE ALUMINUM ENGINE BLOCK HAD STRIPPED AND THE HEAD WAS SEPARATING FROM THE BLOCK. . FIRST THE MECHANIC TRIED TO DRILL NEW HOLES WITH NEW BOLTS. HE DIDN'T FEEL THAT IT WOULD HOLD IN THE OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE BLOCK SO I HAD TO GET ANOTHER ENGINE WHICH COSTS ME $3215.78. I HAD NO CAR FOR OVER A MONTH. I AM VERY UPSET WITH THIS ISSUE. IF THE HEAD DETACHED, THE CAR WOULD HAVE LOST POWER. WHAT IF I WAS TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED AND GOT HIT FROM BEHIND. ALSO WITH THE HEAD SEPARATED THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE FUEL COULD HAVE EXPLODED OR STARTED A FIRE WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE ARE OTHERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. THERE ARE A LOT OF 2003 TOYOTA CAMRYS ON THE ROAD TODAY. *TR

TOYOTA CAMRY 2003 4 CYLINDER. RATTLING NOISE FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THIS NOISE OCCURS DUE TO PLASTIC MATERIAL OF WHICH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS MADE OF. MY MECHANIC HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM WITH OTHER 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY AND IS VERY COMMON. *TR

OIL LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO TOYOTA DEALER TO CHECK. WITHIN MINUTES SAID IT WAS SLUDGE AND NEEDED A NEW ENGINE BLOCK. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHENEVER THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICED A RATTLING SOUND IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 85000.

MY CAMRY HAS A BLOW GASKET. I FOUND OUT BECAUSE MY MECHANIC DID THE EXAM HE PRESSURIZED THE COOLING SYSTEM AND PUT THE CAR UP ON THE LIFT. HE IMMEDIATELY NOTICED COOLANT LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD IN THE REAR OF THE ENGINE. HE ALSO NOTICED A LARGE PIECE OF FOAM RUBBER BETWEEN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE ENGINE BLOCK AND HEAD. THIS WAS BLOCKING OUR VIEW OF THE LEAK. WE COULD ONLY SEE THAT THE LEAK WAS BEHIND THE FOAM PIECE. THE ONLY OPTION TO DISCOVER THE SOURCE OF THIS LEAK WAS TO REMOVE THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD, WHICH I DID. AFTER THIS WAS REMOVED, IT BECAME OBVIOUS THAT COOLANT HAD BEEN LEAKING A MINOR AMOUNT FOR QUITE SOME TIME DUE TO BUILD UP BETWEEN THE CYLINDER HEAD AND BLOCK. THE ONLY OPTION LEFT IS TO REMOVE THE HEAD, WHICH REQUIRES AN EXTENSIVE DISASSEMBLY (R AND R CYLINDER HEAD). AFTER LOOSENING THE BOLTS IN SEQUENCE, HE NOTICED THE HEAD BOLTS IN THE BACK OF THE ENGINE WERE LOOSE. FROM HIS EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD, HE CAN CONFIDENTLY CONCLUDE THAT THIS ONLY MEANS ONE OF TWO THINGS: THE BOLTS WERE LEFT LOOSE AT THE FACTORY, OR THE BOLTS ARE STRIPPED. ( HE COMMONLY HAS SEEN STRIPPED BOLTS IN THE ALUMINUM CADILLAC NORTH STAR BLOCK DISCOVERED THROUGH LEAKING COOLANT.)NEXT, HE REMOVED THE HEAD AND SURE ENOUGH, ONE BOLT CAME OUT WITH ALUMINUM IN THE THREAD...THUS INDICATING A STRIPPED BOLT. THE PLACEMENT OF THE (INSULATION) FOAM RUBBER PIECE BETWEEN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE ENGINE BLOCK CREATED AN UNEVEN DISPERSION OF HEAT, CREATING "METAL FATIGUE" IN THE ALUMINUM BLOCK ALLOWING THE HEADBOLT TO STRIP. IF TOYOTA HAD OUT AN ALUMINUM MANIFOLD INSTEAD OF PLASTIC, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO NEED TO INSULATE (W/ FOAM PIECE), THUS ELIMINATING THE PROBLEM. THE ONLY SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM IS TO UNFORTUNATELY REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE COST TO REPAIR IT OTHERWISE WOULD BE SUBSTANTIAL. THIS IS AN ENGINE DEFECT AND WE WILL BE SEEING MORE OF THIS. *TW

I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY 4CYN AND NOTICED BROWNISH OIL SUBSTANCE LEAKING FROM THE CAR. I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THAT HAS BEEN SERVICING MY CAR FOR YEARS ONLY FOR THEM TO TELL ME THAT I HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. WHEN I ASKED THEM TO EXPLAIN HOW THIS HAPPENED AND INFORM THEM THE CAR GAVE ME NO WARNING THEY INDICATED THAT THE HEAD BOLTS WERE STRIPPED AND THIS CAUSED THE COOLANT TO LEAK WHICH IN TURN IS WHY THE ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED. OF COURSE THE QUOTE WAS STARTING AT $3000. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM AND NOTICING THAT THIS IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN OCCURRING OVER SOME TIME AND TOYOTA IS AWARE OF IT BASED ON THE SERVICE BULLETIN 01507 NHTSA#10021542 DATED APRIL 6,2007,TOYOTA SHOULD BE PURSUED WITH A CLASS ACTION SUIT. THERE ARE MANY CAMRY OWNERS (RANGING IN YEARS 2002-2006) WITH THIS PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE HELPED IN SOME KIND OF WAY FROM THE TOYOTA CORPORATION. *TR

I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH A 2.4 4 CYL. 2AZ-FE MOTOR. AND HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE THE HEADBOLTS PULL OUT OF THE BLOCK, CAUSING A COOLANT LEAK. THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM IS KNOWN TO TOYOTA, AS DESCRIBED IN TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETIN 01507, NHTSA #10021542, DATED APRIL 6 2007. EVEN THOUGH TOYOTA AND YOUR OFFICE IS AWARE THIS ISSUE AFFECTS HUNDREDS OF CONSUMERS, CAUSING REPAIRS ANYWHERE FROM $2000 TO $6000, NOTHING IS BEING DONE TO CORRECT THIS OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW. TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE BLOCK NEEDS TO BE DRILLED AND TAPPED TO ACCOMMODATE INSERTS TO ALLOW THE HEADS TO BE TORQUED TO THE REQUIRED SPECS, OR IN SOME CASES, THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

ENGINE OIL LIGHT CAME ON WITH NO WARNING. WENT TO TOYOTA DEALER IMMEDIATELY AND SAID I HAD SLUDGE BUILD UP AND NEEDED A NEW ENGINE BLOCK - QUOTE $6200. THIS HAPPENED 2 DAYS BEFORE XMAS. I WAS STUNNED AND ASKED TO SPEAK TO MANAGEMENT. TOYOTA DENIED ANY SLUDGE PROBLEMS AND FAILED TO MENTION THAT A CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT WAS MADE FOR MODELS UP TO 2002 FOR THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE A 2003 WITH THE SAME ENGINE SPECS.*TR

I HAD TO DO A HEAD GASKET REPAIR AND REPLACE THE THERMOSTAT ON MY 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY DUE TO MALFUNCTIONING THREADS FOR THE BOLTS ON THE HEAD GASKET. WHEN THE MECHANIC TOOK THE HEAD OFF HE REALIZED THE 3 BACK BOLTS WERE LOOSE. WHEN HE TRIED TO REPLACE THE HEAD, THE 3 BACK BOLTS WOULD NOT TORQUE TO PROPER PRESSURE. REALIZING THAT THE THREADS WERE STRIPPED IT WAS DISCUSSED ABOUT REPLACING THE ENGINE OR HAVING THE HOLES DRILLED OUT AND FIXED WITH TIMESERTS. I WENT WITH THE TIMESERTS REALIZING THAT IF I REPLACED THE ENGINE WITH THE SAME TYPE I'D BE FACING THIS PROBLEM AGAIN. I BELIEVE THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT HAVE OVERHEATED IN THE FIRST PLACE IF THE 3 BACK BOLTS WERE NOT ALREADY LOOSE. THE MACHINE SHOP OPERATOR STATED THIS WAS HIS 59TH TOYOTA THIS YEAR HE HAD TO DO THE TIME-SERTS ON THE ENGINE. I HAD ALL 10 OF THE HOLES RE DONE AT A COSTLY PRICE TO MAKE SURE THIS WOULD NOT HAPPEN TO THE OTHER BOLTS. *TR

2003 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE 4 CYL. WITH LESS THAN 100K OVERHEATED. TOOK VEHICLE TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED ME OF A COOLANT LEAK AT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. DEALER HAS VEHICLE, REPORTS IT IS NOT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THAT IS LEAKING BUT 3 REAR STEEL BOLTS THAT GO INTO ALUMINUM ARE STRIPPED. TOYOTA IS "UNWILLING TO PARTICIPATE" IN THE REPAIR WITH AN ESTIMATE OF $6900.00 WHICH INCLUDES PURCHASING A NEW BLOCK. THIS SAME ISSUE IS ALL OVER THE TOYOTA FORUMS, USUALLY THIS ISSUE APPEARS AS A PROBABLE BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THIS IS NOT THE CASE IN MY VEHICLE. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS DEFECT BUT IS DOING NOTHING TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS. THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON OCCURRENCE AND AS MORE VEHICLES ATTAIN APPROXIMATELY THE SAME MILEAGE, MORE REPORTS ARE BEING MADE OF THIS FAULT. THIS TYPE OF REPAIR SHOULD NOT BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CONSUMER WHEN THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THIS MOST CERTAINLY SHOULD PROMPT A RECALL. PERHAPS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IS IN ORDER. *TR

2003 TOYOTA CAMRY LE, 4 CYL., AUTOMATIC, APPROX 60,000 MILES. PROBLEM: UNCOMMANDED FULL ACCELERATION. DRIVING CONDITIONS: CLEAR WEATHER, DAYTIME, DRY SURFACE HIGHWAY, CRUISE CONTROL - OFF, TRANSMISSION GEAR SELECTED - DRIVE. CONSEQUENCE: MAJOR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. CORRECTIVE ACTION: THROTTLE / SENSOR CHECKED FOR FAILURE AT SHOP - NO DEFECT NOTED - COULD NOT DUPLICATE FAILURE. REPLACEMENT THROTTLE $1100 WITH LABOR. *TR

VEHICLE ENGINE OIL SLUDGE AND ASSOCIATED PROBLEMS CAUSED VEHICLE TO STOP COMING OFF BRIDGE OVERPASS ON BUSY STREET. THOUGH THE ENGINE IS COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY, CLAIM WAS DENIED. *TR

2003 CAMRY, 4 CYLINDER, 2.4L ENGINE, XLE MODEL. FLUTTERING NOISE UNDER LIGHT ACCELERATION FROM THE ENGINE AREA. DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $760.00. ENGINE HAD 86,000 MILES. VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS FAILURE WHICH SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED WITH A CAR OF THIS SUPPOSED QUALITY. I RATE THIS CAR A 2 OUT OF 5. *TR

03 CAMRY 4 CYL. 2.4L. ONLY 32000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING TO WORK IN THE MORNING, COOLANT LEAKING FROM A HOSE ATTACHED TO THE THROTTLE BODY. ENGINE BECAME OVERHEATED. NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. HAD TO STOP THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES ON THE WAY TO WORK. THROTTLE BODY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE. IT COSTS MORE THAN $1200 TO REPLACE. *TR

VEHICLE IS 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE - 1ST INCIDENT OCCURRED 10-27-06 - OIL LIGHT CAME ON, STOPPED AT FULL SERVICE STATION, LESS THAN 1/2 QT LOW, CRANKED CAR & LIGHT WAS OFF, WENT APPROX 25 MILES, PULLED UP TO STOP SIGN, CAR DIED, WOULDN'T CRANK, HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, THEY RAN QUICK TEST & GOT CODE P0340, FOUND INTAKE CAM BROKEN, ENGINE DIRTY, PICKUP STOPPED UP,INTAKE& EXHAUST CAM STUCK IN CYLINDER HEAD, GAVE ESTIMATE FOR USED ENGINE, CAR HAD 56,738 MILES & WAS UNDER POWER TRAIN WARRANTY, THEY SAID DUE TO OIL SLUDGE, BLAMED ON NOT CHANGING OIL, HAD ALL MAINTENANCE RECORDS, ACCUSED MY MECHANIC OF FALSIFYING DOCS BUT FINALLY AGREED TO REPAIR. THEY DID NOT REPLACE ENGINE, THEY REPLACED CYLINDER HEADS, CAMS, VALVES, TIMING CHAIN & GUIDES, OIL PICKUP, CLEANED ENGINE & REASSEMBLED. 2ND INCIDENT - MID MAY 2009 - DRIVING, NO LIGHTS CAME ON, CAR STARTED LOSING POWER & SMOKING BAD, PULLED OVER, OIL WAS SPLATTERED CAUSING SMOKING, WAS NOT RUNNING HOT, STILL HAD SOME OIL EVEN AFTER SPLATTERING, TOWED TO MECHANIC, HE SAID DUE TO SLUDGE, DAMAGE INCLUDED 3 HOLES IN BLOCK, 1 HOLE IN OIL PAN, #4 CONNECTING ROD DAMAGED BAD, #4 PISTON SHATTERED, #4 CYLINDER HEAD DAMAGED, ENGINE A TOTAL LOSS, STILL HAVE OLD ENGINE, CAR HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. TOYOTA GAVE ME A CASE #, THEN ON 06-24-09 TOYOTA DENIED ANY KIND OF REPAIR STATING THE 2003'S WERE NOT COVERED UNDER THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT & CAR WAS TOO FAR OUTSIDE WARRANTY. CAR HAS APPROX 96,000 MILES. TOYOTA CLAIMS THEY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM WITH THE NEW ENGINES AFTER 2001, BUT APPARENTLY THE NEW ENGINES HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE ONES IN THE LAWSUIT. THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, TOO MANY TOYOTA OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE ALL MY MAINTENANCE RECORDS SHOWING TIMELY OIL CHANGES. I COULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT CAUSING INJURY AND/OR DEATH TO MYSELF OR PERSONS IN INCOMING TRAFFIC WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THANK GOD NO ONE WAS INJURED. *TR

2002 ALTIMA 2.5S CATALYTIC CONVERTER BACKFIRED INTO THE ENGINE CAUSING HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION AND OTHER PROBLEMS REQUIRING THE ENGINE TO NEED REPLACEMENT IN MY CAR AT 107,000 MILES THERE WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT BUT A FAILURE ON THE CAR AND NISSAN REFUSAL TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT FINANCIALLY WARRANTY GONE. *TR

HEARD GURGLING IN THE DASHBOARD AND SOON AFTER THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. TOOK IT IN TO THE AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY DISCOVERED A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND WHEN THEY STARTED REMOVING THE HEAD BOLTS, THEY DISCOVERED THE BOLTS HAD PULLED THROUGH THE ALUMINUM BLOCK WHICH CAUSED THE HEAD GASKET TO BLOW. *TR

IT BEGAN WITH THE RUSHING SOUND OF FLUID (COOLANT) SOMEWHERE IN THE DASH. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE HEAD GASKET BLEW. THE DEALER SAID THE BOLTS IN THE ENGINE WERE STRIPPED OUT AND THEY REPLACED THE SHORT BLOCK. IT WAS REPLACED AND WITHIN A YEAR THIS IS OCCURRING AGAIN. *TR

IT BEGAN WITH THE RUSHING SOUND OF FLUID (COOLANT) SOMEWHERE IN THE DASH. WHEN I TOOK IT IN BECAUSE I WAS SMELLING COOLANT AND NOTICED SOME SMOKE, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE HEAD GASKET BLEW. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 12 MONTHS THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED, I FULLY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE FOR THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM IN MAY 2008...CLEARLY A DEFECT SOMEWHERE IN THE DESIGN. *TR

A CRACK IS DEVELOPED IN 'OIL SUB PAN' AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE BODY ON MY TOYOTA CAMRY 2003, WHICH HAVE ONLY 51000 MILES ON IT. AN INDEPENDENT AUTO TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT A CRACK IN THE OIL PAN IS UNUSUAL AND IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THERE AT THE TIME OF MANUFACTURE. A MECHANIC AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN METAIRIE TOLD ME THE SAME THING ALONG WITH THE FACT THAT SUCH A CRACK IS HARD TO DETECT. I AM LUCKY THAT THIS FAULT WAS DETECTED EARLY AND FIXED BEFORE A FATAL BREAKDOWN COULD HAVE OCCURRED. I HAVE FIXED THIS PROBLEM AT TOYOTA DEALER'S SHIP AND IT COST $3100, WHEN I RAISED THIS ISSUE THEY AGREED TO SPLIT COST FIFTY FIFTY AND STILL IT COST $1532 AND THAT IS TOO MUCH FOR ME SEEING AS HOW NONE OF THIS WAS MY FAULT. THE OLD PART IS STILL WITH TOYOTA DEALER SHIP THEY DIDN'T HAND OVER TO ME. I REGULARLY CHANGE OIL AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, AND I WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT THEY FAILED TO NOTICE THIS FAULT EARLIER. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM. *TR

ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE. THERE IS A TSB ALREADY FOR THIS FAILURE, TSB-0034-08. THEY IS VERY HIGH FAILURE RATE THAT WAS CAUSED BY INADEQUATE BAFFLES IN THE INTAKE THAT WILL BREAK APART AND POSSIBLY CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE. THE PROBLEM STARTS WITH A LIGHT TAPPING NOISE AND GRADUALLY GETS LOUDER. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE VERY WIDESPREAD WITH TOYOTA OWNERS WITH THE 2.4L 4 CYLINDER ENGINE. *TR

MY TOYOTA CAMRY 2003 BECAME NOISY A FEW WEEKS AGO. YESTERDAY, I SENT THE CAR TO TOYOTA DEALER. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD SHOULD TO BE REPLACED. I SPEND ~$600 TO REPLACED THE MANIFOLD. NOW THE NOISE IS GONE. AFTER I SEARCH INTERNET, SAME PROBLEMS HAVE HAPPENED IN LOTS OF TOYOTA CAMRY 2003. THUS, I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT THIS INTAKE MANIFOLD PROBLEM IS A DEFICIENCY FROM MANUFACTURE. TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL THIS PROBLEM. *TR

A SERPENTINE BELT PULLEY DETACHED FROM THE ENGINE DISABLING THE POWER STEERING MAKING TURNS DIFFICULT. THIS HAPPENED AT LOW SPEED, SO THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, BUT AT HIGH SPEED WOULD HAVE BEEN A REAL PROBLEM. *TR

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS MAKING ALOT OF NOISE. APPARENTLY TOYOTA WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY REPLACE IT FOR FREE ON LOW MILEAGE VEHICLES (WITHIN THE 3 YR, 36K MILE FACTORY WARRANTY) OR ON HIGHER MILEAGE CARS UP TO 70K MILES. MY VEHICLE HAS 114K MILES SO IT WAS NOT COVERED. I WILL BE ISSUING A COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA AS WELL. *TR

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD OF MY 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY IS FAULTY FROM THE TIME THE CAR WAS BUILT. TOYOTA IS SAYING THAT THEY WON'T COVER AS ITS NOT IN WARRANTY. HOW CAN A PART THAT WAS FAULTY FROM THE DATE IT WAS INSTALLED NOT BE COVERED. IT IS CLEARLY A FACTORY ISSUE IN THEIR OWN ADMISSION. HOW CAN THEY NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING? *TR

WHILE DRIVING HOME ONE DAY I BEGAN TO SMELL ANTIFREEZE IN MY CAR. MY HUSBAND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL GARAGE WHO INFORMED HIM THAT IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET. MY CAR HAS ONLY 77,000 MILES ON IT. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET. WHILE REPAIRING MY VEHICLE THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT ALL FOUR SCREWS POPPED OUT. IT COST ME OVER 1700.00 TO REPAIR. MY MECHANIC REPORTED THIS TO BE UNUSUAL FOR ANY CAR'S HEAD GASKET TO GO WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE. "IT'S UNHEARD OF". TOYOTA CLAIMS I AM NOT COVERED BECAUSE I'M OVER THE MILEAGE AND WOULD NOT HELP ME. CLEARLY THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

ENGINE NOISE CAUSED BY INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACK AS DIAGNOSED BY A TOYOTA SERVICE DEALER. *TR

WATER PUMP FAILURE,REPLACED 3 TIMES 1ST. TIME15MONTHS INTO NEW CAR WARRANTY 2NDTIME 13MONTHS LATER STILL UNDER WARRANTY 3RDTIME AFTER 5 YEAR WARRANTY TOYOTA COVERED. *TR

THERE IS CLATTERING NOISE IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE NOISE STARTED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO AND HAS GOTTEN CONTINUALLY WORSE. I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE NOISE WAS. THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMS IT IS NOT A DEFECTIVE PART. *TR

THE CAR WAS IDLING, WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK, FOR ABOUT THREE MINUTES. I PLACED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE IN ORDER TO SHIFT THE CAR FROM PARK INTO DRIVE. THE INSTANT THE SHIFT LEVER WENT INTO DRIVE THE CAR ENGINE ROARED, THE TIRES SQUEALED, I WAS PUSHED BACK INTO THE SEAT AND THE CAR SHOT FORWARD HEADING TOWARD VEHICLES ON A BUSY STREET. I SEEMED TO HAVE NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, EXCEPT FOR STEERING, FROM THAT POINT ON. TO AVOID A BROADSIDE COLLISION WITH VEHICLES THE STREET I FOLLOWED THE CONTOUR OF THE BANKS DRIVE THROUGH LANE WHICH WAS A 90 DEGREE TURN TO THE LEFT. NOTHING I DID SEEMED TO HAVE ANY EFFECT ON THE MOTION AND OPERATION OF THE CAR. IN MAKING THE TURN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CLIMBED OVER THE DRIVEWAY CURB. IN CORRECTING FOR THAT I OVER STEERED THE CAR AND CLIMBED THE CURB ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DRIVEWAY STRIKING A WELLS FARGO SIGN ON THE PROPERTY ADJACENT TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DRIVEWAY BEFORE ADVANCING INTO THE MAIN BANK PARKING LOT. THE CAR PROCEEDED FORWARD WHERE, JUST AFTER ENTERING THE PARKING LOT, IT STRUCK THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER AND BUMPER OF A USPS MAIL TRUCK. THE CAR RICOCHETS OFF THE MAIL TRUCK AND PROCEEDS INTO AND ALMOST THROUGH THE ADJACENT CVS PHARMACY PARKING LOT BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. THE GASOLINE TANK WAS GUTTED WHEN THE CAR RAN OVER THE SIGN RESULTING IN GAS BEING DUMPED ON THE BANK DRIVEWAY. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE GAS WAS SPILLED ON THE BANK DRIVEWAY JUST AFTER THE SIGN. THE GAS CONTINUED TO SPILL BUT DIMINISHED AS THE CAR PROCEEDED THROUGH THE CVS PARKING LOT TO THE POINT WHERE THERE WAS NO GASOLINE SPILL AT ALL WHERE THE CAR CAME TO A STOP. IT IS MY BELIEF THE CAR STOPPED FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN IT RAN OUT OF GAS. NOTHING I DID OR TRIED TO DO APPEARED TO HAVE ANY EFFECT. *TR

DUE TO ANTI FREEZE LEAK THE MECHANIC FOUND LEAK TO BE COMING FROM CYLINDER HEAD GASKET, WHEN HEAD WAS REMOVED FOUND 3 CENTER BOLTS WERE LOOSE, THREADS WERE STRIPPED AND DAMAGED. I WAS TOLD THIS IS A DEFECT IN 2003 4 CYL TOYOTA CAMRY ENGINES. DEALER WOULD NOT COVER, AS IT WAS REPAIRED ELSEWHERE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT FILLED THE VEHICLE WITH WATER AND DROVE TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE COOLANT LEAKED WATER BETWEEN THE CYLINDER HEAD AND THE BLOCK. IT WAS ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THREE CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS WERE LOOSE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000. UPDATED 10/16/08. *LJ UPDATED 10/17/08.*JB

VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A LOUD RATTLING/VIBRATING NOISE THAT STARTED AROUND 57,000 MILES. IT SOUNDED LIKE THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE CAR, THOUGH OIL CHANGE HAD BEEN DONE LESS THAN 1,000 MILES PRIOR TO NOTICING THIS. SOUND GOT WORSE AND WORSE OVER THE NEXT WEEK OR SO AND WAS USUALLY LOUDEST WHEN THE CAR WAS FIRST STARTED UP IN THE MORNING OR AFTER IT HAD BEEN SITTING ALL DAY. HEARD MOSTLY WHEN IT WAS IDLING IN PARK AND WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED DRIVING. ONCE YOU GOT GOING, THE SOUND WASN'T SO BAD. TOOK IT BACK TO THE OIL CHANGE PLACE AND THEY SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE A LIFTER PROBLEM. DID SOME RESEARCH AT HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.NET/FORUM/AUTOS/TOYOTA-CAMRY/T9MGD2F66FRTCKKID AND VARIOUS OTHER PLACES ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OUT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. IT'S ACTUALLY THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. I CALLED TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD WARRANTY WAS 5 YEARS OR 50K MILES. SINCE CAR WAS PURCHASED USED I HAD THEM RESEARCH DATE OF FIRST USE AND, OF COURSE, MY 5 YEAR CUTOFF WAS 2 MONTHS PRIOR TO MY PHONE CALL. THE SOUND GOT SO BAD BY 58,000 MILES I TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND WITHOUT TELLING THEM WHAT I HAD FOUND OUT, THEY TOLD ME THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR A COST OF $600. VEHICLE IS IN THE SHOP BEING REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE AS I WRITE THIS. TOYOTA SHOULD BE MADE AWARE THAT THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM AND RECALL THIS PART SINCE IT IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. EVERY TIME THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, HE NOTICED A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, WHICH HE BELIEVED TO BE THE VALVE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE SLUDGE DAMAGE IN THE ENGINE. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REBUILT AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. HE HAS HAD THE OIL CHANGED ROUTINELY AT 5,000 MILES; THEREFORE, THE SLUDGE BUILD-UP WAS ABNORMAL. THE CONTACT HAS A COPY OF EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS PERSONALLY SERVICED. HE ALSO HAS A SAMPLE OF THE SLUDGE TAKEN FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,949. UPDATE 05/13/08 *BF AFTER A BREAKDOWN OF THE ENGINE, HUGE AMOUNTS OF GEL OIL SLUDGE WAS VISIBLE IN THE ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD. UPDATED 05/13/08. *JB

2003 TOYOTA CAMRY-MILEAGE ABOUT 101,000. UNBELIEVABLE THAT MY 2003 NEEDS A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I HAVE HAD MORE TROUBLE WITH THIS 2003 TOYOTA THEN ANY OTHER TOYOTA I HAVE EVER PURCHASED. I HAVE PURCHASED SEVERAL TOYOTAS OVER THE YEARS AND WAS GOING TO GET A NEW 2008 OR 2009 TOYOTA CAMRY BUT NOT NOW. ALSO THE CATALYST CONVERTER IS ON BACK ORDER AND THE DEALER IS NOT SURE WHEN IT WILL BE IN - IT WAS ORDERED 02/12/08 AND NOT DUE IN UNTIL MAY BE 02/21/08. DIDN'T KNOW I HAD A PROBLEM UNTIL I WENT FOR AN EMISSION CHECK. THIS PIECE IS VERY EXPENSES AND I'M JUST WONDERING IS IT NOT USUAL FOR THIS CONVERTER TO GO BAD SO EARLY. I DO NOT PULL ANY HEAVY LOADS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. *TR

THE DEALERSHIP STATES THAT THE MANIFOLD HAS A PROBLEM CAUSING A VERY LOUR RATTLING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MANY MANY INDIVIDUALS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM FORUMS ON THIS SITE: HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.NET/FORUM/AUTOS/TOYOTA-CAMRY/T9MGD2F66FRTCKKID. *TR

HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS BROKEN. TOYOTA WON'T HELP EVEN THOUGH IT SEEMS TO BE AN OCCASIONAL PROBLEM WITH THE CAMRY. *TR

GETTING A LARGE CHATTER OR RATTLE FROM THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD, WHICH AFTER REVIEWING INTERNET INFO APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM THAT WARRANTS A DEFECTIVE ISSUE. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR ALMOST A YEAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE STATED THAT THERE WAS SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS IMPOSSIBLE AND ACCUSED THE CONTACT OF NOT USING THE RECOMMENDED AMOUNT OF OIL AND INSPECTING THE VEHICLE. HE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 42,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD TICKING AND RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. SHE IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND THEY PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TEST INDICATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS SEPARATING FROM THE INSIDE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TOO MANY MILES TO BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 62,000.

BEGAN TO HEAR RATTLING NOISE SHORTLY BEFORE TAKING CAR TO DEALER FOR 90,000 MILE SERVICING. ADVISED BY DEALER THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $600. HAD MANIFOLD REPLACED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR

2003 CAMRY LE, 39,000 MILES. THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS ITSELF DOWN WHILE DRIVING. LUCKILY, THIS HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT OF A DEALERSHIP WHEN WE BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR A SEEMLY UNRELATED ISSUE. SHOULD THIS HAPPEN OUTSIDE, IT COULD BE DEADLY. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM GIVEN ITS DANGEROUS FAILURE MODE. THE CAR INITIALLY HAD START ISSUE A DAY EARLIER. IT ONLY STARTED AFTER THE HOOD HAS BEEN OPENED FOR A FEW MINUTES. BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP NEXT DAY. THE START ISSUE HAPPENED A FEW MORE TIMES IN THE DEALERS LOT. AFTER IT FINALLY STARTED, IT HAD A POWER WINDOW FAILURE, FOLLOWED BY THE SHUTTING DOWN OF THE CAR BY ITSELF WHILE THE CAR WAS PHYSICALLY MOVING. THE DEALER COULD NOT PIN POINT THE PROBLEM BUT SUSPECTED THE BODY ECU (ENGINE CONTROL UNIT) BECAUSE OF THE POWER WINDOW FAILURE. THEY REPLACED AN ECU AND THAT SOLVED THE PROBLEM. *TR

I PURCHASED THE 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY IN SEPTEMBER 2005. WHILE I LOVE MY CAR I DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS AFTER HEARING THE OTHER COMPLAINTS. I HEAR SLOSHING SOUND UNDER THE DASH. IT IS REALLY LOUD WHEN BRAKING, ACCELERATING, OR PARKING. I ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT IT SEVERAL TIMES, AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NORMAL FOR YOUR CAR. ALSO , HEAR A SQUEAKY, GRINDING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO EITHER SIDE. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I TURN THE WHEEL, NO MATTER HOT OR COLD WEATHER. THE DELAERSHIP COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT THEM. THEY KEPT IT 2 DAYS, AND SAID NOTHIGN WAS WRONG. IT CONTINUED FOR ANTOHER WEEK, AND I RETURNED WITH IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY KEPT IT OVERNIGHT AND CALLED ME THE NEXT DAY, AND TOLD ME THEY DID NOT HAVE TIME TO LOOK AT IT, BUT THEY WERE SURE NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. THEY WILL NOT RETURN ANY PHONE CALLS OR EVEN TALK TO ME WHEN I GO THERE. THE LAS THING, WAS THE PAINT CONTINUALLY CHIPPING AND PEELING OF IN CHUNKS ON THE HOOD, FRONT BUMPER, AND REAR BUMPER. I HAVE SPOKEN TO TOYOTA ABOUT THIS SEVERAL TIMES, AND THEY CONTINUED TO SAY IT WAS NOT THEIR FAULT, AND MY CAR WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. SO THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING. THIS ALL STARTED ABOUT 3 WEEKS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR AND CONTINUED TODAY. PLEASE ADVIS ME IF THEREWAS ANYTHING I COULD DO TO FIX ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS. THANKS. AK

TOYOTA DEALER ADVISES REPLACEMENT OF INTAKE MANIFOLD ON 2003 CAMRY 4-CYLINDER DUE TO LOUD RATTLING NOISE. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE. MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS NOTED. *NM

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW TOYOTA CAMRY XLE IN MAY 2003. ABOUT 1 1/2 YEARS AFTER PURCHASING IT, I BEGAN TO HEAR A SLOSHING SOUND UNDER THE DASH BOARD. THE PRODUCING OF THE SOUND WASN'T CONSISTENT BECAUSE SOME DAYS IT WASN'T PRESENT AT ALL. WHEN THE SOUND FIRST STARTED IT WAS VERY FAINT AND THE PASSENGER COULD NOT HEAR IT EVEN WHEN I POINTED IT OUT. I CHECKED FOR LEAKS BUT I COULD NOT FIND ANY. TODAY, THE SOUND IS A LOT MORE NOTICABLE; HOWEVER, IT STILL DOES NOT PRESNET ITSELF EVERYDAY. I TRIED TO OBSERVE IF IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN IT IS COLD OUT SIDE OR HOT, BUT THE SOUND IS NOT CONSISTENT. WHEN THE SOUND IS PRESENT, I WOULD HAVE TO TURN MY MUSIC UP A LITTLE TO IGNORE IT. MY CAR'S PERFORMANCE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE HAMPERED BY THIS SLOSHING OR SPLASHING NOISE SO I THOUGHT MY FLUIDS WERES JUST CIRCULATING. BUT IT HAS BECOME QUITE EMBARASSING AND ANNOYING HAVING TO DEAL WITH IT. I READ ANOTHER CONSUMER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND TOYOTA COULD NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE SO THEY BOUGHT THEIR CAR BACK. I AM NOW INQUIRING TO TOYOTA ABOUT THE ISSUE, BUT I WISHED I HAD WHEN MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND THE PROBLEM FIRST ARISED AT THE 20,000 MILE MARK. *JB

03 CAMRY MANIFOLD AT 45K TOOK CAR TO DEALER WITH COMPLAINT OF KNOCKING/VIBRATION COMING FROM ENGINE. DEALER REPLACED WATER PUMP UNDER WARRANTY AND RECOMMENDED TENSIONER BE REPLACED, OUT OF WARRANTY ITEM, TO FULLY CORRECT NOISE. NOISE PERSISTED AND I LEARNED TO DEAL WITH IT SINCE IT WASN'T HARMING THE ENGINE. PROGRESSIVELY GOT MORE ANNOYING AND AT 58K TOOK BACK TO DEALER. SSERVICE REP LISTENED TO IT FOR 2 MINUTES AND SAID IT WAS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WHICH WOULD COST $591 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. I DECIDED NOT TO LEAVE CAR AND HAVE WORK DONE AGAIN SINCE IT WAS NOT HARMING THE ENGINE AND MORE OF A NUISANCE THAN ANYTHING. AT 60,500K I E-MAILED TOYOTA AND ASKED ABOUT THE EMISSIONS WARRANTY COVERAGE AND WAS TOLD THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS COVERED UP TO 60K OR 5 YRS. I ONLY HAVE SELF TO BLAME FOR NOT BEING PROACTIVE SOONER, BUT TOYOTA SHOULD OWN UP TO THIS RATHER COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE NOTE THAT I WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA THAT "THE WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS 5 YRS OR 60,000 WHICH EVER COMES FIRST FROM THE VEHICLES DATE OF FIRST USE..."*JB

INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKING ONLY 51000 MILES 2003 CAMRY . TOYOTA DEALERS EST. $675.00 TO REPAIR . I NOTICED ON LINE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH 2003 CAMRY. *NM

MY 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY, WHICH I MAINTAINED IN A NORMAL MANNER, W/APPROPRIATE OIL CHANGES. THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON, I PUT IN 1 QT OF OIL, THE LIGHT WENT OFF. A SHORT TIME LATER, I DROVE THE CAR AND IT STARTED MAKING A LOUD CLACKING SOUND, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I DROVE IT HOME AND PARKED IT; CALLED A MECHANIC TO COME TAKE A LOOK. HE SAID IT WAS THE ENGINE AND NEEDED TO BE TAKEN TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, AND WE COULD NOT DRIVE IT AT ALL. I TOWED IT TO THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP, APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES AWAY. THEY CHECKED IT OVER COUPLE OF DAYS, THEN CALLED AND SAID THE ENGINE HAD SLUDGE IN IT, AND NEEDED A $7,000-$8,000 REPAIR. THEY ALSO SAID IT WAS MY FAULT, BECAUSE THE OIL HAD OBVIOUSLY NOT BEEN CHANGED PROPERLY. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR, THE TOYOTA DEALER TALKED ME INTO A $999 EXTENDED WARRANTY PLAN, WHICH HE ASSURED ME WOULD COVER ANY MAJOR ISSUES THAT MIGHT COME UP WITH A CAR -- THEIR TENDER LOVING CARE PACKAGE. NOW THE WARRANTY (WHICH TOYOTA IS DISTANCING THEMSELVES FROM, SAYING IS AN OUTSIDE COMPANY, THEREFORE NOT ANYTHING TO DO WITH THEM) COMPANY DENIED THE REPAIR. ALSO, TOYOTA DENIED COVERING THE REPAIR, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND TONS OF MATERIAL ONLINE INDICATING THAT THEY'VE HAD AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE CAMRY ENGINES AND SLUDGE ISSUES. IT LOOKS LIKE THOUSANDS OF CONSUMERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, AND TOYOTA ALWAYS SAYS IT IS THE OWNER'S FAULT. I HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES, AND HAVE SOME OF THE RECORDS. I DO NOT HAVE ALL OF THE RECEIPTS, BUT HAVE WELL OVER HALF OF THEM. THE CAR HAS 96,000 MILES ON IT, AND THE EXTENDED WARRANTY IS FOR 100,000 MILES. TOYOTA SHOULD FIX THE ENGINE PROPERLY AT THEIR EXPENSE. A $7-8K REPAIR IS A MONUMENTAL EXPENSE FOR OUR FAMILY. THIS MAY NOT SEEM LIKE A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT I BELIEVE IT IS, AS AN ENGINE LOCKING UP OR STOPPING COLD COULD PRESENT A SERIOUS DRIVING ISSUE, AND CERTAINLY SEEMS TO BE A VERY BROAD PROBLEM WITH THE TOYOTA CAMRYS. *NM

CAR MAKES CLICKING NOISE WHEN IDLE AND IN FIRST GEAR. I GOT A DIAGNOSTIC TEST BY TOYOTA DEALER AND THE PROBLEM IS A BROKEN AIRFLOW DEFLECTOR IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WHICH IS FLAPPING AROUND. THIS PROBLEM IS REPORTEDLY COMMON ON CAMRYS. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A HISSING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, AND THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS AN INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAK, AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED .*AK UPDATED 2/7/2006 - *NM

INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE ON 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY 2.4 ENGINE (TOYOTA MOTOR CO.) WILL NOT REPLACE. THEY KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY REPLACED THEM WITH A NEW TYPE OF INTAKE MANIFOLD. MY CAMRY HAS 65000 MILES. *JB

DT: 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE ENGINE I 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY CAUGHT ON FIRE. HAD NOT CONTACTED DEALERSHIP OR THE MANUFACTURER. DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT THE WAY VEHICLE WAS OPERATING BEFORE THE FIRE STARTED. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS UP TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO INVESTIGATE HOW THE FIRE STARTED. DID NOT KNOW IF IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL OR FUEL. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS BURNED COMPLETELY. VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED BY THE FIRE. CALLED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THEY SAID IT WAS THE HIGHWAY PATROL DEPARTMENT WHO NEEDED TO DO THE REPORT. TOOK PICTURES OF VEHICLE AT THE JUNK YARD. VEHICLE HAD ALL THE ORIGINAL PARTS. THERE WAS NO INJURIES OR PROPERTY DAMAGE OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE. *AK

DT: THE VEHICLE ACCELARATED ON ITS OWN AND SURGED FORWARD 6 OR 7 TIMES. CONTACTED TOYOTA AND DEALT WITH THE LIABILITY DEPARTMENT. AND THEY DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THIS STARTED HAPPENING ON NOVEMBER 12, 2003. *AK SEE ALSO 10055728. *DSY

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED, CAUSING A RATTLE NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AREA. RATTLE WAS HEARD AT IDLE SPEED AND BECAME LOUDER WHEN ACCELERATING. TOYOTA REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AT A TOTAL COST OF OVER $500 (PART + LABOR) BECAUSE THE FAILURE OCCURRED JUST OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THIS PROBLEM IS DESCRIBED IN TSB EG018-2004. *AK

EXTREME SULPHUR SMELL INSIDE CABIN OF AUTOMOBILE. THIS AIR QUA;ITY CANNOT BE BENEFICIAL TO THE OCCUPANTS COMPLAINT HAS BEEN ONGOING TO LOCAL DEALER, BUT NOT YET RESOLVED ECU MUST BE ADJUSTED AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER CHANGED. *AK

THE EXHAUST SYSTEM ON MY 03 CAMRY HANGS DOWN. IT IS 4 INCHES OFF THE GROUND. I HAVE TRIED TO GET TOYOTA TO FIX IT BUT THEY SAY IT'S THE DESIGN INTENT. I'M AFRAID THAT IF THE CAR BOTTOMS OUT THE SYSTEM WILL FLY OFF THE CAR. I WATCH TWO PEOPLE DIE BECAUSE A MUFFLER FLEW OFF A VEHICLE AND WEDGED ITSELF INTO THE GAS TANK OF A TRUCK. IT CAUGHT THE HIGHWAY ON FIRE AND KILLED THE GUYS IN THE TRUCK. THE SYSTEM IS NOT INSTALLED ON THE CAR CORRECTLY. THERE IS A BRACKET THAT IS NOT HOOKED UP AND THE SYSTEM DOES NOT TUCK INTO THE EXHAUST CHANNEL. ALL THE CAMRY AND OTHER MODELS ON THIS FRAME ARE LIKE THIS. PLEASE HELP. *JB

WHEN DRIVING 30 MPH RPMS ACCELERATED TO 80 MPH. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO GO OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE CONSUMER PARKED THE VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE BURST INTO FLAMES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND HAD IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

I WAS PARKING ,MY FOOT WAS ON BRAKE BUT MY 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY ACCELARATE VERY QUICLY AND JUMP FORWARD UNCONTROLLABLY.ONLY LUCK PREVENTED ANY DEATHS BECAUSE NOBODY WAS ON PARKING LOT. IT HAPPENED AT WEST PALM BEACH.I TOOK MY CAR TO STEWART TOYOTA.I TOLD THEM I READ ABOUT THIS PROBLEM MONTH AGO WHICH WAS ON FIRST USA PAPER (BUSINESS SECTION) THEY TOLD ME THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANY COMPLAIN BEFORE,KEPT MY CAR FOR A DAY .NEXT DAY,THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM.I HAVE TO LEAVE WITH IT. IT WAS VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE, I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MY CAR.*AK

WE PURCHASED A NEW 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY LE.AFTER ABOUT 6 MONTHS OR SO WE BEGAN TO HEAR A WATER SLOSHING SOUND UNDER OUR DASHBOARD.WE THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS BECAUSE OUR DRIVEWAY WAS AT A SLOPE AND MAYBE THE POSITION THE CAR WAS IN, THE FLUIDS WERE RUSHING THROUGH THE ENGINE.SO WE PARKED IN THE STREET.THE SAME NOISE CONTINUED WHEN WE BRAKED,TURNED AND STOPPED.AFTER TRYING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM WE TOOK OUR CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TEST DROVE THE CAR AND SAID"OH,THAT'S A NORMAL ENGINE SOUND" I SAID I DON'T THINK SO AND WENT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE AIR IN THE HOSES.THEY BLED THE SYSTEM AND IT WORKED FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AND THEN RETURNED.BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 5 MORE TIMES.FINALLY THEY THREW UP THEIR HANDS AND SAID FOR US TO GIVE THEM 60 MORE DAYS TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM WHICH IT WAS NOW IN ARBITRATION.HOW CAN THEY TRY TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM IF WE STILL HAD THE CAR IN OUR POSESSION? WE CONTINUED TO DRIVE THIS CAR PUTTING ON MILES NOT KNOWING THAT WHEN THEY BUY BACK YOUR CAR THEY DEDUCT THE MILES FROM THE COST OF WHICH THEY PAY YOU ON THE LEMON LAW BUYBACK.SO HAD THEY KEPT THE CAR ,KNOWING THEY COULDN'T REMEDY THE PROBLEM,OUR MONIES WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE.THEY ARE BUYING OUR CAR BACK AND WE FEEL EXTREMELY CHEATED.WE BOUGHT A NEW VEHICLE. NOT A TOYOTA. *AK

THE EXHAUST FUMES SEEPED INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. AS A RESULT, THE SMELL MADE THE DRIVER SICK TO HIS STOMACH. *AK THE EXHAUST/EMISSION HAD COME INSIDE THE VEHICLE WITH THE WINDOWS CLOSED. *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING ROTTEN EGG SMELL CAME INTO THE VEHICLE, IT DIDN'T MATTER WHETHER THE WINDOWS WERE CLOSED OR OPENED. CONSUMER FELT A BURNING SENSATION IN THE NOSE AND THE THROAT. DEALERSHIP/ FLOOR MANAGER MADE AN INCREDIBLE STATEMENT, INQUIRING IF PRESIDENT BUSH PUT SULFUR IN THE GAS, CALL HIM. *AK

ROTTEN EGG (OR WORSE) SMELL INSIDE VEHICLE, THE SAME AS IN MY 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY. VISITS TO DEALERS WITH 1999 WAS NO HELP. JUST RECENTLY FOUND OUT ABOUT SERVICE BULLETIN & HAD QUARTER VENT DUCT ASSEMBLY REPLACED. SAME SMELL IN 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. DEALER SAID IT NO LONGER HAS VENTS SO NO PROBLEM. COULD NOT GET WORK ORDER RECEIPT TO PROVE I WAS AT DEALERS WITH THIS COMPLAINT. TH/MA. *AK

ROTTEN EGG SMELL FOR MY 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. IT'S BEEN LIKE THIS FOR THE LAST 7 MONTHS, SINCE I BOUGHT IT NEW. I CHANGED MANY DIFFERENT SUPPLIERS OF GRADE 87 GAS, AND THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE. I HAVE ABOUT 9000 MILES ON IT.*AK MY FRIEND WHO BOUGHT A 2003 CAMRY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS WELL.

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH VEHICLE LOST COMPLETE POWER WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

ROTTEN EGG SMELL COMES INTO THE CAR. DOESN'T MATTER IF THE WINDOW IS CLOSED OR OPENED. I WILL BE CONTACTING THE DEALER TODAY. MY 2003 CAMRY WAS A DEMO SO I'M SURE WHOEVER WAS DRIVING IT HAD TO HAVE NOTICED THE SMELL. NOBODY SAID A WORD TO ME ABOUT THIS. I FELT THIS WAS UNDERHANDED BY THE DEALERSHIP. I DECIDED TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAS COMPLAINED OF THE SAME PROBLEM AND WENT TO THE INTERNET TO SEE OF THERE WERE OTHER COMPLAINTS AND I FOUND ON YOUR SITE. SO NOW I KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM. *LA

WHEN DRIVING A ROTTEN EGG SMELL ENTERS THE PASSENGER CABIN WHICH CAUSES THE OCCUPANTS TO FEEL A BURNING SENSATION IN THE NOSE. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THIS ABOUT THREE WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER STATES THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE GASOLINE STATIONS IN TENNESSEE ARE NOT REGULATING THE AMOUNT OF SULFUR IN THE GAS. *AK

MISSION EXHAUST FUMES HAVE AN EGG SMELL. THE FUMES ARE SEEPING INTO THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE AIR VENTS.*AK

2003 V6 CAMRY HAS ENGINE SURGES/SHUDDERING THROUGH ALL SPEEDS. IS REALLY NOTICEABLE AT38-40 MPH. DIAGNOSTICS SHOWED ENGINE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMED - PROBLEM WAS MORE NOTICEABLE WHEN DRIVING IN CITTY WHERE SPEEDS WERE MORE INCREASED AND DECREASED. CONTINUED TO TAKE BACK TO DEALERSHIP. *AK

TAILPIPE ON 2003 CAMRY TO LOW TO GROUND. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD. *JB

CONSUMER IS LOOSING ENGINE POWER. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. PH

WHILE DRIVING, STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT SO CONSUMER PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT. VEHICLE WAS VERY HARD TO TURN. CONSUMER INSPECTED UNDER HOOD AND NOTICED A SMALL FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. TS