2003 Toyota Camry Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION IN JANUARY OF 2009, BUT THEY WERE NOT TOLD WHY. A REBUILT TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED AND NOW THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANS AXLE FAILED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED BECAUSE OF THE GEAR SHIFT BOX, WHICH CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO SLIP AND MAKE A BANGING NOISE WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 70,000 MILES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED; HOWEVER, THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS VALID UP TO 75,000 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 03/15/11*LJ UPDATED 1/3/11 *CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF THE PARK GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 120,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE AND EXITING IT, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND BEGAN ROLLING BACKWARDS. THE OCCUPANT SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO TRAVEL OVER A CURB WHICH FLATTENED BOTH REAR TIRES. NO ONE WAS INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT HAD THE PAWL MECHANISM AND TIRES REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60000. UPDATED 05/10/10 *BF THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE ENGINE WAS LEFT RUNNING; THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN THE PARK POSITION; BUT THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ON AN UPHILL SLANT,DOWNHILL BEING TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. MINUTES AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS. THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION LEVER DID MOVE INTO REVERSE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT THE PAWL MECHANISM FAILED. UPDATED 05/12/10 UPDATED 07/01/10 *BF UPDATED 07/02/10.*JB

ON 2 OCCASIONS OUR 2003 CAMRY LE ACCELERATED. THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE HIT A TREE IN A PARKING LOT. THE SECOND TIME IT OCCURRED WHILE PREPARING TO MOVE INTO TRAFFIC FROM A STOP. NO INJURIES BUT MINOR DAMAGE TO THE BUMPER FROM THE FIRST INCIDENT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING LOW SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGED. I TOOK TWO TO THREE SECONDS BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT IN GEAR. THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMPUTER CHIP AND UPGRADED THE TRANSMISSION WHICH ONLY MINIMALLY CORRECTED THE FAILURE. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 87,000. UPDATED 03/11/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO HESITATE FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION DID ENGAGE, THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD. UPDATED 05/05/10.*JB

2003 TOYOTA CAMRY AUTOMATIC TRANS. PUT IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF GARAGE. SURGED CUT WHEELS TO AVOID HITTING HOUSE NEXT DOOR, BRICK 50 FT FROM GARAGE. AVOIDED A DIRECT COLLISION. BUT CLIPPED SOME BRICKS AT CORNER. ANOTHER 75FT INTO A SMALL CREEK OPPOSITE BANK STOPPED CAR. BRAKING WAS TO NO AVAIL. INJURY MINOR - PINCHED NERVE IN LEFT SHOULDER. COUNTED 75+ REPORTS FOR SAME MODEL YEAR INVOLVING SPONTANEOUS ACCELERATION ON YOUR SITE. YOUR INVESTIGATION IN '03 OR '04 FOUND NOTHING SUGGESTING UNFAMILIARITY W/VEHICLE. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS. A GOODLY NUMBER OF THE REPORTS ARE FOR RECENT YEARS TAKING UNFAMILIARITY OUT OF THE PLAY. WHAT ARE YOU DOING CURRENTLY RESPECTING CAMRY ACCELERATION ISSUES?....REGARDS, HARVEY MILLER *TR

TRANSMISSION STARTED TO ACT UP AT AROUND 40 MPH. TOOK IT TO CERTIFIED TRANSMISSION WHO IN TURN TRIED DIFFERENT PARTS, THEY EVEN TOOK TO THE TOYOTA DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE WITH THE PROBLEM. AFTER OVER A MONTH, THEY DECIDED I SHOULD REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. EVEN AFTER THE NEW TRANSMISSION CERTIFIED TRANSMISSION STILL WAS TESTING THE CAR AND WOULD STALL. THE CAR NEVER STALLED BEFORE THE NEW TRANNY. CERTIFIED FINALLY CALLED FOR ME TO PICK UP MY CAR. I ASKED IF HE WAS SURE IT WAS SAFE AND HE SAID YES. FRIDAY LATE AFTERNOON I PICKED UP THE CAR AND PAID $4,000 FOR TRANSMISSION. DROVE IT SATURDAY ONCE AND IT STARTED TO DOG A FEW TIMES. SUNDAY I WENT TO GROCERY STORE AND ON THE WAY HOME THE CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BUSIEST STREET IN KANSAS CITY. I WAS PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE CALLING MY INS. TOW SERVICE WHEN I WAS REARENDED AT ABOUT 40 MPG. WHEN IT WAS ALL SAID AND DONE WITH FIGHTING WITH EVERYONE, WITH NO CARE OR CONCERN FROM ANYONE, I FINALLY GAVE UP FIGHTING. I ENDED UP LOSING MONEY WITH THE OTHER INS. CO. BECAUSE EVEN IF THEY REPAIRED THE DAMAGE, THE CAR STILL DIDN'T WORK AND CERTIFIED TRIED TO SAY IT COULD HAVE BEEN SOMETHING ELSE. NOW AFTER WHAT I KNOW, I FEEL CERTIFIED TRANSMISSION DID NOT TREAT ME FAIRLY. *TR

REAR MAIN SEAL LEAK, LARGE AMOUNT. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 4RUNNER THAT HAS A HORRIBLE CLUNKING SOUND THAT HAPPENS AT RANDOM. THE TOYOTA DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX IT 3 TIMES. IT WILL HAPPEN WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR STARTING FROM A STOP. IT'S VERY ANNOYING AND NOT VERY COMFORTING. IF THE DRIVESHAFT IS SLAMMING AND MAKING THIS NOISE, I CAN'T IMAGING ANYONE THINKING THAT IS VERY SAFE. THE THING COULD BREAK AT ANY MOMENT. WHO KNOWS WHAT DAMAGE THE SLAMMING DOES TO IT! TOYOTA NEEDS TO FIX THIS BEFORE SOME GETS HURT FROM IT. *TR

CAR CONSTANTLY ROLLS WHEN VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE. IT IS AN AUTOMATIC AND WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL WHEN COMPLETELY STOPPED AND A FLAT ROAD. *TR

MY 03 CAMRY WITH 22K MILES, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, HAS AN ISSUE WITH THE SAFETY BUTTON ON THE SHIFTER, OR THE SHIFTER ITSELF. WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND NO KEY IN THE IGNITION, I CAN SLIDE THE SHIFTER FROM PARK TO ANY OTHER GEAR, WITHOUT PRESSING IN THE SAFETY BUTTON. I CANNOT SLIDE THE SHIFTER BACK INTO PARK. HERE'S HOW I FOUND OUT. I PARKED IN MY DRIVE, PUT THE CAR IN PARK, REMOVED THE KEYS, GRABBED MY SHOPPING BAG AND WENT INSIDE. MY HUSBAND CAME IN A FEW MINUTES LATER WITH SOME SHOCKING NEWS. APPARENTLY, MY CAMRY HAD ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVE, TOOK OUT OUR MAILBOX, WENT ACROSS THE STREET AND STOPPED IN OUR NEIGHBOR'S FRONT YARD. OUR DRIVE IS OVER 100' LONG AND SLOPES DOWN TOWARD THE STREET. I HANDED MY HUSBAND THE KEYS AND HE WENT TO THE CAR. IT WAS IN DRIVE. WHAT I CAN FIGURE IS THAT WHEN I GRABBED MY SHOPPING BAG, WHICH WAS FAIRLY HEAVY, I HIT THE SHIFTER AND TOOK THE CAR OUT OF PARK. BUT THAT DOESN'T EXPLAIN HOW THE SHIFTER WAS ABLE TO MOVE WITHOUT MY PUSHING IN THE SAFETY BUTTON. I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER RELATIONS IN TORRANCE, AND THEY ARRANGED A SERVICE APPT FOR ME AT THE DEALER. THE DEALER INDICATED THEY HAD TO MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT. DURING A FOLLOW-UP CALL FROM THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE REP, THEY INDICATED THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM BEFORE. WHEN I ASKED IF IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN, THE REP SAID IF IT DOES, BRING IT IN. I WILL TRY VERY HARD TO REMEMBER TO USE MY EMERGENCY BRAKE WHENEVER I PARK MY CAR. BUT WHAT IF I FORGET? I DON'T WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MY CAR ROLLING INTO A CHILD, ADULT OR OTHER VEHICLE. IT IS ONLY DUMB LUCK THAT NO ONE WAS HURT WHEN THE CAR ROLLED DOWN OUR DRIVE. HAD IT BEEN DAYTIME, THE CHANCES ARE VERY HIGH THAT SOMEONE WOULD HAVE BEEN INJURED OR KILLED. WE LIVE ON A CUL DE SAC, AND THOSE IN OUR DEVELOPMENT WALK WITH THEIR CHILDREN ON A REGULAR BASIS THROUGHOUT THE DAY. THIS IS VERY FRIGHTENING. ARE YOU AWARE OF THIS ISSUE HAPPENING PREVIOUSLY?*JB

DT: TOYOTA CAMRY 2003. THE CONSUMERS CAR HESITATES WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. IT ACTUALLY SLOWS DOWN BY 10-20 MPH. *AK THE VEHICLE WOULD LURCH FORWARD AFTER HESITATING. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED WHEN TURNING CORNERS OR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE ONTO THE HIGHWAY FROM A ROLLING START. *SC *JB

WHEN TAKING OFF IN FIRST GEAR WHILE BEING COLD THE VEHICLE SPUTTERS, AND ACTS IF IT IS MISSING. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS TOTALLY NORMALLY. AFTER THE VEHICLE WARMS UP IT DOES FINE. *AK

THE CONSUMER PARKED THE VEHICLE AND EXITED TO RETRIEVE A GAS CAN. WHEN THE CONSUMER TURNED AROUND THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING FORWARD INTO HER GARAGE. *NM *SC *JB

2003 TOYOTA LIMITED 4-RUNNER V8- AWDFRONT-END VIBRATION PROBLEM. I FIRST PRESENTED THE VIBRATION PROBLEM TO MY DEALER THE LAST WEEK OF AUGUST! THEY TRIED BALANCING THE WHEELS WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. THEY AGREED THE PROBLEM WAS THERE AND NOTIFIED CORPORATE. THEIR TECHNICAL STAFF HAD THEM REMOVE THE FRONT AXELS AND RETEST THE VIBRATION WHICH STARTED AT 22 MPH, WENT TO 32MPH 42, 55, AND 62MPH NOW DISAPPEARED! A WEEK LATER A TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVE MET WITH ME AND MENTIONED THAT SEVERAL VEHICLES IN PHOENIX HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. HE SUGGESTED IT PROBABLY WOULD TAKE ABOUT TWO MONTHS TO GET A FIX. TWO MONTHS LATER I TALKED TO THE TECH. REP. AGAIN AND HE MENTIONED THAT THE ENGINEERING GROUP HAD DETERMINED THE PROBLEM TO BE INTERFERENCES IN THE SPIDER GEAR ASSEMBLY IN THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL, THEY WERE TRYING TO CORRECT THE CONDITION WITH THRUST WASHER SHIMS AND OTHER THINGS. I HAVE PRESENTED MY CLAIM TO THE CUSTOMER SUPPORT GROUP. I HAVE CALLED THEM REGULARLY ONCE A MONTH AND HAVE HAD NO SUCCESS AT FINDING WHAT THEIR SCHEDULE IS FOR THE FIX,--ONLY TO SAY WE ARE WORKING ON IT AND YOUR DEALER WILL NOTIFY YOU. IVE SINCE HEARD FROM MY DEALER STAFF THAT THEY HAVE A NUMBER OF LEXUS GX470'S AS WELL AS 4-RUNNERS INVOLVED. IM BEGINNING TO FEEL THAT THEY HAVE SO MANY VEHICLES WITH DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLIES INVOLVED, THAT IT MAY REQUIRE SOME KIND OF MAJOR REDESIGN AND BUILD. IT MIGHT BE A LONG TIME BEFORE WE SEE A FIX! I HAUL A POP-UP TRAILER AND DOES IT MAGNIFY THE PROBLEM!*AK

WHILE DOWN SHIFTING AND BRAKING WHEN GOING DOWN HILL, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO OVER DRIVE WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK THE DEALER INSTALLED A REPLACEMENT SOFTWARE PROGRAM BUT NO IMPROVEMENT WAS NOTICED. *SC *JB

2003 V6 CAMRY EXPERIENCES SUDDEN AND RANDOM JERKSS/BUCKING/HESITATION AS DRIVER ACCELARATES INTO SECOND/THIRD GEARS. TOOK BACK TO DEALER 3X, 1ST TIME ECU WAS REPROGRAMMED; 2ND TIME DEALER SAID THE CAR WAS GETTING TO KNOW HOW I DRIVE; 3RD TIME THEY SAID THAT IS NORMAL FOR GEARS. I FOUND OUT THE LEXUS 300 ES, WHICH HAS THE SAME ENGINE, ALSO EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM. VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT EXPECTING THE JERKING/BUCKING/HESITATION.*AK

WHILE AT A STOP VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD AS IF WANTING TO ACCELERATE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE JERKED. ALSO, GEARS WERE HARD TO CHANGE UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS OVER 35 MPH. DEALER CLAIMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE, BUT THE WAY CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. *AK

2003 TOYOTA CAMRY V6 LE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT ONLY 4000 MILES. CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION, ENGINE. FAULTY, DELAYED SHIFTING, ENGINE NOISE/RESONANCE, LACK OF ACCELERATION FROM A STOP OR TO PASS. IDLE IS NOISY INTO THE CABIN. VEHICLE CONTINUES TO EXHIBIT TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE PROBLEMS. CAR HAS A REPUTATION FOR SMOOT, COMPLIANT RIDE. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. PROBLEMS PERSIST DEPSITE DEALER INSISTENCE THAT THE PROBLEMS ARE NORMAL.*AK

MANUAL TRANSMISSION STOPPED OPERATING WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. DEALER HAD NOT DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

TRANSMISSION/ENGINE AT MODERATE SPEEDS (50 MPH) STUMBLES WHEN THROTTLE INPUT IS REMOVED. THE CONCERN IS INCREASED BRAKING DISTANCE WHEN THE CONDITION OCCURS. DOES NOT OCCUR EVERYTIME THROTTLE INPUT IS REMOVED. DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE FAILURE MODE.

WHILE DRIVING AT 40-43 MPH, AS THE TRANSMISSION WAS ABOUT TO BE SHIFTED INTO OVERDRIVE, THE FRONT END VIBRATED UNTIL ABOUT 45-50 MPH AND THEN THE PROBLEM DISAPPEARED. THE TIRES WERE ROTATED AND BALANCED THREE TIMES TO MAKE SURE THE TIRES WERE NOT THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERS CONCLUSION WAS THAT THERE WAS AN ENGINE OVERLOAD OR BAD TIRES. THE VIBRATION WAS FELT THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. (MAY BE A LOCKED UP CONVERTER OR THE TRANSMISSION) *NLM *SCC *JB

VEHICLE SHUDDERED AROUND 40 MPH RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER PERFORMED ALL APPLICABLE TSBS BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. ALSO EXHIBITED A SEVERE SHUDDER TWICE AT 70 MPH. *TT

INTERMITTENTLY TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE. FROM DRIVE TO PARK TRANSMISSION LOCKS UP AND CAR WON'T MOVE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH