2003 TOYOTA CAMRY Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

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

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...

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...

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...

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

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.

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

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.

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...

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.

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.

CONSUMERS 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY HAS BRAKE PROBLEMS, WATER LEAKS IN THE TRUNK AND GAS RESERVOIR, DOORS DO NOT CLOSE PROPERLY RELEASING AIR INTO THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. *TS SMOKE WOULD EMIT FROM THE EXHAUST ON COLD STARTS. THE ENGINE VALVE STEM SEALS WERE REPLACED DUE TO LOSS OF TENSION AND OIL WAS LEAKING INTO THE CYLINDERS. THE STRUT SUPPORTS WERE REPLACED DUE THEM BEING WORN. THE POWER STEERING RACK WAS LEAKING, THE ENGINE MOUNT WAS CRACKED AND THE BATTERY WAS LEAKING.*JB THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE WAS A VIBRATION COMING FROM THE BRAKES WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED. THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE DASHBOARD. UPDATED 04/223/10.*JB

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.

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....

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

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...

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...

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...

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

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...

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

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

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...

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

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.

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...

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...

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