2003 TOYOTA CAMRY Engine And Engine Coolingengine Problems

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 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...

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

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

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.

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

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...

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...

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

FATAL CAR ACCIDENT. *TR

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

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

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

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...

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

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...

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

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

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...

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

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

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

I PURCHASED A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY ON 7/14/03. WHEN MY SON RODE WITH ME ON 3/18/04 AND 3/26/04, HE HEARD A CLICKING NOISE THAT I WAS UNABLE TO HEAR. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER ON 3/26/04. THE CAR HAS ABOUT 4000 MILES. THE PROBLEM WAS FIRST DIAGNOSED AS A BEARING IN A ROD. THEY RECEIVED PERMISSION FROM TOYOTA TO PULL OUT THE ENGINE AND FOUND ANOTHER ROD TO BE BAD. THEY THEN DETERMINED THE CRANKSHAFT WAS FAULTY. I HAVE ALSO READ THE COMMENTS ON THE BRAKES. ALTHOUGH I HAVE NEVER HAD THE PEDAL GO TO THE FLOOR, THE PEDAL DOES DEPRESS FURTHER THAN WITH OTHER CARS. THESE ARE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. *JB

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