2003 Toyota Camry Reliability
The 2003 Toyota Camry has 818 owner complaints and 1 recall campaign on file with NHTSA, most often about speed control / throttle and service brakes. Compared with nearby Camry model years (2001–2005), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Camry's typical year, while the 2001 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
818
NHTSA owner complaints
1
Recall campaigns
240
Complaints citing a crash
10
Complaints citing a fire
2003 Toyota Camry complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2003 model year, filed between 2002 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Speed control / throttle | 266 | 33% |
| Service brakes | 120 | 15% |
| Engine & cooling | 115 | 14% |
| Air bags | 81 | 10% |
| Engine | 54 | 7% |
| Steering | 53 | 6% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 45 | 6% |
| Body structure | 32 | 4% |
2003 Toyota Camry recalls
1 recall campaign on NHTSA record for the 2003 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04V346000 | Jul 13, 2004 | Air bags — side/window | On certain vehicles equipped with curtain shield air bags (csa), one or both of the curtain air bags may be twisted near the inflator due to improper assembly. |
How the 2003 compares with nearby Camry years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Camry analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 330 | 4 | Speed control / throttle | Solid |
| 2002 | 1,039 | 4 | Speed control / throttle | Avoid |
| 2003 (this page) | 818 | 1 | Speed control / throttle | Caution |
| 2004 | 799 | 3 | Speed control / throttle | Avoid |
| 2005 | 721 | 5 | Speed control / throttle | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2003 Toyota Camry
- Throttle and speed control: check for surging, hesitation or a reduced-power warning, and test cruise control.
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Engine & cooling: look for coolant leaks or low coolant, watch the temperature gauge on a long test drive, and check for overheating history.
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 1 campaign above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2003 Toyota Camry can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2003 Toyota Camry reliability FAQ
Is the 2003 Toyota Camry reliable?
The 2003 Toyota Camry has 818 owner complaints and 1 recall campaign on file with NHTSA, most often about speed control / throttle and service brakes. Compared with nearby Camry model years (2001–2005), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Camry's typical year, while the 2001 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2003 Toyota Camry problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2003 Toyota Camry are speed control / throttle (266), service brakes (120), engine & cooling (115), air bags (81). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2003 Toyota Camry have recalls?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2003 Toyota Camry, including 04V346000 (air bags — side/window). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2003 Toyota Camry compare with the 2002 and 2004 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2002 has 1,039 complaints and 4 recalls (avoid); the 2004 has 799 complaints and 3 recalls (avoid). The 2003 has 818 complaints and 1 recall.
How do I check a specific used 2003 Toyota Camry?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Toyota Camry research
Other Toyota Camry model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2003 Camry, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.