2003 Toyota Camry Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 40about this part
- Share
- 5%of 782 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 13,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 40 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2003 Toyota Camry, 5% of the 782 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 13,000 miles. 8 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“On october 24, 2012, I parallel parked my 2003 Toyota Camry on the street. The car in front of me was leaving, so he asked me to move back a few inches so he could get out. My car was still running so I shifted the car into reverse, and as I began to take my foot off the brake pedal, my car accelerated backwards at a very fast speed into the car behind me. Wanting to pull up a few inches to get out and assess the damage, I shifted the car into drive and as I did, my car accelerated forwards into the parked car in front of me. …”
NHTSA complaint #10482281, filed 2012-10, 127,470 miles“Shortly after purchasing the vehicle we began feeling a bucking sensation in the engine/transmission when our new 2003 Camry would shift from over drive into a lower gear. It only happens in a narrow range of speed and engine RPM but when it happens - there is no mistaking the stutter . This narrow range is right at 38-40 MPH / ~1200 RPM which is the speed we commonly travel on the secondary roads.”
NHTSA complaint #10011064, filed 2003-03, 800 miles“I own a 2003 Camry xle purchased new from a local dealer in carson city, nv. I have had problems with the transmission surging, lurching and hesitating since purchased. I requested the service dept to check it out many times. They always said nothing was wrong leading me to believe I was crazy. After the 4th time I printed out many other consumer complaints, they still told me nothing was wrong but they said Toyota is putting in a whole new transmission. That was in 2006. Wow, if nothing was wrong why would they go to that expense? …”
NHTSA complaint #10313986, filed 2010-02, 200 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10134477, filed 2005-08, 21,882 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10207391, filed 2007-10, 52,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10164330Jul 1, 2019TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 01, 2019 Rev2: ? Applicability has been updated to 2019 ? 2020 model year Toyota vehicles. ? The Techstream Preparation and Process Overview sections…
- 10134454Aug 24, 2015TechTip: Condition - The vehicle may be difficult to start or have an abnormally low or rough idle after the battery has been disconnected or power to the Engine ECM has been…
- 10109404Oct 16, 2014TSB: The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide information regarding the installation of the correct torque converter bolts during automatic transmission/transaxle…
- 10109492Sep 30, 2014TSB: The purpose of this bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly to avoid MIL "ON" shifting issues and/or…
- 10132084Oct 1, 2013The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly to avoid MIL ?ON,? shifting issues, and/or…
- 10133836Feb 20, 2013This bulletin contains general vehicle pulling diagnosis and repair procedures along with specific information to help correct pulling complaints.
- 10061578Jun 13, 2011Summary to be provided on a future date.
- 10034197Feb 10, 2010Toyota: engine conrol. Some vehicles may exhibit a mil on condition with diagnostic trouble code (dtc) p0500-vehicle speed sensor a. The engine control module/ecm (sae term…
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3 | 6% |
| 2023 | 7 | 11% |
| 2022 | 7 | 11% |
| 2021 | 12 | 8% |
| 2020 | 33 | 12% |
| 2019 | 115 | 29% |
| 2018 | 200 | 27% |
| 2017 | 6 | 4% |
| 2016 | 18 | 10% |
| 2015 | 36 | 13% |
| 2014 | 128 | 28% |
| 2013 | 67 | 24% |
| 2012 | 142 | 24% |
| 2011 | 49 | 8% |
| 2010 | 46 | 8% |
| 2009 | 51 | 4% |
| 2008 | 40 | 4% |
| 2007 | 266 | 9% |
| 2006 | 18 | 6% |
| 2005 | 84 | 12% |
| 2004 | 48 | 8% |
| 2003 | 40 | 5% |
| 2002 | 68 | 7% |
| 2001 | 15 | 6% |
| 2000 | 33 | 7% |
| 1999 | 18 | 4% |
| 1998 | 16 | 3% |
| 1997 | 35 | 6% |
| 1996 | 21 | 5% |
| 1995 | 25 | 8% |
| 1994 | 21 | 7% |
| 1993 | 29 | 11% |
| 1992 | 18 | 3% |
| 1991 | 8 | 5% |
| 1990 | 8 | 6% |
| 1989 | 6 | 5% |
| 1988 | 9 | 14% |
| 1987 | 2 | 3% |
| 1985 | 2 | 15% |
Other parts of the 2003 Toyota Camry
259 complaintsBrakes
118 complaintsEngine cooling
112 complaintsAir bags
73 complaintsSteering
53 complaintsEngine
52 complaintsBody and structure
29 complaintsSuspension
29 complaintsOther or unknown
23 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
22 complaintsElectrical system
20 complaintsFuel system
20 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Toyota Camry
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology