Model year report

2003 Toyota Camry: what breaks, and at what mileage

What breaks on the 2003 Toyota Camry

On the 2003 Toyota Camry, the failure owners report most often is other speed control problem, and the reports cluster around 33,000 miles. The earliest to appear is other powertrain problem, reported by a median of 5,000 miles. Overall it scores 75 out of 100, high risk for a 2003.

High risk for a 2003 — 51st riskiest of the 330 2003 vehicles we can rate. 946 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.

What breaks on the 2003 Toyota Camry

Owners have reported 57 named failure modes on the 2003 Toyota Camry, and the three most-reported carry 38% of everything filed.

Other speed control problem leads with 217 reports, about 5.1 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 11k to 68,000 miles.

Other engine problem follows with 86 reports, usually reported between 36k to 120,000 miles. 5 of those reports mention a fire.

Other brake problem follows with 57 reports, usually reported between 7k to 70,000 miles. 1 of those report mention a fire.

By system, the reports fall mostly into adas (237), engine (136) and brakes (135).

At what mileage it happens

676 of the reports on the 2003 Toyota Camry came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 47,000 miles.

Cumulatively, 51% by 50,000 miles, 76% by 100,000 miles and 92% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 16 filed above the top of the chart.

The busiest stretch is between 0 and 10,000 miles, which alone holds 21% of the dated reports.

42% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles, which is early enough that a fair number of these cars were still under a factory warranty when the owner complained.

In the order they tend to show up: other powertrain problem around 7k, ABS module or sensor failure around 8k, other steering problem around 17k and other suspension problem around 18k.

Median

Other speed control problem

33k
Other engine problem

79k
Other brake problem

28k
Other body or interior problem

50k
Head gasket failure

115k
ABS module or sensor failure

8k
Other steering problem

17k
Other powertrain problem

7k
Airbag failed to deploy in a crash

100k
Seat belt or retractor failure

83k
Loss of braking

30k
Other suspension problem

18k

Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens

Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 57. The full list is in the table below.

How reports accumulate

Share of reports filed by each mileage

half by 47k

Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 16 reports came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.

Line share of reports filed by that mileage
Dashed the median reported mileage

What happens when these parts fail

Across the named modes, 271 mention a crash, 13 a fire, 80 an injury and 5 a fatality. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.

The average severity weight across every report on this year is 7.04, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.

What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other speed control problem at $250–$2,000, other engine problem at $300–$4,000, other brake problem at $300–$1,800 and other body or interior problem at $200–$2,000. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.

20% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.

Every reported failure mode

Mileage figures are percentiles of owner-reported readings. Click a column to sort.
Failure mode	System	Reports	With reading	25th	Median	75th	Per 1,000	Typical repair	Severity
Other speed control problem	adas	217	166	11k	33k	68k	5.1	$250–$2,000	Critical
Other engine problem	engine	86	64	36k	79k	120k	2.0	$300–$4,000	High
Other brake problem	brakes	57	38	7k	28k	69k	1.3	$300–$1,800	High
Other body or interior problem	body	40	29	25k	50k	80k	0.9	$200–$2,000	Moderate
Head gasket failure	engine	39	35	96k	115k	155k	0.9	$1,400–$4,000	Critical
ABS module or sensor failure	brakes	30	24	229	8k	26k	0.7	$500–$2,400	High
Other steering problem	steering	29	19	3k	17k	42k	0.7	$350–$2,400	High
Other powertrain problem	transmission	28	21	1k	7k	53k	0.7	$400–$4,500	High
Airbag failed to deploy in a crash	airbag	27	19	48k	100k	141k	0.6	$1,000–$5,000	Critical
Seat belt or retractor failure	airbag	24	21	51k	83k	150k	0.6	$200–$900	High
Loss of braking	brakes	23	16	14k	30k	60k	0.5	$400–$3,000	Critical
Other suspension problem	suspension	23	13	10k	18k	35k	0.5	$350–$2,000	Moderate
Cruise control failure	adas	17	12	31k	63k	87k	0.4	$200–$1,400	High
Airbag inflator rupture	airbag	16	2	—	125k	—	0.4	$0–$0	Critical
Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure	steering	15	7	—	37k	—	0.4	$700–$2,600	High
Steering column or shaft failure	steering	15	13	8k	35k	40k	0.4	$600–$2,500	Critical
Parking brake failure	brakes	14	13	50k	70k	123k	0.3	$250–$1,300	Moderate
Other electrical problem	electrical	14	13	75k	92k	110k	0.3	$250–$2,000	Moderate
Other wheel or tire problem	wheels	14	8	19k	22k	80k	0.3	$200–$1,500	High
Other visibility problem	glass	14	9	10k	21k	38k	0.3	$150–$1,400	Moderate
Other fuel system problem	fuel	11	7	—	62k	—	0.3	$300–$2,200	High
Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure	fuel	10	9	200	60k	75k	0.2	$250–$1,800	Moderate
Audio or connectivity failure	infotainment	10	5	—	40k	—	0.2	$150–$900	Low
Exhaust leak or fumes in the cabin	emissions	9	8	42k	54k	67k	0.2	$250–$2,000	High
Overheating	cooling	8	7	—	56k	—	0.2	$400–$3,500	High
Master cylinder or brake booster failure	brakes	8	6	—	838	—	0.2	$450–$2,200	Critical
Tire blowout or tread separation	wheels	7	5	—	25k	—	0.2	$200–$1,500	Critical
Alternator or charging system failure	electrical	5	3	—	117k	—	0.1	$450–$1,600	High
Sunroof failure or glass breakage	body	5	5	—	51k	—	0.1	$700–$4,500	High
Timing chain, belt or tensioner failure	engine	4	2	—	129k	—	0.1	$1,200–$4,500	Critical
Radiator or coolant leak	cooling	4	4	—	64k	—	0.1	$350–$1,900	High
Complete transmission failure	transmission	4	4	—	45k	—	0.1	$2,800–$8,000	Critical
Other seat belt problem	airbag	4	0	—	—	—	0.1	$200–$900	High
Water pump failure	cooling	3	2	—	111k	—	0.1	$500–$2,200	High
Shifter, linkage or stuck-in-park failure	transmission	3	3	—	130k	—	0.1	$250–$1,400	High
Premature brake pad or rotor wear	brakes	3	3	—	6k	—	0.1	$300–$1,400	Moderate
Window regulator or power window failure	body	3	1	—	48k	—	0.1	$250–$900	Moderate
Tail light, brake light or signal failure	lighting	3	2	—	53k	—	0.1	$100–$900	Moderate
Other lighting problem	lighting	3	2	—	30k	—	0.1	$120–$1,200	Moderate
Other driver assistance problem	adas	3	3	—	118k	—	0.1	$250–$1,800	High
Complete engine failure or seizure	engine	2	2	—	119k	—	0.0	$4,500–$12,000	Critical
Excessive oil consumption	engine	2	0	—	—	—	0.0	$900–$6,500	High
Misfire or rough idle	engine	2	0	—	—	—	0.0	$250–$1,600	Moderate
Wheel bearing or hub failure	drivetrain	2	2	—	109k	—	0.0	$350–$1,200	Moderate
Strut, shock or spring failure	suspension	2	1	—	85k	—	0.0	$500–$2,000	Moderate
Door latch or handle failure	body	2	1	—	42k	—	0.0	$250–$1,200	High
Headlight failure or clouding	lighting	2	0	—	—	—	0.0	$150–$1,800	Moderate
Lifter, cam or cylinder-deactivation failure	engine	1	1	—	58k	—	0.0	$1,800–$7,000	High
Thermostat failure	cooling	1	1	—	160k	—	0.0	$250–$900	Moderate
Transmission will not engage a gear	transmission	1	1	—	118k	—	0.0	$1,500–$6,000	Critical
Fuel pump failure	fuel	1	1	—	4k	—	0.0	$600–$2,600	High
Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure	electrical	1	1	—	71k	—	0.0	$250–$1,500	High
Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault	airbag	1	1	—	107k	—	0.0	$300–$1,600	High
Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure	suspension	1	1	—	33k	—	0.0	$400–$2,200	High
Liftgate, tailgate or trunk failure	body	1	1	—	16k	—	0.0	$250–$1,500	Moderate
Catalytic converter failure	emissions	1	1	—	101k	—	0.0	$900–$3,500	Moderate
Wiper or washer failure	glass	1	1	—	44k	—	0.0	$120–$800	Moderate
Unclassified problem	other	70	37	25k	62k	100k	1.6	—	Moderate

Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.

How often, against how many were built

Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2003 Toyota Camry draws about 22 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 93rd percentile of complaint rates among 2003 vehicles we can rate.

That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.

The working figure is 42,772 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2003 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.

What owners wrote

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.

Recalls on the 2003 model year

NHTSA has issued 1 recall campaign covering the 2003 Toyota Camry, affecting an estimated 42,772 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.

The campaigns cover air bags:side/window. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.

Recalls also distort complaint counts. Publicity about a campaign reminds owners that complaining is possible, so reports for a recalled component often spike after the recall rather than before it.

04V346000

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

128,316 vehicles 2004-07-13

Defect: 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.
Consequence: If this occurs, the csa may not deploy rapidly enough when activated in a side impact collision. This may result in failure to provide the intended head protection, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the csas and replace the air bag assembly if necessary. The recall began on august 6, 2004. Owners should contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.

How it ranks in the 2003 field

The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.

Risk score against the rest of the 2003 field

Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.

Left fewer and less serious reports
Right more, or worse
Marker this vehicle

Better and worse years of the same car

High risk for a 2003 — 51st riskiest of the 330 2003 vehicles we can rate. Every score on this site is a rank inside its own model year, which is what makes a 2004 and a 2019 comparable at all.

Across the 30 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 1997 comes out best at 63 and 2023 worst at 82, with 2003 itself at 75.

If the model year is negotiable, 1997, 1998, 2022 and 1996 score lower than 2003 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.

Within the 1999–2006 generation specifically, 1999 is the strongest year at 72 and 2006 the weakest at 78.

Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.

Risk score by model year, out of 100

Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.

Within the 1999-2006 generation, 1999 Toyota Camry scores best at 72 and 2006 Toyota Camry worst at 78.

What to look at before buying one

The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure from about 200, ABS module or sensor failure from about 229, other powertrain problem from about 1k and other steering problem from about 3k.

On a 2003 Toyota Camry with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.

None of this is a diagnosis. It is a list of what other owners of the same model year reported, ordered by when they reported it, which is a good place to point an inspection and a poor place to stop.

The limits of complaint data

946 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.

Of those 946 reports, 676 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 71% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".

Named failure modes come from matching phrases in the complaint text, so a badly worded complaint can land in the wrong bucket. The effect washes out across hundreds of reports and does not wash out across five.

And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.

Questions this page answers

What are the most common problems with the 2003 Toyota Camry?

The most-reported failures are other speed control problem (217 reports, median 33,000 miles), other engine problem (86 reports, median 77,500 miles) and other brake problem (57 reports, median 27,500 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.

At what mileage do 2003 Toyota Camry problems start?

Other powertrain problem is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 5,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 1,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 47,000 miles.

Is the 2003 Toyota Camry reliable?

It scores 75 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 51st riskiest of the 330 2003 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2003 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.

Which year of the Toyota Camry is best?

Within the 1999–2006 generation, 1999 scores best at 72 out of 100 and 2006 worst at 78. Same body, same engines, different luck.

Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.

What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car

Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt 30 August 2026 Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed