Problems with 2003 Toyota Camry ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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 every time. *jb

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 flaws. 1) the head gaskets should not be failing on vehicles with low millage. 2) the head bolts should be removable without damaging the engine.

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.

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 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.

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

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 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.

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 need help with this issue with toyota; please help us. the best fix so far reported is purchasing another toyota 4cyl motor with the same flawed engineering and toyota wants no part of being responsible for their short coming. i've own a few toyota's, this is absolutely the most disappointing experience with them and to know there are so many instances of the same problem and yet this company refuses to do the responsible action and issue a recall to fix their failure. any and all the assistance in this matter is needed. thank you *tr

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

While driving on the freeway in a construction area with very few shoulders the car steering suddenly became very difficult and the battery warning indicator came on. my wife was able to pull over to a short shoulder area and called the auto club for a tow. the tow truck arrived with the highway patrol. she had to wait in a very dangerous location with many high speed heavy trucks passing a few inches away. our mechanic said that the belt tensioner failed causing the belt to fail then the power steering and engine cooling to fail. *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.

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.

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

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 this, leaving me sol (simply out of luck). right now, i'm looking at having to spend at least $1600 to repair a car that is supposed to be reliable. remember, 'toyota tough?' i've been a loyal toyota owner for years ' but i believe this will be my last. ' signed, disappointed customer

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 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. 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

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 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. the contact stated that the intake and exhaust manifold failed. the vehicle was inspected at a local repair shop where the contact was informed that the manifold needed to be replaced. the vehicle had not been repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 108,000.

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.

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 the contact was driving approximately 25 mph with the air conditioner on she smelled a burning odor throughout the vehicle. the failure occurred five minutes after the vehicle was turned on. there were no warning lights on the instrument panel prior to or when the failure occurred. the contact added water to the coolant reservoir. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for diagnostic testing where the technician stated that the engine overheated and caused the head gasket to malfunction. through further inspection it was determined that the failure was due to damaged bolts that were connected between the head gasket and the engine block. the technician confirmed that the engine needed to be replaced at an estimated cost of $4,000 minus the cost of labor. the vehicle had not been repaired at this time. the failure mileage was approximately 116,503. updated 11/03/10. *lj

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota camry. while the vehicle was being driven at low speeds the contact heard a vibrating noise. the vehicle was taken to a local garage and diagnostic testing located the failure at the intake manifold. the garage replaced the intake manifold. the manufacturer was contacted and they advised the contact if he wanted them to assist with the repair, he must have the dealership diagnose the failure. the failure mileage was 43,000 and the current mileage was 44,050. updated 12/03/10. *lj

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

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 throttle body. similarly, toyota corporate in torrance, ca denies that the throttle body problem is caused by a product defect. most likely this is due to the high cost of the part and expense to institute a recall of the throttle body. a cursory review of the online message boards concerning the throttle body failures for toyota camry owners shows that this component in particular is failing too often to be chalked up to bad luck or normal wear and tear. a consumer class action is appropriate for this sort of defect. i would assume that an expert witness could testify as to the defect and opine as to the statistical significance of the throttle body failing more than any other component in the toyota camry. *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 we purchased the car and have them look at it, because if it was more than just the head gasket, i may be able to work something out with them. it was his opinion that a leak in the head gasket shouldn't cause the stripping of the engine bolts. we took it into our toyota dealer and they investigated - took the head off - and found that it was what my mechanic had feared, three engine bolts were stripped and the engine would have to be replaced. cost for a new engine block, head, labor, etc. $7,500. i told them what my mechanic had found online - this was happening a lot to this type engine (2003 - 6) - and my belief that this was a design flaw and asked them if there was something that toyota could do to help defray the cost or was there a recall, etc. the service rep said no... no help from toyota. i have all the paperwork and can you send you copies, including the identifix report. considering all the pressure people, government, and lawyers had to exert on toyota to get them to admit and address the recent accelerator problems, i was wondering if you could check or add my case to a database to see if some legal action is warranted. *tr

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.

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.

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 cylinder head). after loosening the bolts in sequence, he noticed the head bolts in the back of the engine were loose. from his experience in the field, he can confidently conclude that this only means one of two things: the bolts were left loose at the factory, or the bolts are stripped. ( he commonly has seen stripped bolts in the aluminum cadillac north star block discovered through leaking coolant.)next, he removed the head and sure enough, one bolt came out with aluminum in the thread...thus indicating a stripped bolt. the placement of the (insulation) foam rubber piece between the intake manifold and the engine block created an uneven dispersion of heat, creating "metal fatigue" in the aluminum block allowing the headbolt to strip. if toyota had out an aluminum manifold instead of plastic, there would have been no need to insulate (w/ foam piece), thus eliminating the problem. the only solution to this problem is to unfortunately replace the engine. the cost to repair it otherwise would be substantial. this is an engine defect and we will be seeing more of this. *tw

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

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

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 toyota camry. whenever the contact started the vehicle she noticed a rattling sound in the engine. the vehicle was taken to the dealership where the contact was informed that the intake manifold needed to be replaced. the vehicle was serviced for the failure. the current and failure mileages were 85000.

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 that should be helped in some kind of way from the toyota corporation. *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

Oil light came on. took to toyota dealer to check. within minutes said it was sludge and needed a new engine block. *tr

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

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 all 10 of the holes re done at a costly price to make sure this would not happen to the other bolts. *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 the responsibility of the consumer when the manufacturer is aware of the defect. this most certainly should prompt a recall. perhaps a class action lawsuit is in order. *tr

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

03 camry 4 cyl. 2.4l. only 32000 miles. while driving to work in the morning, coolant leaking from a hose attached to the throttle body. engine became overheated. no warning light was on. had to stop the car several times on the way to work. throttle body needs to be replaced at such low mileage. it costs more than $1200 to replace. *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

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 power & smoking bad, pulled over, oil was splattered causing smoking, was not running hot, still had some oil even after splattering, towed to mechanic, he said due to sludge, damage included 3 holes in block, 1 hole in oil pan, #4 connecting rod damaged bad, #4 piston shattered, #4 cylinder head damaged, engine a total loss, still have old engine, car has not been repaired. toyota gave me a case #, then on 06-24-09 toyota denied any kind of repair stating the 2003's were not covered under the class action lawsuit & car was too far outside warranty. car has approx 96,000 miles. toyota claims they corrected the problem with the new engines after 2001, but apparently the new engines have the same problem as the ones in the lawsuit. they should be held accountable, too many toyota owners are having this same problem. i have all my maintenance records showing timely oil changes. i could have had an accident causing injury and/or death to myself or persons in incoming traffic when this occurred. thank god no one was injured. *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