2003 Toyota Camry: ABS light or ABS activating

Filed Sep 20, 2024 · TX

No incident. But it's a problem with the ABS. Dealership says it's nothing wrong with the brakes. But it is. Had a diagnostics done at Auto Zone, and it came back showing a code for the ABS system. But showed the service dept the code that it showed something is wrong with ABs. They still say nothing is wrong.

Filed Nov 15, 2016 · Brakes · NY · crash

I have owned my 2003 camry since it was brand new. During all that time, I have noticed that whenever I brake as the car travels over small bumps, cracks or other imperfections in the road (especially if I brake hard), the ABS system kicks in and appears to pump the brakes (though it does not actually stop the car) and does not shut down until I lift my foot off the brake thereby preventing a proper stop and significantly lengthening the stop. Note that this occurs on dry roads. This also seems to occur if there is a need to stop hard just as I am accelerating, such as an unexpected short stop by the car in front. It has not LED to any serious accidents (though a couple of light rear-ends), which I credit to my being able to compensate for the problem, until last week when the problem caused a more serious rear-end collision. All the other cars in four car chain managed to stop short, not my camry even as I maintained my foot on the brake, as it seemed to barely slow down, causing significant damage. The car is probably better off without the ABS braking system altogether than with this defectively deploying system that doesn't really even seem to stop the car, but just lightly pumps the brakes, preventing proper braking.

Filed Sep 6, 2013 · Acceleration · 110,000 miles · TX · crash

I was driving into a parking spot. As I lifted my foot off the accelerator to slow down the car suddenly accelerated. Under my foot, the gas pedal moved on its own, speeding up to frightening intensity. My first attempt to brake did not disengage the acceleration. I continued to apply pressure on the brake. Finally, the ABS kicked in (I felt the pulsating of the braking) and car stopped, after going over a concrete parking barrier, a curb, up an incline and striking a 6 foot tall commercial fence. The impact pushed over the fence to about a 75 degree angle. I had the car towed to my local toyota dealer which examined the car (they said), checked for "codes" regarding my model and told me there is no problem.

Filed Dec 26, 2012 · Brakes · 95,000 miles · MO

The night before the incident had slight rain during. Early morning, I was driving it keeping it in mind that it has some problem.... Driving at 35-40 m/hr. The car before me stops on the stop sign and try to stop following 3 seconds rule, hit the brakes all the way but heard grinding sound and didn't stop and need to go to another incoming lane on the left to avoid hitting the car infront of me. This is the third time I had the similar problem..... One in 2010 one in 2011. I went to jay wolfe toyota of west county mo after the first incident. It was their closing time.... Met with one of the maintenance manager .... Explained but was told that it should be because of ABS. I told him that I had honda 2002 and never have to scare about these type of incidents but why it is happening with toyota. He insisted that it shouldn't be . Later during regular oil change I asked to check brakes and they didn't find any fault there. I told them the incident they didn't take it seriously.... The next time it happened again. One day was driving with fear on interstate at 60 MPH. The same thing happened and I was able to change lane. After that I rarely take the car for interstate driving. If do I always scare and start using brakes before 1/4th of the mile. At this point I would like to get help from toyota company why it is happening and fix the problem. I don't want to sue them later when something happened. If they are serious about safety of their customer, take my car and fix it.

Filed May 15, 2010 · Brakes · WI

When I apply my brakes on ice, my ABS system immediately activates and slows my 2003 toyota camry down. When I apply my brakes on dry roads, (coming up on a red light for instance), and hit a bump or pothole in the road, the brakes immediately release. After a 1-2 second delay, the ABS system activates. Those two seconds have nearly caused numerous crashes over the life of this vehicle.

Filed Mar 19, 2010 · Brakes · 44,000 miles · PA

My wife's was driving our 2003 toyota camry xle to store when coming to casual stop hit brake pedal and had lost all braking power while merging onto exit. My wife kept pumping the brakes until after 8-10 pumps of brake pedal car finally regained braking power. She was telling me she was almost prepared to run the car off the road into ditch to avoid rear-ending cars in front of her. My wife was scared and upset and said she won't put our 2 year old daughter or 7 years old son in this car ever again. I have had intermittent loss of brakes problem since new. When we take it to the dealer the tell us that there is nothing they can find wrong. This has happened 10 times since new,but this event being the worst. I am calling dealer tomorrow morning to get this problem resolved. My wife does not want the car and strongly believes the problem won't be fixed because it is a engineering problem not a maintenance problem. I am sure of all the times we took the car to the dealer for this issue that they cannot find a problem with the brakes when it was under warranty. I am sure that when I take it there tomorrow not under warranty they will turn this engineering problem into a profit maker. The car is a garage kept car with 44,000 mile and new front and rear brakes pads at 40,000. My wife and I read many of the complaints on braking problems and are exactly what we experience on our toyota camry xle. I was not in the car so I'm not sure it was brakes or accelerator. My opinion is it has something to do with the antilock braking system. When car was new I had a panic stop on highway on a hot summer day. I hit the brakes hard and rear tires locked up and skidded all the way down to 30 MPH from 65mph. If this car has ABS how can you skid the rear tires at anytime. Dealer claimed to find nothing wrong every time . Tomorrow at the dealership should be interesting, my wife wants me to trade it in and swears she won't drive it ever again.

Filed Feb 13, 2010 · Brakes · 118,000 miles · MI

I have experienced braking problems similar to those prompting the prius recall since approximately october, 2009. If the brake is engaged on rough pavement (bumpy, potholes,etc), it shudders and does not engage for several seconds even when the pedal is depressed completely to the floor. I have had the rotors and pads replaced within the last six months and have had the ABS sensors cleaned and lines inspected with no improvement. The problem occurs on both wet and dry pavement.

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Brakes · NY

I read about your investigation into the 2010 prius braking difficulties when going over potholes or uneven road surfaces. I have a 2003 camry and have been having the same exact problem for years. I actually took the car into the dealership and they replaced the sensors on the ABS, but this did not fix the problem and they said there was nothing else they could do. Anyway I just thought you would like to know that this problem is not limited to the prius in 2010.

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Brakes · 200 miles · CO

Abs braking system on 2003 toyota camry le. After reading the federal safety agency's february 4, 2010 release about your investigation into toyota prius' allegations of momentary loss of braking capability while traveling over an uneven road surface, pothole or bump, I finally felt vindicated, albeit I still have a problem. My 2003 toyota camry le has had the same type of braking problem since I purchased it april 2003 from the toyota dealership in delta, co. Whenever I was braking to turn a corner or slow down going straight ahead, if I hit a bump or pothole the brake pedal would shudder, the pedal decreases and I lose my brakes! I have to start pumping the brake pedal immediately to get the brakes to work. One time recently, my brake pedal went to the floor and I had to slow down with the help of my emergency brake which didn't really work that well. And I was going slowly at the time. I took the car back to the delta, colorado toyota dealership shortly after my purchasing the car, however, as you can imagine, they found no problem with the ABS braking system. Can you guys help me? I am not looking for revenge against toyota, my whole family save one person, drives toyotas. I just want brakes that work correctly. Thank you for any help you can provide me.

Filed Apr 4, 2008 · Brakes · 70,000 miles · OR · crash · 1 injury

I was involved in a rear-end collision in my 2003 toyota camry when my ABS brakes failed. The car was taken to the dealership the next day to have the brakes inspected. The inspection was visual only. The ABS brake light was not on and no defect was observed. The service advisor recommended that we have our tires replaced, in case the tires contributed to the failure. We replaced all four tires. One week later, we experienced another incident in which the brakes failed to deploy correctly, causing us to feel unsafe at a stop light in tight traffic. We took the car in for a second inspection. A toyota technician took me for a test ride and said they had received complaints of "soft, cushy" brakes, but that whenever tested, these brakes met the toyota specifications. Again, we were dissatisfied and felt that our safety was compromised in this car. We contacted toyota's corporate headquarters and registered a complaint. An accident report was taken over the telephone. We were given no further help. We recontacted the dealership and requested that the district technician take our car for a test ride. On 4/4/08, the technician and the service manager of the dealership took the car out on a test ride. They informed us that the ABS brakes met toyota's specifications. Despite the dealerships assurances, my husband had a third incident recently in traffic where the brakes failed once again. We fear for our safety in this car and do not want to drive it in traffic or otherwise.

Filed Dec 9, 2007 · Brakes · 25,000 miles · FL

Brake-ABS-vsc-trac off lights in my dash have been coming on for the last couple weeks with increasing frequency. First just once, then a week later every couple days, finally 3 times in one morning. When I took it to my personal mechanic, they said there were no codes. Then I called the dealer where purchased and someone suggested venting the gas cap. It still came on again later that day, and I took it to the dealer with the lights illuminated. I have been told my brake, ABS/vsc and trac off lights have been coming on in my 2003 camry lev6 because the vsc computer needs replacing for almost $1,800. On a car with only 25k miles that is absurd and I refused!! The dealer consultant even said that was odd. There is obviously a defect for this to go bad. I have read on-line forums where many truck and SUV owners are experiencing this same problem. I feel that this is a safety concern and a problem toyota is responsible for. I am not about to spend this much money on a problem that should not have occurred in the first place. Some owners say they have been told that various sensors could be at fault and not the whole computer. One owner said he found it was a bad brake pad! I think the sensors should be checked for replacement. Whether it is the sensors or the computer, it is a factory defect, and toyota should pay for it.

Filed Aug 21, 2006 · Brakes · 45,000 miles · FL

I recently purchased a 2003 toyota camry with ABS brakes. The vehicle is toyota certified with the 160 point inspection which includes brakes. The brakes are very spongy, I have to depress the pedal two inches before the brakes begin to engage and another three inches for the brakes to fully engage. The dealers service manager told me that this was a problem on the 2003's and a new brake design eliminated the problem on newer models. I asked what could be done to upgrade my brakes and was told that no improvements or adjustments were possible. They also told me that numerous customers had the same problem and had "learned to live with it". I have small children and I was upset at the prospect that a known defect that the dealer acknowledges should place lives in jeopardy. Those two inches could be the difference between life and death. I wonder how many accidents which involved 2003 camrys could have been avoided. I feel this warrants a safety issue and possible recall. Thanks !!!