2003 Toyota Camry: grinding or squealing brakes

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 Dec 20, 2012 · Steering · 25,000 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota camry. The contact stated that when driving at low speeds and attempting a turn, she would hear a loud squeaking noise from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic however, they referred her to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was contacted and offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000. The current mileage was approximately 55,000. The VIN was unavailable.

Filed Nov 14, 2011 · Steering · 27,000 miles · NY

Squeaking steering column. Abnormal sounds (squeaking, cracking) can be heard when turning left or right. Toyota says it is not a safety issue and there were no recall for 2003 model, only tsb--0296-08 was issued. Has to pay to repair the defect yourself because car is beyond the warranty.

Filed May 18, 2010 · Engine · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota camry. The contact stated the vehicle was at the dealer for an unrelated repair. When she received the vehicle back, there was an unusual grinding noise from the exhaust system. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where she was informed that the vehicle could not be repaired. The failure persisted. Updated 07/30/10. *lj updated 09/30/10 the consumer stated he would like for someone to respond to her complaint. Updated evoq 10/13/10

Filed Apr 13, 2010 · Brakes, Steering · 500 miles · NY

Since the car was new it has had strange sounds in the steering column. The local toyota dealer dismissed it as normal sounds related to the weather [it is cold out or it is hot outside]. The sound progressively became worse. I had the power steering fluid changed and was told by the repair shop that it had the wrong fluid. The fluid was the product the car was delivered with. I am the original owner of the vehicle. After changing the fluid and having a wheel alignment done- the sounds (loud squeaking) persisted. I took the car recently to a different toyota dealership and they "greased" the steering column which eliminated the squeaking, but now clunking can be heard from the steering column. The mechanic at the toyota dealership cautioned me to "keep my eye on this" because it sounds like the steering column is bad. This toyota only has 28,000 miles on it, has never been in an accident, and has been dealer maintained. I find it suspicious that no mention of a bad steering column was made while the car was under warranty. I drive the car as little as possible because I am frightened to use it. I have also had problems with the brakes on this car. The brake problems date back to the day I drove the car home (new) from the dealership. The steering problems started almost immediately. This car should be recalled and repaired at the manufacturers expense for the steering problems.

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Brakes · 30,000 miles · CA

I would like to report that I have a toyota 2003 camry model xle and I have experienced a similar brake problem as recently reported in the toyota prius. When I am braking on an uneven or slippery surface, I hear a strange grinding noise, the brakes lock up, and the car skids. I have brought my car to the toyota dealer for repair and they could not find anything wrong. This problem has been going on for a few years. I do not remember when I first noticed the problem.

Filed Nov 15, 2009 · Seats · 25,000 miles · CA

I purchased a new toyota camry in 2003. Approximately two years later the driver's electric seat failed. The gears lowering and raising the back part of the seat were grinding and could not position the seat back in a comfortable position. Toyota of manhattan beach repaired the seat in under warranty instead of replacing it as I had requested. Approximately two years later the chair failed again in the same manner. Toyota of pasadena repaired it under warranty in 7/07 instead of replacing the seat as I had requested. However, they failed to fix the root cause of the problem. In september/09 the seat failed yet a third time in the same manner. (it is hard to tell when exactly the seat actually failed since I exercise the controls no more than once or twice a year). I brought it in to toyota of pasadena for inspection. They told me they would look into having toyota repair it under warranty but never called back. After complaining to toyota corporate toyota of pasadena's customer service manager called back and told me they only warrant their work for one year. I told her that the seat was a lemon and should be replaced under the original warranty. I also pointed out to her that it was a safety issue if the seat became stuck in the wrong position but she didn't want to do anything more.

Filed Mar 2, 2009 · Body · 35,000 miles · FL

In january 2008, my 2003 toyota camry v6, with 35000 miles on it, developed a squeak in the steering column when the wheel is turned during parking or during any 90 degree turn. The toyota dealer greased the steering column, and the squeak went away. In january of 2009, the same problem recurred. The dealer wanted to repack the steering column instead of greasing it at a cost of $225.00, or replace the steering column at a cost of $700.00. I asked if there was a recall on that particular model for that problem, and the service representative said no. I don't know if there is a safety issue or concern arising from this problem, and is it common among that make and model toyotas.

Filed Nov 17, 2008 · Engine · 66,000 miles · AZ · crash

The car was idling, with the transmission in park, for about three minutes. I placed my foot on the brake in order to shift the car from park into drive. The instant the shift lever went into drive the car engine roared, the tires squealed, I was pushed back into the seat and the car shot forward heading toward vehicles on a busy street. I seemed to have no control of the vehicle, except for steering, from that point on. To avoid a broadside collision with vehicles the street I followed the contour of the banks drive through lane which was a 90 degree turn to the left. Nothing I did seemed to have any effect on the motion and operation of the car. In making the turn the right front wheel climbed over the driveway curb. In correcting for that I over steered the car and climbed the curb on the left side of the driveway striking a wells fargo sign on the property adjacent to the left side of the driveway before advancing into the main bank parking lot. The car proceeded forward where, just after entering the parking lot, it struck the right front fender and bumper of a usps mail truck. The car ricochets off the mail truck and proceeds into and almost through the adjacent cvs pharmacy parking lot before coming to a stop. The gasoline tank was gutted when the car ran over the sign resulting in gas being dumped on the bank driveway. The vast majority of the gas was spilled on the bank driveway just after the sign. The gas continued to spill but diminished as the car proceeded through the cvs parking lot to the point where there was no gasoline spill at all where the car came to a stop. It is my belief the car stopped for no other reason than it ran out of gas. Nothing I did or tried to do appeared to have any effect.

Filed Jul 1, 2007 · Acceleration · 77,500 miles · WI

Delayed response of engine and forward motion of the car when applying acceleration. For lack of better words, it seems to create a revving or surge in the engine...like something is out of synch. Other issues relate to persistent problems with the hydraulic brake and grinding in the steering column that have been dismissed by the dealership that works on my car. As of today, I cannot safely drive my car because I am not confident I will be able to stop the car. I am scheduled to bring the car in this week, but will need to expedite it given the rapid change in brake response in the last few days.

Filed Apr 10, 2007 · Body, Engine · MS

I purchased the 2003 toyota camry in september 2005. While I love my car I do have some concerns after hearing the other complaints. I hear sloshing sound under the dash. It is really loud when braking, accelerating, or parking. I asked the dealer about it several times, and was told it was normal for your car. Also , hear a squeaky, grinding sound when turning the steering wheel to either side. This happens every time I turn the wheel, no matter hot or cold weather. The delaership could not find anything wrong with it the first time I took it them. They kept it 2 days, and said nothign was wrong. It continued for antoher week, and I returned with it to the dealership, and they kept it overnight and called me the next day, and told me they did not have time to look at it, but they were sure nothing was wrong with it. They will not return any phone calls or even talk to me when I go there. The las thing, was the paint continually chipping and peeling of in chunks on the hood, front bumper, and rear bumper. I have spoken to toyota about this several times, and they continued to say it was not their fault, and my car was not under warranty. So they could not do anything. This all started about 3 weeks after I bought the car and continued today. Please advis me if therewas anything I could do to fix any of these problems. Thanks. Ak

Filed Jan 13, 2007 · Steering · GA

When turning the steering wheel it makes a very awkward squeaking sound. I noticed the squeaking in the winter of 2004. It does it all the time most noticeably during cold weather. I took it to the local toyota dealership around july 2006. They lubricated it and it stopped for a while. I had to take it back in december of 2006 to have it lubricated again. I don't know what the problem is, but I wish it could be corrected.