I am finding that the brakes on my 2003 camry le do not slow the car when I hit a pot hole or defect in the road. This has occurred more than 5 times in last year when I brake while going over a pot hole
2003 Toyota Camry brakes complaints
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2003 toyota camry anti lock brakes this situation has existed from the day I have bought this car. When the camry rumbles over a bumpy road and I step on the brake pedal applying constant pressure the brakes are non responsive. The brakes do not stop the car. The brakes only start to work once the car is no longer over bumpy road. I have spoken to many camry owners and they have indicated the same braking failure. Toyota indicates this is normal. How can toyota be allowed to not fix a failure of their braking system? When is the government going to address this problem? You have had brake failure complaints like this for years and have not done anything about this!
Car accelerated, could not stop in 5 different incidents. The latest one was on backing out of garage. Pressed hard on brake and car stopped just short of hitting another car.
2003 toyota camry discussion thread --------------------------------------------------------------- response (kwil) - 01/26/2010 04:26 pm we apologize for your concern with the performance of your 2003 camry, and we appreciate you taking the time to let us know. Unintended acceleration involving toyota and lexus vehicles has been thoroughly investigated on several occasions over the last few years. None of these studies has found that an electronic throttle control system malfunction is the cause of unintended acceleration. Electronic throttle control, adopted in some form by nearly all automakers, has several fail-safe features and enhances safety by making possible functions such as traction control, stability control and adaptive laser cruise control. Toyota values the safety of our owners and the public. It is our utmost concern and toyota has and will continue to take appropriate measures to address any defect trends that are identified. We have documented your email at our national headquarters under file. If we can be of further assistance, please click on the following link, http://www.toyota.com/help/contactus.html,to contact us. Customer - 01/22/2010 06:21 am I have been concerned about my vehicle - since an experience I had in may of 2009 in nichols, sc. I was departing my sister's farm - had my car in reverse - when it acceralated at a high rate of speed in reverse. The engine had a very loud whine and in a matter of seconds went from 0 to 60 MPH (my guess)it went in reverse ' almost causing a collision with horses and barn. I applied brakes and shifted gears ' all in vain. Only when I turned the key off ' did the car stop. My car received superficial damage. My car was examined by harrelson toyota, rock hill, sc. ' nothing was found wrong. An incident report was filed.
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.
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.
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.
After reading the recent description of the potential problem with the brakes on the 2010 toyota prius I realized that the description is identical to the problem I have on my 2003 toyota camry. This has happened on several occasions. When the brakes are applied and at the same time I happen to hit a pothole or a rough or uneven surface the car will lose braking ability and it is often accompanied by the chattering sound like you hear when anti-lock brakes are engaging, except in this circumstance the brakes do not seem to have any effect. Although I have not had an accident it is very much a sense of lost of control when it happens, and most recently when this happened I had to shift lanes suddenly to avoid hitting the car in front of me. As stated this phenomena has occurred on more than one occasion.
2003 camry le with a failing braking system. The brake pedal must be pushed almost to the floor for the brakes to engage. I have had it to the dealer on four separate occasions over the past 18 months with the same complaint. They claim the brakes meet manufacturer's specs, and have failed to diagnose any problem, and no fix was ever offered. The pads and rotors are ok, and they agree that is not the problem. I owned the car since it was new, and there is a definite problem with the brake pedal needing excessive depression, which toyota denies. They have opened a case file on the car, but have done nothing about it. I am afraid to drive it, for fear the brakes will not engage at all. Purchased at sunnyside toyota in north olmsted, ohio (440)777-9911. I believe the braking system on this model is faulty, and needs to be fixed. Every time I take this car out for a test ride, it seems to be worse. I have stopped driving it, and toyota has refused to do anything, except have yet another of their dealers "look at it". I am tired of taking this into the shop to be diagnosed, only to be turned away saying it's "completely up to manufacturer's specs." four times is enough !!! There is something very wrong.
I bought a toyota camry 2003 le in june 2006 and I found that it takes time for the brake to stop the car.. I went back to dealer 3 times the check the car and I was told that's how the car is designed they cannot help me, and they said that I will get use to it. But I never get use to it . It very scary when driving on highway.
Wife turned into our driveway which slopes down (10 - 20 degrees) as she has been doing for the last 20+ years with her foot on the brake. The pavement was dry. The brakes failed to stopped the car. She veered left to avoid going over a 20 foot embankment at the end of our driveway and crashed into a stone wall. Based on the angle of impact the car rolled over onto its roof. Air bags did not inflate. My wife remained suspended by the seat belt upside down until emergency forces arrived. She sustained multiple bruises and chest pains attributed to the seat belt. If she had gone over the embankment only god knows what the extent of her injuries would have been. New tires had been installed on the car (front wheels) during june 2008 at which time the front brakes were also checked for wear by an auto mechanic. The car was "totaled" as a result of the accident. Subsequently I checked the brake fluid in the car (after the accident); the brake cylinder was full. Further, the toyota camry is equipped with brake wear indicators. No indication (sound) of excess wear was given prior to the accident. My wife is adamant she had her foot on the brake pedal. I surmise two things could have happened: 1. The brakes failed completely and gravity acceleration down the driveway contributed to the car's speed and subsequent impact; or 2. The car surged due to a failure of the electronic throttle control (etc) in which application of the brakes was inadequate to stopped the car. Based on prior the federal safety agency complaints/actions (ref the federal safety agency action numbers pe04021; dp05002; and dp06003) and the similarity of circumstances, I believe the etc failed. I recommend the federal safety agency and toyota take action to remedy this unsafe situation.
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.
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.
Cruise control did not disengage upon pressing brake pedal. Hydraulic brakes would not stop vehicle. Method used to stop vehicle included putting vehicle in neutral and applying emergency/parking brake. Narrowly avoided collision with other vehicles which had stopped by squeezing between them and the concrete medium. My vehicle was scraped on drivers side but no other vehicle was damaged (thank god!). Could not duplicate.
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 !!!
Brake failure. Has happened before and complaint filed previously. This time, brakes failed when approaching intersection. Vehicle speed before braking about 35 MPH. Vehicle had been driven about 5 miles with occasional gentle braking after being parked for approximately 6 hours. Outside temperature about 85 degrees, sunny and dry. Failure hadn't happened all winter, warmer weather only time problem occurs. In this instance, brake pedal went to floor upon initial application. Braking effort insufficient even though both feet pushing pedal. I'm 210 lb active cyclist. Pushing effort definitely not lacking. Nearly broadsided car in cross traffic. Swift evasive action by other driver only reason accident didn't occur. In past, dealer said they were unable to duplicate condition. Brake pedal has "quiver" when pressed quickly. Dealer replaced brake booster but problem not corrected. Brake pads, shoes, rotors and drums in excellent condition. Brake fluid clean and at correct level. Feels like flaw inside master cylinder or in pedal linkage design which is different than most motor vehicles. I feel car is dangerous to operate and I won't let other 2 drivers in the family use this vehicle. Toyota should know of camry braking problems as they are posted many places and have been brought to toyota's customer, including myself. Thses defective vehicles are highly prevalent on the highwqys and are a ticking time bomb waiting to kill or maim some unsuspecting person.
Though they have been replaced entirely at least once, the brakes on my 2003 camry still squeak upon a gradual brake during the day. Other than the squeak, I must admit that they brakes do work well. This may not be a safety problem unless I get so used to the squeak that I don't catch the 'telltale' that many pad manufacturers put in their pads to give an audio clue to change their brake pads.
To whom it may concern: I am writing with regard to a 2003 toyota camry, VIN [xxx], purchased in the summer of 2003. On december 14, 2005, I took the car into jon lancaster toyota/scion dealership. Prior to bringing the car in, on 3 occasions, the brakes failed. Upon attempting to brake, the brake pedal began vibrating and there was a thudding sound. The car did not brake and I had to push the pedal 5 times in order for the car to slow down. However the car did not stop completely. According to the documents, a technician checked over the brake system and stated there was no problem. An employee stated that the thudding noise and the inability to stop was normal which this type of brake system and that he has had several customers in the past complain of this problem. Since the inspection, the car has failed to brake on two occasions. I contacted rosemurgy toyota, the dealership where I purchased the car, and they informed me to bring the car back to jon lancaster. However, jon lancaster dealership is insisting that the brake system is functioning normally. This car is extremely unsafe not only to it occupants but also to others on the road. This car is under warranty and I am writing to insist that this matter be looked into and resulting in repair or replacement of the car. I have contacted an attorney regarding this matter. Also, I will be forwarding a copy of this letter to the wisconsin consumer protection agency and the us department of transportation. *jb updated 07/17/2012 *js information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)
The brake pedal goes to the floor in emergency situations but the car does not decelerate any harder. I have notified the mfg numerous times, even got their legal dept involved (case # 200301090284) according to toyota this is by design - even though the brake pedal height & stopping distances are outside the published specs. I have found numerous similar complaints on the nttsa website and am concerned this has fallen in a crack. This is so rampant that I am considering a class-action lawsuit should all other methods fail (I really don't want to do this!!) thanks for your attention in this crucial matter. I have filed a complaint a while back - I called the 800 number to inquire whay no research has been done & I know you are spread very thin - please accept my apolgy but I really think this is a important matter
Brake pedal frequently goes nearly to floor. Has happened even when car stopped at lights. When pedal travel excessive, braking performance very poor. No warning. Brakes work fine for a while then pedal travel and brake performance drgrade severely without warning. Nearly in several collisions. Also, fraquent vibration in pedal linkage, especially when pedal pushed quickly. Dealer replaced brake booster but no imporvement in performance. Dealer says there is nothing else to be done. Often feels like internal leak in master cylinder. Complaint to toyota turfed back to dealer. Feel car is dangerous in this condition but toyota and northway toyota not interested in repairing problem. Last date listed in incident date, but has happened many, many times. Afraid to operate vehicle in heavy traffic, especially at highway speeds.
Dt: on december 8, 2003, at 6918 miles consumer was at a stop sign and tried to apply brakes and they failed. Consumer was in a school zone and tried to stop at a traffic light, took the vehicle to dealer to be inspected, and the service department couldn't find anything wrong. Again, had the vehicle out and was at a 3 way stop and tried to apply the brakes, and they failed again. Took vehicle to dealership on april 21, 2005 at 13096 miles, and they did find that because of a brake failure there was internal failure in master cylinder, and the front rotors were warped.
Toyota failed to fix defect with brakes under warranty, left front brake failed, and caught fire after short drive. Dealer failed to fix second time claimed it was not their problem, car had been tampered with, toyot0 dealership was lone repair shop ever used.
2003 toyota camry has problems with brake equipment.*mr the brake pedal went to the floor and the brakes faded while attempting to stop. The vehicle was taken to the dealer three times but they didn't find anything wrong.
When driving and going down hill brakes were hard, and a noise could be heard. Consumer was driving in the ice and snow on both occasions. Vehicle went into a fish tail, almost causing a collision. Dealer was unable to duplicate the problem.
2003 toyota camry le, anti-lock brake system failure. *bf the consumer noticed that every time when pressing on the brake pedal, and continue to steadily hold it depressed, the ABS would activate immediately, but the vehicle failed to come to a timely stop.
Anti-skid brake system on my 2003 camry xle v6 malfunctioned, and caused the car to cross 3 lanes and crash into a guard rail. I was uninjured, but the car sustained $11,000 damage.
The brake pedal will plunge to floor mat. The pedal height was very low, pumping pedal increases the height. The car will stop, continued pressure causes pedal to drop to floor. *jb when the engine was off, the pedal would touch the floor. When the engine was running the pedal was about one quarter inch from the floor. *tc
Approaching intersection the traffic light changed and attempting to stop vehicle, the brake pedal went to the floor board, but the vehicle did not stop before impact with another vehicle. Speed at impact was approx. 20 MPH and neither airbag deployed. Just recently had vehicle at dealership to have soft brake pedal checked, and was told of similar complaints concerning problem.
While applying the brakes ,the pedal went to the floor. The consumer noticed less of braking power. The ABS light appeared on the dashboard and remained on. The consumer drove to the dealer to have the vehicle inspected. The mechanic was unable to duplicate the problem. Please fill in additional information.
Brakes on vehicle are unusually soft and require an abnormal amount of travel before they engage.
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