2003 Toyota Camry: soft or spongy brake pedal

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 !!!

Filed Dec 12, 2004 · Airbags, Brakes · GA · crash · 1 injury

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.

Filed Jun 17, 2004 · Brakes · 250 miles · MD · crash

Incident occurred during daytime, clear skies, dry road,with no debris. Vehicle was practically new, having less than 300 miles. At 1230 in afternoon, I was driving approx. 25-30 MPH on a slight downgrade (in a 45 MPH zone). Another vehicle suddenly pulled out in front of vehicle that was 5-6 car lengths directly ahead of me. The driver of the vehicle in front of me slammed on brakes to avoid hitting the interloper. I too stepped on brake pedal hard to avoid vehicle in front of me. Although I was applying significant pressure (1 leg press 400+lbs, and was applying approx 1/2 to 3/4 of that) , but my vehicle slowed negligible - prompting an expletive version of "what the heck?!?!". After a couple of ineffective attempts to push down brake pedal I stomped it, with little or no effect. My vehicle ultimately came to a stop through impact with the vehicle in front of me (after traveling approx 150-200 feet). The other driver and vehicle, my passenger and I were unharmed, but my vehicle suffered significant front-end damage. I reported the brake problem to both my insurance company and the toyota dealership (located 1/4 mile from the site of the incident) where the vehicle was purchased. The dealership was not inclined to investigate the problem, but I pressed the issue with toyota and my insurer, until someone from the toyota regional office in baltimore agreed to examine my vehicle. The "examination" occurred after the vehicle (front-end damage and all) had been sitting on the dealers lot for 3 weeks, and consisted of a couple of test stops in the parking lot and pulling wheels off the vehicle in the shop to inspect the brakes. This, of course, yielded no new information and toyota effectively closed the complaint.

Filed Mar 13, 2004 · Acceleration · 15 miles · NH

On several occasions the brake pedal has gone to the floor when I attempted to stop or slow the car. Braking or accelerating the car is not smooth and there are sudden accelerations or surges of the car. The car was tested by the dealer's service manager and by the salesman. Both agreed that the car had spongy braking but stated that all 2003 camrys behaved in similar fashion and that there was no "fix" for the problem. The toyota manufacturer stated that they had received similar complaints which they were investigating but they did not know what caused the problem so they could not provide any suggestions for its repair.

Filed Sep 4, 2003 · Brakes · 4,500 miles · FL

Consumer noticed that when depressing the brakes pedal it traveled to the floorboard. The manufacturer had been contacted. *ak the vehicle had travel time on the pedal about one inch and spongy. Dealer stated all 2002's and 2003's had that problem. *ph

Filed Aug 21, 2003 · Brakes · 1,600 miles · CA

On the freeway when I applied the brakes for emergency stop it went to the floor.t took extended distance to stop the vehicle. The dealer changed the main cylinder, but after a week the problem got worse. The brake pedal does not have any reserve distance as it specified in the maintanance and repair manual, the pedal is too soft and spongy. Because the brake pedal softness the braking time is increased by 3 seconds. When I asked the assitant manger had they performed actual tests on the vehicle after the repair he told me that they did a computerized brake test, but when I asked for hte printout he said that the computer cannot print it.

Filed Jun 16, 2003 · Brakes · 540 miles · CT

The consumer wanted to know if there was a problem in manufacturing or quality control of 2003 camry brake system. *mr the consumer believed when the vehicle left the factory, the brakes were out of adjustment. When the consumer had to apply the brakes, he discovered the brakes were spongy and the brake pedal traveled to the floor. It was discovered the rear brakes were out of adjustment, the front brake pads contained glaze and the front springs were inoperative. *ts *jb