2003 Toyota Camry: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Apr 18, 2015 · Engine · 126,800 miles · AZ

The "check engine" light came on while driving on the freeway. About 2 minutes later, a rattling sound could be heard under the hood. While changing lanes to exit the highway, the car would not accelerate and a loud pounding sound could be heard when trying to accelerate. Just after turning onto the side street from exiting the highway, the car died. All of this occurred within a 5 minute period. Upon opening the hood, there was smoke coming from the engine area of the vehicle and the reservoir for the radiator fluid was bone dry. The radiator had been flushed and refilled only 2 months earlier. The car was towed to my local mechanic. Upon their inspection, I was told the head gasket was blown. There had been no warning lights or indication that the vehicle was running hot previous to the "check engine" light coming on minutes before the head gasket blew. In august, 2012, a rushing fluid sound could be heard in the dash area. I had the car inspected and the water pump, thermostat, all hoses and a radiator flush were done to the vehicle. In february 2013, the power steering pump had to be replaced. The rushing fluid sound could still be heard often. If the radiator fluid reservoir was topped off, generally the sound would stop. The fluid sound began again in january 2015. That was the main reason for getting the radiator flushed. A new radiator cap was also installed at that time. I never heard the rushing fluid sound after that flush. The car is a total loss. I am forced to replace the vehicle. The cost of a used motor and all labor is almost $5,000. That's approximately what the car is worth. I understand that there have been hundreds of almost identical complaints listed on the internet. I believe that this is a defect in the vehicle and toyota should be responsible to correct it.

Filed Mar 1, 2015 · Body, Electrical · 180,000 miles · TN · fire

Car had been driven to get gas 1/2 mile down road. When returned from gas station we pulled onto property , turned off car and there were flames coming from the hood. Fire dept arrived and put out the fire. Total loss for car.

Filed Mar 8, 2011 · Engine · 130,000 miles · FL · fire

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.

Filed Oct 11, 2005 · Engine · CA · fire

Dt: 2003 toyota camry. The engine I 2003 toyota camry caught on fire. Had not contacted dealership or the manufacturer. Did not notice anything unusual about the way vehicle was operating before the fire started. The consumer called the fire department. The fire department said it was up to the insurance company to investigate how the fire started. Did not know if it was an electrical or fuel. The engine compartment was burned completely. Vehicle was damaged by the fire. Called the police department, they said it was the highway patrol department who needed to do the report. Took pictures of vehicle at the junk yard. Vehicle had all the original parts. There was no injuries or property damage outside of vehicle.

Filed Apr 26, 2005 · Brakes · 34,000 miles · MA · fire

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.

Filed Jan 2, 2005 · Engine · OH

The exhaust system on my 03 camry hangs down. It is 4 inches off the ground. I have tried to get toyota to fix it but they say it's the design intent. I'm afraid that if the car bottoms out the system will fly off the car. I watch two people die because a muffler flew off a vehicle and wedged itself into the gas tank of a truck. It caught the highway on fire and killed the guys in the truck. The system is not installed on the car correctly. There is a bracket that is not hooked up and the system does not tuck into the exhaust channel. All the camry and other models on this frame are like this. Please help.

Filed Aug 31, 2004 · Engine · 24,000 miles · CA · fire

The consumer parked the vehicle and the engine burst into flames. Vehicle was totaled.

Filed Jul 17, 2004 · Electrical, Tires · 25,000 miles · CA · fire

My 2003 camry had been great since the date of purchase. Only had 2 problems with the car, one minor the other was major. I have 25000 miles on the car, and both the front tires were bare. I was able to see all the treads from the tires. The major problem I got was my camry caught on fire and melted the entire engine. I'd pulled up to the parking lot at work, and 20 minutes later, I was notified that my engine was on fire. Spoke with fire department and they said it looks like faulty/malfunction wire/cables. Not sure if toyota knows of this, but now I'm left w/o a car until m insurance figures everything out. Toyota should be notify in case there was a defect in the 2003 models.