2003 Toyota Camry: engine failure

Filed Jun 26, 2022 · Engine, Transmission · FL

Having purchased w 2003 Toyota Camry 2.4l, (with good paint, no rust, great interior, and new clear headlights) 3 days prior, the previous owner reported no current issues. The check engine light come on the 3 rd day as I drove away from the DMV having just titled it. AC was blowing cold, no other dash lights were on and I couldn't feel any apparent issues driving, so I proceed to my place of employment, where a friend whom is an independent mechanic had the machine to read check engine codes. I never made it. Had driven approximately 25 miles and came to a full stop for a red light. Upon turning green and beginning to accelerate, my Camry's engine died and would not start. When the key was turned it made no noise at all. Towed to a mechanic shop, I was asked if it had overheated, it had not. Without investing further and me acquiring a diagnostics charge, he said one apparent issue was the fact that there was absolutely no coolant in the engine. Dumfounded I had ittowed home where another Mechanic friend (licensed) was going to see about reapiring it. One of the code//errors read, was that the was no combustion, the radiator was full, but there was no traces of coolant in the engine, when took of the engine mainfold right away he noticed 3 cool packs that were damaged, as well as what appeared to be a used head gasket poorly installed, and worse if all the timing chain had jumped and made a mad mesh nightmare to the engine...so previous owners obviously sold me their night mare, I now am stuck with either replacing the engine (not) or bring carless once again.✔️✔️ Note: Contacted the acclaimed christian, God fearing sellers, whom I paid $4000 and they kindly refunded me $1000, as they stated it was no fault of theirs ..

Filed Nov 26, 2021 · Engine · NJ

I have a 2003 Toyota Camry le (4 cylinder, 2. 4 l) which began leaking engine coolant from around the engine block. My mechanic determined that the root cause of the leak was loose head bolts in the engine block. I was advised to either replace the engine or rebuild it both of which are cost prohibitive given the value of the car at 114,000 miles. I have come to learn that this is a very common problem with 2003 Camrys and Toyota has issued no recall for this issue. This particular car was well maintained by Toyota dealership service.

Filed Dec 12, 2016 · Engine · 180 miles · CT

One day I start my car and leave it to warm up for about 15 minutes, when I got in it I notice it was blowing cold air from vents,I started driving and it start getting hot ,so didn't pay much attention, about few days after my wife drove to church and call me to say there's no heat inside, I told her co come back home ,when I check the radiator it was almost dry,I could not believe it,I fill it back up and the temperature gauge went back to its original position, and I start getting heat inside again, took it on the road for a test drive only to start getting cold air again so I went home back put about a cup of antifreeze and lift the car only to find that the leaking is coming from between the intake manifold,my mechanic told me it's leaking from the head because the bolts go striped and the head is separated from the block and this is a common problem with these models,and it's going to need a knew engine, which I don't have any money to buy, toyota should take full responsibility for these issues, there's a lot of owner going through the same thing.

Filed May 2, 2016 · Engine · 113,623 miles · OR

I must saddly add my name to the list of deeply disappointed toyota owners with the head gasket/ stripped bolts problem. My 2003 camry has 105k miles and has been well maintained when the head gasket blew last week during normal usage. I have done enough research now to realize that the car was poorly engineered and the stripped bolts are pervasive with this make, model and year of car. I now require a new engine, which is a cost prohibitive repair. I was driving on the freeway and happened to be looking at the dashboard and when the temperature gauge went from normal to the the hottest possible. I immediately pulled over, let the engine cool, added oil and then waited a bit longer to ensure it had cooled sufficiently. I restarted the car, put in in drive and went about 20 ft before the temperature shot back up again. I parked it immediately, called a tow truck and had it towed to a mechanic. The repair requires replacing the engine and will cost is equivalent to the car's value. I have been told by two mechanics that replacement rebuilt engines are hard to find because this issue is so common with this car. And, that the because the replacement will have the same engineering flaw it is bound to happen again. Both mechanics, along with many owners who have contributed to the forums and blogs I have read have told me the car is useless now so I plan to donate it to charity tomorrow.

Filed Aug 24, 2015 · Engine · 252,000 miles · MI

Bad oil leaks. Mechanics couldn't find where leaks were coming from. Took it to another mechanic and he said that the head bolts are most likely stripped. I went online and found a lot of other owners of this vehicle with the same problem. And fumes were coming into the car. If this vehicle has this problem , why wasn't it recalled to be fixed. I can't get anyone to fix this problem. Toyota just wants to sell me a used engine for the same thing to happen again according to others owners who replaced the engine.

Filed May 5, 2015 · Engine, Steering · 229,000 miles · MI

Driving on rural highway the car heats up the coolant from the reservoir overflows. In the engine compartment affecting steering and your ability to drive because of the vapor fron the burning coolant. Repair man says head gasket is gone....this is the third time now to replace the head gasket .because the head bolts and threads all stripped due to bad engineering or improper torque by toyotas engineering department ....I been rwading about this problem and found out that this is a very common probkem with these cars from 2003-2006 ... I feel that if it was something simple to fix then toyota would address the problem but since its seens like a new engine is the only fix for this problem so they are hush hush ...because it would be a costly recall for toyota .

Filed Jan 21, 2015 · Engine · 88,259 miles · HI

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota camry. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the engine seized while the check engine light illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that there was a leak in the radiator and the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 88,259.

Filed Jan 13, 2014 · Engine · 106,928 miles · WA

This is to report a failure on engine model #2az-fe (effects 2002-2007 camrys, highlanders and rav4) due to stripped cylinder head bolts on the back side of the engine. There is at least one technical service bulletin issued by toyota tsb2740 that relates to this recognized problem of steel cylinder head bolts stripping out of the aluminum engine, especially on the firewall or backside of the engine possibly due to a foam insulation piece to protect a plastic manifold part from heat. It is suggested that the foam piece allows a heat build up on the engine side. The costs to repair this problem was $2,131. And includes machining the warped head, new head gasket and bolts and a long thread insert set. I am very disappointed to learn that toyota knew years ago of this design problem and issued a tsb; but did not recall for a solution before this LED to metal failure and engine overheating. Many of these engines will fail after the warranty period of 60k has expired. If you have any suggestions as to remedies with toyota corp for this failure, I would appreciate knowing about it. I am glad to report this as I see that many, many engine failures have been caused by this basically unaddressed design problem. Thank you.

Filed Mar 11, 2013 · Engine · 95,000 miles · TN

We found coolant on our garage floor. We took the camry to our toyota dealer and was informed that cylinder head bolts were stripped and coolant was leaking out of the bolts. We were told that a used engine replacement was needed to correct the problem, and that toyota would not cover any of the cost. Apparently, toyota had issued service bulletins to their dealers about the problem some years before, but when I called toyota's 1‑800‑331‑4331 number I was informed that there were no recalls or warranty extensions for this problem. Based on what I found on the internet, this is a common problem with the 2003 camry.

Filed Mar 7, 2013 · Engine · 173,000 miles · GA · fire

In november 2012, I was told by my the dealer that there was a leak in my water pump in my 2003 toyota camry. I got a second opinion and I was told that my water pump had a slow leak and that I should get it repaired. In december 2012, my car ran hot and was smoking really bad. Dealer stated that my I needed a new engine. I asked what was the issue and they stated that my head gaskets were blown. I asked the dealer could they repair the head gaskets and the answer was I needed a new engine. Got a second opinion who then told me that I had stripped head bolts and car could be repaired. Had car repaired and the car is running fine 173,000. I started doing research on the internet and literally I found hundreds of people with this same issue. I proceeded to call toyota (twice) and the second call did admit that there was a service bulletin issued in nov 2011 alerting the dealers how to repair the stripped head bolts. I could not believe how many people were having this issue and the fact that this is a defect in the construction of the 2.4 engine for the 2003 toyota camry. Toyota will not acknowledge that there was a major defect with this years camry. And what is further more disheartening is that the representative at toyota said that I should expect to make repairs on my car with the type of mileage I have. And I do agree but I should be able to get more without the defect. Is there any way I can get toyota to acknowledge the defect by filing this claim and in addition to the other claims on this website.

Filed Jan 4, 2013 · Engine · 160,000 miles · OH

It was an unusually cold day for october and I was driving my son to school with my three year old daughter in her car seat when the heat would not work. Only cold air came out of the vents. The windows were fogged up and would not defrost. I then noticed that the temperature gage was in the red zone. It kept climbing up and down. I could not see out of the windshield at all and had to pull over for safety reasons. Thank god I was not on the highway as usual, but on a local road. I stopped and I wiped off the windshield and windows manually. This was a terrifying ordeal. The next morning I took the camry to the cooper tire garage here in findlay. After inspection I was told that the head gasket pulled out of the block and that it was because it was an aluminum block. They are not made out of steel anymore. Previous to this incident, I experienced absolutely no symptoms that my toyota's engine was going to malfunction. My camry's engine is shot. I contacted toyota customer service center and was told there is nothing they could help me with. I was actually crying when I spoke with the representative. I have been a proud owner of two camrys. My daughter drives a 1995 camry that is still running very well and my mother is driving a 1999 camry that she has had no engine issues with. Apparently, this is a newer model defect. My camry has been paid off since november of 2011. I was looking forward to having another 100,000 miles of use out of it. The reputation that toyota camry's have states that if I regularly maintain my camry I should have that opportunity. I now have the urge to warn all camry drivers to be aware that they could very well experience engine failure with no symptoms at all and even if they regularly maintain their camry. This is an extremely dangerous issue. My camry still looks and did run like new.

Filed Feb 10, 2012 · Engine · NJ

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota camry. The contact stated the vehicle made a loud noise. The dealer was contacted and diagnosed that there was sludge in the engine and that it needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but denied any assistance with repairs. The engine was replaced. The failure mileage was unavailable and the current mileage was 75,000. Updated 03/27/12*lj updated 06/13/2012