2003 Toyota Camry: hesitation when accelerating

Filed Dec 8, 2015 · Brakes, Steering · 33,705 miles · MA

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota camry. The contact stated that when making a left or right turn, there was an abnormal noise emitting from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the lower steering shaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. In addition, the contact stated that when the brake pedal was depressed, the vehicle hesitated to respond. The contact also mentioned that after switching into the park position, the vehicle independently switched in the reverse position without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 33,705.

Filed Feb 24, 2010 · Acceleration, Transmission · 200 miles · NV

I own a 2003 camry xle purchased new from a local dealer in carson city, nv. I have had problems with the transmission surging, lurching and hesitating since purchased. I requested the service dept to check it out many times. They always said nothing was wrong leading me to believe I was crazy. After the 4th time I printed out many other consumer complaints, they still told me "nothing was wrong" but they said toyota is putting in a whole new transmission. That was in 2006. Wow, if nothing was wrong why would they go to that expense? Now after all that has come to light with the toyota problems, I see why. I am not comfortable with this car and know that it has the potential for sudden unintended acceleration. Updated 03/19/10

Filed Feb 23, 2010 · Transmission · 15,000 miles · IL

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 toyota camry. The contact stated that when driving low speeds, the transmission does not engaged. I took two to three seconds before the transmission would shift in gear. The dealer replaced the computer chip and upgraded the transmission which only minimally corrected the failure. A complaint was filed with the toyota manufacturer for the failure. The failure mileage was 15,000 the current mileage is 87,000. Updated 03/11/10 *bf the consumer stated the transmission seemed to hesitate for a couple of seconds when pressing the accelerator pedal. When the transmission did engage, the vehicle lurched forward. Updated 05/05/10.

Filed Jul 8, 2005 · Transmission · NY

Dt: toyota camry 2003. The consumers car hesitates when trying to accelerate. It actually slows down by 10-20 MPH. *ak the vehicle would lurch forward after hesitating. The problem occurred when turning corners or when attempting to drive onto the highway from a rolling start. *sc

Filed Jun 10, 2005 · Steering, Transmission · 7,572 miles · FL

2003 toyota camry experiencing problems with hesitation upon acceleration.***no answer required*** *mr this would occur as the consumer would attempt to pass other vehicles. There was a break and or chatter in the left front wheel. The hesitation would occur at all speeds and there was a rubbing noise in the steering column. *sc

Filed Mar 3, 2005 · Acceleration, Transmission · 12 miles · VA

While driving at 35 MPH vehicle hesitated when trying to accelerate and then stalled. Owner contacted the dealer , and had the transmission replaced. However, the problem recurred.

Filed Jul 3, 2004 · Fuel system · 12,500 miles · CA

We filled up our 2003 camry le at costco (on a monday). We shopped at costco and then drove about 17 miles to our home. We backed up our incline driveway and unloaded the trunk. We drove to safeway (about 2 miles away) that same day and dropped a relative at their house about a mile away. We drove a total of about 25 miles after the fill up at costco. The camry was not driven for the rest of the week until friday. On friday the car was driven no more than three miles before it started to hesitate and then stalled. It did this four times before getting back to the house. We had it towed to the toyota dealership for repair. We were told that we overflowed the fuel tank and the carbon canister was filled with gas. This caused the computer to stall the car out because it is sensing an over rich condition. The problem is we did not overfill the fuel tank and we drove it for far too long for this to be what caused the carbon filter to have gotten gas in it. Maybe backing up the driveway with a full tank caused the problem, but that is a flaw in the engineering of the car, not a mistake by the consumer. The repair and towing cost 780 dollars.

Filed Jun 4, 2004 · Transmission · CA

2003 v6 camry experiences sudden and random jerkss/bucking/hesitation as driver accelarates into second/third gears. Took back to dealer 3x, 1st time ecu was reprogrammed; 2nd time dealer said the car was getting to know how I drive; 3rd time they said that is normal for gears. I found out the lexus 300 es, which has the same engine, also experience the same problem. Very dangerous condition because you are not expecting the jerking/bucking/hesitation.

Filed Apr 20, 2004 · Acceleration, Brakes · 23,000 miles · NJ

While making a right turn at 5 MPH, the vehicle hesitated, then it accelerated on its own. This caused the vehicle to hit the curb. *ak the problem was with the antilock brakes. *sc

Filed Apr 16, 2004 · Acceleration · 1,500 miles · MA

Vehicle hesitated to accelerate when gas pedal was pressed. Also, unexpected acceleration occurred intermittently.

Filed Dec 28, 2003 · Brakes · 19,000 miles · NJ

Camry 2003 brake failure. Brake pedal froze when driving and would not press down at all. Frantically, while driving between 25 MPH and 30 MPH, after approximately 1500 feet, the pedal went down after repeated attempts to get the pedal down. (I had the car towed to the dealer and they could not recreate the problem and tested the brakes. Though the brakes showed that they were functioning correctly, the problem was that the brakes failed due to the brake pedal completely freezing. I had to continually try to push the pedal down and frantically warned my children in the car that the pedal was stuck and wouldn't budge, that I lost the brakes. Luckily there wasn't anyone else on the road because it was at least 1500 feet before the pedal eventually went down, with tight hesitation).

Filed Nov 11, 2003 · Acceleration, Transmission · PA

2003 toyota camry is equipped with electronic computer controlled throttle, electronic computer controlled transmission, and cruise control. At various times the car will either hesitate for 5-10 seconds when accelaration is demanded or alternatively under light throttle it will shift down several gears the engine racing madly and accelarate. In cruise control it sometimes shifts down and accelarates 15 MPH over the setpoint.