Independent · Not affiliated with NHTSA or any automaker MethodologyData sourcesData refreshed Oct 6, 2026

2003 Toyota Camry: Problems, Recalls and MPG

What this means

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2003 Toyota Camry, most recently filed July 2004. Owners have filed 781 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the vehicle speed control.

Data summary generated from official records. Methodology Data: NHTSA, DOT, EPA · Refreshed Oct 6, 2026
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Recalls (1)

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2003 Toyota Camry. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗

Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.

Check on NHTSA ↗
Listed for 2003 Toyota Camry. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 04V346000 Filed Jul 13, 2004

TOYOTA/CURTAIN SHIELD AIRBAG

Air bags · side/window
Official NHTSA text
Summary
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CURTAIN SHIELD AIR BAGS (CSA), ONE OR BOTH OF THE CURTAIN AIR BAGS MAY BE TWISTED NEAR THE INFLATOR DUE TO IMPROPER ASSEMBLY.
Consequence
IF THIS OCCURS, THE CSA MAY NOT DEPLOY RAPIDLY ENOUGH WHEN ACTIVATED IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION. THIS MAY RESULT IN FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE INTENDED HEAD PROTECTION, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE CSAS AND REPLACE THE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 6, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Repair progress not yet reported128,316 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 04V346000

PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.

Owner complaints (781)

781 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The vehicle speed control is mentioned most often.

228involved a crash
10involved a fire
106injuries reported
5deaths reported

As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.

Most-reported components

Complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Toyota Camry, by component (top 10). One complaint can list several components, so these add up to more than 781.Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints · Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 · Report a data error

How 2003 compares with other Camry years

Best and worst Camry years →
1999200020012002200320042005200620072008
This year (2003)Other yearsStill collecting reports

Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.

Fuel economy: up to 24 mpg combined

24
mpg combined
21
city
29
highway
EPA annual fuel cost
$2,800
CO₂ tailpipe
370 g/mi
EPA class
Midsize Cars

What it costs you to run

$2,721per year
$227per month
625gallons a year

Miles ÷ 24 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.

EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.

Specs by configuration

2003 Toyota Camry configurations with EPA data
Engine · transmissionDriveCity / Hwy / CombEPA $/yrCO₂ g/mi
2.4 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive21 / 29 / 24$2,800370
2.4 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manualFront-Wheel Drive21 / 30 / 24$2,800370
3 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive18 / 26 / 21$3,200423
3 L 6-cyl · 5-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive18 / 26 / 21$3,200423

Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.

Used blue SUV on a sunny dealer lot with its hood open and a clipboard on the fender

Looking at a 2003 Camry for sale?

Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.

All Camry years

Where to next

2003 Toyota Camry FAQ

How many recalls does the 2003 Toyota Camry have?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign: 04V346000 (air bag). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.

What are the most common 2003 Toyota Camry problems?

Owners filed 781 complaints with NHTSA. Vehicle speed control (259), Service brakes (117), Engine and engine cooling (112) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.

What mpg does the 2003 Toyota Camry get?

EPA rates the 2.4 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic version at 21 city, 29 highway and 24 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.

How does the 2003 Camry compare with other years?

Among the 1999–2008 Toyota Camry model years at least five years old, the 2001 drew the fewest complaints (272) and the 2007 the most (2,887). The 2003 drew 781. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.

How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes

Processing

  • Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
  • Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.

Limitations

  • Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
  • Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
  • Recent model years are still collecting reports.

Review

Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.

Changelog

  • 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.
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