Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Toyota Camry owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that the vehicle would suddenly accelerate or lunge forward and had done so several times, both while idle, pressing the brakes, and while driving at various speeds. Suddenly accelerated downhill, and when approaching the inner section, the contact immediately turned the vehicle to avoid hitting another vehicle and ended up crashing into a nearby residence's garage, causing the vehicle to stop. The air bags did not deploy. The garage door was damaged, and the contact's vehicle's front-end was damaged. A police report was filed. The contact had stated they had experienced sleep issues and a fear of driving the vehicle since the incident. The vehicle was able to be driven to the contact's residence. The vehicle had not been driven since. …
I was going 45 to 50 mph and my car shut off in middle of highway and we barely got out of highway before getting hit there is recall on same kind of car for throttle body and that's what's wrong with mine so it has too be that they missed my car
I felt a click under hood around area of driver side as I backed out out of a parking space at the bank. I drove forward across the street into another parking lot, turned my wheel right to pull into parking place and the accelerator increased sending me up a curb into a brick wall. With foot on brake, I had to put car into neutral and park to turn off before acceleration stopped. My entire front end was smashed(have photos of car and tire marks on cement). I started car back up and it reversed fine. No mats under pedal and no slipping foot to gas pedal. Car has 60,000 miles and was impeccable.
Tl contact owns a 2003 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while at a red light, the vehicle suddenly accelerated independently without warning. As a result, the contact crashed into the vehicle in front. A police report was filed. The contact did not specified if any injuries were sustained. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure was unable to be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 95,000. Updated 4/20/15 updated 9/28/2017
Tl* the contact owned a 2003 Toyota Camry. While driving 5 MPH, the vehicle independently accelerated. As a result of the acceleration, the contact's vehicle rear ended another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The vehicle was able to be driven after the crash, but was later towed to an independent mechanic where it was deemed destroyed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.
As I turned slightly right into my parking space with my foot lifting from the gas pedal toward the brake pedal, the vehicle suddenly took on a life of its own and sped up then crashed right thru the gate that divided the parking space from the sidewalk. I was in shock and thought there was a ghost of some kind that just took over the gas pedal as it sped up. My front bumper was destroyed and front grill along with the lower head lights of vehicle along with the hood of the car.
I was nearly finished parking my car when the car sped up, went over a concrete curb stop, hit and knocked over a sign post. I recall the engine revving when this happened. I stomped on the brake pedal and that stopped the car. This is the first time this has happened in the 12 years I've owned the vehicle but it was scary.
I was backing out of a parking spot. When my car staled and was shaking in reverse. I slammed on my breaks because I thought I backed up into something. When I put my car in drive and took my foot off of the brake pedal. My car immediately accelerated to full speed out of no where and caused me to crash into two cars.
I was pulling into a parking spot at a local dry cleaners. As I was pulling into a parking spot, the vehicle suddenly surged rapidly forward going over a concrete barrier and hit a concrete wall. Unintended sudden acceleration.
I was in the process of parking the car in a parking lot when the vehicle accelerated on its own. When I attempted to apply the brakes there was no effect. In order to avoid traffic I had to steer the vehicle into a stone wall.
NHTSA investigations
Throttle control system
The Lexus models were the subject of defect petition (dp) 04-003.twelve odi complaints are duplicative to Toyota reports, including the two minor crashes.the v6 equipped solara models have been excluded because they do not contain the subject throttle control system.Toyota introduced electronic throttle control (etc) on the subject vehicles beginning in model year (my) 2002.odi opened the investigation to determine…
Engine surging
The petitioner owns a my 2006 Toyota camry with a 4-cylinder engine that was purchased new in January 2006. The petitioner also previously owned a my 2005 camry. He alleges that both vehicles exhibited vehicle engine surging, which he described as a short duration (1 to 2 second) increase in engine speed occurring while the accelerator pedal is not depressed.
Vehicle speed control
In a letter dated July 8, 2005, and after experiencing two incidents (and one crash) where he alleges his model year (my) 2002 camry accelerated without driver input, mr. Jordan ziprin petitioned the national highway traffic safety administration?s (NHTSA) office of defects investigation (odi) to commence a proceeding to determine the existence of a defect within the etc system in my 2002 to 2005 Toyota and Lexus…
Acceleration complaints in other Camry years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2003 Toyota Camry?
NHTSA has 259 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2003 Toyota Camry, 33% of the model year's 782 complaints. The component named most often is accelerator pedal (28 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Toyota Camry acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2003 Toyota Camry, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2003 Toyota Camry acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 37,000 miles, and 42% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 168 crashes, 0 fires and 58 injuries and 4 deaths to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.