Automatic Transmission problems of the 2003 Toyota Camry

Our 2003 Toyota Camry/ solara accelerated while in neutral and with the parking brake on. The regular brakes also failed as well as the airbags.

2003 Toyota Camry automatic trans. Put in reverse to back out of garage. Surged cut wheels to avoid hitting house next door, brick 50 ft from garage. Avoided a direct collision. But clipped some bricks at corner. Another 75ft into a small creek opposite bank stopped car. Braking was to no avail. Injury minor - pinched nerve in left shoulder. Counted 75+ reports for same model year involving spontaneous acceleration on your site. Your investigation in '03 or '04 found nothing suggesting unfamiliarity w/vehicle. We are the original owners. A goodly number of the reports are for recent years taking unfamiliarity out of the play. What are you doing currently respecting Camry acceleration issues?. . . . Regards, harvey miller.

Transmission started to act up at around 40 mph. Took it to certified transmission who in turn tried different parts, they even took to the Toyota dealer for assistance with the problem. After over a month, they decided I should replace the transmission. Even after the new transmission certified transmission still was testing the car and would stall. The car never stalled before the new tranny. Certified finally called for me to pick up my car. I asked if he was sure it was safe and he said yes. Friday late afternoon I picked up the car and paid $4,000 for transmission. Drove it Saturday once and it started to dog a few times. Sunday I went to grocery store and on the way home the car died in the middle of the busiest street in kansas city. I was pulled off to the side calling my ins. Tow service when I was rearended at about 40 mpg. When it was all said and done with fighting with everyone, with no care or concern from anyone, I finally gave up fighting. I ended up losing money with the other ins. Co. Because even if they repaired the damage, the car still didn't work and certified tried to say it could have been something else. Now after what I know, I feel certified transmission did not treat me fairly.

Car constantly rolls when vehicle is in drive. It is an automatic and we have to keep our foot on the gas pedal when completely stopped and a flat road.

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.

The consumer parked the vehicle and exited to retrieve a gas can. When the consumer turned around the vehicle was moving forward into her garage.

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Camry. The contact was driving approximately between 55-65 mph on normal road conditions. The transmission began to jerk excessively. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer on four separate occasions for the identical failures with replacement of the transmissions. The four transmissions failed within 45,000 miles. When at a complete stop the vehicle surged forward unexpectedly. Also, during braking there was a delayed response. The authorized dealer was unable to duplicate the failures. The failure mileage was 10,000. The current mileage was 45,000.

While at a stop vehicle jerked forward as if wanting to accelerate. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.

While down shifting and braking when going down hill, the vehicle went into over drive without warning, causing extended stopping distance. The dealer installed a replacement software program but no improvement was noticed.

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.

Intermittently transmission failed while parking the vehicle. From drive to park transmission locks up and car won't move. Dealer has been notified. Please provide further information.

While driving at 40-43 mph, as the transmission was about to be shifted into overdrive, the front end vibrated until about 45-50 mph and then the problem disappeared. The tires were rotated and balanced three times to make sure the tires were not the problem. The dealers conclusion was that there was an engine overload or bad tires. The vibration was felt throughout the vehicle. (may be a locked up converter or the transmission).

While driving at any speed vehicle jerked. Also, gears were hard to change until the vehicle was over 35 mph. Dealer claimed that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle, but the way consumer was driving.

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.

Transmission/engine at moderate speeds (50 mph) stumbles when throttle input is removed. The concern is increased braking distance when the condition occurs. Does not occur everytime throttle input is removed. Dealer could not find the failure mode.

Shortly after purchasing the vehicle we began feeling a "bucking" sensation in the engine/transmission when our new 2003 Camry would shift from over drive into a lower gear. It only happens in a narrow range of speed and engine rpm but when it happens - there is no mistaking the "stutter". This "narrow range" is right at 38-40 mph / ~1200 rpm which is the speed we commonly travel on the secondary roads.

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.