2002 Toyota Camry
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Vehicle speed control is the leading concern among 1,039 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 4th highest complaint count among 25 Camry model years with reports.
Of the 2002 reports, 275 involved a crash and 20 involved a fire. 146 people were injured and 13 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, side/windowJul 13, 2004
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.
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.
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.
Campaign 04V346000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontalDec 11, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A THREE-SPOKE STYLE STEERING WHEEL. DURING AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE BOTTOM SEAM OF THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG MODULE COVER (HORN PAD) COULD BE TORN AWAY ALLOWING THE BOTTOM PORTION OF THE COVER TO COMPLETELY DETACH FROM THE AIR BAG MODULE.
IF THIS SHOULD OCCUR, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE DETACHED BOTTOM PORTION MAY STRIKE THE DRIVER CAUSING PERSONAL INJURY.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 28, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 OR LEXUS AT 1-888-333-9376.
Campaign 01V372000 on NHTSA.gov
TiresOct 1, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL TOURING TIRES, P205-65R15 92S, INSTALLED AT THE PORTS IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA. THE INCORRECT TIRES WERE INSTALLED ON VEHICLES THAT HAD DAMAGED TIRES. THE TIRES WERE DAMAGED DURING A PORT UPGRADE TO ALUMINUM WHEELS.
THE TIRES DO NOT CONFORM TO THE SPEED RATING FOR THE VEHICLE. IF THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED THE MAXIMUM SPEED RATING (112 MPH), POSSIBLE TIRE FAILURE COULD OCCUR.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE ALL FIVE TIRES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 13, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.
Campaign 01V302000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontalSep 25, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. INCOMPLETE DEPLOYMENT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG COULD OCCUR IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURY.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY. BOTH OWNERS WERE NOTIFIED BY TELEPHONE AND ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. THIS CAMPAIGN IS 100% COMPLETED. BOTH OWNERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED AND THEIR VEHICLES REPAIRED.
Campaign 01V306000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: air bags
102 reports, newest first. Show all
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Fuel system, Other, Power train, Air bags, Structure, Seats, Jan 17, 2004
1. LOUD CREAKING AND RATTLES: AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS AT REPAIRS, THE PROBLEM FINALLY TURNED OUT TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THEY LEFT PLASTIC ASSEMBLY GUIDES IN PLACE, WHICH THEY HAD TO REMOVE BY REMOVING THE WINDOW AGAIN (THIS WAS A SUPER SECRET SERVICE BULLETIN THAT WAS DIVULGED ONLY WHEN THE CUSTOMER ENGINEER FOR NEW ENGLAND SHOWED UP). BUT HE DEALERSHIP MANAGED TO CHIP THE PAINT IN THE PROCESS, REQUIRING THE ROOF TO BE REPAINTED. ONCE THE CREAK WAS GONE, THE INTERIOR RATTLES WERE UNBEARABLE FROM ALL THE QUALITY WORK COMPLETED. 2. TRANSMISSION ISSUE: I'VE BEEN ASSURED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER AT ME DEALERSHIP THAT IT IS NORMAL THE TRANSMISSION TAKE AT LEAST A MILE SHIFT OUT OF SECOND GEAR WHEN BELOW 30F AND TO A LESSER DEGREE DURING WARM WEATHER. THE CAR WON'T SHIFT INTO THIRD OR OVERDRIVEN UNTIL AFTER LEAST 1-2 MINUTE OF DRIVING, NO MATTER WHAT SPEED. 3. TRANSMISSION ISSUE: WHEN LIFTING OFF THE THROTTLE FROM 60 TO 55MPH ON A DOWNHILL, THERE'S A "HITCH" OR BUCKING WHERE THE TRANSMISSION ABRUPTLY CATCHES, THEN RELEASES. ALMOST LIKE IT DOWN SHIFTING, BUT IT STOPS HALF WAY. THIS HAS BEEN AN ANNOYING PROBLEM SINCE DAY ONE. THE BUCKING PROBLEM IS ANNOYING AND PROBLEMATIC. IT WAS SOLVED BY RESET THE COMPUTER AND SHOWED UP AGAIN AT 42,000 MILES. THEY ARE BLAMING IT ON THE ADAPTIVE MICRO-PROCESSOR AND MY DRIVING STYLE. (WARRANTY) 4. DOOR RATTLES: DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS RATTLE/TICK WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT WAS LET GO ABOUT THE RATTLE, AND HE EXPLAINED IT'S NORMAL FOR NEW CAMRY'S TO HAVE THE DOORS MAKE THAT MAKE NOISE. CONSTANT USE OF SILICONE WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALERSHIP. 5. AIRBAG RECALL 6. PASSENGER SEAT REPLACEMENT DUE TO POOR CONSTRUCTION AND SQUEAKING 7. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FOR DEFECTIVE CHARCOAL CANISTER 8. WARPED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS 9. PEALING CHROME ON PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE. (WARRANTY) 10. FLAKING PAINT ON EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES. * CB
Visibility, Air bags, Jan 6, 2004
DEALERSHIP INDICATED SUN VISOR COULD NOT BE USED, AND CURTAIN AIRBAGS WOULD NOT ACTIVATE. CONSUMER FELT IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW. *AK
Air bags, Nov 17, 2003, crash
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND THE FRONT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK *SCC *JB
Air bags, Nov 5, 2003
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *MR *SCC *JB *NLM
Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Oct 1, 2003, crash
THE VEHICLE WAS BEING PARKED PARALLEL TO THE CURB. WITH THE DRIVERS FOOT ON THE BRAKE, HE SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD, THROUGHOUT THE INTERSECTION, OVER A CURB INCREASING IN SPEED. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK *SCC *JB
Air bags, Sep 23, 2003, crash
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED A FRONTAL CAR CRASH AT 25 MPH BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
Air bags, Sep 12, 2003, crash
FAILURE OF AIR BAGS TO ACTIVATE IN TWO SERIOUS FRONT END CRASHES.*MR THE CONSUMER IS IN POSSESSION OF THE AIR BAG SENSOR FROM THE FIRST CRASH. IN ADDITION, HE WOULD LIKE TOYOTA TO BUY BACK THE VEHICLE WITH APPROPRIATE COMPENSATION. VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS TOTALING $7030.00. (ATTORNEY WROTE ON BEHALF OF CLIENT: DAVID JANG) *PH *JB
Air bags, Jul 3, 2003, crash
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. NEITHER OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *NLM THE CONSUMER HIT AN OBJECT IN THE ROAD AND LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER HEAD ON. *SCC *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Air bags, Latches/locks/linkages, Tires, Jun 13, 2003
NEW AUTOMOBILE PROBLEMS. *NLM
Air bags, May 28, 2003, crash
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK CONSUMER HIT A PATCH OF ICE AND HIT A CAR IN FRONT OF HER. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK *CB *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Gasoline, Electrical system, Visibility, Air bags, Structure, May 8, 2003, crash
WHILE TRAVELING ON INDIAN HEAD HIGHWAY, CONSUMER SWERVED TO AVOID A DEER, INSTEAD SWERVED TO THE RIGHT/LOST CONTROL AND HIT A GUARD RAIL. UPON IMPACT, FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES, AND VEHICLE WAS DEMOLISHED. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A SULFUR-LIKE OR ROTTON EGG ODOR COMING FROM EXHAUST SYSTEM. ALSO, BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: POOR ALIGNMENT/ENGINE CHECK LIGHT/FUEL INJECTOR/ SPARK PLUGS, MIRRORS, AND STRUCTURAL DEFECTS *AK
Air bags, Apr 28, 2003, crash
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB *TS
Air bags, Apr 22, 2003
THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. *JB
Air bags, Apr 20, 2003, crash
INVOLVED IN FRONTAL CRASH AT 35 MPH AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB
Air bags, Mar 3, 2003, crash
THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.SCC *JB
Air bags, Feb 7, 2003, crash
CONSUMER HIT A STOPPED VEHICLE, NONE OF THE VEHICLES AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. AS A RESULT DRIVER WAS INJURED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH
Air bags, Jan 22, 2003
CAR WAS HIT IN BETWEEN THE DRIVER'S FRONT WHEEL AND THE VEHICLE'S FRONT FENDER VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING BETWEEN 40-50 MPH. THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
Air bags, Jan 3, 2003, crash
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY A DEER COME OUT ON ROAD, VEHICLE HIT WAS INVOLVED IN COLLISION WITH ANIMAL, FRONT END OF VEHICLE IS DEMOLISHED, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
Air bags, Jan 2, 2003, crash
CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT GOING 60 MPH AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. TS
Air bags, Dec 30, 2002, crash
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDTIONAL INFORMATION.
Air bags, Sep 24, 2002, crash
THE VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *JB *SCC
Air bags, Jul 25, 2002
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENLY COME ON WHILE DRIVING. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE.*JB
Air bags, May 28, 2002, crash
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A LATERAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK MANUFACTURER INSPECTION FOUND AIR BAGS OPERATED AS DESIGNED. *TT
Air bags, May 28, 2002
AIR BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON AND STAYS ON WHILE CONSUMER IS DRIVING. THERE IS A POTENTIAL OF AIR BAG NOT DEPLOYING OR FOR AIR BAG TO DEPLOY UNEXPECTEDLY. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WORNG WITH THE VEHICLE.*AK
Air bags, Mar 20, 2002, crash
WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED, VEHICLE HIT A GAURDRAIL. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER WAS INJURED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK