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: engine
170 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 21, 2003
CAR EMITS AN STRONG ODOR OF ROTTEN EGGS (SULFUR DIOXIDE) THROUGH THE INTERIOR VENT SYSTEM. THIS CONDITION IS DOCUMENTED IN TOYOTA TSB EG003-03 DATED 2/24/03. ALTHOUGH THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE CONDITION, THEY SAY IT IS THE FAULT OF THE GASOLINE. I HAVE TRIED MANY DIFFERENT BRANDS AND MY NEIGHBORS CARS DO NOT EXHIBIT THIS SMELL. SULFUR DIOXIDE IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS TO PEOPLE WITH RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS SUCH AS MY DAUGHTER WHO HAS ASTHMA. HER CONDITION HAS BECOME WORSE THIS WINTER BECAUSE (WE THINK) OF HER CONTACT WITH THIS CAR. TOYOTA HAS SAID THAT THE CONDITION IS NOT COVERED IN THEIR WARRANTY AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT. *NLM
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Tires, Mar 8, 2003
SINCE I PURCHASED THIS CAR IT HAS BEEN PROBLEMS, FIRST IT WAS THE BRAKES VIBRATING, TOOK IT IN AND RIGHT AWAY THE DEALER KNEW WHAT IT WAS WITHOUT ME EVEN EXPLAINING IT TO HIM, THEY FIXED THAT IN 2 TRIPS. THEN IT WAS THE ROTTEN EGG SMELL, THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG.(THEN WHY DOES MY CAR STINK WHEN I TRY TO GET POWER OUT OF THE ENGINE?) THEN IT WAS THE KNOCKING AND PINGING IN THE ENGINE, (I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT MY OCTANE LEVEL WAS LOW TO UPGRADE MY GAS. THE MANUFACTURERS PROVIDED OWNERS MANUAL STATES 87 OCTANE GAS OR HIGHER, I ALREADY USE 89 OCTANE AND HAVE SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT THE CAR, SO WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO SPEND MONEY ON HIGHER PRICED GAS WHEN THE CAR IS ONLY 1 YEAR OLD AND THE ENGINE SHOULD NOT MAKE ANY NOISES. NOW IT IS THE TIRES AND ALIGNMENT THE ALIGNMENT IS COMPLETELY OFF THAT THE TIRES ARE DESTROYED WITH ONLY 17,250 MILES ON THEM, YET THE CAR SHOWS NO SIGN OF THE ALIGNMENT BEING OFF, IT DRIVES STRAIGHT STAYS IN ONE LANE AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS EVEN STRAIGHT, SO HOW AFTER ONE YEAR WITH LOW MILES IS THE ALIGNMENT OFF AND THE TIRES ARE DESTROYED, AND WHY WAS IT UNNOTICED WHEN I HAD MY TIRES BALANCED AND ROTATED 2 MONTHS EARLIER AT 15,000 MILES? BY THE SAME DEALERSHIP! I FEEL THAT THIS CAR HAS ALOT OF PROBLEMS THAT THE MANUFACTURER DOES NOT WANT TO ADDRESS, LOOK AT HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS, AND WE ARE ALL TOLD THAT IT IS WEAR AND TEAR OR THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM AT ALL, WELL THEN WHY ARE WE ALL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS? I CALLED TOYOTA'S MAIN OFFICE LOGGED A COMPLAINT AND WAS TOLD THAT SOMEONE WOULD GET BACK TO ME, IT HAS BEEN 3 DAYS NOW AND NOT ONE CALL HAS COME MY WAY! I FEEL THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS TO THIS CAR SINCE IT IS A NATION WIDE PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT IS A $27000.00 CAR THAT HAS DEPRECIATED IN VALUE BY MORE THAN $7000.00 IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR, WHAT HAPPENED TO TOYOTA'S RETAINING THERE VALUE? I WISH EVERYBODY MUCH LUCK WITH THEIR ISSUES. *NLM
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 10, 2003
EVERY SINCE THE PURCHASE OF MY NEW CAMRY, THE CAR HAS EMITTED A SULFUR/ROTTEN EGG SMELL. THE SMELL COMES FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR AND, WHEN THE DEFROSTER IS ON, IT SUCKS THE TERRIBLE SMELL RIGHT INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. (NOTE TO NHTSA: YOU HAVE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ALREADY LISTED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM UNDER BOTH "CATALYTIC CONVERTER," "EXHAUST SYSTEM," AND "DEFROSTER"...THEY ARE ALL THE SAME THING.) I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THEY HAVE TOLD ME: 1) THAT IT IS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, 2) THAT IT HAPPENS IN ABOUT 70 OF EVERY 3,000+ CARS PRODUCED, 3) THAT I SHOULD TRY A NEW GASOLINE AND 4) THAT IT WILL GO AWAY AT AROUND 6,000 MILES. I HAVE TRIED SEVERAL NEW GASOLINES AND AM CURRENTLY AT 5,000 MILES WITH NO CHANGE TO THE SMELL. I WILL TAKE MY CAR INTO THE SHOP TWO MORE TIMES FOR THE SAME COMPLAINT AND THEN WILL ATTEMPT TO INVOKE THE LEMON LAW IN OREGON.
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 3, 2003, crash
THE ENTIRE MUFFLER HAD TURNED BLACK. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND JUMPED OUT BEFORE CAR WENT OVER AN EMBANKMENT. DOCTOR DIAGNOSED CONSUMER WITH CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. PH *TT
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 27, 2002
CONSUMER STATED WHILE REMOVING A STONE FROM THE RIGHT REAR TIRE, HE NOTICED THE EXTREMELY LOW STRUCTURE OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, WHICH IS ONLY 5 1/4 INCHES ABOVE STREET LEVEL AT THE LOWEST POINT, CONSUMER FEELS THE PIPE COULD EASILY BE PUNCTURED OR OTHERWISE DAMAGED WHILE ASCENDING OR DESCENDING A STEEP DRIVEWAY OR BY HITTING AN OBSTRUCTION ON THE ROAD, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP THE DESIGN WAS INHERENT ON ALL 2002 CAMRY'S.*JB
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 9, 2002
CAR PRODUCES A HORRIBLE ROTTEN EGG SMELL WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC. DT
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 7, 2002, crash
CONSUMER ENTER THE PARKED VEHICLE TURNED ON IGNITION AND CONSUMER STATES' VEHICLE TOOK OFF, CONSUMER TRIED TO STOP VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP, VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AFTER HITTING A FIRE PLUG. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION TS
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 3, 2002
EXHAUST PIPE COULD EASILY BE PUNCTURED OR OTHERWISE DAMAGED ASCENDING OR DECENDING A STEEP DRIVEWAY OR BY HITTING AN OBSTRUCTION IN THE ROAD. EXPENSIVE REPAIRS MIGHT BE REQUIRED AND PERHAPS TOXIC CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES COULD BE RELEASED. LIBERTY TOYOTA ASSERTS THAT ALL 2002 CAMRY'S ARE DESIGNED THIS WAY. I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IF I HAD BEEN AWARE OF THIS FLAW. DT
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 15, 2002
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING OCCASIONALLY WHITE SMOKE EXITS THE EXHAUST. CONSUMER STATES DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 18, 2002
TAIL PIPE IS TOO LOW TO THE GROUND.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Sep 11, 2002
THERE IS A BAD LINKAGE BETWEEN ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, AND THERE IS A LOUD NOISE WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER STATES THERE IS SLACK IN THE DRIVETRAIN. *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 5, 2002
THERE IS A VERY STRONG ROTTEN EGG/SULPHER ODOR EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN A SHORT OR LONG DISTANCE. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE ODOR WAS CAUSED BY HIGH SULPHER CONTENT IN THE GASOLINE THAT I WAS PUTTING IN THE CAR AND THAT I SHOULD TRY DIFFERENT BRANDS OF GASOLINE TO SEE WHICH ONE CAUSED THE LEAST ODOR. I HAVE TRIED 3 DIFFERENT BRANDS AND THE ODOR IS STILL THE SAME. I HAVE TALKED TO THE DEALER TWICE ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT SINCE IT WAS THE GASOLINE THAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THEH ENGINE OR THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND THAT EITHER THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM OR REFUSES TO ADMIT THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 30, 2002
ROTTEN EGG SMELL INSIDE VEHICLE CAB SINCE I LEASED IT , BEEN IN SHOP 5 TIMES THEY ASKED ME TO DO THINGS LIKE PUT BLUE PLANET GAS IN IT AND DRIVE IT FOR ALONG TIME NONE OF THIS SEEM TO WORK LAST TIME WAS THEY SWAPED THE COMPUTER SYSTEM AND CONVERTERS FROM ANOTHER 2002 CAMRY AND THE GAS SMELL IS STILL THERE. I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING..THE SMELL IS TO THE POINT WHERE IT MAKES MY DAUGHTER AND I HAVE HEADACHES. AT ONE POINT I HAD TOYOTA TELL ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME....IM NOT SURE IF MY CAR HAS A DEFECT DUE TO SOME OTHER REASON IT SEEMS FUNNY TO ME THAT THEY JUST DONT KNOW WHATS WRONG WITH THIS CAR.THERE IS ALSO A CLUNKING SOUND IN THE STERRING THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NORMAL TOO? NOT SURE ABOUT WHATS GOING ON .....AND THOUGHT SOMEONE ELSE LIKE YOU GUYS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT IT. THANKS TAMMY COLE. *AK
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 19, 2002
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Engine and engine cooling, Visibility, Jun 18, 2002
A STRANGE ODOR WAS COMING INTO CAB OF VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER STATED IT WAS CARBON MONOXIDE. CONSUMER STATED THAT SUNROOF WAS VACUUMING FUMES BACK INTO VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 11, 2002
EXHAUST SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TOO CLOSE TO GROUND AND MAY CAUSES A POTENTIAL FIRE, MAKING CONTACT WITH DEBRIS. DEALER AND MANFUCTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK *YH
Engine and engine cooling, May 22, 2002
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 22, 2002
WHILE OPERATING MY VEHICLE ON A HIGHWAY, I WAS STARTLED WHEN AN OBJECT SUDDENLY FELL/DROPPED ONTO MY ANKLE/FOOT FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE'S DASH. THIS INCIDENT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SELLING DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED THAT OBJECT WHICH FELL OFF WAS THE "DRIVER'S SIDE AIR FLOW DUCT." FURTHER INFORMED THAT PIECE FELL OFF BECAUSE A CLIP(S) WAS EITHER NOT INSTALLED DURING ASSEMBLY OR, CLIP FELL OFF DURING OPERATION OF VEHICLE PRIOR TO MY INCIDENT. NOTE: STILL AWAITING FOR SPECIAL ORDER PART (CLIP) TO ARRIVE AT DEALERSHIP.
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Dec 13, 2001
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER, DASHBOARD COMPLETELY ILLUMINATED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 15, 2001, fire
WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM VEHICLE. WHEN CONSUMER SAW SMOKE STOPPED VEHICLE, AND THEN VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN ENGINE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY IN FLAMES AND FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. *YD