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: tires
61 reports, newest first. Show all
Tires, Mar 25, 2024
Tire size P205 60R16 evolution tour series This is the second tire of the set of 4 that suddenly had a belt shift inside the tire and the steering wheel would violently shake , one of the tires when failed pulled to left into oncoming traffic (luckily I retained control)
Tires, Jun 25, 2015
TIRES SHOWED SIDEWALL DRYROT WHICH WAS DISMISSED AS 'OZONE CRACKING' AND EXTREMELY REDUCED TRACTION AFTER 2 YEARS, 25,000 MILES. MICHELIN WOULD NOT MAKE GOOD ON COMPLAINT. ENTIRE SET HN7RPK1X4911, HN7RPK1X01122, HN7RPK1X4611, HN7RPK1X5111
Tires, Mar 20, 2015, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR ASSURANCE COMFORTRED TOURING TIRES, SIZE 205/65R15 (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE DRIVER SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A BARRIER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE HAD A THREE INCH CRACK PRESENT IN THE SIDEWALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Tires, Jul 23, 2013
MY '02 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE HAS 115,530 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AND I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES FOUR TIMES OVER THIS PERIOD (DETAILS BELOW). AT THIS POINT, FIRESTONE BELIEVES THE PROBLEM LIES WITH THE ENGINEERING OF THE CAR SOMEHOW BECAUSE THEIR MAINTENANCE LOG SUPPORTS THE FACT THAT I HAVE GIVEN THESE TIRES THE PROPER CARE (REGULAR ALIGNMENT CHECKS, TIRE BALANCE/ROTATION EVERY 4K MILES, AND MAINTAINING PROPER AIR PRESSURE) AND THEY ARE NO LONGER WILLING TO HONOR TIRE WARRANTIES FOR THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE EACH TIME THE TIRES ARE REPLACED, THEY ARE UNDER THE WARRANTY. THEY CLAIM THAT THE PROBABILITY OF THE PROBLEM LYING WITH THE TIRES IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE, GIVEN THIS TIRE HISTORY. HERE ARE THE DETAILS OF DATES, ODOMETER READINGS, AND TIRE DETAILS EACH TIME THEY WERE REPLACED: FIRST SET REPLACED 10/3/04 WITH 26,712 MILES ON ODOMETER (WITH FIRESTONE 106879 AFFINITY LH30 P215/60R16 TLBL PS). SECOND SET REPLACED 9/1/06 WITH 49,619 MILES ON ODOMETER (WITH BRIDGESTONE 109355 TURANZA LS-T W/UNI-T AW BL P215/60R16 94T 80,000 WARRANTY). THIRD SET REPLACED WITH 91,000 MILES ON ODOMETER (MISPLACED PAPERWORK ON DETAILS, BUT CAN PROVIDE FROM FIRESTONE DATABASE IF NEEDED). FOURTH SET REPLACED 7/23/13 WITH 115,530 ON ODOMETER (WITH BRIDGESTONE 147127 TURANZA W.SERENITY PLUS BL 215/60R16 95V 75,000 WARRANTY). *TR
Tires, May 22, 2013
NO FAILURE YET BUT THE SIDEWALLS OF THE TIRES ARE BADLY CHECKED. THE TIRES ARE ONLY 5 YEARS OLD AND THE CAR HAS BEEN GARAGED OR PARKED IN THE SHADE MOST OF THE TIME. THERE IS STILL CLOSE TO HALF THE TREAD LIFE LEFT. I PUT IN TODAYS DATE FOR THE "APPROXIMATE INCIDENT DATE" JUST BECAUSE A DATE IS REQUIRED, BUT THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN INCIDENT. *TR
Tires, Mar 30, 2012
I BOUGHT 4 NEW PIRELLI CINTURATO P5 TIRES FOR MY 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY IN FEBRUARY OF 2010 FROM DISCOUNT TIRE. I WAS TOLD THAT THESE TIRES THEY EASILY LAST FOR 85,000 MILES BEFORE HAVING TO REPLACE THEM. SINCE THEN I GONE BACK TO DISCOUNT TIRE TO HAVE THEM REGULARLY ROTATED AND BALANCED. LAST TIRE ROTATION WAS IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 2011. WHEN I WENT TO GET MY TIRES ROTATED AND BALANCED AGAIN ON 3-23-2012, I WAS TOLD THAT TWO OF THE TIRES ARE ALREADY WORN OUT AND OTHER TWO ARE CLOSE TO GETTING WORN OUT AND I WOULD BE BETTER OFF TO GET NEW TIRES TO KEEP ME SAFE WHILE DRIVING. I INFORMED THE SALES PERSONNEL THAT THESE TIRES ARE JUST TWO YEARS OLD AND WITH LESS THAN 27,000 MILES SINCE PURCHASED. HE MENTIONED TO ME THAT TIRES MANY A TIMES DO NOT GIVE THE MILEAGE THEY ARE RATED FOR. IN MY CASE, I GOT LESS THAN 1/3RD OF THE RATED MILEAGE. WITH MY DRIVING PATTERN (12,000 MILES/YEAR), I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED THESE TIRES TO LAST FOR ABOUT SIX YEARS AS I TAKE GOOD CARE (ROTATING, BALANCING, AND ALIGNMENT) OF THEM. WITH MY DRIVING PATTERN (12,000 MILES/YEAR), I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED THESE TIRES TO LAST FOR ABOUT SIX YEARS AS I TAKE GOOD CARE (ROTATING, BALANCING, AND ALIGNMENT) OF THEM. *JS
Tires, Oct 21, 2009
TIRE BLOW OUT. *TR
Tires, Mar 4, 2009
TREAD IS SEPARATION AND VIBRATION WHEN DRIVING. *TR
Tires, Feb 19, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE VEHICLE HAS SUMITOMO TIRES. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR DRIVING UP TO 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD HYDROPLANE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TREAD WAS BALD ON THE ONE YEAR OLD TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A SEARS REPAIR SHOP FOR A ROUTINE TIRE ROTATION THREE TIMES WITHIN ONE YEAR. ON EACH VISIT, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE NOT DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE DOT NUMBER, TIRE LINE, AND TIRE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 142,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,444. UPDATED 03/12/09. *LJ UPDATED 03/13/09. *JB
Tires, Jul 25, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE VEHICLE HAS B.F. GOODRICH TRACTION T/A TIRES, SIZE 205/65R15 (NA). THE TREAD ON ALL FOUR TIRES HAS CRACKS ON THE FIRST AND LAST ROWS. B.F. GOODRICH OFFERED TO GIVE THE CONTACT NEW TIRES AT A 40 PERCENT DISCOUNT. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES AVAILABLE. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,500. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,453. UPDATED 08/14/08 *BF UPDATED 08/14/08
Tires, Jul 11, 2008
3 FLAT TIRES FAULTY VALVE STEMS IN ALL 3 TIRES REPLACED THE 3 VALVE STEM. REPLACED VALVE STEM PART NUMBER IS TR414. *TR
Tires, Jul 10, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE TIRE SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT THE VALVE STEM WAS CRACKED AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. WITHIN THE FOLLOWING WEEKS, THE THREE REMAINING VALVE STEMS FAILED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE TIRE SHOP AND THEY REPLACED THE VALVE STEMS. THE STEMS THAT WERE REPLACED WERE THE TR418, MANUFACTURED BY DILL AIR CONTROLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000.
Structure, Tires, Nov 6, 2007
INSIDE DRIVER DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF. PASSENGER INSIDE DOOR HANDLE DID THE SAME THING IN 2003. *TR
Tires, Jun 30, 2007
SIDEWALL IS BULGING - WILL BE RETURNING TO DEALER (COSTCO). HAS NOT COMPLETELY FAILED. TIRE IS A MICHELIN MXV4 S8 ALL SEASON P215/60R16 94V RRBL. INSTALLED 1/10/06. ABOUT 10,000 MILES OF USE. *TR
Tires, Dec 15, 2005, crash
MY 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY IS THE WORST CAR I HAVE EVER DRIVEN IN SNOWY CONDITIONS. IT HAS NO TRACTION, FISHTAILS, CAN BARELY MAKE IT UP HILLS, ETC. A MECHANIC (NOT AT TOYOTA) ALSO POINTED OUT THE TIRES WERE WEARING UNEVENLY AND VERY QUICKLY (I HAVE PUT FEWER THAN 20,000 TOTAL MILES ON THIS CAR). LAST WEEK I WAS COMING AROUND A CORNER IN THE SNOW (AT ABOUT 10 MPH) HIT A SLIPPERY PATCH AND THE CAR SEIZED UP COMPLETELY. I SLID ACROSS THE ROAD AND INTO ANOTHER CAR. NOW LOOKING AT THE NHTSA SITE, I SEE THAT I AM NOT ALONE, AND THAT THE TIRES THAT COME WITH THE CAR FROM THE FACTORY ARE NOT MEANT FOR ALL WEATHER DRIVING. I AM OUTRAGED. LIKE OTHERS I BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE OF ITS REPUTATION AS A "SAFE" FAMILY CAR. I CALLED THE SERVICE MANAGER AT MY DEALER WHO BASICALLY SAID "TOO BAD. TOYOTA IS NOT DOING ANYTHING WITH TIRES AT THIS TIME." HE DID ADMIT, HOWEVER, THAT THE TIRES ON THE CAR ARE CONSIDERED 'HIGH PERFORMANCE' AND ARE NOT MEANT TO BE USED IN THE SNOW. GREAT. I TOO HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO BUY $500 WORTH OF NEW TIRES TOMORROW. I FEEL TOYOTA SHOULD PAY FOR SOME IF NOT ALL OF THIS. NOT LIKELY. IT IS ALSO NOT LIKELY THAT I WILL EVER BUY ANOTHER TOYOTA. PEOPLE NEED TO BE INFORMED OF THIS VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. IT COULD EASILY BE LIFE-THREATENING.
Tires, Apr 27, 2005
ORIGINAL TIRES DO NOT FUNCTION ON ROAD IF ANY LIGHT RAIN OR SNOW IS PRESENT. HAZARDOUS.
Tires, Dec 19, 2004
THE ORIGINAL TIRE THAT TOYOTA PLACED ON MY 2002 CAMRY XLE V6 WAS UNSATISFACTORY TO THE POINT OF BEING DANGEROUS. EVEN IN A NEW CONDITION, THE TIRES NEVER PROVIDED ADEQUATE TRACTION IN RAIN OR SNOW, FREQUENTLY SLIDING WITH THE ABS SYSTEM ENGAGED. I NOW NOTICE ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT COMPLAINT OF MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS SPECIFIC TIRE, EVEN ON OTHER THAN TOYOTA MANUFACTURED VEHICLES. THE TIRE IN QUESTION IS THE BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RE92 P215/60R16 94V. TOYOTA REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. *JB
Tires, Equipment, Dec 6, 2004
CONTINENTAL TOURING CONTACT AS TIRES EXPERIENCED TIRE FAILURE, 2 FRONT TIRES HAVE SAME WEAR PATTERN. THE STEEL CABLE WAS EXPOSED. *BF THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE TIRES SEEMED AS IF THEY WERE RUNNING WHILE UNDER INFLATED AS THE OUTSIDE EDGES ON ALL FOUR TIRES WERE WORN. THE RECOMMENDED PRESSURE ON THE DOOR FRAME WAS CONFLICTING WITH THE INFORMATION ON THE TIRE. *SC *JB
Tires, Nov 8, 2004
TIRE SEPARATION ON GOODYEAR TIRES. DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT ON FREEWAY DAMAGING THE WHEELWELL AND SCRACHING THE CAR WITH THE FLYING RUBBER. THE OTHER TIRE WAS FLAKING ON NEAR THE TREADS. GOODYEAR IS GOING TO REPLACE TWO REAR TIRES. *AK
Tires, Aug 30, 2004
WHILE DRIVING LEFT FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. TIRE DEALER INSPECTED THE TIRES AND DEFECTS WERE FOUND ON ALL THE REMAINING TIRE, ALL WERE REPLACED.. THE LEFT FRONT FENDER WAS DAMAGED. MANUFACTURER STATED, SEND THE TIRE, WHICH WAS DONE. AFTERWARDS, A REJECTION LETTER WAS RECEIVED.*AK
Steering, Suspension, Tires, Aug 18, 2004
2002 TOYOTA CAMRY LEV6 W/15" RIMS. CAR IS UNSTABLE AT HIGH SPEEDS. WE ARE NOW ON OUR THIRD SET OF TIRES AND THE CAR ONLY HAS 21,000 MILES ON IT. FIRST SET (CONTINENTAL) BECAME BALD ON OUTSIDE EDGE OF BOTH FRONT TIRES AT 9000 MILES. TIRES WERE ROTATED (FRONT TO REAR, REAR TO FRONT) AND FRONT END ALIGNMENT WAS DONE. TIRES BECAME BALD ON OUTSIDE EDGE AFTER ONLY 8000 MILES (17000 TOTAL MILES ON CAR). DEALER REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES WITH DUNLOP AND I HAD TO PAY FOR A FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT. AFTER 2500 MORE MILES CAR AGAIN BECAME UNSTABLE AT HIGH SPEEDS. IT STARTED AT ABOUT 75 MPH AND AS THE TIRES WORE IT BECAME UNSTABLE AT LOWER SPEEDS 55-65 MPH. THE DEALER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AGAIN WITH MICHELIN THIS TIME AND DID ANOTHER FRONT END ALIGNMENT. NOW WITH ONLY 1200 MILES ON THE NEW TIRES IT IS AGAIN BECOMING UNSTABLE AT HIGH SPEEDS 65-75 MPH. WE WOULD LIKE TOYOTA TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND COME UP WITH A SOLUTION. *JB
Tires, Jun 29, 2004
PURCHASED 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE ON 4/16/02. THE CAR WAS EQUIPPED WITH BRIDGESTONE POTENZA P215/60R16 94V RE92 TIRES. EXPERIENCED VERY POOR PERFORMANCE THIS PAST WINTER. TRACTION VERY BAD IN WINTER CONDITIONS AND ALSO WET ROADS W/O SNOW. BROUGHT CAR TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE ON 4/14/04 WITH 19.020 MILES ON IT AND WAS TOLD I HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES DUE TO EXCESSIVE TREAD WEAR. I REFUSED TO PAY FOR FOUR NEW TIRES AND REPLACE THE FRONT TWO FOR MY OWN SAFETY. I HAVE SENT A LETTER TO BRIDGESTONE & I AM AWAITING A REPLY. OTHER NUMBERS ON THE TIRES WERE 34350 EXBM 25816-2 E 92 MZ TREAD WEAR 160. *JB
Tires, Jun 10, 2004
COMPLAINT REGARDING TIRE EQUIPMENT ON 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. *MR FIRESTONE DENIED HONORING THE WARRANTY FOR THE DEFECTIVE TIRES. THE AUTHORIZED BRIDGESTONE AND FIRESTONE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER IF HE COULD NOT PRODUCE THE RECEIPTS TO SHOW THAT THE TIRES WERE ROTATED EVERY 5000 TO 6000 THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT BE COVERED. THE CONSUMER'S CELL#: 973.462.0888 *SC *JB
Vehicle speed control, Tires, May 11, 2004
WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS OR PARKING IN A PARKING SPACE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE SIX DIFFERENT TIMES BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK SEE VOQ 10062883. *DSY ON ONE OCCASION WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND HIT A POST (NO DAMAGE REPORTED). THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES AT 21000 MILES BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT MOVE WHILE ON ICE OR SNOW. *NM
Engine and engine cooling, Structure, Tires, Feb 26, 2004
ROTTEN EGG SMELL SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THE REGIONAL REP WITHOUT A RESOLUTION. THE REP SUGGESTION WAS TO JUST PUT PREMIUM GAS IN IT. CERTAINLY NOT WHAT I EXPECTED FROM TOYOTA BUT I HAVE BEEN PUTTING PREMIUM GAS IN THE CAR AND IT DOES SEEMS TO TAME THE SMELL SOMEWHAT. IN ADDITION WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT ALIGNMENT AND THE CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT. HAVE PURCHASED A LIFE TIME ALIGNMENT WARRANTY BUT IT STILL SEEMS TO GO OUT OF ALIGNMENT QUICKLY. ALSO HAVE A CONSTANT WIND PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT DOOR. BEEN REPAIRED ONCE, GOING INTO THE SHOP AGAIN TO REPAIR. ALSO THE ORIGINAL TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 24,000 MILES. I WOULDN'T CONSIDER A TOYOTA IN FUTURE CAR PURCHASES.*AK