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: vehicle speed control
295 reports, newest first. Show all
Vehicle speed control, Feb 17, 2003, crash
UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, MY WIFE'S VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO MAXIMUM SPEED. THE CAR JUMPED OVER THE PARKING CURB AND SHE SWERVED TO MISS A BUILDING. SHE CLIPPED TWO CARS IN PASSING THEM, SWERVED AGAIN INTO AN EMPY PARKILNG SPOT AND THE VEHICLE TIPPED OVER. CAR WAS TOTALED. NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT MY WIFE SUSTAINED SOME BRUISES AND GLASS SHARDS IN THE EYES. LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER LOOKED AT THE WRECK, RAN SOME ELECTRONIC DIAGNOSTICS, BUT SAID THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY MALFUNCTION.
Vehicle speed control, Feb 6, 2003, crash
WHILE TRYING TO APPLY BRAKES AT A SLOW SPEED, THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND VEHICLE PROCEEDED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLAM INTO BENCHES. THE DEALER REPRESENTATIVE TESTED THE VEHICLE AT HIGH SPEEDS, IN WHICH NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND. PH SCC
Vehicle speed control, Jan 15, 2003, crash
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT LOW SPEED WHEN SUFFER A SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAUSING A DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
Vehicle speed control, Jan 13, 2003, crash
CONSUMER STATED WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, JUMPING OVER A PARKING BLOCK AND KNOCKING DOWN A TREE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURED HAD BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB UPDATED 7/2/12 *CN UPDATED 07/12/12*JB
Vehicle speed control, Jan 10, 2003, crash
CONSUMER WAS PARKING THE VEHICLE WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THIS RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.*JB
Vehicle speed control, Jan 7, 2003, crash
THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT A SPEED OF 3 MPH WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONSUMER ALSO COMPLAINED ABOUT THE PEDAL. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. TS SCC SEE VOQ 10003640. *DSY UPDATED 7/2/12 *CN UPDATED 07/12/12
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Dec 24, 2002
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED ACCIDENTALLY, WHICH CAUSED UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. TS THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD GONE TO THE FLOOR, BELOW THE GAS PEDAL WHICH HAD FELT SPONGY. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A SERVICE DEALER WHICH STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE OUT OF ADJUSTMENT. AFTER THE REPAIR WAS DONE, THE BRAKES STILL REMAINED THE SAME. SCC
Vehicle speed control, Nov 25, 2002
INTERMITTENLY CRUISE CONTROL BECOME INOPERABLE, WHEN CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE, THE CRUISE CONTROL REAMAIN ACTIVATED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION... TS
Vehicle speed control, Nov 25, 2002
CONSUMER STATES WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. ATTEMPTED TO DISENGAGE BY DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL TO NO AVAIL. CONSUMER HAD TO SWERVE VEHICLE THROUGH TRAFFIC TO AVOID A COLLISION. AS A RESULT THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL CAME OFF SLOWING CAR DOWN ENOUGH FOR CONSUMER TO DOWNSHIFT GEARS. TS
Vehicle speed control, Oct 22, 2002
CONSUMER HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE ACCELARATOR. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. MR
Vehicle speed control, Sep 17, 2002
ON MY 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE WHEN I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE THE OTHER DAY (I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER 40 YEARS) MY CAR KEPT GOING INSTEAD OF STOPPING!! IT TURNED OUT THAT I WAS PRESSING ON THE BRAKE AS WELL AS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SINCE THEY ARE ALMOST ON THE SAME LEVEL AS WELL AS BEING CLOSE TO EACH OTHER. ACTUALLY, WHEN THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS ACTUALLY HIGHER WHICH ALLOWS FOR THE CAR TO MOVE FORWARD WHILE STILL DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL! THIS SEEMS TO BE AN INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. WHILE GETTING ACCUSTOMED TO DRIVING THIS NEW CAR I FOUND IT UNCOMFORTABLE AT TIMES TO GET MY RIGHT FOOT IN THE PROPER POSITION TO DRIVE SAFELY. MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT. WHAT DO YOU THINK?*AK
Vehicle speed control, Jul 31, 2002
VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY ACCELERATE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Vehicle speed control, Jul 16, 2002
HIGH IDLE SPEED ON COLD ENGINE, FIRST SHIFT INTO DRIVE IS VERY HARSH .*AK
Vehicle speed control, Jul 15, 2002, crash
WHILE DRIVING THORTTLE GOT STUCK AND CONSUMER COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD AN ACCIDENT. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
Vehicle speed control, Jul 9, 2002
AT A STOP WITH BRAKES APPLIED VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD. ENGINE RACED AND RPM'S WENT UP TO 6000. CONSUMER SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL TO STOP VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALER.*AK
Vehicle speed control, Jun 14, 2002, crash
I WAS BACKING OUT AND TURNING 90 DEGREES FROM A PARKING SPACE AT MY APARTMENT WHEN THE ENGINE IN MY 2002 CAMRY BEGAN TO SURGE. I COULD NOT STOP MY CAMRY BY APPLYING THE BRAKES, AND IT BACKED INTO A GMC SOMONA PICKUP TRUCK.*AK
Vehicle speed control, Jun 2, 2002
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK 9/7/2005 - ON THREE OCCASIONS THE ENGINE SPEED INCREASED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND IN A STATIONARY STATE. THE OPERATOR APPLIED THE BRAKES TO KEEP THE VEHICLE STATIONARY. THE ENGINE RETURNED TO A NORMAL STATE AFTER THE BRAKE WAS RELEASED. EACH INCIDENT LASTED ONLY A FEW SECONDS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MANUFACTURER. NO FAULTS WERE DETECTED, NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. ALL THREE INCIDENTS OCCURRED WITHIN THE FIRST 3,000 MILES OF OPERATION. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 22,000 MILES AND HAS NOT HAD ANOTHER INCIDENT AS OF THIS DATE. *DSY
Vehicle speed control, Feb 25, 2002, crash
WHILE PARKING AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD, HITING A WALL. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK
Vehicle speed control, Dec 20, 2001, crash
WHILE BACKING UP, VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED AND ENGINE REVVED. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKE AND EMERGENCY/PARKING BRAKE, BUT COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HIT A TREE, CONSUMER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES.THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK 07/10/2012 CW UPDATED 07/12/12
Vehicle speed control, Dec 10, 2001
WHILE DRIVING AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS WITH BRAKE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE WILL SURGE. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP VEHICLE IS TO PUT IT IN PARK AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER 7 TIMES IN 2 WEEKS, AND THEY CANNOT FIND A PROBLEM. *AK LEAD TECHNICIAN INFORMED CONSUMER WHEN THE WHEELS ARE TURNED AT A SLOW SPEED (I.E. PARKING MANUEVERS) THE ENGINE CAN SURGE SLIGHTLY, CONSUMER HAS NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS SINCE THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RETURNED. *TT