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
1,039 reports, newest first.
Tires, Jul 21, 2003
WHILE DRIVING REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. WHEN CHANGING THE TIRE, SEVEN PUNCTURED HOLES WERE FOUND ON THE INSIDE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. BRIDGESTONE FIRESTONE RADIAL TIRE. *AK
Service brakes, Air, Vehicle speed control, Jul 15, 2003, crash
THREE TIMES CONSUMER WENT TO TOYOTA TO TELL THEM THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH MY BRAKES. THE FIRST TIME, (MAY 3,03) WAS BRAKING SLOWLY AND 2002 CAMRY JUMPED AHEAD, THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. THE SECOND TIME(MAY 28,03) I CONSUMERWENT IN, TOLD THEM BRAKE PEDAL WENT SLOWLY DOWN TO THE FLOOR WHEN STOPPING FOR A LIGHT. 1993 CAMRY NEVER DID THAT. ALSO NO OHTER CAR I HAD DID THAT. THEY TESTED, SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. THE THIRD TIMEON JULY 3, CONSUMERTOLD THEM, DO NOT TELL ME NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH BRAKES, DID NOT WANT TO HEAR IT! HE DROVE THE CAR AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. NOW ON JULY 11, 2003, WHILE PARKED AT MACY'S MALL AT CROSS COUNTY, I AM BACKING UP SLOWLY OUT OF MY SPACE, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE JUMPED AHEAD FLYING AND HIT TWO PARKED CARS FACING HER. ALL THE VEHICLES HAD DAMAGE. CONSUMER WILL NEVER DRIVE THAT CAR AGAIN, COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jul 11, 2003
THE FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS ARE WARPING DESPITE NORMAL DRIVING, CAUSING SHAKING OF STEERING WHEEL WHEN BRAKING AND POSSIBLY COMPROMISING VEHICLE STOPPING ABILITY. IT OCCURRED AT 10,000 MILES. TOYOTA WARRANTY SERVICE ONLY PROVIDES FOR RESURFACING THE ROTOR RATHER THAN PART REPLACEMENT. IS THIS PROBLEM DUE TO DEFECTIVE ROTOR MATERIALS AND/OR FAULTY BRAKE SYSTEM DESIGN.*AK
Tires, Jul 3, 2003
THE TIRES CONTAINED BUBBLES . IT WAS LATER TAKEN TO THE HUDIBURG TOYOTA. THEY REMOVED THE TIRE AND PERFORMED AN INSPECTION, THE DEALER STATED THE DEFECT WAS CAUSED BY ROAD HAZARDS. NEW TIRES WERE PLACED ON THE VEHICLE. *NLM *CB *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
Vehicle speed control, Jun 27, 2003, crash
VEHICLE'S NEW BRAKING SYSTEM WAS UNSAFE. BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE DEPRESSED ALMOST TO THE FLOOR BEFORE IT ENGAGED. AS A RESULT, THE CONSUMER ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHILE BRAKING. *AK THE CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, AND AS SHE TURNED THE CORNER, THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED AND DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OVER THE CURB, ONTO THE SIDE WALK, AND INTO THE LIBRARY. (ONE MUST PLACE THERE FOOT ON THE CENTER OF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FOOT COULD POSSIBLY DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR) *SCC *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jun 24, 2003
I WENT OVERSEAS FOR TWO MONTHS AND RETURNED WHICH I DO FREQUENTLY AND WILL IN THE FUTURE. I HAD THE CAR PARKED AND NO ONE DROVE THE VEHICLE AND IT ONLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 7,500 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES FOR THE FIRST TIME AND THE VEHICLE SURGED BACK AND FORTH AND ALMOST CRASHED. THE BRAKES CATCH" AND THEN RELEASE IN A SEVERE LUNGING MOTION AND THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. AFTER SPEAKING TO THE DEALER, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS RUST BUILDUP AND IT WOULD NOT BE UNDER WARRANTY AND I MUST PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. IN ALL MY 30 YEARS OF DRIVING I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING AND CONSIDER THE BRAKING SYSTEM OR PARTS INFERIOR AND THEIR SHOULD BE A WARNING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM OR IT COULD BE POTENTIALLY A FATAL SITUATION. I HAVE HAD VEHICLES SIT AROUND FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME AND HAVE NEVER HAD SUCH A PROBLEM SUCH AS THIS. SO IT SEEMS THAT AFTER GOING AWAY AND RETURNING TO DRIVE THIS $23K VEHICLE, I MUST PAY FOR REPAIRS EVERY TIME. I WILL NOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AND AM LOOKING INTO LEGAL ACTION. *JB
Tires, Jun 20, 2003
I OWN A 2002 CAMRY SE, AND IT CAME ORIGINALLY EQUIPPED WITH BRIDGESTONE TURANZAS ON IT. THESE TIRES ARE WORTHLESS IN THE SNOW AND RAIN. I TOOK MY COMPLAINT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER, AND THEY SAID THAT THE TIRES WERE "PERFORMANCE" TIRES AND ALL THEY COULD DO WAS HELP ME GET A DISCOUNT ON ANOTHER SET OF TIRES. THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, AS THIS TYPE OF (FAMILY) CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE COME EQUIPPED WITH A DANGEROUS TIRE. I COMPLAINED TO THE BRIDGESTONE DEALER AS WELL, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THESE WERE VERY HARD TIRES, AND ARE THE TYPE THAT WOULD NORMALLY BE PUT ON A CORVETTE, OR SIMILAR SPORTS CAR. I WAS FORCED TO REPLACE THE TIRES AT MY EXPENSE, WITH ONLY 21,000 MILES ON THEM. THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP IN THE SNOW, AND WOULD SLIP AT TAKEOFF IN THE RAIN AS WELL. THESE TIRES SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN PUT ON THIS CAR. I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT TOYOTA WOULD PUT THIS TYPE OF TIRE ON A CAMRY. *NLM
Vehicle speed control, Jun 18, 2003, crash
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK WITH FOOT APPLIED TO BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CRASHING INTO A TREE.*AK
Vehicle speed control, Jun 18, 2003, crash
2002 TOYOTA CAMRY SE: WHILE CAR WAS BEING BACKED DOWN A DRIVEWAY AT 2-3 MPH WITH DRIVER'S FOOT ON BRAKE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE CAR ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AND UNCONTROLLABLY BACKWARD FOR ABOUT 66 FEET AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CAR THEN SOMEHOW SURGED FORWARD FOR ABOUT 132 FEET. CAR WAS TOTALED. UPDATED 7/2/12 *CN UPDATED 07/17/12
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 18, 2003
2002 XLE CAMRY OIL AND FILTER HAS BEEN CHANGED EVERY 3000-3500 MILES. AT THE FIRST 3000 MARK A SMALL AMOUNT OF METALLIC METAL WAS FOUND IN THE OIL. AT THE 9000 MARK OIL AND FILTER CHANGE (THIRD OIL CHANGE) A LARGER AMOUNT OF METALLIC METAL WAS FOUND IN THE OIL. BETWEEN THE THIRD OIL AND FILTER CHANGE THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF METAL UNTIL THE OIL CHANGE THAT WAS DONE AT 18145 MILES. MORE METAL IS FOUND IN THE OIL AT THE 18145 MILE OIL AND FILTER CHANGE. *NLM
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Air bags, Latches/locks/linkages, Tires, Jun 13, 2003
NEW AUTOMOBILE PROBLEMS. *NLM
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 9, 2003
THERE IS A STRONG SULFUR/ROTTEN EGG SMELL EMITTED BY THE VEHICLE WHETHER I DRIVE FOR ALONG TIME OR NOT. SERVICE FOLKS OVER PHONE INDICATED THAT IT WAS JUST A "NEW CAR" SYNDROME AND WOULD GO AWAY SHORTLY. 11,000 MILES LATER IT HAS NOT GONE AWAY. I LIVE IN ATLANTA WHERE WE HAVE LOW SULFUR CONTENT FUEL AND IT SHOULD NOT BE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. ON SHORT TRIPS, THE ENTIRE OUTSIDE AROUND THE CAR STINKS LIKE A SEWER WHEN I STOP. AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS, THE SMELL IS REALLY BAD. I CAN NOT USE THE FRESH AIR CIRCULATION BECAUSE OF THE SMELL. SEEMS LIKE THE PCV SYSTEM MAY NOT BE WORKING RIGHT, BUT THERE ARE NO MILS ON INDICATING A PROBLEM. IF THERE IS A CIRCULATION PROBLEM WHICH INCLUDES THE EXHAUST SYSTEM THERE COULD BE A SIGNIFICANT CO ISSUE THAT WE WOULDN'T BE AWARE OF UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE. PLEASE HELP GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS. *AK
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 2, 2003
THE VEHICLE TAIL PIPE HAD A SHARP EDGE WHICH CUT THE CONSUMER FINGER WHILE HE WAS WASHING HIS VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A STITCH TO CLOSE THE CUT. *MR *SCC *NLM
Fuel system, Other, Jun 1, 2003
CAR DIED WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AROUND A CURVE. POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND CAR NEARLY HIT THE CURB AND SEVERAL PARKED CARS. TOOK VEHICLE TO TOYOTA WHO REFUSED TO FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY, BECAUSE THEY SAID IT WAS CONSUMER'S FAULT THAT IT HAPPENED. THEY SAID THAT FUEL GOT INTO THE CHARCOAL CANISTER, WHICH THEY CLAIMED TO BE EVIDENCE THAT CONSUMER TOPPED OFF AT THE GAS PUMP. I TOLD THEM THAT I NEVER TOPPED OFF (FOR ENVIRONMENTAL REASONS AS WELL AS VEHICLE PROTECTION), AND THEY SAID IT ALSO COULD HAVE BEEN BECAUSE THE CAR SAT AT AN ANGLE IN THE DRIVE WAY BUT THAT THEY STILL WOULDN'T FIX IT. *TT
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
Service brakes, Hydraulic, May 27, 2003
BRAKES DON'T HOLD ON A HILL. ALSO WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP THE AUTO WILL STOP THEN THE PEDAL WILL GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. *TT
Service brakes, Hydraulic, May 16, 2003
2002 CAMRY LE. BRAKES WERE FINE UNTIL ABOUT 1K MILES. PEDAL BEGAN SINKING TO THE FLOOR. DEALER REPLACED BOOSTER AND MASTER CYLINDER. BRAKES STILL GO TO FLOOR WITH CONSTANT PRESSURE. THEY ARE MUSHY, INTERMITTENTLY GRAB, AND FADE QUICKLY. SOMETIMES GRABBING. THE FEEL SEEMS TO VARY. DEALER SAYS ALL IS NORMAL. *NLM
Service brakes, Hydraulic, May 15, 2003
THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE FRONT BRAKES WERE NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 1/9/2003 AND STATED THE BRAKES WERE FINE. *NLM
Tires, May 15, 2003
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE PRESSED WHILE DRIVING ON WET ROADS THE VEHICLE SLID SEVERELY. THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE TIRE PER THE DEALERSHIP. *NLM
Parking brake, May 15, 2003, crash
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY FORTY FIVE MINUTES AND WITHOUT WARNING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE RELEASED AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. (MODEL/MR2 SPYDER) SCC *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, May 14, 2003
BRAKE FAILURE OF 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY V6 WITH ABS BRAKES. BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOORBOARD, BRAKES MAKE LOUD RATCHETING / GRINDING SOUND, CAR DOES NOT STOP. ON THREE OCCASIONS, APPROACHING STOPS AT LESS THAN 30 MPH, CAR HAS GONE THROUGH LIMIT LINE EXCEEDING STOPPING POINT BY AT LEAST 10 FEET, UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THIS CAR HAS BEEN INSPECTED BY MANUFACTURER THREE TIMES. SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS "NORMAL" FOR ABS BRAKES. PAPERWORK FROM SERVICE DEPARTMENT ALSO INDICATES THAT CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE. I AM AFRAID TO PUT MYSELF, A PASSENGER, OR ANOTHER MOTORIST AT RISK. THE CAR IS JUST OVER ONE-YEAR-OLD, AND I HAVE COMPLETELY STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR. I HAVE WRITTEN A LETTER TO TOYOTA 4-26-03 REQUESTING A FULL REFUND UNDER THE LEMON LAW. *NLM
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
Service brakes, Hydraulic, May 7, 2003
WHEN THE PAVEMENT WAS WET AND THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND VEHICLE DIDN'T STOP. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *NLM
Tires, May 3, 2003
I BOUGHT A 02 TOYOTA CAMRY SE LAST YEAR. I LIVE IN MICHIGAN AND IN THE WINTER IT SNOWS QUITE A BIT. GENERALLY NORMAL (NOT SNOW) TIRES WORK FINE IN THE WINTER. HOWEVER, THE NEW TIRES THAT COME WITH THE SE ARE NOT MEANT FOR WINTER WEATHER AT ALL. THEY PERFORM TERRIBLY EVEN IN THE LEAST AMOUNT OF NOW AND SKID. I HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS WHERE I ALMOST HAD FATAL ACCIDENTS. LUCKILY I DID NOT GET INTO A CRASH AS I DRIVE EXTREMELY SLOWLY. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY DID NOT DO ANYTHING. HOWEVER, THEY REPLACED THE TIRES FOR A FEW SE BUYERS BUT DID NOT DO SO FOR ME. I THINK TOYOTA KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I THINK THEY SHOULD NOT SELL THE SE WITH THE BRIDGESTONE TIRES THAT THEY CURRENTLY DO. YOU CAN EXPECT A BUYER TO REPLACE ALL FOUR NEW TIRES WHEN THEY HAVE ONLY 2000 MILES ON THEM. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR PEOPLE WHO DO NOT REALIZE THE PROBLEM BEFORE THEY BUY THE VEHICLE. I HOPE YOU WILL INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER AND HELP ALL THE SE BUYERS. *JB