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.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 10, 2003
THERE WAS A SHAKE AND VIBRATION COMING FROM UNDER THE RIGHT WHEEL. *JB
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
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 7, 2003
THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS POOR BRAKING DURING HARD STOP. BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR. DURING NORMAL BRAKING, BRAKE PEDAL IS VERY LOW. WHEN YOU PUMP BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL SINKS. THE DEALER HAS CHECKED BRAKES AND SAYS THIS IS NORMAL CONDITION.*JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 4, 2003
THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD AND TAPPED ANOTHER VEHICLE. SCC *NLM
Vehicle speed control, Mar 4, 2003
THE THROTTLE STICKS NEVER HAD IT HAPPEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS YET. LIKE WHEN YOU PULL UP TO A LIGHT TO STOP IT STICKS BUT IF YOU HOLD ON TO THE BRAKE IT GOES DOWN TO NOMAL. SINCE I'VE OWNED THIS CAR IT HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES. THE LAST TIME AS I WAS PULLING INTO THE DRIVE. HARD TO LAY YOUR HANDS ON TO WHAT TO DO. *NLM
Air bags, Mar 3, 2003, crash
THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.SCC *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 2, 2003
THE FRONT DISK BRAKE ROTORS ARE REPEATEDLY WARPING DESPITE NORMAL DRIVING HABITS, CAUSING SHAKING OF STEERING WHEEL WHEN BRAKING AND POSSIBLY COMPROMISING VEHICLE STOPPING ABILITY. FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS AT 7,000 MILES, SECOND AT 15,000, THIRD AT 27,000. ROTORS WERE RESURFACED AT FIRST TWO OCCURRENCES TO TEMPORARILY CORRECT PROBLEM. TOYOTA WARRANTY SERVICE ONLY PROVIDES FOR RESURFACING RATHER THAN PART REPLACEMENT. IS THIS PROBLEM DUE TO DEFECTIVE ROTOR MATERIALS AND/OR FAULTY BRAKE SYSTEM DESIGN?*JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Feb 25, 2003
WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED, CONSUMER WOULD ALSO HIT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.*JB THE CONSUMER'S ACCESS TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IS IMPEDED, OR INHIBITED DURING APPLICATION OF THE BRAKE DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE FOOTWELL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL SUPPORT ASSEMBLY.
Fuel system, Other, Feb 24, 2003
SULFUR ODOR INSIDE CAR
Tires, Feb 22, 2003
THE STANDARD TIRES ON THE 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY SE ARE HORRIBLE ON SNOW. WHENEVER THERE IS ANY SNOW ON THE GROUND, THE CAR HAS ABSOLUTELY NO TRACTION. IT CAN'T EVEN MAKE IT UP MY DRIVEWAY.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Feb 20, 2003
WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.*JB
Power train, Feb 20, 2003
TRANSMISSION LINKAGE PROBLEMS. WHEN SLOWING AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS OR WHILE IN MOTION, UPON ACCELERATION, TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS AND THEN UPSHIFTS ABRUPTLY IN A VERY DISTURBING ABNORMAL WAY. IT HAPPENS CONSTANTLY DURING NORMAL CITY DRIVING. YOU MUST BE VERY CAREFUL TO BE "GENTLE" WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER SLOWING DOWN. THIS WILL BE MY VERY LAST TOYOTA.
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.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Electrical system, Visibility, Other or unspecified, Feb 13, 2003
THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS INOPERATIVE, THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO READ THE VARIOUS FEATURES THAT WERE DISPLAYED ON THE UNIT. THE BATTERY HAD GONE DEAD, AND THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED. THE FUEL CONSUMPTION WAS ABNORMAL AND THE AIR HANDLING SYSTEM DID NOT PERMIT OUTSIDE AIR. *SCC *JB
Other or unspecified, Feb 12, 2003
CONSUMER RECEIVED FALSE RECALL NOTICE. WHEN THE CONSUMER CALLED THE 1-800 NUMBER IT WAS A PHONE BANK OFFERING WARRANTY EXTENSIONS. *JB
Tires, Feb 12, 2003
TIRE BLEW OUT AND AND COMPLETELY CAME APART.
Power train, Feb 12, 2003
THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE OUT OF GEAR, AND IF IT DID MOVE OUT OF GEAR, IT ABRUPTLY DOWN SHIFTED TO SECOND GEAR WHILE DRIVING.*AK 2002 TOYOTA SPYDER) *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Feb 10, 2003
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.*JB
Steering, Tires, Feb 10, 2003
REGARDING 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. STARTED EXPERIENCING PULLING AND BUMPING SENSATIONS FROM FRONT SOON AFTER 5000 MILES. HAD TIRES REBALANCED AND ROTATED, PROBLEM CONTINUED. TOOK CAR TO DEALER WHO SAID ALIGNMENT WAS OFF AND SUPPOSEDLY CORRECTED. NO CHANGE, IN FACT, STEERING WHEEL WAS STILL SLIGHTLY OFF CENTER. TOOK CAR BACK TO DEALER WHO SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG BUT DID ANOTHER ALIGNMENT, THIS TIME STRAIGHTENING OUT THE STEERING WHEEL. PROBLEM DID NOT GO AWAY. WE ARE NOW AT 19000 MILES HAVING JUST ROTATED THE TIRES AGAIN IN HOPES IT WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM, BUT IT HAS NOT. ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE RECENTLY NOTICED POOR BRAKING TRACTION EVEN AT SLOW SPEEDS IN WET CONDITIONS AND A SPINNING OUT OF A WHEEL GOING AROUND CORNERS AT SLOW SPEED. WE ARE FRUSTATED BY THE INABILITY OF TOYOTA NORTH OF MT. KISCO, NY TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.
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.
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
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
Tires, Feb 4, 2003
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE VEHICLE SLID BACKWARD. TIRES DO NOT HAVE ANY TRACTION ON SNOW OR ICE AND FEELS THEY ARE UNSAFE. PH
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
Tires, Feb 3, 2003
TOYOTA REFUSES TO SATISFY CONSUMERS COMPLAINT ON FAULTY TIRES. THE TIRES THAT WERE PURCHASED WITH THE VEHICLE HAVE INADEQUATE TRACTION ON SNOW COVERED SURFACES. CONSUMER DOESN'T' FEEL ANY ONE SHOULD HAVE TO BEAR THE COST OF REPLACING ALL FOUR TIRES FOR WINTER CONDITIONS. CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT OF MONIES PAID FOR THESE REPLACEMENT TIRES. *JG