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.
Air bags, Jan 29, 2002, crash
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL REAR END COLLISION AT 50 MPH, DRIVER RECEIVED SEVERE INJURIES FROM AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *YH
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jan 24, 2002
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jan 17, 2002
FRONT ABS BRAKES LOCK ON WET ROAD CONDITIONS, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED.PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
Air bags, Jan 11, 2002, crash
MY BROTHER WAS INVOLVED IN A FATAL CRASH IN A NEW 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE, THE ACCIDENT OCCRURED IN NORTH CAROLINA AND IS BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE HIGHWAY PATROL. THE CAR LEFT THE HIGHWAY AND ROLLED OVER EVENTUALLY IMPACTING A TREE. THE CAR WAS EQUIPPED WITH FRONT, SIDE, AND SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS. NO AIRBAG DEPLOYED IN THIS ACCIDENT. I BELIEVE THE LACK OF AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WAS CONTRIBUTORY TO MY BROTHER'S DEATH.*AK
Exterior lighting, Jan 7, 2002
THERE IS NO SOUND INDICATING THAT TURN SIGNAL HAS BEEN TURNED ON WHEN MAKING A TURN. CONSUMER FEELS IT'S A HAZARD BECAUSE ONE DOES NOT KNOW IF TURN SIGNAL IS ON OR NOT, UNLESS PUT YOUR HEAD DOWN TO LOOK AT DASHBOARD, AND BY THEN COULD HAVE AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURHTER INFORMATION.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Dec 27, 2001
SPRING ASSEMBLY ATTACHED TO L SIDE OF BRAKE PEDAL ARM PROTRUDES FORWARD ABOVE RUBBER PEDAL AREA. IF A DRIVER WITH SIZE 11 SHOES PRESSES THE PEDAL SLIGHTLY LEFT-OF-CENTER, HIS TOES WILL HIT THE PROTRUSION, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO FULLY DEPRESS THE PEDAL.
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
Electrical system, Dec 17, 2001, fire
STARTER CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE PARKING LOT, THE CONSUMER TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND HEARD A WINDING NOISE, CONSUMER LIFTED HOOD AND HIT THE STARTER MOTOR TO STOP IT FROM SPINNING, VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING.*AK *SLC
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
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
Exterior lighting, Dec 5, 2001
TURN SIGNAL CLICKER'S VOLUMN IS SO SOFT IT CAN'T BE HEARD.ALSO, AS A RESULT CONSUMER IS DRIVING WITH TURN SIGNAL ON UNKNOWINGLY. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED SIGNALS IS WORKING PROPERLY.
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
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Nov 7, 2001
STARTING THE FIRST WEEK IHAD THE VEHICLE THE BRAKES WERE "NOT RIGHT" AND SEEMED TO MALFUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY ABOUT EVERY TWO DAYS UNTIL I FINALLY WENT THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AND WAS UNABLE TO STOP. THE DEALER CALIMS IT'S THE ABS BUT I'VE DRIVEN ABS VEHICLES FOR THE LAST 5 YRS WITHOUT EXPERIENCING THIS. THE SERVICE DEPT WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM ONCE AND STILL CLAIMS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG W/ THE CAR. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND HAVE WRITTEN A COMPLAINT TO TOYOTA CORPORATE WHO CLAIMS THERTE HAS BEEN NO OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Oct 24, 2001
AT ANY SPEED BRAKE PEDAL IS REALLY MUSHY, AND ONE TIME IT WENT TO THE FLOOR, VEHICLE EVENTUALLY STOPPED ON ITS OWN.*AK