2002 TOYOTA CAMRY Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2002 Toyota Camry. This model year has 1,043 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Unintended Acceleration.
Before you buy — check the actual VIN
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2002 Toyota Camry Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Unintended Acceleration
Brake System
Engine Problems
Considering a 2002 Toyota Camry?
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 Toyota Camry. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unintended Acceleration | 295 | 160 | 3 | — | |
| Brake System | 185 | 41 | 1 | — | |
| Engine Problems | 171 | 13 | 10 | — | |
| Hydraulic | 156 | 27 | — | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 102 | 64 | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 77 | 12 | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 61 | 3 | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 58 | 14 | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 46 | 6 | 1 | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 38 | 5 | 5 | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 38 | — | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 35 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 31 | 4 | 1 | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 26 | 8 | 2 | — | |
| Gasoline | 24 | 2 | 1 | — | |
| Visibility | 21 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 17 | 4 | — | — | |
| Equipment | 16 | 3 | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 12 | 1 | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 10 | 2 | 1 | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 9 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electric | 8 | 3 | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 7 | 1 | — | — | |
| Other | 7 | 2 | — | — | |
| Air | 5 | 2 | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Child Seat | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Traction Control System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Parking-Brake Issues | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
| Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 Toyota Camry. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 400 most recent complaints of 1,043 total. View all on NHTSA ↗
See attached document for complaint.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2002 Toyota Camry. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 127,000. It was later discovered that the mileage on the Title was 283,000.
Toyota dealer contacted me; said my car will cost $15000 to fix. He said people at Toyota who has my exact car costed $15000 to fix! it’s known in automotive circles this year make model & engine size has this factory defect of the rear head studs stripping out and becoming l…
The components or systems that have failed are (Catalytic Converter, Exhaust Manifold, Air Bag Control Module, Engine including head gasket) My safety is at risk due to catalytic converter not functioning properly producing harmful carbon monoxide that can be smelled through air…
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)
The contact owned a 2002 Toyota Camry. The contact stated while driving at approximately 65 MPH the steering wheel had seized up and the vehicle had begun to lose forward momentum. The contact heard an abnormal "popping" sound at the moment the steering had stopped functionality.…
The contact owns a 2002 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while parked, the sunroof shattered from the center of the glass. The contact stated that because of the failure, the contact was treated for a concussion. The contact stated that there was no impact on the sunroof pri…
The drivers side seat belt even tho put in the position of “locked in” it comes out or doesn’t latch at all.
The electrical/switch inside the passenger side door caught on fire, with out warning, while driving. There was a passenger in the vehicle at the time. Driver pulled over when smoke was visible. Flames were soon visible, driver poured water on the flames in effort to extinguish t…
I was sold an bad car
My passenger side dash airbag is bloating and tearing at the seam. It is available for inspection. I am concerned that it will continue to add pressure and eventually deploy. It seems unsafe for passengers -would it work properly in the case of an accident? And for myself as th…
Airbags failed to deploy
I did the texas inspection test, and my vehicle failed the test, and the report with catalyst, evap, and O2 sens was not completed. I'm wondering what is the problem and how I can fix it. I would like to have my vehicle get checked out and find the problem.
PURCHASED THE CAMRY FROM REYES AUTO GROUP IN LAKEWOOD, NJ. TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO PA WHERE I LIVE AND 2 MECHANICS SHOWED ME THE RUSTED OUT UNDER CARRIAGE OF VEHICLE AND STATED THAT IT WILL NOT PASS THE PA SAFETY INSPECTION AND WOULD COST OVER $2000 TO FIX! GAS STARTED LEAKING F…
03/16/2021 - 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY 2.4L MY REGULAR AUTO SHOP REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE'S HEAD BOLTS ARE STRIPPED AND IS A COMMON ISSUE AMONGST THIS CAMRY YEAR. IT'S GOING TO COST $2,200 TO REPAIR ALBEIT NEW RADIATOR, AND THERMOSTAT. COOLANT WAS FOUND IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. STRIPPED HE…
LIKE MANY OTHER 2002 CAMRYS, I HAVE A STRIPPED THREADS FOR THE HEAD BOLTS IN THE 2.4L ENGINE; THIS REPAIR IS EXPENSIVE. TOYOTA ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN DESCRIBING THE REPAIR. GOOGLE 'TOYOTA BULLETIN T-SB-0015-11' TO READ MORE. TOYOTA SHOULD BE MADE TO REPLACE THIS ENGINE.
I HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE MY 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY DIDN'T STOP WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE BUT KEPT ON GOING TILL IT HI A FIRE HYDRA06NT. I HAD JUST PULLED INTO A PARKING PLACE BUT THE CAR JUST DIDN'T STOP. IT HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE BUT JUST LASTED A FEW SECONDS AND IT DIDN'T CAUSE AN AC…
SOLD *TR
LIKE MANY OTHER 2002 CAMRYS, I HAVE A STRIPPED THREADS FOR THE HEAD BOLTS IN THE 2.4L ENGINE; THIS REPAIR IS EXPENSIVE. TOYOTA ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN DESCRIBING THE REPAIR. GOOGLE 'TOYOTA BULLETIN T-SB-0015-11' TO READ MORE. TOYOTA SHOULD BE MADE TO REPLACE THIS ENGINE.
THE CAR IS EXPERIENCING SUDDEN ACCELERATION IT IS LUNGING FORWARD. THE LAST OCCURRENCE WAS AROUND 20 MINUTES AGO, IT HAS HAPPENED TO TWO FAMILY MEMBERS SO FAR, WHILE DRIVING NO EXTRA PRESSURE ON THE GAS THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATE.
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2002 Toyota Camry.
Recalls for 2002 Toyota Camry
4 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2002 Toyota Camry. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2002 Toyota Camry — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2002 Toyota Camry reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2002 Toyota Camry has 1,043 NHTSA owner complaints, 275 crash-related, and 4 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Unintended Acceleration (295 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Toyota Camry?▾
#1: Unintended Acceleration (295 complaints). #2: Brake System (185 complaints). #3: Engine Problems (171 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2002 Toyota Camry?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2002 Toyota Camry?▾
The 2002 Toyota Camry has 275 crash-related complaints and 20 fire reports out of 1,043 total NHTSA complaints. 146 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2002 Toyota Camry have any recalls?▾
Yes — 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2002 Toyota Camry. The largest issue: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2002 Toyota Camry?▾
The 2002 Toyota Camry has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Unintended Acceleration issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Toyota Camry reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2002 Toyota Camry
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.