2002 Toyota CAMRY problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
953 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
50,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 610 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 243 of 953 complaints (25.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 330 | 34.6% |
| Steering behavior | 67 | 7.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 56 | 5.9% |
| Engine operation | 36 | 3.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 20 | 2.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 0.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 243 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 61 |
| Engine | 58 |
| Air Bags | 57 |
| Tires | 46 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 43 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 40 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 40 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 243; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 61; Engine: 58; Air Bags: 57; Tires: 46; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 43; Engine And Engine Cooling: 40; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 40
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 186 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 110 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 87 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 81 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 96 |
| 150,000 and above | 50 |
Under 25,000: 186; 25,000 to 49,999: 110; 50,000 to 74,999: 87; 75,000 to 99,999: 81; 100,000 to 149,999: 96; 150,000 and above: 50
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (186). 343 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2002 | 109 |
| 2003 | 120 |
| 2004 | 155 |
| 2005 | 65 |
| 2006 | 45 |
| 2007 | 16 |
| 2008 | 27 |
| 2009 | 38 |
| 2010 | 164 |
| 2011 | 37 |
| 2012 | 18 |
| 2013 | 27 |
| 2014 | 26 |
| 2015 | 28 |
| 2016 | 14 |
| 2017 | 12 |
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2019 | 14 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2001: 9; 2002: 109; 2003: 120; 2004: 155; 2005: 65; 2006: 45; 2007: 16; 2008: 27; 2009: 38; 2010: 164; 2011: 37; 2012: 18; 2013: 27; 2014: 26; 2015: 28; 2016: 14; 2017: 12; 2018: 9; 2019: 14; 2020: 5; 2021: 3; 2022: 2; 2023: 6; 2024: 2; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 330 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 67 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 56 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10001457 · 2002-12-24 (December 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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001457 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001527 · 2002-12-26 (December 26, 2002)
CONSUMER STATES WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, IN SNOWING WEATHER CAR SLIPPERY, DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND CHANGE TIRES, AND THE PROBLEM IS RECURRING . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001527 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003735 · 2003-01-24 (January 24, 2003)
THE VEHICLE DRIFTS TO THE LEFT/RIGHT AT MID TO HIGH SPEEDS, AND BECOMES HARD TO CONTROL WHEN THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT (THE DRIVER MUST HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTLY TO RESIST THE PULLING). BOTH FIRESTONE AND TOYOTA SUGGESTED THAT THE PROBLEM IS AN UNBALANCED SUSPENSION. SCC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003735 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005649 · 2003-02-10 (February 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 …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005649 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000374 · 2002-12-26 (December 26, 2002)
WHEN DRIVING MY CAMRY AT A MAINTAINED SPEED THE TRANSMISSION APPEARS TO ABRUPTLY DOWNSHIFT AND THEN UPSHIFT CAUSING THE CAR TO BOUNCE FORWARD AND THEN BACKWARDS. THIS PROBLEM USUALLY OCCURS WHILE DRIVING DOWN HILLS BUT WILL SOMETIMES HAPPEN ON LEVEL ROADS. THE CAR WILL SOMTIMES DO THIS UP TO 6 TIMES BEFORE GOING BACK TO DRIVING LIKE NORMAL. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS WITH THE CAR IN EITHER OVER-DRIVE OR DRIVE. TOYOTA CORPORATE AND THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED ARE UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING FURTHER TO ALLEVIATE THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 73 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000374 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10012526 · 2003-03-26 (March 26, 2003)
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT ON AN INCLINE THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL BACKWARDS AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS RELEASED AND BEFORE THE GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED. THE CONSUMER REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT OTHERS REPORTED SIMILAR CONCERNS. THE DEALER ALSO INDICATED THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY A LACK OF LOCK ON THE TRANSMISSION. *NLM *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012526 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10060785 · 2004-03-09 (March 9, 2004)
I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE, SINCE I GOT THE CAR NEW IT STARTED TO LUNGE SEVERAL TIMES WHILE SITTING AT STOP LIGHTS/SIGNS. I WENT TO TWO DIFFERENT TOYOTA DEALERS AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR IS RUNNING AS MANUFACTURED. I SAID THIS CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. ALSO, SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IT WANTS TO STALL WHEN COMING TO A STOP. AGAIN, NO DEALER WILL HELP. SOMETHING IS WRONG BUT THE DEALERS WON'T HELP. I DO NOT HAVE TIME TO KEEP RUNNING TO DEALERS, THAT IS WHY I BOUGHT A NEW CAR. THERE IS A DEFINITE PROBLEM WITH THESE …
Owner-reported narrative. 75 miles reported. Look up ODI 10060785 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10115784 · 2005-05-23 (May 23, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED BUT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REIMBURSE THE TOWING COST. THEY WON'T PAY FOR THE 7 MILES TOWING CHARGE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER. *BF
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10115784 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10127521 · 2005-08-05 (August 5, 2005)
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE IN REVERSE FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE MADE J LIKE TURN AND HIT AN ELECTRICAL BOX WHICH CAUSED THE POWER TO GO OUT IN APPROXIMATELY THREE HOMES AND DAMAGED THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST DELIVERED IN APRIL 2002 THIS HAPPENED. BUT THE CONSUMER THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS A NEW VEHICLE. ON JULY 5, 2005 A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND WAS TAKEN TO BELL TOYOTA . WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. *AK *SC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10127521 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017756 · 2003-05-08 (May 8, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017756 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10108812 · 2004-12-13 (December 13, 2004)
VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED A SURGE IN ACCELERATION. CAR CRASHED INTO A TREE AT THE FRONT PARKING SPACE *BF ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE CONSUMER WAS ENTERING A PARKING SPACE AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A TREE AT THE FRONT OF THE SPACE. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURED AFTER THE FUEL TANK WAS FILLED. THE ENGINE ACCELERATED TO HIGH RPM'S WHILE THE CONSUMERS FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. *TC
Owner-reported narrative. 20,342 miles reported. Look up ODI 10108812 at NHTSA ↗