2002 Toyota CAMRY: complaints, problems and recalls

I PURCHASED A TOYOTA CAMRY 2002 SE IN DECEMBER OF 2001AND DISCOVERED AFTER DRIVING TO AND FROM WORK DURING A SNOW STORM 12/5/02 THAT THE CAR WAS EQUIPED WITHOUT ALL SEASON TIRES. I NARROWLY AVOIDED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS THAT DAY, AS DID OTHERS I AM SURE. HOWEVER, I DISCOVERED WHILE SPEAKING WITH THE TIRE MANUFACTURER(TOYO) THAT THE TIRES ARE CONSIDERED "SUMMER" TIRES AND ARE NOT MADE FOR SNOW AND/OR ICE. THEY STATED THE TYPE OF TIRE PLACED ON THE CAR IS DETERMINED BY THE CAR MANUFACTURER NOT TOYO. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AS I AM EXTREMELY CONCER…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000007 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDTIONAL INFORMATION.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001643 at NHTSA ↗

THE REAR LIFTGATE DOOR HAS TWO HYDRAULIC POLES THAT SUPPORT DOOR WHEN OPEN. THE HYDRAULIC POLE AND HINGE ON BOTH SIDES HAVE FALLEN OFF. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001769 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT GOING 60 MPH AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001830 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY A DEER COME OUT ON ROAD, VEHICLE HIT WAS INVOLVED IN COLLISION WITH ANIMAL, FRONT END OF VEHICLE IS DEMOLISHED, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001994 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2001-10-01 (October 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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2001-09-25 (September 25, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. INCOMPLETE DEPLOYMENT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG COULD OCCUR IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Consequence: UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURY.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2001-12-11 (December 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.

Consequence: IF THIS SHOULD OCCUR, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE DETACHED BOTTOM PORTION MAY STRIKE THE DRIVER CAUSING PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2004-07-13 (July 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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.