Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2002 Toyota Camry, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Vehicle speed control281
- Service brakes, hydraulic146
- Engine and engine cooling107
- Air bags89
- Power train68
- Engine58
- Structure56
- Tires54
- Steering43
- Electrical system36
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 135 injuries and 12 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 161 2002 Camry vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 113 people died inside them, and 29 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2002 Toyota Camry failed the safety check 2.09% of the time — 4% more often than the average 2002 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 148,607 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 2002 Toyota Camry cars on Dutch roads are the 2.4 petrol (112 kW, 150 hp) and 3.0 petrol (137 kW, 184 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2.4 petrol | 112 kW 150 hp | 98 |
| 3.0 petrol | 137 kW 184 hp | 46 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
147 first registered in 2002 are on Dutch roads; 9% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde66
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen37
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)30
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse30
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm28
- Band beschadigd28
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt26
- Band onvoldoende profiel23
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
87 cars built in 2002 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 45 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 122 of these cars first registered in 2002 took their annual MOT test. 73% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2002 the figure was 58%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2002 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 16.4% | 20.8% |
| Brakes | 6.6% | 13.6% |
| Suspension | 6.6% | 15.8% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 4.9% | 6.9% |
| Tyres | 4.9% | 6.0% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 4.1% | 9.7% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
189 of these cars first registered in 2002 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 306,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
801 2002 cars are on the New Zealand register; 11% arrived as used imports, 88% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 3 variants: combined 9.6–11.3 L/100 km (about 21–25 mpg US), CO₂ 221–260 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camry · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 11.2 | 7.8 | 9.6 |
| Camry · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 11.5 | 8.2 | 10.0 |
| Camry · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.1 | 9.1 | 11.3 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 2002 Toyota Camry.
| 2021723 24 Nov 2021 | Electrical Issue: This recall is for certain block heater kits installed on certain vehicles or sold as accessories at Toyota or Lexus dealerships. On certain vehicl… |
| 2004240 12 Jul 2004 | Airbag On certain vehicles equipped with the Curtain Shield airbag system, the curtain airbag may be twisted near the inflator due to improper assembly. In this condi… |
| 2001282 5 Dec 2001 | Airbag Certain 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'… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. INCOMPLETE DEPLOYMENT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG COULD OCCUR IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Toyota told its dealers about the 2002 Toyota Camry: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 635878 | SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAING INVOLVING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE DRIVER-SIDE FRONT AIRBAG. *TT |
| 635859 | THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS COVERING THE REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF THE ASHTRAY / LIGHTER. *TT |
| 634047 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P1125, P1128 OR P1129. *TT |
| 634020 | TECHNICAL INFORMATION ON THE NEW JBL AMPLIFHER DESIGNED TO ADDRESS CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS OF A POP NOISE OCCURING WHILE TURNING OFF THE IGNITION KEY. *TT |
| 634019 | TECHNICALINFORMATION ON U140E SHIFT QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS. *TT |
| 634016 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 1MZ-FE ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A SURGING DURING LIGHT THROTTLE INPUT AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 38-42 MPH WITH LOCK-UP (L/U) ON. *TT |
| 634014 | SPECIAL SERVICE TOOLS - THE NEW IMMOBILIZER RESET FEATURE THAT ALLOWS THE REGISTRATION OF A NEW MASTER KEY EVEN IF ALL ORIGINAL MASTER KEYS ARE LOST. *TT |
| 633875 | THIS PURPOSE OF THIS BULLETIN IS TO CLARIFY THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS FOR CERTAIN VEHICLES. *TT |
| 631908 | SUBJECT REGARDING SST, 09082-30801, WIRE HARNESS C SUPPLIES FOR AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. *SLC |
| 631805 | SUBJECT REGARDING WHEEL FILM FOR BRAKE ROTOR RUST PREVENTION. *SLC |
| 631706 | INFORMATION REGARDING AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WIRE SUB-HARNESS. *SLC |
| 629429 | INFORMATION REGARDING REPLACEMENT OF RADIATOR FOR TOWING. *YH |
| 629412 | INFORMATION REGARDING REAR SEAT RELEASE KNOB IMPROVEMENT. *YH |
| 629408 | INFORMATION REGARDING GAS CAP STICKING. *YH |
| 628700 | SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN 10R TO REPLACE THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT AIRBAG. *TT |
| 628699 | LIMITED SERVICE CAMPAIGN 10P TO REMOVE THE COIL SPRING SPACERS. *TT |
| 628698 | LIMITED SERVICE CAMPAIGN 10N TO REPAIR THE WASHER RESERVOIR TANK. *TT |
| 628692 | SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT AIRBAG. *TT |
| 628680 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A RATTLING SOUND COMING FROM THE HEAT SHIELD FOR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *TT |
| 628672 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A SLIGHT, INTERMITTENT RESISTANCE TO MOVEMENT OF THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE NEAR ZERO DURING THE FIRST FEW MILES OF TRAVEL. *TT |
| 628671 | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P1130, P1135, P1150 OR P1155 AS A RESULT OF AN AIR FUEL SENSOR. *TT |
| 628668 | ON SOME VEHICLES THE TRUNK LINERS COME LOOSE FROM THE REAR SEAT BRACE. *TT |
| 627587 | SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION REGARDING SST WIRE HARNESS C (FOR AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT). *YD |
| 627421 | SUBJECT REGARDING DRIVERS SIDE FRONT AIRBAG SSC. *YD |
| 627412 | INFORMATION REGARDING SLIDING ROOF SUNSHADE CRACKLE NOISE. *YD |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
ENGINE SURGING
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation