Problems · NHTSA complaints
2002 Toyota Camry problems
Owners filed 1,039 complaints about the 2002 Toyota Camry with NHTSA between Oct 2001 and Nov 2025. The most-cited component is vehicle speed control (295).
Complaints
1,039
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
275
Reported by owners
Fires
20
Reported by owners
Injuries
146
People reported injured
Deaths
13
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Vehicle speed control295
- Service brakes, hydraulic156
- Engine and engine cooling112
- Air bags102
- Power train75
- Tires61
- Engine59
- Structure57
- Steering46
- Electrical system38
- Suspension37
- Latches/locks/linkages35
- Fuel system, gasoline24
- Visibility21
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
9
116
128
167
76
48
21
31
43
177
39
19
29
29
31
18
12
9
16
5
3
2
6
3
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2002 | 116 |
| 2003 | 128 |
| 2004 | 167 |
| 2005 | 76 |
| 2006 | 48 |
| 2007 | 21 |
| 2008 | 31 |
| 2009 | 43 |
| 2010 | 177 |
| 2011 | 39 |
| 2012 | 19 |
| 2013 | 29 |
| 2014 | 29 |
| 2015 | 31 |
| 2016 | 18 |
| 2017 | 12 |
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2019 | 16 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 2 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Vehicle speed control
295 reports160 crashes3 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S SPEED CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP ACCELERATING WHILE TURNING, EVEN WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT APPROACHED A RED LIGHT AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED, BUT WAS NOT COMPLETED BY THE OFFICER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPORT WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE WITHIN TEN DAYS. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED TWO BROKEN ARMS, A FRACTURE TO THE SECOND AND FIFTH RIBS, A DISLOCATED WRIST (SIDE UNKNOWN), A BROKEN RIGHT ANKLE, AND BRUISES TO THE RIGHT LEG. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED IN THE FORM OF SURGERY (BONE RESET). THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS SMASHED INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE OTHER VEHICLE NEAR THE PASSENGER SEAT. A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
156 reports27 crashes
“WHILE DRIVING MY 2002, (75,000 MILES) BRAKES WERE NOT FUNCTIONING AS NORMAL. IT WAS NECESSARY TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE DOWN TO THE FLOOR. ABOUT 15 MINS LATER I NOTICED THE "BRAKE" DISPLAY LIT. I CALLED ARLINGTON TOYOTA WHERE I HAVE BEEN A CUSTOMER FOR 20 YEARS AND ADVISED OF THEM OF THE PROBLEM. I WAS GIVEN AN APPOINTMENT, BUT DECIDED TO CAUTIOUSLY DRIVE TO THE DEALER AFTER # CALLS. I LEARNED THAT BOTH MY BRAKE LINE AND FUEL LINES HAD RUSTED AND WERE LEAKING FLUID. I COMMENTED THAT I HAD MY CAR IN FOR BRAKE WORK MANY TIMES OVER THE PAST YEAR +. I SPOKE TO MY REGULAR ATTENDANT AT LEAST 4 TIMES ABOUT THE BRAKES. I HAD BRAKE WORK DONE, GLAZING AND OTHER TYPES OR BRAKE WORK. LONG STORY, AFTER MUCH SHOPPING AROUND, DECISION MAKING, . THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS ASSIGNED TO DEAL WITH ME. ORIGINALLY $2100, THEN HE TONY NITTY BROUGHT IT TO $1600. FINALLY OFFERED PAYING $1,000 SHOULD HAVE BEEN CAUGHT LONG BEFORE MY BRAKES WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT AS IT HAD BEEN IN SEVERAL TIME OVER THE PAST 2+ YEARS FOR BRAKES. I REJECTED THE OFFER AS TONY HAD TOLD ME HE WAS GOING TO GET TOYOTA TO PICK UP THE ENTIRE $1600. I REJECTED THE OFFER AND HE WAS TO GIVE IT ANOTHER SHOT AND TO…”
Engine and engine cooling
112 reports8 crashes5 fires
“2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. ATTORNEY REPRESENTING CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS SERVICE BULLETIN. *SMD THE ENGINE FAILED WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, LESS THAN SIX MONTHS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER, AFTER THE DAMAGE AND THE EXTENSIVE RE-BUILD OF THE ENGINE, OTHER PARTS WOULD BEGAN TO FAIL. *JB”
Air bags
102 reports64 crashes3 related recalls
“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 vents, Air bag control module not functioning which will not able to initiate the deployment of airbag in the event of a wreck/accident could lead to fatality. Engine not functioning properly due to blown head gasket which could lead to overheating amongst other things. Vehicle has been inspected by Dealership. Yes there are warning lights prior to failure (Check engine light)”
Power train
75 reports12 crashes
“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.”
Tires
61 reports3 crashes1 related recall
“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)”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.