2002 Toyota Camry Problems, Recalls & Reliability

1,183 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2002 Toyota Camry, alongside 4 recall campaigns and 4 defect investigations. It scores 45/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Speed control leads the reports, typically around 40,000 miles.

1,183Complaints

45/100Trouble index

4Recalls

52,300Typical trouble mileage

Below average

Where 2002 sits among all Camry years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Speed control 282 complaints (24%) · typically ~40,000 miles

“Intermittenly cruise control become inoperable, when consumer applied the brake, the cruise control reamain activated. Dealer has been notified. Please provide further information... Ts”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 Camry

Brakes & stability 171 complaints (14%) · typically ~22,000 miles

“Brake failed while on the road, car crashed. Abnormal long distance brake. Could've died”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 Camry

Engine 168 complaints (14%) · typically ~100,000 miles

“The exhaust manifold on my 2002 toyota camry with 2.4l cracked. It seems to be a common problem on these cars. My camry only had a little over 60,000 miles when it happened. Other toyota cars have been recalled for the same problems.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 Camry

Airbags 91 complaints (8%) · typically ~60,000 miles

“While driving at 30 mph vehicle was involved in a front end collision, airbags did not deploy. Dealer contacted. Please provide addtional information.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 Camry

Transmission & drivetrain 68 complaints (6%) · typically ~55,822 miles

“Consumer states of having several problems with the transimission been replaced severeal times. Ts”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 Camry

Other 62 complaints (5%) · typically ~62,790 miles

“Forward surge of the vehicle while stopped with foot on the brake. There have been many incidents of the same.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 Camry

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 720 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 52,300 miles. Half of those reports fall between 22,860 and 100,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (4)

AIR BAGS 04V346000 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.

Fix: 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.

AIR BAGS 01V372000 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…

Fix: 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…

TIRES 01V302000 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…

Fix: 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…

AIR BAGS 01V306000 2001

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

Fix: 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.…

Federal defect investigations

ENGINE SURGING DP06003 opened 2006, closed 2007

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL DP05002 opened 2005, closed 2006

THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM PE04021 opened 2004, closed 2004

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE PE02079 opened 2002, closed 2003

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2001peak 207 in 20042025

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2002 Toyota Camry reliable?

The 2002 Toyota Camry drew 1,183 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 45/100, scored against the model's worst year (2007).

What are the most common 2002 Toyota Camry problems?

The top reported problems for the 2002 Toyota Camry are speed control (282 complaints), brakes & stability (171), and engine (168).

At what mileage do 2002 Toyota Camry problems show up?

Owners most often report 2002 Toyota Camry problems around 52,300 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 22,860 and 100,000 miles.

Does the 2002 Toyota Camry have recalls?

4 recall campaigns apply to the 2002 Toyota Camry. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

← 2001 Camry All Camry years 2003 Camry →

Data updated 2026-08-12 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.