Your vehicle report
2002 Toyota Camry
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 953
- Received Oct 2001 to Nov 2025
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Unintended acceleration despite braking163 complaints · 17% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Airbags fail to deploy in crashes57 complaints · 6.0% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines57 complaints · 6.0% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #04V346000On 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.
- Recall #01V372000Vehicle 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.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 252 crashes, 20 fires, 135 people injured, 12 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 20 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 0 |
| Total | 953 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 163 | 17% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 57 | 6.0% | – | NHTSA recall #01V306000, #04V346000 |
| Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines | 57 | 6.0% | – | |
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 48 | 5.0% | – | NHTSA recall #01V302000 |
| Rear door latch fails to open or close | 43 | 4.5% | – | |
| Vehicle rolls backward out of park | 38 | 4.0% | – | |
| Head gasket leaks coolant into engine | 32 | 3.4% | – | |
| Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up | 28 | 2.9% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 21 | 2.2% | – | |
| Check engine light comes on repeatedly | 20 | 2.1% | – | |
| Steering wanders or pulls at highway speed | 20 | 2.1% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 15 | 1.6% | – | |
| Front brake rotors warp and wear early | 15 | 1.6% | – | |
| Electronic throttle body fails and cuts power | 15 | 1.6% | – | |
| Exhaust smell enters cabin during acceleration | 14 | 1.5% | – | |
| Brakes fail intermittently or repeatedly | 14 | 1.5% | – | |
| Automatic emergency braking applies without reason | 14 | 1.5% | – | |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 13 | 1.4% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 12 | 1.3% | – | |
| Brakes make grinding or squealing noise | 11 | 1.1% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #04V346000July 13, 2004128,316 vehicles affected
air bags: side/window
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.
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.
NHTSA recall #01V372000December 11, 200119,587 vehicles affected
air bags: frontal
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.
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.
NHTSA recall #01V302000October 1, 200119 vehicles affected
tires
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.
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.
NHTSA recall #01V306000September 25, 20012 vehicles affected
air bags: frontal
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Incomplete deployment of the front passenger side air bag could occur in the event of a crash.
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.
Other model years
- 1986 32
- 1987 58
- 1988 64
- 1989 113
- 1990 134
- 1991 149
- 1992 565
- 1993 260
- 1994 287
- 1995 303
- 1996 417
- 1997 555
- 1998 600
- 1999 501
- 2000 454
- 2001 272
- 2002
- 2003 782
- 2004 638
- 2005 721
- 2006 317
- 2007 2,888
- 2008 933
- 2009 1,294
- 2010 604
- 2011 602
- 2012 590
- 2013 274
- 2014 455
- 2015 271
- 2016 184
- 2017 148
- 2018 754
- 2019 400
- 2020 275
- 2021 158
- 2022 64
- 2023 65
- 2024 52
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2002 Toyota Camry.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN