CarModelProblems.com

2002 Toyota Camry Problems & Recalls

Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026

High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Vehicle Speed Control — runs 5.6× the fleet median for that category across the 1732 model-years tracked on this site.
953Complaints
4Recalls
252Crashes
20Fires
135Injured
12Deaths

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

Is this problem acknowledged?

The most-reported problem — Vehicle Speed Control (25.5% of complaints) — was examined in a now-closed NHTSA investigation that did not result in a recall.

Vehicle Speed Control complaints here are 5.6× the median for that category across the 1732 model-years tracked on this site.

2 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 4 rest on owner reports alone.

Complaint categoryReportsOfficial statusReference
Vehicle Speed Control243 · 25.5%Investigation closedDP06003 · DP05002 · PE04021
Service Brakes, Hydraulic61 · 6.4%No official action
Engine58 · 6.1%Investigation closedPE02079
Air Bags57 · 6%RecalledRecall 01V372000 · Recall 04V346000 · Recall 01V306000
Tires46 · 4.8%RecalledRecall 01V302000
Power Train:automatic Transmission43 · 4.5%No official action

Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Complaints by component

ENGINE58 · 6.1%
AIR BAGS57 · 6%
TIRES46 · 4.8%
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION43 · 4.5%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP40 · 4.2%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING40 · 4.2%
STEERING33 · 3.5%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL30 · 3.1%

Percentages are the share of the 953 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.

Recalls — 4 campaigns

Air Bags:frontal

NHTSA campaign 01V372000 · 2001 · reported 12/11/2001

IF THIS SHOULD OCCUR, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE DETACHED BOTTOM PORTION MAY STRIKE THE DRIVER CAUSING PERSONAL INJURY. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Air Bags:side/window

NHTSA campaign 04V346000 · 2004 · reported 07/13/2004

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. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Air Bags:frontal

NHTSA campaign 01V306000 · 2001 · reported 09/25/2001

UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURY. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Tires

NHTSA campaign 01V302000 · 2001 · reported 10/01/2001

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. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What owners report

“CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT LOW SPEED WHEN SUFFER A SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAUSING A DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED…”NHTSA complaint 10003939 — filed 01/15/2003 · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
“CONSUMER STATED WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, JUMPING OVER A PARKING BLOCK AND KNOCKING DOWN A TREE…”NHTSA complaint 10003640 — filed 01/13/2003 · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
“CONSUMER WAS PARKING THE VEHICLE WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THIS RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT LOCATE THE…”NHTSA complaint 10002533 — filed 01/10/2003 · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Complaint trend by year filed

38201123422013323820152215201711222019852021392023422025

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2002 Toyota Camry?

Vehicle speed control issues are the most-reported category, cited in 243 of 953 NHTSA complaints (25.5%), followed by service brakes, hydraulic (61), engine (58), air bags (57). Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How many complaints does the 2002 Toyota Camry have?

953 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 252 involved a crash, 20 involved a fire, and 135 reported injuries. 12 deaths were reported.

Does the 2002 Toyota Camry have any recalls?

Yes — 4 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 01V372000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Has NHTSA acted on the 2002 Toyota Camry's reported problems?

2 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.

Is a complaint proof of a defect?

No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.