Toyota Camry Complaints (2002)

953 consumer complaints on file.

#10410157July 1, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
IT IS 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY LE WITH 2.4L 2AZ-FE ENGINE. IT HAPPENED WHILE CAR WAS DRIVEN. ENGINE PRODUCED A LOUD BANG AND STALLED. DID NOT STARTED AFTER CRANKING IT. BEFORE TRIP THERE WAS NOTICEABLE STEAM OUT OF EXHAUST. AFTER CONSIDERING HEAD GASKET FAILURE THERE WAS ATTEMPT TO REPLACE THE GASKET. DURING REPAIR WAS FOUND THAT SEVERAL HEAD BOLTS WERE LOOSE DUE TO STRIPING FROM THEIR SITS. AFTER DIGGING IN GOOGLE IT WAS FOUND THAT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS ENGINES. IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS A MANUFACTURER DESIGN FLOW. ALL 2AZ-FE ENGINES ARE PRONE TO THIS BECAUSE OF INADEQUATE HEAT DISPERSION AT THE BACK OF THE ENGINE. TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE RESPONSE IS THAT THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS A MAJOR DESIGN FLOW AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. ALL ENGINES FROM 2002 ARE PRONE TO IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10409383June 29, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND SUSTAINED MINOR CHEST INJURES FROM THE SEAT BELT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE CRASH SITE AS THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL TICKING AND RATTLING. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER. AN INVESTIGATOR WAS SENT BY THE MANUFACTURER TO FURTHER INSPECT THE FAILURE WHO WAS UNABLE O LOCATE OR DUPLICATE A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURE WOULD NOT ASSIST, STATING THAT NO FAILURES WERE DISCOVERED WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10408932June 26, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
INSTRUMENT PANEL AND ALL GAUGES , LIGHTS WENT DEAD REPLACING OR TAKING OUT THE FUSE WHICH WAS STILL GOOD , TURNS IT BACK ON BUT THEN WHEN THE CAR IS OFF THE DASH GOES OUT AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10407099June 16, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR/TONE RING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE WARNING LIGHT. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WOULD GO FURTHER INTO THE FLOORBOARD THAN USUAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE AND BOTH FRONT SPEED SENSORS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE FAILURE AND WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,869.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10405894June 10, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE ENGINE COOLANT WAS LOW AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND ADDED MORE COOLANT TO THE VEHICLE. APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES AFTER BEING REPAIRED THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHILE REPAIRING THE ENGINE, THE MECHANICED NOTICED THE BOLTS WHICH MOUNTED THE ENGINE WERE STRIPPED. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE WAS PREVIOUSLY MOUNTED OUT OF POSITION, PREVENTING THE ENGINE COOLANT FROM PROPERLY ENTERING THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT DUE TO THIS FAILURE, THE ENGINE RAN AT A LOW TEMPERATURE AND THE HEAD GASKET FAILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10405797June 9, 2011
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE CLUTCH PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. SHE HAD TO REACH DOWN AND PULL THE PEDAL UP IN ORDER TO DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10405455June 7, 2011
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I PURCHASED A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY BACK IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR FROM A PRIVATE AUTO SELLER. ON MAY 20TH WHILE SITTING AT A STOP SIGN IN NEUTRAL, MY RPM GAGE ALL OF A SUDDEN SURGED. I PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL TWICE TO SEE IF IT WAS STUCK SINCE I'D HEARD NEWS REPORTS THAT THIS WAS REPORTEDLY THE ISSUE ACCORDING TO TOYOTA WHEN OTHER INCIDENTS WERE REPORTED, BUT I THOUGHT THEY WERE WITH THE NEWER MODELS. NONETHELESS, WHEN I RELEASED THE PEDAL, THE GAGE CONTINUED SURGING. THANK GOODNESS I WAS IN NEUTRAL WHEN THE ACCELERATION STARTED BECAUSE THERE WERE CHILDREN IN THE AREA WHO WERE WAITING TO CATCH THEIR SCHOOL BUS. I DECIDED TO TURN OFF MY VEHICLE AND SAT FOR ABOUT TEN SECONDS, STARTED IT BACK UP AND IT WAS STILL SURGING FOR APPROXIMATELY ANOTHER THREE SECONDS, THEN FINALLY STOPPED AND WENT BACK TO NORMAL. AT THAT POINT, I TURNED BACK AROUND AND PARKED THE CAR AT MY HOME. FORTUNATELY, I HAVE ANOTHER VEHICLE I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE. THAT FOLLOWING TUESDAY I STOPPED AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN KANSAS CITY, KANSAS AND EXPLAINED TO THE SERVICE PARTS WORKER WHAT HAPPENED. HIS EXPLANATION WAS IT'S THE FLOOR MAT GETTING STUCK CAUSING THE ACCELERATION AND THAT I NEED TO PROVIDE MY VIN NUMBER FOR THEM TO LOOK IT UP. FIRST OF ALL, THIS WAS NOT A FLOOR MAT ISSUE. IF THAT WAS THE CASE THEN WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL, IT SHOULD'VE COME UNSTUCK. IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THE DEALERSHIP WANTED TO GO THE ROUTE THAT'S GOING TO BE THE LEAST EXPENSIVE INSTEAD OF ACTUALLY LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM. UPON DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, I CAME ACROSS A TECHNICAL BULLETIN MEMO FROM AUGUST 2002 THAT ADDRESSED THE ACCELERATION ISSUE STATING THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRONICS GLITCH. I E-MAILED TOYOTA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPT. AND THE ONLY RESOLUTION THEY OFFERED WAS.....NOTHING. APPARENTLY THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED FOR THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE SO NOW I HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS DONE. DUE TO THE DANGEROUS NATURE OF THESE INCIDENTS, REPAIRS SHOULD BE AUTOMATIC AND NOT AT THE COST OF THE CONSUMER! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10404285June 3, 2011
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND ALL THREE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE WERE REPORTED INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED AN INSURANCE LOT. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#10404394June 3, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2002 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE UPON HITTING THE BRAKE CAR WILL CONTINUE TO JUMP WHILE STILL MOVING FORWARD. IT IS HAPPENING MORE AND MORE. ALMOST CAUSED A COUPLE OF ACCIDENTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10402952May 27, 2011
AIR BAGS
27 MAY 2011 1. EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE: THE CAR BATTERY, INCORRECTLY PLACE DIRECTLY OVER THE LEFT SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR NORMALLY LEAKED WATER AND ACID ONTO THE WIRING HARNESS OPENING THE CIRCUIT AND CAUSING THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO GO ON AND THE CAR SAFETY AIR BAGS TO BE DISABLED. THE LEFT SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR MAYBE MOVED SO THAT IT IS NOT UNDER THE CAR BATTERY OR THE SENSOR COULD BE SHIELDED, SUCH AS A SPLASH GUARD. 2. THE FAILURE, HOW OFTEN IT OCCURS, IT CONSEQUENCES: THIS IS A 2002 OR 8 YEAR OLD CAR; HOWEVER, I WOULD ESTIMATE THIS FAILURE COULD OCCUR WITHIN 6 MONTHS TO FOUR YEARS. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD ALWAYS FAIL TO DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT; MAKING THE SAFETY SYSTEM INOPERABLE. 3. WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE; THE MAIN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED; TOYOTA WANTED $3,800 DOLLARS AT FIRST. THE TWO WIRES TO THE AIR BAG SENSOR COULD HAVE A DISCONNECT, SO THAT ONLY THE TWO WIRES TO THE AIR BAG SENSOR COULD HAVE NEEDED TOO BE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10400578May 12, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY CAR ALARM GOES OFF DURING THE NIGHT AND WILL NOT RESET. THIS HAS HAPPENED PERIODICALLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10399361May 6, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY STALL INTERMITTENTLY, THEN THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE SINCE HE KNEW THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10398627May 2, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BLUE SMOKE WAS EMITTING FROM THE TAIL PIPE ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THERE WAS SLUDGE BUILDING UP IN THE ENGINE AND CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BURN MILEAGE EXTREMELY QUICKLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10396610April 18, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
ATLANTA, GA, REQUIRES AN EMISSION INSPECTION EACH YEAR. MY 2002 CAMRY XLE HAS PASSED WITH NO PROBLEM IN PAST YEARS. WHEN THE INSPECTION TESTER WAS HOOKED TO THE CAR IT REPORTED "NOT READY" CODES IN ALL TEST CATEGORIES AND THE INSPECTION COULD NOT BE COMPLETED. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HE COULD CLEAR THE COMPUTER AND GET IT TO RESET BUT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THE CODES WOULD START TO DROP OFF TO "NOT READY" AGAIN. HE WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO SET LONG ENOUGH TO COMPLETE THE INSPECTION THAT PASSED PROPERLY AND THEN THE CODES BEGAN TO DROP OFF AGAIN. CALLS TO TOYOTA HAVE RECEIVED NO INFORMATION ON WHAT TO DO TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10394451April 6, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, HE NOTICED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCREASED AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. HE PULLED OVER AND OPENED THE HOOD AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS NO COOLANT IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE HEAD BOLT WAS STRIPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000. UPDATED 08/05/11*LJ UPDATED 08/15/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10393947April 1, 2011
STEERING
STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND DID NOT RETURN TO CENTER WHEN RELEASED. CHECK POWER STEERING FLUID IT WAS OK. NO POWER STEERING LEAKS. TOOK CAR TO HAVE PROBLEM EVALUATED. MECHANIC SAID THAT STEERING SHAFT UNIVERSAL JOINTS WERE WORN AND RUSTED AND BINDING UP. ONLY SOLUTION WAS TO REPLACE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. IF ALLOWED TO GO TOO LONG STEERING COULD LOCK UP COMPLETELY OR SHAFT COULD SHEAR CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. REPAIR WILL COST $900 SINCE ENTIRE SHAFT MUST BE REPLACED AND PART IS ONLY AVAILABLE FROM TOYOTA. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS KIND OF PROBLEM WITH A VEHICLE AND WAS SHOCKED TO KNOW THE DESIGN OF THE STEERING SHAFT LEFT IT EXPOSED TO ROAD SPRAY AND SUBSEQUENT CORROSION DAMAGE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND GAVE NO WARNING AS TO THE IMPENDING FAILURE. STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN EVEN WITH THE POWER STEERING ASSIST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10394597March 30, 2011
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY I ACCELERATED TO 60 OR 65 MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN VIBRATING BADLY AND THE CAR STARTED TO SHAKE. ON SLOWING DOWN THE SHAKING LESSENED BUT CONTINUED AND THE STEERING WHEEL STOPPED VIBRATING. ON BRINGING THE CAR TO THE SHOP THEY DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE MOUNTS HAD FAILED. ON REPLACING THE MOUNTS ONE OF THEM HAD SPLIT INTO TWO PIECES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10392986March 27, 2011
STEERING
I OWN A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY 70,000 MI AND WHILE DRIVING ONE DAY THE STEERING FROZE AND I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL. SINCE THAT DAY THE STEERING HAS BECOME EXTREMELY STIFF AND HARD TO STEER. AFTER CHECKING THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEVELS AND FOUND IT TO BE NORMAL I HAVE MADE AN APPT WITH THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. AFTER READING THESE COMPLAINTS I FEEL IT IS AN ISSUE WITH THE PART ITSELF AND A SAFETY ISSUE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD REPLACE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10390555March 17, 2011
EQUIPMENT
I RECEIVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL STATING THERE WAS A RECALL FOR MY SUNROOF MADE BY WEBASTO. THE SERIAL NUMBER OF MY SUNROOF IS BETWEEN THE RANGE OF 6000000 TO 6396298. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT REPLACED IF THAT IS THE CASE, PLEASE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10384136February 23, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
IN JULY 2010, I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ON A HEAVILY TRAVELED TWO LANE HIGHWAY, ACCELERATING AS I APPROACHED A GRADE, WHEN SUDDENLY THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM MY ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE CAR STALLED. THERE WAS A GROUP OF BICYCLISTS ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER. I ACTIVATED MY EMERGENCY FLASHERS, AND MANAGED WITH DIFFICULTY TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. I COULD RESTART THE ENGINE, BUT THE CEL REMAINED ON, AND THE CAR WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR IN ANY GEAR. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE ERROR CODE P1121 WAS FOUND. THE ECU WAS REPLACED, AND I WAS ASSURED THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN RESOLVED. THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT COST ME SEVERAL SLEEPLESS NIGHTS, AND IT WAS FORTUNATE THAT IT DID NOT RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT, INJURY, OR WORSE. ON FEBRUARY 17, 2011, I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 30-35 MPH WHEN ONCE AGAIN THE ACCELERATOR WOULD NOT RESPOND AND THE CEL LIT UP. THIS TIME, THE ENGINE DID NOT STALL. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND CHANGED GEARS AND DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR MANY TIMES WITH NO RESPONSE. FINALLY, THE CAR MOVED AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT THE SHORT DISTANCE HOME. AFTER CALLING THE DEALERSHIP, WHO AGREED THE CAR WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL CHECKED, IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE SAME CODE P1121 WAS READ. ALL COMPONENTS INDICATED BY THIS CODE WERE CHECKED AND DEEMED OKAY. AFTER THE DEALER CONTACTED TOYOTA, THE CAR WAS ALSO CHECKED FOR GROUNDING AND VOLTAGE ISSUES. AGAIN, EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT OKAY. THE DEALERSHIP KEPT AND DROVE THE CAR, TRYING UNSUCCESSFULLY TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. IT REMAINS THERE TODAY WHILE WE DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH IT. THE DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA ARE NOT OFFERING ANY SOLUTIONS. I FEEL THAT THE CAR IS UNRELIABLE AND UNSAFE. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET CONVINCES ME THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, AND IT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED NO MATTER HOW MUCH IT COSTS. A PRICE CANNOT BE PUT ON LIFE OR PEACE OF MIND. PLEASE INVESTIGATE! UPDATED 06/24/11 *BF *TR REPAIRS ATTACHED.. UPDATED 01/05/2012 *LN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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