Toyota Camry Complaints (2002)
953 consumer complaints on file.
- #10383114February 17, 2011STEERING
THE STEERING FAILED, TOO HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL. THE REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT WITH U- JOINTS. THEY SAID IT IS COMMON IN 2002 CAMRY. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10381542February 11, 2011STEERING
I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE TOYOTA SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND HAPPENED A LOT IN THIS MODEL. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS HAPPENS TOO OFTEN TO THE 2002 CAMRY. THE STEERING COLUMN IS A TWO PIECE ROD THAT COULD TO CATASTROPHIC STEERING LOSS. I CONTACTED TOYOTA COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT AND THEY TOLD ME WAS THAT THEY HAD ISSUED A SERVICE CALL THAT ONLY INCLUDED GREASING THE SHAFT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10378019January 20, 2011POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON THE FREEWAY. INITIALLY HARD-SHIFTING, THEN LOSS OF POWER WHEN ACCELERATING TO PASS. MILES LATER WHILE CRUISING ON LEVEL GROUND ON THE FREEWAY, THE TRANSMISSION DISCONNECTED (FELT LIKE IT WENT TO NEUTRAL) AND I NEEDED TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY. TURNED OFF ENGINE, WAITED AND RE-STARTED CAR. USED A MERGING RAMP TO SAFELY MERGE BACK INTO TRAFFIC. TOYOTA DEALER TELLS ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LIKE "CHOCOLATE" AND THERE WERE CHUNKS OF METAL IN THE BOTTOM OF THE PAN. NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION ($3300-$4800). CAR WAS LAST SERVICED AT ANOTHER TOYOTA DEALER (WONDRIES IN ALHAMBRA, CA) 14,000 MILES AGO AND HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED AT THAT TIME. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10375300January 9, 2011ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2010, AT APPROXIMATELY 8:30 PM, (AZ-GMT) I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY SE 4-DR IN A ROAD CONSTRUCTION ZONE AT 15 MILES PER HOUR. I CAME TO A STOP AT A RED SIGNAL LIGHT WHEN I SMELLED THE ODOR OF AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. I STARTED CHECKING THE DASHBOARD FOR ANY WARNING LIGHTS ON, WHICH THERE WERE NONE LIT. A/C AND HEATER SWITCHES WERE IN THE OFF POSITION. AS THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I WENT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY. I STARTED LOOKING AROUND THE INTERIOR TO SEE IF SOMETHING WAS BURNING. AS I WAS CHECKING THE BACK SEAT, I SAW BLACK SMOKE BILLOWING OUT OF THE REAR BOTTOM OF THE CAR, THINKING THAT IT WAS SOMETHING BURNING IN THE TRUNK. I USED THE TRUNK LEVER TO OPEN IT, GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND NOTICED THAT NOTHING WAS BURNING THERE, AND WENT BACK TO THE DRIVERS DOOR. I THEN NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I REALIZED THAT THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RAN A SAFE DISTANCE AWAY FROM IT. I DIALED 911 TO REPORT THE FIRE. I WAS LESS THAN A HALF MILE FROM HOME AND CALLED MY HUSBAND, WHO RESPONDED IN LESS THAN 5 MINUTES WITH A LARGE FIRE EXTINGUISHER. HE DID NOT OPEN THE HOOD, BUT TRIED TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES FROM THE FRONT END, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE FIRE SPREAD RAPIDLY INTO THE FRONT SEAT AREA BEFORE THE FIRE DEPT ARRIVED. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TOYOTA AS IT WAS IN GOOD OPERATING CONDITION AND SERVICED REGULARLY. PREVIOUSLY THAT DAY, I HAD DRIVEN THE CAR APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES WITHOUT ANY ISSUES OR PROBLEMS. JUST BEFORE THE FIRE, I HAD DRIVEN THE CAR FOR APPROXIMATELY 4 MILES ON SURFACE STREETS AT 25 MILES PER HOUR. THE CAR WAS RUNNING JUST FINE, AND THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS OF PROBLEMS LIKE A LOSS OF POWER, AND NO WARNING LIGHTS HAD COME ON AT ALL. I WAS THE SECOND OWNER OF THE CAR. MY MOTHER BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW IN 2002 IN MESA, AZ FROM SUPERSTITION SPRINGS TOYOTA. THE CAR WAS ALWAYS MAINTAINED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10373980January 3, 2011VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON NOV. 11, 2010 WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 CAMRY, SUDDENLY THE ENGINE ACCELERATE, NOT BRAKES FUNCTION AT THAT TIME THEN I TOOK A SLOPE WERE VEHICLE FINALLY STOP AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF. CALL THE AUTO-DEALER FOR APPOINTMENT TO CHECK FAILURE. MEANWHILE ONLY VEHICLE PROBLEM WAS THE REVOLUTIONS (RPM), TOO LOW ON NOV. 24, 2010 TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE AUTO-DEALER WERE THE MECHANIC STATED, FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE THROTTLE. REPLACEMENT BY A NEW THROTTLE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10372061December 22, 2010VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY ACCELERATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10371178December 18, 2010ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE CAR ACCELERATES AT A HIGH RATE WITH LITTLE PRESSURE ON GAS. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN AT RANDOM TIMES WHEN THE CAR IS WARM. I COULD BE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT THEN HAVE IT HAPPEN WHEN THE LIGHT TURNS AND I STEP ON THE GAS. IT ALSO HAS HAPPENED WHEN ACCELERATING WHILE STILL MOVING IE: TAKING A CORNER WHILE SLOWING THEN STEPPING ON THE GAS ONCE I HAVE STRAIGHTENED OUT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10371324December 14, 2010VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
S10 DIRECT REPLY-LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM (2002 TOYOTA CAMRY SUDDEN ACCELERATION) *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE GEAR WAS PLACED IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND CONSEQUENTLY, THE CONSUMER CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. *JB UPDATED 01/20/11
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10365940November 16, 2010VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
STUCK ACCELERATOR PEDAL 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY SE 4 CYLINDER AUTOMATIC THAT HAS HAD THE ACCELERATOR STICK UNDER THE FLOOR MAT SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST WEEK. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PULL THE MAT OFF THE ACCELERATOR SO FAR. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10365702November 15, 2010VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED THAT SOMEONE WOULD GET BACK TO HER. UPDATED 1/19/2010 UPDATED 04/20/11
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10363521November 1, 2010LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH REAR DOORS DID NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK AUTOMATICALLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO OPEN THE FRONT DOORS TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE AND HAD TO MANUALLY LOCK THE REAR DOORS BEFORE EXITING. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT THE CONTACT COULD NOT REMEMBER WHAT THE DEALER SAID NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10362988October 30, 2010ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY HAD STALLED-ENGINE PROBLEM THESE YEARS. MOST OF THE PROBLEM HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR STOPPED AT THE TRAFFIC RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN AND WAITING AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS OR AT THE STOP SIGN, MY CAMRY CAR ENGINE ABRUPTLY CEASES OPERATING AND STOPS TURNING. I HAVE TO TURN THE KEY AND START THE ENGINE AGAIN. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED A LOT OF TIMES THESE YEARS AND GIVE ME A BIG TROUBLE WHEN A LOT OF OTHER CARS WAITING BEHIND ME. IT'S NOT SAFE AND BE DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THIS STALLED ENGINE PROBLEM JUST HAPPENED THIS MORNING WHEN I SENT MY SON TO THE BASEBALL GAME. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10363331October 29, 2010VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. APPROPRIATE HANDLING- LETTER FROM REGARDING TOYOTA'S RECALL INCLUDING THE 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED IN APRIL 2004, THE VEHICLE SURGED WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKE GOING DOWNHILL INTO A PARKING GARAGE. HE WAS ABLE TO STOP BY PUTTING THE GEAR IN PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. IN DECEMBER 2008, AS HE WAS COMING TO STOP IN A DRIVEWAY, SLIGHTLY DOWNHILL, THE VEHICLE SURGED AGAIN. HE HAD HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE IN PREPARATION TO COME TO A FULL STOP. THERE WAS NOT MUCH ROOM TO STOP, SO CONSEQUENTLY, THE CONSUMER CRASHED INTO A GARAGE AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO A PARK CAR. *JB
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10362035October 27, 2010VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- LETTER FROM REGARDING TOYOTA PROBLEM *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE AS WELL AS HER HUSBAND EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHICH RESULTED IN ACCIDENTS. THE FIRST ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, WHEN SUDDENLY SHE FOUND HERSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF HEAVY TRAFFIC AND SUBSEQUENTLY WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. SHE WAS CITED FOR FAILING TO YIELD. THE SECOND TIME, HER HUSBAND WAS STOPPING ON A SIDE STREET BEFORE ENTERING A MAIN STREET AND HE DISCOVERED HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND CONSEQUENTLY, HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE LAST ACCIDENT, THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND SHE CRASHED INTO HER GARAGE WALL CAUSING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE. THE CONSUMER STATED PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENTS. THERE WERE RARE OCCASIONS, AT ANTICIPATED STOPS WHEN SHE LIFTED HER FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR TO SLOW DOWN TO PLACE IT ON THE BRAKE, THE BRAKE WOULD NOT ENGAGE. INSTEAD OF SLOWING DOWN, THE VEHICLE WOULD LURCH AHEAD. *JB
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10362396October 26, 2010FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
VEHICLE DIES IN MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHEN IDLING. THIS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT A FEW DAYS BACK. I AM TOLD THIS IS THE FAILED THROTTLE BODY (APPARENTLY A DEFECTIVE PART) WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED ONCE ON MY VEHICLE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10362137October 24, 2010SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY WHICH HAS FAULTY BRAKES. EARLIER IN THE YEAR I WAS USING THIS CAR FOR LONG DISTANCES DUE TO SCHOOL AND WORK. I THOUGHT THIS CAR WOULD BE SAFER BECAUSE OF ITS LARGER BODY AND SMOOTHER DRIVE. I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES HAD A SLOW RESPONSE TIME AND THAT IF I HAD TO STOP HARD, I COULD END UP HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD TO DEAL WITH THE STOP AND GO OF RUSH HOUR EVERY DAY AND ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING MY FRIEND HOME AND THERE WAS A SUDDEN STOP IN TRAFFIC AND IF I HADN'T STOPPED IN THE EMERGENCY LANE TO STOP, I WOULD HAVE RAN INTO THE CAR IN THE FRONT OF ME. LATER, ON MY GRADUATION DAY FROM COLLEGE, MY FATHER WAS DRIVING THE CAR HOME AND THERE WAS A CAR TURNING LEFT IN THE ONCOMING LANE AND DUE TO THE BRAKES SLOW RESPONSE TIME WE ENDING UP HITTING THE CAR AT A SPEED THAT COULD HAVE BEEN CONTROLLED IF THE BRAKES HAD WORKED BETTER. BECAUSE OF THIS ACCIDENT I HAVE INJURIES THAT BOTHER ME STILL TO THIS DAY. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL TUNE-UPS AND BRAKE CHECKS TO SEE IF THEY ARE WORKING CORRECTLY AND HAVE NEVER HEARD ONCE THAT THE BRAKES HAVE AN ISSUE. I LOOKED ON A BLOG AND REALIZED THAT A LOT OF OTHER OWNERS OF 2002 CAMRY'S HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY HAVE GOTTEN THEM TIGHTENED AND CHECKED AND FEAR THAT AN ACCIDENT COULD OCCUR, WHICH IN MY CASE HAPPENED AND COULD HAVE BEEN EVEN WORSE IF WE WERE DRIVING AT AN EVER FASTER SPEED. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 3
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10360097October 12, 2010VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER STARTED THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD TO 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GARAGE AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE, PUSHING THE VEHICLE TWO FEET. THE DRIVER TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND GOT OUT. THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE ON THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE MELTED BECAUSE OF THE HEAT ACCUMULATED BECAUSE OF THE ACCELERATION. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 90,000.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10357634September 25, 2010ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO I STARTED EXPERIENCING A JERKING OF MY CAR AT ABOUT 40 MPH. MY CAR IS A 2002 CAMRY XLE V6. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD TWO TECH'S RIDE WITH ME AND THEY EXPERIENCED THE JERKING BUT COULDN'T DETERMINE WHAT IT WAS. NOW THE JERKING IS GETTING WORSE AND IS HAPPENING AT ALL SPEEDS. I HAVE ABOUT 111000 MILES ON THE CAR PRESENTLY. I HAVE HAD A FEW TIMES WHERE I THOUGHT THE CAR WAS GOING TO STOP COMPLETELY IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I CALLED TOYOTA'S NATIONAL OFFICE TO MAKE SURE MY DEALERSHIP HADN'T MISSED A RECALL OR SERVICE BULLETIN AND THE NATIONAL OFFICE SAID THERE WASN'T A RECALL OR SERVICE BULLETIN. HOWEVER, I HAVE FOUND MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET. THE NATIONAL OFFICE OFFERED TO CALL MY DEALERSHIP, WHICH THEY DID, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'LL DO FOR ME SINCE LAST TIME THEY TOLD ME UNTIL A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10356831September 21, 2010ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
2002 CAMRY WITH ONLY 50,586 MILES DRIVEN VERY EASY BY MY WIFE. VSC TRAC OFF LIGHTS COME ON AND STAY ON AFTER CAR IS IN MOTION WHICH I AM TOLD MEANS THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL IS NOT WORKING. IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS AM TOLD THIS CAN POSSIBLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR INJURY. TOOK CAR TO A TOYOTA DEALER AND AM TOLD IT NEEDS A SKID CONTROL ECU AND YAW RATE SENSOR AT A COST OF $2600 PLUS TAX. HAVE CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AND ALL THEY WILL DO IS CONTACT THE DEALER'S CUSTOMER RELATIONS PERSON TO SEE WHAT THEY ARE WILLING TO DO. I GUESS TOYOTA ISN'T WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE I HAVE HEARD THERE HAVE BEEN ISSUES WITH TOYOTA'S VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10356850September 21, 2010VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED THERE WAS AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE PROCEEDING VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE SCENE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,000.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0