Toyota Camry Complaints (2002)

953 consumer complaints on file.

#10144922December 11, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I STARTED THE CAR, AND I RELEASED THE BRAKE AND STARTED IN REVERSE. AFTER A FEW SECONDS, THE CAR SUDDENLY SPED UP TO ABOUT 45 MPH IN REVERSE. THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP EVEN AS I PRESSED THE BRAKE, AND IT THEN HIT TWO CARS. THAT IS WHEN IT STOPPED. I TRIED TO PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE TO GO BACK INTO THE PARKING SPACE, BUT IT JOLTED FORWARD AND SKIPPED TWO PARKING BUMPERS. AT THAT TIME, I HIT ANOTHER CAR. AT THAT POINT, I LEFT THE CAR ALONE SEEING AS THERE WAS SOMETHING CLEARLY WRONG. IN THE END, MY CAR SUSTAINED DAMAGED TO THE FRONT AND TO THE BACK TOTALING $10,111.60. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE DAMAGE TO THE THREE OTHER CARS, THE TOTALS OF DAMAGE OF WHICH I AM NOT AWARE OF ALTHOUGH THEY ARE CLAIMING MY INSURANCE. I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER HAVING CONDUCTED RESEARCH ON WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. I FOUND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN CLAIMS AGAINST TOYOTA FOR PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRONIC THROTTLE WHERE THERE IS A SUDDEN, INVOLUNTARY ACCELERATION. I SHOWED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ALL THE RESEARCH I HAD GATHERED FROM THE INTERNET. THE DEALER CHECKED THE CAR'S COMPUTER, AND THEY CLAIMED THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE OR WITH THE CAR'S COMPUTER. THEY CLAIMED THAT AIR POCKETS BETWEEN THE ACCELERATION AND THE BRAKE CAUSED THE PROBLEM. AS A RESULT, THEY FIXED THE STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO MY CAR, BUT THEY MAINTAINED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS, SPECIFICALLY THE THROTTLE, OF THE CAR. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144573December 6, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. UPON IMPACT, THE FRONT AND SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS HIT BROADSIDE ON THE PASSENGER'S DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AWAY FROM THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE IS NOW AT A BODY SHOP AWAITING REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND THE CONTACT WAS EXPECTING A RETURN PHONE CALL. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142695November 15, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT: CONTACT STATES WHILE HIS CAR WAS PARKED, HE PUT HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE IN ORDER TO SHIFT IT INTO DRIVE AND THE CAR ACCELERATED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO ACROSS TWO SIDEWALKS AND A HOSPITAL LAWN AND INTO TWO TREES. HE REPORTS HAVING NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. *JB UPDATED 12/7/2005 - *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142740November 15, 2005
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THE REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY GETS LODGED UNDER THE SEAT. THIS MAKES THE SEAT BELT INOPERATIVE. THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED HIM TO CONNECT THE SEAT BELT WHEN NOT IN USE, SO THE BUCKLE WILL NOT GO UNDER THE SEAT. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND NO CORRECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141917November 7, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. WHEN PUTTING THE FOOT ON THE BRAKES TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN AND TO COME TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED IT CAUSED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERS NOW. AT THIS POINT THE DEALER IS NOT SURE WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142117November 2, 2005
CHILD SEAT:BASE
CHILD SAFETY SEAT MOLDING HOLDING BAR IN PLACE IS LOOSE. *TS WHEN DISENGAGING THE BASE, THE METAL ROD NEEDED TO BE PULLED OUT. THIS REQUIRED A MOLDED PLASTIC TAB ON ONE SIDE TO BE PUSHED TO THE SIDE ALLOWING THE ROD TO SLIP OUT OF THE BASE. THE ROD WAS FREE MOVING WITH NO MOLDING OR OTHER MEANS TO REMAIN IN PLACE. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139983October 17, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE. PIECE IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND JUST BROKE, DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE, PASSENGER CANNOT EXIT THE VEHICLE. SPOKE WITH DEALER, CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, PART CAN BE REPAIRED AT OWNERS EXPENSE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139632October 13, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
BRAKES WERE UNABLE TO BRING CAR TO A STOP, INSTEAD THE CAR ACCELERATED. CAR FINALLY CAME TO A STOP AFTER CRASHING INTO THE HOUSE. CAR WAS DAMAGED AND THE BODY AND FENDERS OF THE CAR WERE REPAIRED BUT NOTHING WAS REPAIRED WHICH LED TO THIS OCCURRENCE IN REGARDS TO THE MECHANICS OF THE CAR. IN ADDITION AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON IMPACT.*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10139332October 11, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT
I HAVE A 2002 CAMRY AND THERE IS A KNOCKING SOUND WHEN MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS. I'VE NOTICED SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT ARE SIMILAR, SO THIS MUST BE A DEFECT WITH THE CAR. I WAS TOLD THAT MY STRUTS AND MOUNTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED - ALONG WITH MY BRAKES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139151October 9, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, EQUIPMENT
SEVERE VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEN BRAKES APPLIED 20+ MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. BROUGHT TO DEALER, DEFORMED ROTORS, MACHINED FRONT DISC BRAKES & REPLACED PADS. WHEN BRAKING AFTER THIS, VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. 24 MONTHS LATER HAD SAME SEVERE VIBRATION/BRAKES AGAIN. RESEARCHED COMPLAINTS NHTSA SITE..MANY HAVE SAME COMPLAINT TO DEALER AGAIN & THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME $99 TO DIAGNOSE. I SAID NO & THE MGR STEVE SAID WE DON'T CHARGE THAT FEE FOR BRAKES. I ADVISED I KNEW OF TSB'S ISSUED FOR THIS CAR & SHOULDN'T HAVE SAME PROBLEM FROM 2 YRS AGO. HE SAID ONLY 1 YR WARRANTY ON PREV WORK, BUT HE WOULD TAKE A LOOK. HE SAID MY ROTORS WERE WARPED & COULD NOT BE MACHINED AGAIN, ONLY REPLACED, HOWEVER BRAKE PADS ARE REPLACED WHEN THEY ARE 2 ML & MINE WERE AT 7-8, & SAFE SO EITHER REPLACE ROTORS & PADS $469 LIVE W/ VIBRATION UNTIL PADS WORN DOWN TO 2 ML THEN DO BRAKE JOBE. I ADVISED I KNEW OF TSB'S FOR THIS PROBLEM & HE SAID HE ALREADY CHECKED & THERE AREN'T. I SAID CHECK AGAIN & AFTER WAITING TOLD ME THERE WAS A TSB BUT IT HAD EXPIRED BUT IN AN ACT OF "GOOD WILL" HE WOULD ORDER THE PART AND DO THE REPAIR TO BOTH FRONT BRAKES FREE. I MADE AN APPT & WENT FOR REPAIR. REPAIR ORDER SAID ONLY ONE SIDE ROTOR AND PAD REPLACED. NOW WHEN I APPROACH HGWY SPEED OF 60-65 MPH, STEERING WHEEL SHIMMIES. PEOPLE ARE HAVING ACCIDENTS DUE TO THESE BRAKE PROBLEMS ACCORDING TO NHTSA COMPLAINTS & NOTHING IS BEING DONE! I WORRY SOMEONE WILL BE HURT BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM IS NOT DEEMED WORTHY OF A RECALL. THE DESIGN OF THE BRAKES IS A PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138200September 30, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 75,000 MILES EVEN THOUGH IT WAS SERVICED AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS FLUSHED AT 30,000 AND 60,000. THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP ON THE FREEWAY DOING 70 MILES AN HOUR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137905September 27, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH 42,608 MILES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON YESTERDAY. TODAY I HAD THE CHARCOAL CANISTER, HOSE AND VACUUM SEALED VALVE REPLACED AT GREAT COST. NOW I HAVE READ THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE 96-98 CAMRY'S AND THAT THE EPA REQUIRED TOYOTA TO EXTEND THE EMISSIONS WARRANTY TO 14/150000. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10134645September 23, 2005
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE PLASTIC DOOR OPENING LEVER ON THE INSIDE AT THE RIGHT CORNER OF THE DRIVER'S DOOR BROKE OFF, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR WITHOUT LOWERING THE WINDOW AND REACHING THE OUTSIDE HANDLE OF THE DOOR TO OPEN THE DOOR. THIS WAS AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM , AND DID NOT RELATE TO THE MILEAGE OF THE CAR. THE CONTACT FELT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. IF HE HAD AN ACCIDENT AND THE POWER WAS OFF HE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THE WINDOW DOWN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137358September 22, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM IS ENTIRELY TOO SENSITIVE. THE BRAKE SYSTEM KICKS IN AT SPEEDS BELOW TWENTY, ON DRY UNEVEN PAVEMENT, IRON GRATES AND ANY SOUGHT OF BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE HAS ALMOST RESULTED IN NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS. WAS TOLD BY A SALESMEN THIS IS A PROBLEM ON 2002 CAMRY'S. HAVE HAD BRAKES CHECKED ON NUMEROUS OCCASION BY TOYOTA SERVICE TECHNICIANS BUT NO PROBLEM IS EVER FOUND. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137007September 19, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
I WAS DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY SOUTH BOUND ON I-5 WHEN WE EXITED THE FREEWAY AND PULLED INTO THE TILLICUM CHEVRON STATION. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON BUT DISENGAGED. I TURNED RIGHT INTO A PARKING SPOT AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED (3 TO 5 MPH). I WAS ALMOST AT A COMPLETE STOP AND HAD JUST ENOUGH TIME TO REALIZE THAT I COULD NOT STOP!!! I COULD HEAR THE CAR'S ENGINE ROAR AND A MOMENT LATER FOUND THAT I HAD DRIVEN OVER A CONCRETE CURB, UP A TWO FOOT CONCRETE RETAINING WALL, AND THROUGH A CHAIN-LINK FENCE. I DON'T KNOW HOW A CAR COULD DO THIS!! THE TOTAL SPACE FOR THIS TO HAPPEN WAS ONLY ABOUT 3 LINEAR FEET!! I WAS NOT PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR!! THERE WAS INDEED AN ACCELERATION SURGE IN MY 2002 CAMRY V6. THE CAR STOPPED, STRADDLING THE CONCRETE WALL, THE FRONT DRIVE WHEELS WERE OFF THE GROUND. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND ASKED THE MECHANIC ON-SITE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON THE 2002 CAMRY. I SWEAR THIS IS THE VERY FIRST THING I SAID BECAUSE I KNEW THAT I DID NOT CAUSE THE ACCIDENT. THE ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECT IN THE TOYOTA CAMRY. A TOW TRUCK REMOVED MY VEHICLE FORM THE RETAINING WALL. I THEN DROVE THE CAR DIRECTLY TO THE TITUS-WILL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AND INDICATED IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. DAMAGE TO THE CAR INCLUDED THE FRONT BUMPER, SEVERAL MAJOR SCRATCHES, AND SEVERAL SMALL DENTS. I EXPLAINED THAT WE WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY AND ASKED ABOUT RECALLS. THEY INDICATED THAT THERE WERE NONE FOR MY VEHICLE. THEY DID ADMIT AFTER SOME QUESTIONING THAT THEY WOULD NOT KNOW HOW MANY TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE DEALERSHIPS DO NOT SHARE INFORMATION AND TOYOTA CORPORATE DOES NOT SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH THE DEALERSHIPS. THE YOUNG LADY (EMPLOYEE) AT THE PAYMENT DESK VOLUNTEERED THAT SHE HAD ALSO HAD UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION WITH HER TOYOTA CAMRY. I REQUEST THAT A FORMAL INVESTIGATION BE LAUNCHED AND A RECALL PLACED FOR 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY'S. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136110September 10, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK
THE TRUNK RELEASE ON THIS CAR FAILED. THIS IS BAD ENOUGH, BUT WHEN IT FAILS THE EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE THAT IS LOCATED IN THE TRUNK NO LONGER FUNCTIONS EITHER. IF A CHILD GETS TRAPPED IN THE TRUNK, THEY PROBABLY WON'T BE ABLE TO GET OUT. SINCE I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN, I AM REALLY CONCERNED. I CALLED A TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRUNK RELEASE IS REPAIRED FAIRLY OFTEN. I WAS TOLD THEY HAVE TO TAKE THE TRUNK APART TO GET ACCESS TO REPAIR THE PART. I WOULD SAY THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. I AM AWARE OF THE TRUNK LOCK FEATURE THAT PREVENTS ACCESS TO THE TRUNK UNLESS YOU HAVE A KEY. REGARDLESS OF THIS FEATURE, THE TRUNK SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE TO PREVENT POSSIBLE DEATH TO SMALL CHILDREN. THIS HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135454September 6, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2ND TIME IN A YEAR THAT MY 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY ACCELERATED AND JUMPED THE CURB. THIS TIME THE CAR HIS ANOTHER VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS INJURED. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10134195August 25, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
TERRIBLE SMELL FROM HEAT/AIR VENTS,KIDS HAVE ASTHMA AND CAN'T STAND THE SMELL, TOYOTA DEALER JUST SPRAYED VENTS AND POURED FRESHNER IN OUTSIDE VENT, PROBLEM KEPT COMING BACK AND POLLEN FILTER KEPT PLUGGING, NOTHING DONE TO CORRECT IT, NOW IN 2005 MY WATER PUMP WENT BAD. I KNOW THAT THE SMELL IS SOME KIND OF MILDEW OR MOLD FROM SOMETHING NOT BEING FIXED, WHICH COULD LEAD TO SEVERE HEALTH CONDITIONS!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133172August 17, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
1) FRONT BRAKES KEEP GOING BAD 4 TIMES IN 25,000 MILES 2) WARPING OF THE DISC BAD VIBRATION 3) KEEP REPLACING FRONT ROTORS AND PADS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132683August 13, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
2002 TOYOTA CAMRY LE-WHILE ON VACATION ON 8/3/2005, I ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR AND THE HANDLE CRACKED. I COULD NOT EXIT THE CAR FROM THE INTERIOR CABIN. SOMEONE HAD TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE, OR I HAD TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW AND OPEN THE DOOR MYSELF. UPON RETURNING HOME, MY 6 YEAR OLD SON ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR. THAT DOOR HANDLE CRACKED IN THE EXACT SAME PLACE. THIS POSES A SAFETY ISSUE IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY IN THAT WE ARE UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE FROM THE INTERIOR CABIN OF ON THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE. I PLACED A CALL TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND ADVISED THERE MUST BE SOME DEFECT ON THE DOOR HANDLES OF MY CAR. I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD CHARGE ME $41.00 TO COME IN AND DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. I SUBSEQUENTLY CALLED THE CONSUMER HEADQUARTERS FOR TOYOTA AND ADVISED OF THE PROBLEM AND OBTAINED A CASE NUMBER. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO NATIONAL RECALL AND I SHOULD CONTACT THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS MANAGER AT THE DEALER. THIS PERSON TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE THE CAR "WAS SO FAR OUT OF WARRANTY," THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I DO HAVE 95,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND IT IS 3 YEARS AND 5 MONTHS OLD. I AGAIN CONTACTED THE HEADQUARTERS FOR TOYOTA AND EXPLAINED THAT THE MILEAGE ON THE CAR HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE DOOR HANDLES. I WAS TOLD THAT THE MILEAGE SHOWED THAT IT WAS "FULLY USED." I NOTED THAT BOTH OF THE HANDLES BROKE OFF WITHIN 8 DAYS OF EACH OTHER IN THE SAME PLACE. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS A SIGN THAT IT WAS RELATED TO THE WAY THE CONSUMER USED THE DEVICE. I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REPAIR BOTH HANDLES AT MY OWN EXPENSE. I DO FEEL THIS IS A DEFECT AND I SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. PLEASE PROVIDE ME WITH ANY DATA YOU HAVE ON THIS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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