2002 Toyota Camry Problems

High Complaint Volume

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2002 Toyota Camry. Part of Generation 5 (XV30) — 2002–2006.

20012003
Complaints
1,183
Crashes
324
Fires
24
Injuries
173
Fatalities
15
Recalls
0

Worst 2002 Toyota Camry Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1243 complaints

Unintended Acceleration

Avg mileage:52,635 mi
Crash-related:134
Fires:2
#261 complaints

Hydraulic Brakes

Avg mileage:34,131 mi
Crash-related:13
#358 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:122,174 mi
Crash-related:5
Fires:5
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 Toyota Camry.

Unintended Acceleration
243
complaints
Crashes
134
Fires
2
Avg Miles
52,635
Hydraulic Brakes
61
complaints
Crashes
13
Fires
—
Avg Miles
34,131
Engine Problems
58
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
5
Avg Miles
122,174
Airbags
57
complaints
Crashes
32
Fires
—
Avg Miles
110,887
Tire Defects
46
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
27,886
Automatic Transmission
43
complaints
Crashes
6
Fires
—
Avg Miles
49,145
Engine & Cooling
40
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
3
Avg Miles
79,732
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
40
complaints
Crashes
9
Fires
—
Avg Miles
22,928
Steering Defects
33
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
1
Avg Miles
74,994
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
30
complaints
Crashes
16
Fires
1
Avg Miles
28,377
Air Bags:Frontal
27
complaints
Crashes
22
Fires
—
Avg Miles
22,510
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
27
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
95,009
Electrical Faults
26
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
4
Avg Miles
75,255
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
22
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
50,068
Body Structure
21
complaints
Crashes
12
Fires
—
Avg Miles
80,921
Suspension Failures
19
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
44,666
Gasoline Fuel System
18
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
66,848
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
16
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
96,333
Transmission / Drivetrain
15
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
88,166
Brakes
15
complaints
Crashes
9
Fires
1
Avg Miles
102,126
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
13
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
11,000
Structural Problems
12
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
50,761
Structure:Body:Door
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
31,475
Fuel System
10
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
85,440
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
9,831
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages
10
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
17,312
Structure:Body:Door:Hinge And Attachments
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
57,223
Suspension:Front
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
15,487
Service Brakes, Electric
8
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
87,905

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 Toyota Camry. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Other Toyota Camry Years

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2002 Toyota Camry — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2002 Toyota Camry reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 2002 Toyota Camry has 1,183 NHTSA complaints, 324 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Unintended Acceleration with 243 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2002 Toyota Camry?
Top reported problems: Unintended Acceleration (243 complaints, avg 52,635 mi); Hydraulic Brakes (61 complaints, avg 34,131 mi); Engine Problems (58 complaints, avg 122,174 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2002 Toyota Camry?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 60,084 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2002 Toyota Camry?
NHTSA complaints for the 2002 Toyota Camry include 324 crash-related reports, 24 fire reports, 173 injuries, and 15 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2002 Toyota Camry have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2002 Toyota Camry as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 2002 Toyota Camry?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (unintended acceleration) and verify open recalls have been addressed.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Toyota Camry reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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