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#BS-2002-TOYCAM-4C00

2002 Toyota CamryProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 1,183 owners and 4 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·checked October 30, 2026 · NHTSA complaints through October 28, 2026

Complaints
1,183
Crashes
324
Fires
24
Recalls
4
TSBs
194
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 1,183 complaints, 324 crashes, 24 fires, and 4 recalls. Complaint rate is 8.7x the class average.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

stripped head bolts

38 complaints • Severity 9.5/10

$X,XXX
2

transmission failure

35 complaints • Severity 8.9/10

$X,XXX
3

abnormally long braking distance

12 complaints • Severity 8.3/10

$X,XXX
4

shifting gears gives an unbearable jerk

8 complaints • Severity 6.5/10

$X,XXX
5

tires wear out prematurely

8 complaints • Severity 9/10

$X,XXX

Preview: What's in your full report

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the Speed ControlHIGH

243 owners reported speed control issues — failures commonly reported around 50K miles.

!Inspect the EngineMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

265
0–30K
171
30–60K
110
60–90K
93
90–120K
63
120–150K
64
150K+

Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (265 reports) • Median: 50K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Speed Control (243 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Speed Control243 (21%)
Engine98 (8%)
Brakes76 (6%)
Airbags57 (5%)
Wheels & Tires49 (4%)
Power Train:automatic Transmission43 (4%)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip40 (3%)
Fuel System35 (3%)

2002 Toyota Camry: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Speed Control Issues

Speed Control complaints account for 21% of all reports filed for the 2002 Toyota Camry, with 243 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 50,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 50K-mile mark.

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 8% of all reports filed for the 2002 Toyota Camry, with 98 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Brakes Issues

Brakes complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 2002 Toyota Camry, with 76 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to brakes-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Airbags Issues

Airbags complaints account for 5% of all reports filed for the 2002 Toyota Camry, with 57 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to airbags-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

10
01
120
02
150
03
207
04
75
05
52
06
26
07
34
08
49
09
186
10
38
11
23
12
42
13
32
14
38
15
22
16
15
17
11
18
22
19
8
20
5
21
3
22
9
23
4
24
2
25

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2002 Toyota Camry. Recent trend: decreasing.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (4 recalls)

01V302000Sep 2001

TIRES

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL TOURING TIRES, P205-65R15 92S, INSTALLED AT THE PORTS IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA. THE INCORRECT TIRES WERE INSTALLED ON VEHICLES THAT HAD DAMAGED TIRES. THE TIRES WERE DAMAGED DURING A PORT UPGRADE TO ALUMINUM WHEELS.

01V306000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. INCOMPLETE DEPLOYMENT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG COULD OCCUR IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

01V372000Dec 2001

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A THREE-SPOKE STYLE STEERING WHEEL. DURING AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE BOTTOM SEAM OF THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG MODULE COVER (HORN PAD) COULD BE TORN AWAY ALLOWING THE BOTTOM PORTION OF THE COVER TO COMPLETELY DETACH FROM THE AIR BAG MODULE.

04V346000Aug 2004

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CURTAIN SHIELD AIR BAGS (CSA), ONE OR BOTH OF THE CURTAIN AIR BAGS MAY BE TWISTED NEAR THE INFLATOR DUE TO IMPROPER ASSEMBLY.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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NHTSA Defect Investigations (4)

All closed. Investigations are how NHTSA decides whether a defect needs a recall.

DP05002ClosedOpened Aug 2005 · closed Jan 2006

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

DP06003ClosedOpened Sep 2006 · closed Apr 2007

ENGINE SURGING

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

PE02079ClosedOpened Oct 2002 · closed Mar 2003

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

PE04021ClosedOpened Mar 2004 · closed Jul 2004

THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

The worst model year for the Toyota Camry is the 2008 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.

2002 Toyota Camry vs. Class Average (Subcompact Cars)

This vehicle

1,183

Class avg

135

8.7x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical subcompact cars vehicles.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 1,183 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 4 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated (checked October 30, 2026). NHTSA complaints received through October 28, 2026.

Other Toyota Camry Model Years

2025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998199719961995199419931992199119901989198819871986198519841983
View all Toyota Camry years →

2002 Toyota Camry: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2002 Toyota Camry?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2002 Toyota Camry is related to the speed control, with 243 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2002 Toyota Camry reliable?
The 2002 Toyota Camry has 1,183 complaints, 324 crash reports, and 24 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is 8.7x the class average — higher than typical for its segment.
How much does it cost to fix 2002 Toyota Camry problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2002 Toyota Camry have any recalls?
Yes, the 2002 Toyota Camry has 4 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Toyota Camry problems start?
Based on 766 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 50,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 0–30K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2002 Toyota Camry data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 30, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 28, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins. Its numbers last changed on October 4, 2026.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 1,183 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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