NHTSA vehicle safety data

2002 Toyota Camry Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2002 Toyota Camry has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 952 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Toyota dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2002 Toyota Camry, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2002 Toyota Camry owner complaints

Owners have filed 952 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Toyota Camry, describing incidents dated January 1, 2001 to October 30, 2025.

Most-cited components

Vehicle Speed Control 281 complaints
Service Brakes 173 complaints
Engine 165 complaints
Air Bags 89 complaints
Power Train 66 complaints
Structure 55 complaints

Of the 952 complaints on file, 252 report a crash and 20 a fire; across all 952 complaints, owners report 135 injuries and 12 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11699360 · Filed November 14, 2025
See attached document for complaint.
ODI #11681457 · Filed August 18, 2025
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2002 Toyota Camry. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 127,000. It was later discovered that the mileage on the Title was 283,000.
ODI #11611504 · Filed August 29, 2024
Toyota dealer contacted me; said my car will cost $15000 to fix. He said people at Toyota who has my exact car costed $15000 to fix! it’s known in automotive circles this year make model & engine size has this factory defect of the rear head studs stripping out and becoming loose. This causes…

Read all 952 complaints

Owner-reported

2002 Toyota Camry mileage at failure

599 of the 952 complaints on file for the 2002 Toyota Camry give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Component	Median	Middle half	Based on
Vehicle Speed Control	Median 40,000 miles	Middle half 20,000–75,000 miles	Based on 196 complaints
Engine	Median 100,000 miles	Middle half 65,000–135,000 miles	Based on 119 complaints
Air Bags	Median 60,000 miles	Middle half 25,000–135,000 miles	Based on 48 complaints
Structure	Median 65,000 miles	Middle half 25,000–120,000 miles	Based on 31 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Complaints received before December 15, 2002 rarely give a mileage, so they aren't counted here.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2002 Toyota Camry in 4 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Defect Petition DP06-003: ENGINE SURGING
Closed April 3, 2007
Defect Petition DP05-002: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Closed January 5, 2006
Preliminary Evaluation PE04-021: THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM
Closed July 22, 2004
Preliminary Evaluation PE02-079: ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE
Closed March 18, 2003

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

TOYOTA/CURTAIN SHIELD AIRBAG

NHTSA #04V346000 · Air Bags — Side/Window · NHTSA notice

Reported July 13, 2004 · TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Potentially affected: 128,316 vehicles

Owners notified August 6, 2004 · Vehicles built October 22, 2001 – February 10, 2004 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

IF THIS OCCURS, THE CSA MAY NOT DEPLOY RAPIDLY ENOUGH WHEN ACTIVATED IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION. THIS MAY RESULT IN FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE INTENDED HEAD PROTECTION, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE CSAS AND REPLACE THE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 6, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

Notes

CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

TOYOTA/AIR BAG

NHTSA #01V372000 · Air Bags — Frontal · NHTSA notice

Reported December 11, 2001 · TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Potentially affected: 19,587 vehicles

Owners notified December 28, 2001 · Vehicles built July 10, 2001 – November 23, 2001 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

IF THIS SHOULD OCCUR, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE DETACHED BOTTOM PORTION MAY STRIKE THE DRIVER CAUSING PERSONAL INJURY.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 28, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 OR LEXUS AT 1-888-333-9376.

Notes

ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

SOUTHEAST TOYOTA/TIRES

NHTSA #01V302000 · Tires · NHTSA notice

Reported October 1, 2001 · SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS

Potentially affected: 19 vehicles

Owners notified September 13, 2001

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

THE TIRES DO NOT CONFORM TO THE SPEED RATING FOR THE VEHICLE. IF THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED THE MAXIMUM SPEED RATING (112 MPH), POSSIBLE TIRE FAILURE COULD OCCUR.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE ALL FIVE TIRES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 13, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.

Notes

ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

TOYOTA/AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT

NHTSA #01V306000 · Air Bags — Frontal · NHTSA notice

Reported September 25, 2001 · TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Potentially affected: 2 vehicles

Vehicles built August 8, 2001 – August 13, 2001 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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

Safety consequence

UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURY.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY. BOTH OWNERS WERE NOTIFIED BY TELEPHONE AND ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. THIS CAMPAIGN IS 100% COMPLETED. BOTH OWNERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED AND THEIR VEHICLES REPAIRED.

Notes

BOTH OWNERS WERE NOTIFIED BY TELEPHONE.NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS REQUIRED.

2002 Toyota Camry 4-DR.

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 5, Passenger: 4

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 2, Passenger: 5

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

4 investigations

952 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2002 Toyota Camry.

Air Bags

ODI #11699360

Incident: October 30, 2025 · Filed: November 14, 2025

See attached document for complaint.

Electrical System

ODI #11681457

Incident: August 18, 2025 · Filed: August 18, 2025

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2002 Toyota Camry. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 127,000. It was later discovered that the mileage on the Title was 283,000.

Engine

ODI #11611504

Incident: May 24, 2024 · Filed: August 29, 2024

Toyota dealer contacted me; said my car will cost $15000 to fix. He said people at Toyota who has my exact car costed $15000 to fix! it’s known in automotive circles this year make model & engine size has this factory defect of the rear head studs stripping out and becoming loose. This causes combustion failure of the head gasket and engine block. The cylinder heads will be warped & cracked. Engine won’t hold coolant! Gauge jumps to H after brief attempt at combustion. Replacing the head g. Cylinder heads or engine block is insufficient due to the factory defect . only a total engine replacement has worked for past owners at $15000 if Toyota dies it. A mechanic said if u can fine like a 2006 lower miles engine & get mechanic to instal maybe $2000, that’s $4000. Bridgetown automotive in my area said at the very minimum in a discounted price it will be $8000. He said only a totally rebuilt engine or a new one put in will work. I’m seeking Toyota to give me a new car that doesn’t have this issue. People posting at blogs said they spent the $2200 to disassemble their engines as the auto places told them it was definitely their head gaskets causing coolant. once opened though, it was found their head gaskets were fine. The issue was , from factory, the head studs had stripped out and were loose. This, according to engine experts is total engine failure. Only replacing everything can fix this.

Electrical System; Air Bags; Engine

ODI #11597202

Incident: February 16, 2024 · Filed: June 27, 2024

The components or systems that have failed are (Catalytic Converter, Exhaust Manifold, Air Bag Control Module, Engine including head gasket) My safety is at risk due to catalytic converter not functioning properly producing harmful carbon monoxide that can be smelled through air vents, Air bag control module not functioning which will not able to initiate the deployment of airbag in the event of a wreck/accident could lead to fatality. Engine not functioning properly due to blown head gasket which could lead to overheating amongst other things. Vehicle has been inspected by Dealership. Yes there are warning lights prior to failure (Check engine light)

Steering; Engine

ODI #11546975

Fire

Incident: March 1, 2021 · Filed: September 27, 2023

The contact owned a 2002 Toyota Camry. The contact stated while driving at approximately 65 MPH the steering wheel had seized up and the vehicle had begun to lose forward momentum. The contact heard an abnormal "popping" sound at the moment the steering had stopped functionality. The contact stated she was not aware of any warning lights. The contact pulled off of the roadway and stopped, as she placed the vehicle in park (P) she noted smoke coming from the front. The contact stated she exited the vehicle and saw that there were flames from under the vehicle. The contact stated that after about 2 to 3 minutes the entire front of the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The fire department arrived on the scene and extinguished the flames using foam and other chemicals. The police were also on scene and filed a report. The vehicle was towed away to an impound lot. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

Visibility

ODI #11532845

1 injury

Incident: July 15, 2023 · Filed: July 17, 2023

The contact owns a 2002 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while parked, the sunroof shattered from the center of the glass. The contact stated that because of the failure, the contact was treated for a concussion. The contact stated that there was no impact on the sunroof prior to the failure. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic to be inspected. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.

Seat Belts

ODI #11523375

Incident: March 10, 2023 · Filed: May 23, 2023

The drivers side seat belt even tho put in the position of “locked in” it comes out or doesn’t latch at all.

Electrical System

ODI #11516424

Fire

Incident: April 10, 2023 · Filed: April 10, 2023

The electrical/switch inside the passenger side door caught on fire, with out warning, while driving. There was a passenger in the vehicle at the time. Driver pulled over when smoke was visible. Flames were soon visible, driver poured water on the flames in effort to extinguish the fire. Flames were reduced but the door began to melt and the window shattered. Emergency services arrived at the scene shortly after calling 911. State police, fire, and ambulance arrived shortly after. Thankfully there were no injuries. The insurance was also called and a claim was filed. An adjuster was assigned to the claim to inspect the cause of the fire. After reading numerous reports of the same incident it sounds like this is a known issue that Toyota has not taken responsibility for. Serious injury could have occurred to the driver and passenger if quick action was not taken.

Electrical System; Engine; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11501977

Incident: December 20, 2022 · Filed: January 16, 2023

I was sold an bad car

Air Bags

ODI #11501050

Incident: May 15, 2022 · Filed: January 10, 2023

My passenger side dash airbag is bloating and tearing at the seam. It is available for inspection. I am concerned that it will continue to add pressure and eventually deploy. It seems unsafe for passengers -would it work properly in the case of an accident? And for myself as the driver, it would certainly startle me while driving if it deployed by itself. I took it in to get serviced and was told it would need to be replaced. The cost will be around $1600. I haven’t had my insurance inspect it, is that something that is recommended? I tried to contact Toyota but never heard back. I don’t have any warning lights on, and I noticed the issue starting in the past year. I have found threads of other Toyota Camry in the same car age range with owners that are having/had the same issue. These threads mentioned it happening around 40,000 miles, and that aligns with my car too. - I also have a friend that has the same issue with her Camry airbag!

Other Toyota Camry model years

Check your 2002 Toyota Camry VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Toyota Camry at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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