2002 Toyota Camry Recalls, Problems & Safety Rating

2002 Toyota Camry recalls

Most common 2002 Toyota Camry problems

Problem areas named in the 953 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.

Problem area	Reports
Vehicle Speed Control	282
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	151
Engine And Engine Cooling	110
Air Bags	91
Power Train	68
Structure	58
Engine	58
Tires	54
Steering	43
Electrical System	36

What owners report

2025-11-14, Air Bags
See attached document for complaint.

2025-08-18, Electrical System
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.

2024-08-29, Engine
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 lik

2024-06-27, Air Bags
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)

2023-09-27, Steering
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

2002 Toyota Camry questions

Does the 2002 Toyota Camry have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls for the 2002 Toyota Camry: Air Bags:Side/Window; Air Bags:Frontal; Tires; Air Bags:Frontal. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.

What are the most common problems with the 2002 Toyota Camry?

Based on 953 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Vehicle Speed Control (282), Service Brakes, Hydraulic (151), Engine And Engine Cooling (110).

How do I check if a recall on my 2002 Toyota Camry has been fixed?

Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.