2002 Toyota Camry Reliability
The 2002 Toyota Camry has 1,039 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about speed control / throttle and service brakes. Compared with nearby Camry model years (2000–2004), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Camry's typical year, while the 2001 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
1,039
NHTSA owner complaints
4
Recall campaigns
275
Complaints citing a crash
20
Complaints citing a fire
2002 Toyota Camry complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2002 model year, filed between 2001 and 2025. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Speed control / throttle | 295 | 28% |
| Service brakes | 185 | 18% |
| Engine & cooling | 112 | 11% |
| Air bags | 102 | 10% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 75 | 7% |
| Tires | 61 | 6% |
| Engine | 59 | 6% |
| Body structure | 57 | 5% |
2002 Toyota Camry recalls
4 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2002 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01V306000 | Sep 25, 2001 | Air bags — frontal | Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Incomplete deployment of the front passenger side air bag could occur in the event of a crash. |
| 01V302000 | Oct 1, 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… |
| 01V372000 | Dec 11, 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… |
| 04V346000 | Jul 13, 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. |
How the 2002 compares with nearby Camry years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Camry analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 530 | 4 | Speed control / throttle | Solid |
| 2001 | 330 | 4 | Speed control / throttle | Solid |
| 2002 (this page) | 1,039 | 4 | Speed control / throttle | Avoid |
| 2003 | 818 | 1 | Speed control / throttle | Caution |
| 2004 | 799 | 3 | Speed control / throttle | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2002 Toyota Camry
- Throttle and speed control: check for surging, hesitation or a reduced-power warning, and test cruise control.
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Engine & cooling: look for coolant leaks or low coolant, watch the temperature gauge on a long test drive, and check for overheating history.
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 4 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2002 Toyota Camry can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2002 Toyota Camry reliability FAQ
Is the 2002 Toyota Camry reliable?
The 2002 Toyota Camry has 1,039 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about speed control / throttle and service brakes. Compared with nearby Camry model years (2000–2004), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Camry's typical year, while the 2001 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2002 Toyota Camry problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2002 Toyota Camry are speed control / throttle (295), service brakes (185), engine & cooling (112), air bags (102). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2002 Toyota Camry have recalls?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2002 Toyota Camry, including 01V306000 (air bags — frontal) and 01V302000 (tires). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2002 Toyota Camry compare with the 2001 and 2003 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2001 has 330 complaints and 4 recalls (solid); the 2003 has 818 complaints and 1 recall (caution). The 2002 has 1,039 complaints and 4 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2002 Toyota Camry?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Toyota Camry research
Other Toyota Camry model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2002 Camry, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.