Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | |||||
| SB-0015-11 | 03/02/2011 | 10037592 | Toyota: there may be damaged cylinder head bolts threads. *rm | 05/26/2011 | |
| SB-0015-11 | 03/02/2011 | 10037592 | Ready | 05/26/2011 | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - RADIATOR ASSEMBLY | |||||
| EG00502 | 02/22/2002 | 629429 | Information regarding replacement of radiator for towing. *yh | 04/02/2002 | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE | |||||
| TSB-0064-10 | 02/04/2010 | 10034284 | Toyota: techstream ecu flash reprogramming procedure. flash reprogramming allows the ecu software to be updated without replacing the ecu. flash calibration updates for specific vehicle models/ecus are released as field-fix procedures de | 11/01/2010 | |
| TSB-0072-10 | 02/10/2010 | 10034197 | Toyota: engine conrol. some vehicles may exhibit a mil on condition with diagnostic trouble code (dtc) p0500-vehicle speed sensor a. the engine control module/ecm (sae term: powertrain controls module /pcm) logic has been modified to redu | 10/25/2010 | |
| 01507 | 04/06/2007 | 10021542 | 2az-fe engine block. *kb | 05/14/2007 | |
| 02206 | 04/11/2006 | 10020014 | M.i.l. on dtc p0440, p0441, p0442, p0446, and/or p0456 - fuel filler tube improvement. *tt | 05/23/2006 | |
| 01304 | 05/24/2004 | 01304 | 10015807 | Excessive sulfur dioxide odor on vehicles equipped with the 2az-fe engine when stop and go driving and/or heavy acceleration. *tt | 08/12/2005 |
| 04004 | 09/08/2004 | 10010160 | Accessory drive belt squeal/ belt tensioner rattle. *nm | 11/04/2004 | |
| 03704 | 09/03/2004 | 10010021 | Engine bank 1 and bank 2 a/f and 02 identification. various toyota models. *tt | 11/03/2004 | |
| 02404 | 07/01/2004 | 02404R | 10009703 | Malfunction indicator lamp on with diagnostic trouble code p0420. *tt | 10/15/2004 |
| 01104 | 05/13/2004 | 01104 | 10007648 | Excessive sulfur dioxide odor. *tt update. *tt | 07/07/2004 |
| 010104 | 01/01/2004 | 10006066 | 3.0l v6 supercharger (non vvti) application update. *tt | 04/14/2004 | |
| EG01303R | 09/29/2003 | EG01303 | 10004636 | Malfunction indicator lamp on with diagnostic trouble code p0440, p0441 and/or p0446 stored. *tt | 12/29/2003 |
| EG00102 | 10/30/2003 | EG00102 | 10004509 | Malfunction indicator lamp on with diagnostic trouble codes p1130, p1135, p1150 or p1155 as a result of an air fuel sensor. *tt | 12/17/2003 |
| EG01403 | 10/03/2003 | EG00102 | 10004510 | Malfunction indicator lamp on with diagnostic trouble code p1130, p1135, p1150 or p1155. *tt | 12/17/2003 |
| EG01303 | 09/29/2003 | 10003965 | Malfunction indicator lamp on with diagnostic trouble code p0440, p0441 and/or p0446 stored. *tt | 11/07/2003 | |
| 00703 | 05/05/2003 | 10001997 | Malfunction indicator lamp on condition with diagnostic trouble code p1349, indicating a variable valve timing (vvti) malfunction. *tt *jb | 07/31/2003 | |
| 02202 | 12/23/2002 | 10000659 | Triple shock (shudder) during the 2-3 up shift under light throttle acceleration. *tt | 03/26/2003 | |
| 00102 | 10/30/2002 | 00102 | 10000274 | Malfunction indicator lamp (mil) on with diagnostic trouble code p1130, p1135, p1150 or p1155. *tt | 02/21/2003 |
| EG00102 | 01/18/2002 | 628671 | Malfunction indicator lamp on with diagnostic trouble codes p1130, p1135, p1150 or p1155 as a result of an air fuel sensor. *tt | 03/19/2002 | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE | |||||
| EG01301 | 08/30/2002 | EG01702 | 634019 | Technicalinformation on u140e shift quality improvements. *tt | 09/26/2002 |
| EG01702 | 08/30/2002 | 634016 | Some vehicles equipped with the 1mz-fe engine may exhibit a surging during light throttle input at speeds between 38-42 mph with lock-up (l/u) on. *tt | 09/26/2002 | |
| 689 | 09/11/2001 | 625617 | Electronic message regarding shift quality feeling improvements on vehicles equipped with the 1mz-fe engine. *jg | 11/29/2001 | |
| EG01301 | 09/07/2001 | 625644 | Subject regarding u140e shift quality improvements. *jg | 11/29/2001 | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM | |||||
| NV00202 | 01/18/2002 | 628680 | Some vehicles may exhibit a rattling sound coming from the heat shield for the catalytic converter. *tt | 03/19/2002 | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | |||||
| 01804 | 06/03/2004 | 01804R | 10008384 | Intake manifold noise. *mj warranty information change. *tt | 07/29/2004 |
Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | ||||||
| PE02079 | TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. | 10/22/2002 | 03/18/2003 | ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE | ||
| Odi's data analysis found the fires rates to be consistently low and evenly distributed among six model years and six different engine configurations.odi examined a variety of root causes, those being detonation (resulting in oil pan puncture from connecting rod), starter fires, various fuel related fires, leaking oil filters, wiring issues, improper repairs and brake fluid leaks.none of the issues examined had reports that indicated a trend when normalized for populaton and exposure.see attached report for full details. | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | |||
| 12/30/2012 | 137000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota camry. the contact stated that the check engine warning lamp was illuminated. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the head bolts were stripped. as a result, the engine had to be either replaced or rebuilt. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was not included in any recalls. the vehicle was repaired. the vin was not available. the failure and current mileage was 137,000. | |||
| 12/30/2012 | 137000 | ||
| Tl - the contact owns a 2002 toyota camry. the contact stated that the check engine warning lamp was illuminated. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the head bolts were stripped. as a result, the engine had to be either replaced or rebuilt. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was not included in any recalls. the vehicle was repaired. the vin was not available. the failure and current mileage was 137,000. kmj | |||
| 12/30/2012 | 137000 | ||
| Tl - the contact owns a 2002 toyota camry. the contact stated that the check engine warning lamp illuminated. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. the technician diagnosed that the head bolts stripped and as a result, the engine has to be replaced or rebuild. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was not included on any recalls. the vehicle was repaired. the vin was not available. the failure and current mileage was 137,000. pm | |||
| 08/20/2012 | 110000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2002 toyota camry le. the contact stated that while driving approximately 60 mph, a clicking noise occurred when the accelerator pedal was depressed and the vehicle stalled. the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was no longer under warranty. the approximate failure was 110,000. pmb | |||
| 08/19/2011 | 175000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2002 toyota camry. the contact was driving 65 mph when smoked was emitted from the engine compartment and the vehicle stalled. the vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the cylinder head developed a cracked. the manufacturer was not contacted. the failure and the current mileage was 175,000. kmj | |||
| 08/19/2011 | 175000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2002 toyota camry. the contact stated while driving 65 mph when she notice smoking coming out the hood but the lever gauge of the temperature was normal. she pulled over to see why the smoking was coming out, when the vehicle shut down completely. the vehicle was towed to the dealer. the dealer stated that the head of the engine cracked. the manufacturer was not contacted. the failure and the current mileage was 175,000.jp | |||
| 07/09/2012 | 81000 | 1 | |
| I bought this car new in 2002 and have maintained it meticulously. the car overheated for the first time since i bought it on 7/9/12. when i took it to the shop on 7/11/12 for evaluation of the problem, i was told that the cylinder head bolts were defective, causing the car to lose coolant resulting in the overheating incident. the auto shop also told me that this is a design or manufacturing defect that is well known, but toyota refuses to recall these vehicles for repair. the cost of repair is approximately $2200.00 to $2400.00, if it can be repaired. if it cannot be repaired, the engine will have to be replaced at a much higher cost. i went on line to carcomplaints.com and found many other complaints of this same exact problem from other 2002 camry owners around the usa. *tr | |||
| 07/09/2012 | 81000 | ||
| I bought this car new in 2002 and have maintained it meticulously. the car overheated for the first time since i bought it on 7/9/12. when i took it to the shop on 7/11/12 for evaluation of the problem, i was told that the cylinder head bolts were defective, causing the car to lose coolant resulting in the overheating incident. the auto shop also told me that this is a design or manufacturing defect that is well known, but toyota refuses to recall these vehicles for repair. the cost of repair is approximately $2200.00 to $2400.00, if it can be repaired. if it cannot be repaired, the engine will have to be replaced at a much higher cost. i went on line to carcomplaints.com and found many other complaints of this same exact problem from other 2002 camry owners around the usa. | |||
| 06/15/2012 | 211387 | ||
| My 2002 camry had no issues until at about 211,000 miles when antifreeze started to leak from back of engine. after mechanic inspected, he said water had gotten into head gasket. when he tried to remove bolts we noticed three back bolts were loose already and thread was stripped. after having head gasket cleaned and repaired this repair guy said there wasn't anything wrong with head itself. all he did was inspect, clean, and sand it. he did say it is a common problem he encounters with toyota's. the only repair he says will work is to have engine block removed and he will rethread all the holes with different material to make sure it doesn't happen again. none of this is a sure fix because it could still fail, the only sure way is to buy a new engine, but if toyota makes defective head gaskets, this will happen again. i have always swore by toyota cars, that is all i have ever owned but i will never buy a vehicle from them again. | |||
| 06/18/2012 | 110000 | ||
| Bad threads on engine block. engine leaking coolant. mechanic determined head gasket bad. toyota certified mechanic tore apart engine and on reassembly found the threads on the lower engine block were stripped and this was the cause of the head gasket failure. new engine/rebuild required at $5200. failure caused by faulty threads/engine block at manufacturing end. simply driving vehicle causes threads to disintegrate and catastrophic engine failure. | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | |||
| 12/03/2012 | 1 | ||
| 2002 toyota camry. consumer writes to request a full investigation against a local dealer for fraudulent and deceptive business practices related to their vehicle not starting *tgw | |||
| 04/23/2012 | 100000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2002 toyota camry. the contact was driving 70 mph when a burning smell emitted inside the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where the mechanic confirmed that the head gasket needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileages were 100,000. kmj | |||
| 04/23/2012 | 100000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2002 toyota camry. the contacts child was driving 70mph when a burning smell emitted inside the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to a private mechanic. the mechanic confirmed the head gasket needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileages were 100,000. rds | |||
| 01/05/2012 | 135000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2002 toyota camry. the contact stated the vehicle was overheating when she took the vehicle to a private mechanic for diagnosis when she was informed that the engine was leaking coolant and needed to be replaced. the dealer did not offer any assistance. the manufacturer had not been notified. the vehicle had not been repaired. the current and the failure mileages were 135,000. bw | |||
| 11/01/2011 | 1 | ||
| 2002 toyota camry. consumer writes in regards to engine problems *tgw the consumer stated his mechanic wanted to charge him an additional $3,450 to perform valve work and other repairs to the engine. the consumer stated when he started the vehicle in the morning time, a plume of exhaust smoke could visibly be seen. *jb | |||
| 07/27/2011 | 98000 | ||
| Three head bolts in the engine have stripped and pulled out of the engine block. the largest consequence of this is a head gasket failure; this also caused coolant loss and overheating, which in turn ruined my radiator. when my mechanic opened up the engine to replace the head gaskets, these faulty bolts were loose and he was able to pull them out by hand without needing wrenches/tools. the total cost of the fix, which included drilling out and retapping the bolt holes, repairing/resurfacing heads, installing new head gaskets and installing a new radiator exceeded $3500; the only other option was buying a new/reconditioned engine for $7000+. toyota refuses to admit that this line of cars has defective head bolts. my 2002 camry xle had about 98,000 miles on it at the time, which is not a lot by toyota standards. while searching internet forums, i have found many many other people with toyota vehicles (especially camrys from 2002 to 2005) that have had the same exact bolts fail on their engines, leading to blown head gaskets. | |||
| 04/22/2009 | 96943 | ||
| I was losing coolant in my system so i took it to my mechanic. he told me that the head bolts on my engine had become stripped and that i would need a new engine put in. i paid for that repair and now two years later i am having the same symptoms. i went on the internet and found that i am not alone with this problem. it seems that stripped threads are very common in 2002-2008 camrys. it is clearly a design defect. i cannot believe that a class action suit is not being arranged. | |||
| 07/27/2011 | 98000 | ||
| Three head bolts in the engine have stripped and pulled out of the engine block. the largest consequence of this is a head gasket failure; this also caused coolant loss and overheating, which in turn ruined my radiator. when my mechanic opened up the engine to replace the head gaskets, these faulty bolts were loose and he was able to pull them out by hand without needing wrenches/tools. the total cost of the fix, which included drilling out and retapping the bolt holes, repairing/resurfacing heads, installing new head gaskets and installing a new radiator exceeded $3500; the only other option was buying a new/reconditioned engine for $7000+. toyota refuses to admit that this line of cars has defective head bolts. my 2002 camry xle had about 98,000 miles on it at the time, which is not a lot by toyota standards. while searching internet forums, i have found many many other people with toyota vehicles (especially camrys from 2002 to 2005) that have had the same exact bolts fail on their engines, leading to blown head gaskets. | |||
| 04/22/2009 | 96943 | ||
| I was losing coolant in my system so i took it to my mechanic. he told me that the head bolts on my engine had become stripped and that i would need a new engine put in. i paid for that repair and now two years later i am having the same symptoms. i went on the internet and found that i am not alone with this problem. it seems that stripped threads are very common in 2002-2008 camrys. it is clearly a design defect. i cannot believe that a class action suit is not being arranged. | |||
| 07/27/2011 | 98000 | ||
| Three head bolts in the engine have stripped and pulled out of the engine block. the largest consequence of this is a head gasket failure; this also caused coolant loss and overheating, which in turn ruined my radiator. when my mechanic opened up the engine to replace the head gaskets, these faulty bolts were loose and he was able to pull them out by hand without needing wrenches/tools. the total cost of the fix, which included drilling out and retapping the bolt holes, repairing/resurfacing heads, installing new head gaskets and installing a new radiator exceeded $3500; the only other option was buying a new/reconditioned engine for $7000+. toyota refuses to admit that this line of cars has defective head bolts. my 2002 camry xle had about 98,000 miles on it at the time, which is not a lot by toyota standards. while searching internet forums, i have found many many other people with toyota vehicles (especially camrys from 2002 to 2005) that have had the same exact bolts fail on their engines, leading to blown head gaskets. | |||
| 04/22/2009 | 96943 | ||
| I was losing coolant in my system so i took it to my mechanic. he told me that the head bolts on my engine had become stripped and that i would need a new engine put in. i paid for that repair and now two years later i am having the same symptoms. i went on the internet and found that i am not alone with this problem. it seems that stripped threads are very common in 2002-2008 camrys. it is clearly a design defect. i cannot believe that a class action suit is not being arranged. | |||
| 08/13/2011 | 78000 | ||
| After waiting in line at a fast food outlet for about five minutes, my toyota camry's engine suddenly accelerated to very high rpms. only my quick reaction to apply the brakes as hard as i could kept us from hitting the car ahead. the passenger reacted by pulling the emergency brake. shutting off the ignition stopped the engine. it restarted normally and seemed to be fine. | |||
| 03/09/2011 | 98762 | ||
| Tl. the contact owns a 2002 toyota camry. the contact stated check engine light come on so the contact took the vehicle to a local mechanic. the local notice the coolant was low and the thermostat needs to be replaced. the local mechanic replaced the thermostat and added coolant. 100 miles after the repair the head gasket blew. the contact took the vehicle another local mechanic and the mechanic stated the engine needs to be replaced. after taking the engine apart the mechanic notice the bolts to the engine mount were striped causing the engine to slightly move. with the engine out of position the coolant was unable to get to the engine properly causing the engine to have a low temperature and blowing the head gasket. the failure mileage was 90,000. jo | |||
| 04/17/2011 | 82000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota camry. the contact stated that blue smoke was emitting from the tail pipe abnormally. the contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic for an oil change and the mechanic advised that there was sludge building up in the engine and causing the engine to burn mileage extremely quickly. the failure mileage was 82,000 and the current mileage was 89,000. | |||
| 04/17/2011 | 82000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2002 toyota camry. the contact stated they saw blue smoke coming from the tail pipe. the contact took the vehicle to the mechanic to have an oil change to see if that would correct the problem. the mechanic who did the oil change said there is sludge building up in the engine and this causing the engine to burn miles very quickly. the failure mileage was 82,000 and the current mileage was 89,000.rl | |||
| 02/10/2011 | 110000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2002 toyota camry. the contact stated that while driving 50 mph, he noticed that the temperature gauge increased and the vehicle overheated. he pulled over and opened the hood; there was no coolant in the vehicle. the vehicle was towed to a local mechanic who stated that the head bolt was stripped. the vehicle was not repaired. the contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. the current and failure mileages were approximately 110,000-bk | |||
| 12/12/2010 | 101500 | ||
| The car accelerates at a high rate with little pressure on gas. it seems to happen at random times when the car is warm. i could be stopped at a red light then have it happen when the light turns and i step on the gas. it also has happened when accelerating while still moving ie: taking a corner while slowing then stepping on the gas once i have straightened out | |||
| 04/13/2010 | 99000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2002 toyota camry. the contact noticed the vehicle leaking coolant and took the vehicle to an independent repair shop. the mechanic informed him that the head bolts were stripped and the head gasket had blown. the mechanic told the contact that the problem was common with his particular model. the vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint. the current and failure mileages were approximately 99,000. | |||
| 03/01/2010 | 180000 | 1 | |
| I was rear-ended on the highway while driving my 2002 toyota camry. when i tried to slow down and move into the breakdown lane, the car accelerated. i ended up going down an embankment hitting several trees. the car was eventually spun around and crashed rear end into a tree. the car was totaled. my passenger and i experienced concussion syndrome along with muscle spasms in the neck, back, and ankle. we were taken by ambulance to the new britain general hospital where we were treated and released . we are both receiving follow-up medical care. *tr | |||
| 03/04/2010 | 38800 | 1 | |
| We have a 2002 toyota camry with a 2.4 liter engine with a 38, 900 miles in the odometer. and on march 4, 2010 my wife came home from a the grocery store asked me to check the car because of the check engine light iis on. i drove the car for a test drive around our neighborhood for five minutes with the speed of 10 miles to 15 miles an hour. before i came to the stop sign, the engine start racing, rpm is up the red line, i could hear the engine roar. i step on the brake hard, shift the gear hard into park and turn off the ignition. i was so lucky, i was driving in the right place and the right time with no traffic and kids playing on the street. if my wife would be driving at that moment especially she is an elderly like me, it could be big accident. it's a terrifying experience. i suggest that 2002 camry should be included in the recall. before somebody gets hurt. that same day i called toyota dealership for service appointment. *tr | |||
| 11/30/2002 | 400 | 1 | |
| My 2002 toyota camry v6 xle has had a problem with stuttering as though the transmission, engine or computer is not working properly. four different toyota dealerships have looked at the car and their only statement is that if the engine light doesn't come on, they can't diagnose the problem. a now independent, former toyota mechanic did observe the problem and can't diagnose the problem with a computer. i was treated with arrogant denial by customer service at toyota and they blackmarked me on their system-wide computer history. i did learn that one problem was a recall publication 3 months before i bought my car that said the computer needed reprogrammed. none of these dealerships knew this and toyota's roman in customer service denied me any reimbursement about the reprogramming even though i was complaining about the engine stuttering or missing since about one month after new purchase to the present. this is the company denial and arrogance that the congress and investigators are coming up against. toyota just won't accept that there is a problem with my car that has persisted since a month after november 2002 purchase. now i get emails calling me friend from them wanting my business and service. i just want my car to run correctly and fear that my transmission, engine or computer program is a forerunner of the problems coming to light lately before congress. *tr | |||
| 04/27/2006 | 40000 | 1 | |
| On thursday, april 27, 2006, my 2002 toyota camry had unintended acceleration at the sherton palo alto. when entering he parking lot, the car accelerated with engine racing and crashed through the parking lot barrier. the hotel graciously repaired the barrier at their expense. this incident has not been reported previously. this in the only incident to date. a second safety issue is the transmission lurch my car has. i tried to have it corrected by toyota, but they refused, saying that it would be too costly for toyota to fix the transmission problem. went to mediation who agreed with toyota. the problem continues. *tr | |||
| 01/01/2008 | 75000 | 1 | |
| My 2002 camry began lurching approx. 2 years ago. we have taken it for service 5 times, to no avail. we replaced spark plugs, a sensor and were told by one dealer that it was jumping from cylinder to cylinder, but they could not find the source of the problem. two other visits to 2 separate dealers were unsuccessful in experiencing the problem during test drives. they even had a regional manager come and check it out. they said they have never seen this problem before and could not diagnose it. it happens inconsistently when cruising at lower speeds and again at higher speeds. sometimes it is worse than others and then it goes days without happening. i am now concerned that it may be a safety issue connected to the gas pedal and would like to know what the problem is and have it corrected. i have also experienced issues when braking when going downhill on a bumpy surface. this has happened since i had the car. when i reported it to the dealer, they told me it was just the way the disc brakes work, but it was scary - feels like you don't have control over the car. we have been loyal toyota owners for many years due to their history of quality, reliable cars, but have concerns now. please let me know what can be done to help us with these issues. thank you. approx. incident dates below are not accurate. it has been an ongoing problem for 2 or 3 years. *tr | |||
| 01/07/2009 | 50000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2002 toyota camry. the contact was driving approximately 10 mph on normal road conditions when the vehicle stalled as he proceeded to a traffic signal. the vehicle restarted within twenty minutes and resumed normal operation. the failure occurred once a week. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. the technician was unable to duplicate the failure. the vehicle has not been repaired. the vin was unavailable. the failure was 50,000. | |||
| 12/28/2009 | 98740 | 1 | |
| Wife driving 2002 camry for smock inspection. i am following behind. camry stalls - engine just dies. steering is locked. wife stopped and tried to restart. after ~2mins, car restarted. continued ~2 miles and engine dies again, steering again locks. wife able to start again. after car starts, vsc and trac off lights are now on. took car to toyota dealer next day. a skid control computer is down per toyota. toyota unable to duplicate engine dying, but admit faulty computer could be cause. skid control computer costs $1453 to replace + $xxx for labor. i have read this is a common issue for 2002 toyota so am filing a complaint. why has toyota not recalled/fixed this yet? if this occurred on freeway, steering wheel lockup at 55+ mph? are they crazy? *tr | |||
| 08/23/2008 | 60500 | 1 | |
| 2002 toyota camry, engine stall/low idle problem at 60k miles, no codes on obd replaced spark plugs, coil pack, fuel injection service but still same problem, no error code on diagnostics. *tr | |||
| 06/22/2009 | 60 | 1 | |
| 2002 toyota camry has foul odor coming from hvac vents. dealer has removed fan enclosure in engine and cleaned out and added disinfectant. odor remains a problem. *tr | |||
| 05/26/2007 | 200000 | 1 | |
| Oil sludge build up resulting in potential for engine seizure and fire. *tr | |||
| 04/01/2009 | 136000 | 1 | |
| I own a 2002 toyota camry purchased new from dealership and regularly maintained. the check engine light came on while my daughter was driving the car and so i took it to our mechanic who said it was a faulty sensor which he replaced. the next day the check engine light came on again while she was driving and she was just able to make it back to the mechanic's shop with the car running roughly. the mechanic advised that the engine (136,000 miles) had suffered a blown head gasket. he recommended replacing the head gasket but warned me that because of the aluminum casting of the engine that there was a good chance that when he removed the steel bolts they would strip out the aluminum threads and then i would be looking at a new engine. unfortunately that is what happened - total cost to put in a reasonably new used engine (from a 2009 scion) was $5,800. i understand that things can happen and am not unduly upset that the head gasket was blown however, something as basic as knowing that you should not use steel bolts in an aluminum thread should be remedied by toyota. when a repair such as mine is undertaken there is a high probability of the bolts stripping out the aluminum threads. when that happens the cost of repair goes from approximately 1600 to replace a blown head gasket to 5800 to replace an entire engine. this is really a design flaw that should be obvious to any engineer and should be remedied by toyota. *tr | |||
| 06/01/2008 | 1 | ||
| Vehicle started smoking (white smoke) i took vehicle to dealer he advised that the prior year vehicles had a defect of the motor sludging up but my model had been redesigned and that it was due to me not changing the oil filter my husband owns a repair shop and had done the oil changes and replaced the filters the vehicle was still under 50,000 but dealer would not take care of problem. *tr | |||
| 04/05/2008 | 77600 | 1 | |
| I purchased a 2002 toyota camry new and recently noticed the car blowing blue smoke on start up in the mornings. i took the car to my dealer where they did an eval. they are suggesting that i have the valve stem seals replaced at a cost of around $2,000.00. i was shocked. my car is 5 years old with 77,000 miles. how could this be? i have taken excellent care of my car, getting oil changes every 3,000 miles (and have the receipts and records to prove it. in fact the dealer handled all the oil changes and service for me, up till the last 2 oil changes.) i know there was a class action suit for an oil sludge/gel problem, which after reading everything on the internet, i believe is probably the real issue with my car, but everything i've read says it ended with the 2001 camry models. have you heard or received any complaints for the 2002 models as well? any information or advice you could give me would be much appreciated! *tr | |||
| 02/18/2007 | 84000 | 4 | 02/26/2002 |
| Toyota camry le 2.4 l winter weather cause to vvt on auto to fail and stall engine. stalled engine caused lost of controls, steering, brakes, etc..parts replaced were oxygen sensors, cat.convertor, etc.. the vvt is variable valve timing control along with ocm, pcm, throttle sensor, mass air sensor which regulates the engine performance. *tr | |||
| 11/27/2005 | 98000 | 1 | 01/10/2005 |
| I was coming home one day and my check engine light came on. i immediately took my car to the dealer and they told me it was the o2 sensor going bad. i wanted a second opinion so i took my car to another dealer who told me it was the catalytic converter. i was very concern by these two different answers, so i went to a third dealer who told me it was indeed the o2 sensor. after having that replaced, within 2 months the light was back on again. *nm | |||
| 02/07/2005 | 35000 | 1 | 04/23/2002 |
| While driving 80 mph vehicle stalled. consumer managed to pull over and had the vehicle towed. dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak the battery was replaced but the toyota dealership refused to reimburse the towing cost. they won't pay for the 7 miles towing charge because the vehicle was not towed to the nearest dealer. *bf | |||
| 10/06/2004 | 1 | ||
| While driving check engine light appeared on the dashboard and remained on. consumer drove vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the sensor needed to be replaced. *ak | |||
| 12/15/2002 | 1500 | ||
| At 1,500 miles the check engine light went on. i brought the car to the dealer on november 8, 2002 and was told that nothing was wrong with the car and they reset the computer. the car was fine until i arrived at home and the check engine light was on again. i brought the car to the dealer on november 11th and they said they didn't know what was wrong with the car. they were going to remove the transmission but needed a part. it is now november 25th and the part still hasn't arrived and the car hasn't been repaired. | |||
| 03/23/2004 | 1 | ||
| My vehicle, a vintage 1965 pontiac catalina hardtop coupe was parked in the driveway at my friend's residence at 1271 n.e. 207th street when at around 4:50 p.m. it was struck by a 2002 toyota camry sedan driven by a mrs. una elizabeth tucker of port st. lucie, fl. the toyotas was on the next door neighbors driveway. according to her, she was trying to get out of her driveway when she claims her car started smoking and suddenly bolted. her vehicle smashed onto my car with such force.. that it moved it and pushed it against a van that was parked next to it. my car's front fenders where smashed, making the front wheels immobile. the left front bumper bent under, left fron headlight assembly smashed, unable to open hood, possible front suspension damage, unknown damage to engine. hsmv crash report number 4464507 miami dade county. *ak | |||
| 02/18/2004 | 17000 | 1 | |
| While parked vehicle was started and engine roared and surged forward. consumer had to use extreme force to keep the vehicle from moving. also, when air conditioner was on and turned off and back on again there was a foul odor coming from the vents. *ak | |||
| 06/27/2002 | 75 | 10 | 06/09/2002 |
| I have a 2002 toyota camry xle, since i got the car new it started to lunge several times while sitting at stop lights/signs. i went to two different toyota dealers and was told that the car is running as manufactured. i said this can cause an accident. they said nothing was wrong. also, since i bought the car new it wants to stall when coming to a stop. again, no dealer will help. something is wrong but the dealers won't help. i do not have time to keep running to dealers, that is why i bought a new car. there is a definite problem with these cars. as times goes by, it's getting worse, especially in warm weather conditions. | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM | |||
| 02/10/2011 | 110000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota camry. the contact stated that while driving 50 mph, he noticed that the temperature gauge increased and the vehicle overheated. he pulled over and opened the hood and found that there was no coolant in the vehicle. the vehicle was towed to a local mechanic who advised that the head bolt was stripped. the vehicle was not repaired. the contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. the current and failure mileage was approximately 110,000. | |||
| 07/06/2010 | 130000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2002 toyota camry. while examining the vehicle the contact noticed a puddle of coolant underneath the vehicle where it was parked. the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic where the water pump was replaced, however the failure reoccurred. the vehicle was taken back to the local mechanic where the radiator was replaced. i month after the repair the failure reoccurred. there were no prior warnings. the current and failure mileage were 130000. bml | |||
| 06/06/2003 | 38000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2002 toyota camry. when the vehicle was driven in inclement weather or over a bump in the road, the brakes made a loud noise. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership numerous times. the dealer stated that the failure was electrical and therefore replaced the alternator. the failure continued. the vehicle was taken to another dealership where the contact was informed that the failure was within the abs computer system but the dealer did not know how to correct the problem. the contact called the manufacturer but was offered no assistance. the vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint. the failure mileage was approximately 38,000. the current mileage was approximately 55,000. | |||
| 01/01/2010 | 70000 | 1 | |
| I have just noticed that my 2002 camry 4 cylinder has a coolant leaking problem. search on the web, the issue is very likely due to the stripped head bolt as many people have reported the same problem. this warrants a recall!!!!!! *tr | |||
| 06/25/2007 | 45000 | 1 | |
| 2002 toyota camry, stalls as coming to a stop or slowing down for traffic, turning or someone pulling in front of me in traffic. car will not start for 20 minutes. when trying to start car before 20 minutes it turns over but not start or has a hard time starting and sputters till i can pull over off the street and stalls in a parking lot. when i wait the full 20 plus minutes the car starts as if never had a problem. by the time i get to the dealer or another repair shop they can not find anything wrong or say it has to do with the emissions control and they do not guarantee that may be that problem & i may have to bring the car back in & i will not be refunded my money & will have to pay more out of the pocket. this has been going on for 2 years. it is worse in the heat & humidity (happens more often). *tr | |||
| 06/28/2008 | 64000 | 1 | |
| To whom it may concern: we purchased a 2002 toyota camry from arlington toyota, jacksonville, florida- new in december 2001. we have always owned toyotas with no problems. presently the car has 64,000 miles. on june 26 the check engine light came on for about an hour and then went off, after that the a/c stopped working. we took the car into coggin toyota at the avenues on june 28 and were given a bill of $1154 with an explanation that the entire a/c condenser assembly, air flow sensor and air fuel sensor needed replacement. obviously we had to pay for this and have it done as we're going out of town and have a child who rides in this car regularly, but this is beyond ridiculous. for this age of a car, and supposedly being the most reliable and highly rated car for that year this should not have happened. this car has not been in any bad accidents and is not driven excessively. all routine maintenance is performed on a regular basis. this is clearly a defect on toyota's part and needs to be compensated for. we should not have had to pay this much for a repair on this type of car, whether or not the warranty is expired. i expected much more from toyota than we have presently experienced and am very disappointed and frustrated. we had planned to purchase a new sienna within the next few years but now will look else where. ************ kristi b. gabriel, lmt, ba, mba healing waters therapy *tr | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - RADIATOR ASSEMBLY | |||
| 04/18/2002 | 100 | 0 | 02/18/2002 |
| Terrible smell from heat/air vents,kids have asthma and can't stand the smell, toyota dealer just sprayed vents and poured freshner in outside vent, problem kept coming back and pollen filter kept plugging, nothing done to correct it, now in 2005 my water pump went bad. i know that the smell is some kind of mildew or mold from something not being fixed, which could lead to severe health conditions! | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE | |||
| 06/01/2011 | 143905 | ||
| It is 2002 toyota camry le with 2.4l 2az-fe engine. it happened while car was driven. engine produced a loud bang and stalled. did not started after cranking it. before trip there was noticeable steam out of exhaust. after considering head gasket failure there was attempt to replace the gasket. during repair was found that several head bolts were loose due to striping from their sits. after digging in google it was found that that was a common problem for this engines. it seems like it is a manufacturer design flow. all 2az-fe engines are prone to this because of inadequate heat dispersion at the back of the engine. toyota customer service response is that they have nothing to do with it. this is a major design flow and there should be a recall. all engines from 2002 are prone to it. | |||
| 10/30/2010 | 125000 | ||
| My 2002 toyota camry had stalled-engine problem these years. most of the problem happened when the car stopped at th traffic red light or stop sign. when i apply the braketo slow down and waiting at the traffic lights or at the stop sign, my camry car engine abruptly ceases operating and stops turning. i have to turn the key and start the engine again. this problem happend a lot of times these years and give me a big trobule when a lot of other cars waiting behind me. it's not safe and be dangerous especially in heavy traffic. this stalled engine problem just happened this morning when i sent my son to the baseball game. | |||
| 09/01/2009 | 55000 | 6 | |
| 2002 toyota camry se v6 - around september 2009 i began to notice sudden surges in acceleration while driving between 40-45 mph. without changing the position of the gas pedal, the vehicle would surge-hesitate-surge several times then suddenly stop the behavior. since then, i notice it occurs at least once every 3 out of 4 times i'm driving the car. to me, this is not related to anything on the floor or the gas pedal itself. it appears to come from within the engine or other component. no repairs have been investigated or performed. i am considering a visit to the dealer. *tr | |||
| 09/19/2009 | 74800 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2002 toyota camry xle. while he was at a traffic light on an incline, there was a very loud roaring noise coming from the engine. the weather was not a factor. the vehicle responded as if it were going to take off at full speed but it didn't. the failure occurred a second time with her foot depressing the brake pedal. neither the dealer nor manufacturer was contacted. the failure mileage was 74,800 and the current mileage was 75,474. | |||
| 12/12/2009 | 103000 | 1 | |
| Toyota camry 2002. the check light came on. three bolts were strip from the engine. toyota is aware of it and didn't do anything. it cost me approx $4,000 to fix. toyota issued a tsb 2 years ago about this failure: tsb 01507, nhtsa #10021542, dated april 6 2007. i found this in my research. my mechanic told me toyota said to replace the head, head gasket and bolts. that the head had been redesigned since it was a know issue. it was alleged caused when toyota changed building the head from cast iron to aluminum. i am not the only one with this issue. www.toyotanation.com/forum/printthread.php?t=274802&pp=40. *tr | |||
| 11/28/2009 | 153000 | 1 | |
| I kept hearing rushing water coming from somewhere but nothing seems to be wrong. so at the end of november my car ran hot i took it to the mechanic and was told the thermostat may need to be replaced. i replaced it | |||
| 11/29/2009 | 252934 | 1 | |
| Loss of coolant. took to auto repair. told to replace head gasket. upon replacement of head, discovered head bolts would not tighten because threads in aluminum block were stripped. *tr | |||
| 04/12/2009 | 138000 | 3 | |
| 2002 camry xle v6...at 138,000 miles while waiting at a traffic signal during rush hour the engine stalls and after 4 attempts finally restarts. the car continued to not idle the rest of my trip home - stalling every time i slowed down to stop or turn a corner...very unsafe...didn't trust the car to make it to mechanic. car was towed, mechanic could find nothing wrong. it happened again 3 more times within a week. same scenario, towed to mechanic, found nothing wrong because the check engine light does not come on and therefore the computer does not register any issues. mechanic cleaned all sensors, idle valve, dealership and independent mechanic find nothing wrong. car was fine until july 4, weekend and did the same thing twice again. mechanic finds nothing because it so random. same situation in november while turning car stalled because it would not idle, lost power steering and brakes and almost hit another car while turning. 3 mechanics and no one can find anything wrong. have also experienced the issues mentioned with brakes and rotors which have been replaced 3 times. *tr | |||
| 12/06/2009 | 115000 | 1 | |
| I own a 2002 toyota camry v6 le with a mileage reading of about 115000. i do regular oil changes and all necessary services. however off lately the car has randomly started to stall in the middle of road while being driven. this has started to be a big problem and i hesitate to drive the car for long distance. the car would suddenly die in the middle of road specially when i stop for a light or stop sign and then would refuse to start again. i have to keep the gas pedal depressed in order for the car to stay idle and not die. after about 5-10 mins the car would again start up and work normally. i've had this problem about three times this past 2 weeks and its scary now to even drive this car anywhere. i took it to a mechanic where i get all services done and he says everything is fine, but then i had two stalls after the visit. problem is that it stalls randomly and when i take it to mechanic, it performs quiet well with no problems at all. i read today in motortrend website that nhtsa is enquiring about some toyota vehicles regarding this same issue and was wondering if these incidents are related? *tr thanks. | |||
| 10/21/2009 | 72500 | 1 | |
| My 2002 toyota camry with 72,500 miles had the check light come on. i took it to a toyota dealer in columbia, sc. i was told the engine had sludge and would soon stop working. i told the dealer i changed the oil regularly when needed but the dealer said it was my fault. *tr | |||
| 03/24/2009 | 147363 | 1 | |
| My 2002 camry le check eng. light came on from a coolant leak was told by the dealership i needed a new motor at the cost of $3,500 the car was only three years old it was a lease certified buy back also when i bought it the windshield washer went bad less then a month was told i had to fix on my own they the motor ran hot but the coolant gage never indicated the problem. *tr | |||
| 01/15/2009 | 45000 | 1 | |
| At subzero temperature (below 0) car starts with check engine light on (error code p1128), traction control and vsc disabled. idle at 600-800 rpm. engine does not respond to acceleration pedal, so car is not drivable. after warming engine up and erasing error code from ecu car drives normally. *tr | |||
| 03/21/2008 | 97000 | 1 | |
| 3/21/2008 car stopped running while on expressway. towed 50 miles into dealership alamo toyota, san antonio, tx =not where purchased 100 miles from residence. told engine mounting bolts sheered off into the engine block which caused crack. engine had to be replaced. dealer found salvage engine with 37000 miles on it. owner did not receive proof of the mileage. dealer kept used engine $4,000.00+. included used longblock, oil, oil filter coolant rear main seal, fipc, radiator cleaning. owner rented at own expense rental vehicle. told car was repaired. picked car up drove off lot, turned around and went back into dealership. car was misfiring. had to leave car again. additional $235.00 to replace 4 coils april 11,2008. on may 2 2008, a/c stopped cooling. took car into champion toyota, austin texas. $613.00 for ac condenser, condenser assy, relay, warranty. ac condenser leaking, probably damaged during radiator cleaning at alamo toyota. *tr | |||
| 06/03/2008 | 92000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2002 toyota camry. while driving 2 mph, she heard a grinding noise then the vehicle shut off without warning. the dealer stated that engine mounting bolts sheered off into the engine block, which caused the corner of the engine to crack. the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. as of june 6, 2008, the dealer had not repaired the vehicle. the failure and current mileages were 92,000. the vin was unavailable | |||
| 03/20/2008 | 82630 | 2 | 10/14/2001 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2002 toyota camry. the contact stated that the engine light illuminated on the instrument panel. she stated that there was a faulty charcoal canister that needed to be replaced. the current and failure mileages were 82,630. updated 07/15/08 *bf updated *jb 07/15/08 | |||
| 09/21/2007 | 108000 | 1 | 10/10/2002 |
| At about 105,000 miles on my 2002 camry v6, the car experienced hesitating driving while driven at speeds above 40 mph when removing slightly the foot from the throttle pedal. the car is bucking backward and forward for indefinite time until the throttle pedal is fully depressed or fully pressed. this is an unsafe situation since on the highway the speed cannot be decreased or increased any time. notified dealer and told that this cannot be identified since there is no error code generated (no check engine light on). replaced all spark plugs at 108,000 miles on aug 24, 2007. problem not solved. spouse noticed increased bucking while driving down hill. went back to the dealer. performed test drive with technician in the car and the diagnose system hooked to the car's computer. detected some misfires on cylinders 5 and 6. replaced solenoid ignition packs for cylinder 5 & 6 and test drove again. problem not solved. technician concluded that fuel injectors are clogged. performed fuel injectors purge (cleaning). problem not solved. technician recommended to replace all fuel injectors and solenoid ignition packs. car was maintained properly during the ownership. oil & filter changed every 3000 miles, replaced air filter every 30,000 miles, replaced timing belt and belt tensioners at 87,000 miles, replaced water pump at 87,000 miles, flushed transmission fluid at 87,000 miles. from reading various customers complaints, it appears to be a transmission problem but dealer did not mention anything about it. *jb | |||
| 11/22/2006 | 1 | ||
| I purchased my car in 2001, used with 17k miles, form toyota of durham. i have 105k miles now on it. i kept the routine oil change and had sluggish oil problems every time i got my oil changed. there was no documented oil sluggish problem from toyota. my vehicle is clicking with a strange sound. i had it looked at and the mechanic determined the timing belt is going. but he advised me to take it to the dealership where i purchased it. i did and they told me that it was the engine. i need a new engine. a new engine, no way. how is it that a toyota camry with barely 100k miles need a new engine and nothing is said to be wrong with this vehicle. i have owned toyota and lexus models for a long time now and have yet to deal with such shame in their models. i am really disappointed at this mess of a car. surely, we know that there are something that need to be done at a certain time but why is it that a new engine would be required? i am really not going to be the best person promoting toyota cars in the future. i had plans on looking into the toyota sienna for my family. but the odyssey is looking much better now. *jb | |||
| 09/28/2006 | 1 | ||
| I was sitting at a red light waiting to turn left. i suddenly heard my engine rev and looked at the dash. the rpm's were all the way over to the right. my car lurched forward, hard, and hit a lincoln navigator in front of me. i pressed the brake as hard as i could, with both feet, to try and stop, but ultimately had to turn the car off to stop it from moving forward. i am now waiting for an investigation, which they have told me could take up to 30 days. i was told that if they determined that it was a mechanical failure, they have another 30 days to fix it. i am in sales and use my car all day, every day. they weren't very concerned about it. *nm | |||
| 11/09/2004 | 39800 | 1 | 08/31/2001 |
| During a regular maintenance check, it was discovered the engine had a crack in the engine block. the consumer made contact with the manufacturer and they will be replacing the engine. *jb. toyota has corrected the problem in the new models of camry.*ak | |||
| 03/03/2004 | 30000 | 02/02/2002 | |
| Driver side window did not roll smoothly. squeaked but was only fixed after taking the car a dealer a third time. sputtering/rattling sound seems to be coming from the engine when the car is idle or upon cold start. sound gets progressively louder. dealer claims that no sounds were heard. car also hesitates when responding to acceleration. in researching for answers, i found that the driver's side airbag has a recall. i was in disbelief when i found that no efforts were made in contacting me about an airbag recall! i feel utterly disappointed. i'd come from a honda family and decided to give toyota a try. i have learnt my lesson now that buying a brand new toyota means having to check up on recalls and problems.*ak | |||
| 12/17/2002 | 8000 | 3 | 03/15/2002 |
| Consumer took vehicle' to dealer for an oil change, and since then the vehicle emitted gray smoke. dealer determined that transmission needed to be replaced. consumer took vehicle to an independent mechanic, who replaced corroded spark plug wires, and gave the vehicle a tune up. also the mechanic determined that smoke came from a defective valve seal or rings . *ak it was finally determined that the transmission was not the problem it was the engine which needed to be replaced. *jb | |||
| 08/12/2003 | 1 | 01/01/2002 | |
| The transmission was not working properly. the vehicle would shift harshly into drive when the engine was cold but when warmed up the vehicle drove smoothly. the steering wheel hummed when turned while driving 45 mph. it was later determined that a bushing for the steering shaft needed to be lubricated. the upper and lower belt molding around the driver's door came off. a faulty charcoal canister caused the check engine light to illuminate. *ak *nlm | |||
| 08/11/2003 | 1 | ||
| While traveling on the highway and without prior warning engine check light appeared on the dashboard. *ak | |||
| 06/14/2003 | 07/13/2002 | ||
| 2002 xle camry oil and filter has been changed every 3000-3500 miles. at the first 3000 mark a small amount of metallic metal was found in the oil. at the 9000 mark oil and filter change (third oil change) a larger amount of metallic metal was found in the oil. between the third oil and filter change there was no evidence of metal until the oil change that was done at 18145 miles. more metal is found in the oil at the 18145 mile oil and filter change. *nlm | |||
| 11/24/2002 | 1 | ||
| While traveling on indian head highway, consumer swerved to avoid a deer, instead swerved to the right/lost control and hit a guard rail. upon impact, front air bags failed to deploy, driver suffered injuries, and vehicle was demolished. in addition, there was a sulfur-like or rotton egg odor coming from exhaust system. also, brought vehicle to dealer for following problems: poor alignment/engine check light/fuel injector/ spark plugs, mirrors, and structural defects *ak | |||
| 05/01/2003 | 0 | ||
| I have a 2002 toyota camry, auto, 4 cyls. the car has a surge like movement when i try to pull out of stop, reduce speed then reaccelerate and press the gas pedal after turning the car at an intersection. when the car accelerates, it increase speed initially, then loose power for a second, after that regain speed. the car also abruptly reduces speed when cruising between 40 and 60 mph if i release the gas just a little. | |||
| 03/06/2003 | 17250 | 4 | 02/05/2002 |
| Since i purchased this car it has been problems, first it was the brakes vibrating, took it in and right away the dealer knew what it was without me even explaining it to him, they fixed that in 2 trips. then it was the rotten egg smell, they could not find anything wrong.(then why does my car stink when i try to get power out of the engine?) then it was the knocking and pinging in the engine, (i was told that they could not duplicate the problem, but my octane level was low to upgrade my gas. the manufacturers provided owners manual states 87 octane gas or higher, i already use 89 octane and have since the day i bought the car, so why should i have to spend money on higher priced gas when the car is only 1 year old and the engine should not make any noises. now it is the tires and alignment the alignment is completely off that the tires are destroyed with only 17,250 miles on them, yet the car shows no sign of the alignment being off, it drives straight stays in one lane and the steering wheel is even straight, so how after one year with low miles is the alignment off and the tires are destroyed, and why was it unnoticed when i had my tires balanced and rotated 2 months earlier at 15,000 miles? by the same dealership! i feel that this car has alot of problems that the manufacturer does not want to address, look at how many other people are having the same problems, and we are all told that it is wear and tear or that there is no problem at all, well then why are we all having the same problems? i called toyota's main office logged a complaint and was told that someone would get back to me, it has been 3 days now and not one call has come my way! i feel that i should not have to pay for the repairs to this car since it is a nation wide problem, especially since it is a $27000.00 car that has depreciated in value by more than $7000.00 in less than one year, what happened to toyota's retaining there value? i wish everybody much luck with their issues. *nlm | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE | |||
| 02/09/2006 | 89230 | 6 | 08/28/2005 |
| The 2002 toyota camry, purchased used from ray brandt toyota in august of last year, completely shut down while my mother was driving at highway speeds this past monday. she barely missed a head-on collision, because she was unable to control the car without power steering. i advised her to bring the camry immediately to ray brandt toyota | |||
| 02/07/2006 | 90000 | 7 | 08/25/2005 |
| With no warning or previous problems, while driving at 60 mph, the 4 cylinder engine in my 2002 toyota camry. i am a 78 year old woman and i was unable to control the car with no power. i just barely avoided a head-on collision. this happened 5 more times in quick succession before i could drive immediately back to my home. i brought the car back to ray brandt toyota of metairie 504-464-4500. told them of the problem and the potential for a serious accident, due to the car shutting down while driving. the dealers service department has had the car for a day, duplicated the problem, but claim they can find no reason for this to happen. i do not want to die in a fatal accident caused by the engine shutting down and if they cannot locate the cause of this problem, i will get rid of the car and never purchase another toyota. please help. *jb | |||
| 11/01/2002 | |||
| Consumer enter the parked vehicle turned on ignition and consumer states' vehicle took off, consumer tried to stop vehicle would not stop, vehicle came to a stop after hitting a fire plug. please provide any further information ts | |||
| 01/01/2001 | 1 | 11/21/2001 | |
| There is a bad linkage between engine and transmission, and there is a loud noise while traveling on the highway. dealership is aware of problem.*ak consumer states there is slack in the drivetrain. *jb | |||
| 04/25/2002 | 100 | 02/01/2002 | |
| No summary listed for abov evehicle. *ak | |||
| While driving vehicle lost all power, dashboard completely illuminated. took vehicle to dealer. please provide any further information.*ak | |||
| 1 | 10/21/2001 | ||
| While driving there was smoke coming from vehicle. when consumer saw smoke stopped vehicle, and then vehicle caught on fire in engine. contacted dealer, and dealer was not willing to do anything.*ak vehicle was completely in flames and fire department came and put out the fire. *yd | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM | |||
| 05/29/2011 | 153000 | ||
| 2002 camry le with 153,000 suffered failure of catalyst and charcoal canister at time of state inspection. this is the third failure of the catalyst since purchase of the car. dealer said that catalyst is only warrantied for one year from date of installation and gave an estimate of more than $1700 to complete repairs. contact with toyota concerning this ongoing problem was a complete and total waste of time. vehicle taken to private mechanic who performed repairs with conforming non oem parts carrying better warranties at half the price quoted by dealer. | |||
| 09/13/2009 | 1 | ||
| I own a toyota camry 2002 v6. late 2009, the car starts to blow light blue smoke everytime i start the engine. i called hamer toyota on mission hills, ca about the problem. iwas told that they will check the engine but it will cost me $95.00 to open the cylinder head. i informed the service manager about the recall for engine sludge problem but he still insist that there is a charge to open the cylinder head. he said that if what is causing the smoke is the engine sludge, they will not charge $95.00. after leaving the car for a few days, they called me and said that the car's engine was so clean and i took good care of the car. just wondering what's the reason why the car is exhaling white smoke up to now if he said that the engine is clean. please let me know if i can go directly toyota to file a complain or you can publish my complain on your website. *tr | |||
| 03/10/2009 | 75000 | 1 | |
| I was driving to work in my 2002 toyota camry when all of a sudden i saw a fire and smoke coming from under the hood. when i lifted the hood i noticed that the exhaust was red near the burn site. after looking on the internet i found several complaints with this model catching fire while driving. *cn *tr | |||
| 12/29/2005 | 61000 | 1 | |
| During a 60,000 mile check-up at my service station, it was discovered that i needed a new flex pipe assembly (manifold exhaust pipe and catalytic converter combined). the mechanic said that he has seen the same problem on many 2002 toyota camry le's. the part alone cost me $900 and $100 in labor to install. toyota told me that this part is not on recall list. i approved the replacement by my mechanic who told me that i should file a complaint. *nm | |||
| 11/24/2002 | 1 | ||
| While traveling on indian head highway, consumer swerved to avoid a deer, instead swerved to the right/lost control and hit a guard rail. upon impact, front air bags failed to deploy, driver suffered injuries, and vehicle was demolished. in addition, there was a sulfur-like or rotton egg odor coming from exhaust system. also, brought vehicle to dealer for following problems: poor alignment/engine check light/fuel injector/ spark plugs, mirrors, and structural defects *ak | |||
| 03/14/2003 | 09/12/2002 | ||
| Car emits an strong odor of rotten eggs (sulfur dioxide) through the interior vent system. this condition is documented in toyota tsb eg003-03 dated 2/24/03. although they acknowledge the condition, they say it is the fault of the gasoline. i have tried many different brands and my neighbors cars do not exhibit this smell. sulfur dioxide is especially dangerous to people with respiratory conditions such as my daughter who has asthma. her condition has become worse this winter because (we think) of her contact with this car. toyota has said that the condition is not covered in their warranty and they refuse to fix it. *nlm | |||
| 10/15/2002 | 09/20/2002 | ||
| Every since the purchase of my new camry, the car has emitted a sulfur/rotten egg smell. the smell comes from the rear passenger side of the car and, when the defroster is on, it sucks the terrible smell right into the interior of the vehicle. (note to nhtsa: you have several complaints already listed about this problem under both catalytic converter, exhaust system, and defroster...they are all the same thing.) i have taken the car to the dealership on several occasions. they have told me: 1) that it is the catalytic converter, 2) that it happens in about 70 of every 3,000+ cars produced, 3) that i should try a new gasoline and 4) that it will go away at around 6,000 miles. i have tried several new gasolines and am currently at 5,000 miles with no change to the smell. i will take my car into the shop two more times for the same complaint and then will attempt to invoke the lemon law in oregon. | |||
| 08/15/2002 | 08/01/2002 | ||
| Car produces a horrible rotten egg smell while sitting in traffic. dt | |||
| 11/01/2001 | |||
| Exhaust pipe could easily be punctured or otherwise damaged ascending or decending a steep driveway or by hitting an obstruction in the road. expensive repairs might be required and perhaps toxic carbon monoxide fumes could be released. liberty toyota asserts that all 2002 camry's are designed this way. i would not have purchased this vehicle if i had been aware of this flaw. dt | |||
| 05/02/2002 | |||
| Consumer states while driving occasionally white smoke exits the exhaust. consumer states dealer has been contacted. please provide any further information. mr | |||
| 05/21/2002 | 05/01/2002 | ||
| There is a very strong rotten egg/sulpher odor emitted from the exhaust whether the vehicle is driven a short or long distance. i was told by the dealer that the odor was caused by high sulpher content in the gasoline that i was putting in the car and that i should try different brands of gasoline to see which one caused the least odor. i have tried 3 different brands and the odor is still the same. i have talked to the dealer twice about the problem and was told that there was nothing that they could do about it since it was the gasoline that is causing the problem. i strongly believe there is a problem with theh engine or the exhaust system and that either the dealer/manufacturer does not know how to fix the problem or refuses to admit that there is a problem.*ak | |||
| 03/15/2002 | 1 | 01/18/2002 | |
| Consumer stated heat shield rattles, dealer replaced. *tt | |||
| 01/29/2002 | 5 | 09/01/2001 | |
| No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak | |||
| 05/24/2002 | |||
| A strange odor was coming into cab of vehicle. took vehicle to dealer, and dealer stated it was carbon monoxide. consumer stated that sunroof was vacuuming fumes back into vehicle. please provide any further information.*ak | |||
| 03/15/2002 | 1 | 03/15/2002 | |
| Exhaust system is designed too close to ground and may causes a potential fire, making contact with debris. dealer and manfucturer were notified. *ak *yh | |||
| 02/17/2002 | 1 | 10/01/2001 | |
| While operating my vehicle on a highway, i was startled when an object suddenly fell/dropped onto my ankle/foot from under the vehicle's dash. this incident almost caused me to lose control of the vehicle. when i took the vehicle back to the selling dealership, i was informed that object which fell off was the driver's side air flow duct. further informed that piece fell off because a clip(s) was either not installed during assembly or, clip fell off during operation of vehicle prior to my incident. note: still awaiting for special order part (clip) to arrive at dealership. | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL | |||
| 05/04/2009 | 1 | ||
| 2002 toyota camry. the consumer wants to be reimbursed for repairs. *dt the check engine light illuminated. the dealer stated there was a problem with the emission system. the problem was repaired and the consumer was charged $600.00. two days later, the light illuminated again. the consumer returned to the dealership, but the problem was not resolved. when the consumer stopped for gas, he noticed the gas tank would not fill up, the gas would spill out. the consumer went to another establishment and it was determined that a pair of pliers were on the vent of the gas tank. the dealership was contacted and the consumer was told a mistake was made by one of their mechanics. the second dealership replaced the vacuum switching valve. *jb | |||
| 03/20/2008 | 82630 | 2 | 10/14/2001 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2002 toyota camry. the contact stated that the engine light illuminated on the instrument panel. she stated that there was a faulty charcoal canister that needed to be replaced. the current and failure mileages were 82,630. updated 07/15/08 *bf updated *jb 07/15/08 | |||
| 09/27/2005 | 42390 | 1 | 10/30/2004 |
| I have a 2002 toyota camry with 42,608 miles. the check engine light went on yesterday. today i had the charcoal canister, hose and vacuum sealed valve replaced at great cost. now i have read that this was a problem with the 96-98 camry's and that the epa required toyota to extend the emissions warranty to 14/150000. *jb | |||
| 08/13/2002 | 7 | 10/12/2001 | |
| Have very serious concerns with brake system on my car. brakes repaired on numerous occasions . consumer feel this problem could lead to a serious automobile accident if not corrected. *bf nar *jls the rear brakes were noisy and made a grinding sound. the front brakes vibrated, the consumer replaced the front brake pads'; return true; onmouseout=window.status=''; return true;>brake pads'; return true; onmouseout=window.status=''; return true;>brake pads'; return true; onmouseout=window.status=''; return true;>brake pads'; return true; onmouseout=window.status=''; return true;>brake pads and rotors. the consumer stated that the trunk flaps and clips were installed to fix the problem. the left front door kick panel came loose. bond pak primer applied to fix the problem. the consumer stated that the vehicle shimmies when driving at high speeds. vehicle front wheels out of balance. the problem was not with the wheel balance but with the brakes. rotors where warped. the consumer stated that the moon roof does not open smoothly it jolts and shakes the car roof. the consumer smelled a rotten egg smell when the heater and air conditioner was used. the consumer was told that it was burning sulfur and it would diminish at 25000 miles. 35000 miles the smell was still there. *tc the rear view defogger was replaced. | |||
| 10/24/2003 | 1 | 08/27/2002 | |
| I own a 2002 toyota camry with bridgestone tires which were on the car when we purchased it in fall of 2002. we have taken the car into dealership, high country toyota in scottsboro, al, 3 times and phoned our sales representative approximately 6 times for 3 problems. #1 - rattling - which we were told on the first visit to dealer it was the catalytic converter heat shield cover and they had fixed it by bending it out. it's rattling again, now. #2 - smell of sulfer/rotten eggs - which we were told they could not recreate the problem, so they have no idea what it could be. it still smells! #3 - my husband took the car to wal-mart to have the oil changed and the tires balanced and rotated because we noticed alot of wear on the outside of the tires and the steering wheel was vibrating when driving. my husband was paged back to the automotive section by an employee to see the tires himself before they took them all off the car and to warn my husband about driving on the tires if we didn't replace them immediately. my husband said the inside of the tires were showing the wires from severe wearing. my husband took the car to the dealer where we purchased it to have them inspect the front end for damage that could cause the tires to wear in such a way so quickly. our vehicle is 1 yr. old with 30,000 miles on it. he was told it was ok, but the tires on the car at time of purchase weren't meant to last very long, anyway. he took the car to a local - trusted - tire company and had the tires replaced. we have been told that our dealer isn't aware of any recalls and/or complaints on any of these issues, but after researching the internet, i have come across more than enough complaints to make me wonder if i've made a huge/costly mistake in trusting the toyota name and past reputation, especially with 3 children who were put at risk and a monthly car payment!*ak | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL - CATALYTIC CONVERTOR | |||
| 09/01/2003 | 15000 | 10 | 10/24/2001 |
| My car's check engine light would come on and my son would check the code (po420) then send me to the dealer. i took this car to two different dealers during this time. the first time the light came on i was out of town and took the car to a local dealer who changed a sensor connected to the exhaust system. the next time to light came on i took the car to a dealer in my area and they told me that it was a bad sensor (same one that had just been changed) after i told them that sensor had already been replaced they came back and told me that it was a different sensor. i left this dealer and shortly after the check engine light was on again and i went back to the second dealer who said that the computer needed to be reprogrammed. this problem has been on going for about four years, during which time my car was under warranty and the first service bulletin on this problem was issued on may 24, 2004 and the second on july 27, 2004. now that the car is not under warranty i have found out about these service bulletins. i intend to take this issue up with toyota as this should have been repaired back in 2004. *nm | |||
| 05/01/2005 | 93000 | 1 | 05/25/2003 |
| At approximately 90,000 miles, the vehicle check engine light came on. checking with toyota dealer, they indicated the catalytic converter must be replaced. they futher indictated that there is a nationwide backorder for this item and they already have 10 vehicles on the waiting list at their dealership. i believe, from this information, that this must be a problem that is a result of a design defect and therefore should be resolved by toyota. | |||
| 01/01/2002 | 2 | 12/24/2001 | |
| Rotten egg smell since the car was purchased. complained to toyota dealership and the regional rep without a resolution. the rep suggestion was to just put premium gas in it. certainly not what i expected from toyota but i have been putting premium gas in the car and it does seems to tame the smell somewhat. in addition we have had problems with the front alignment and the car pulls to the left. have purchased a life time alignment warranty but it still seems to go out of alignment quickly. also have a constant wind problem with the driver side front door. been repaired once, going into the shop again to repair. also the original tires had to be replaced at 24,000 miles. i wouldn't consider a toyota in future car purchases.*ak | |||
| 03/06/2003 | 17250 | 4 | 02/05/2002 |
| Since i purchased this car it has been problems, first it was the brakes vibrating, took it in and right away the dealer knew what it was without me even explaining it to him, they fixed that in 2 trips. then it was the rotten egg smell, they could not find anything wrong.(then why does my car stink when i try to get power out of the engine?) then it was the knocking and pinging in the engine, (i was told that they could not duplicate the problem, but my octane level was low to upgrade my gas. the manufacturers provided owners manual states 87 octane gas or higher, i already use 89 octane and have since the day i bought the car, so why should i have to spend money on higher priced gas when the car is only 1 year old and the engine should not make any noises. now it is the tires and alignment the alignment is completely off that the tires are destroyed with only 17,250 miles on them, yet the car shows no sign of the alignment being off, it drives straight stays in one lane and the steering wheel is even straight, so how after one year with low miles is the alignment off and the tires are destroyed, and why was it unnoticed when i had my tires balanced and rotated 2 months earlier at 15,000 miles? by the same dealership! i feel that this car has alot of problems that the manufacturer does not want to address, look at how many other people are having the same problems, and we are all told that it is wear and tear or that there is no problem at all, well then why are we all having the same problems? i called toyota's main office logged a complaint and was told that someone would get back to me, it has been 3 days now and not one call has come my way! i feel that i should not have to pay for the repairs to this car since it is a nation wide problem, especially since it is a $27000.00 car that has depreciated in value by more than $7000.00 in less than one year, what happened to toyota's retaining there value? i wish everybody much luck with their issues. *nlm | |||
| 06/28/2002 | 5 | 09/01/2001 | |
| Rotten egg smell inside vehicle cab since i leased it , been in shop 5 times they asked me to do things like put blue planet gas in it and drive it for along time none of this seem to work last time was they swaped the computer system and converters from another 2002 camry and the gas smell is still there. i have tried everything..the smell is to the point where it makes my daughter and i have headaches. at one point i had toyota tell me there was nothing they could do for me....im not sure if my car has a defect due to some other reason it seems funny to me that they just dont know whats wrong with this car.there is also a clunking sound in the sterring they told me it was normal too? not sure about whats going on .....and thought someone else like you guys should know about it. thanks tammy cole. *ak | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL - GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE) | |||
| 12/01/2002 | 200 | 36 | |
| There is a strong sulfur/rotten egg smell emitted by the vehicle whether i drive for along time or not. service folks over phone indicated that it was just a new car syndrome and would go away shortly. 11,000 miles later it has not gone away. i live in atlanta where we have low sulfur content fuel and it should not be the cause of the problem. on short trips, the entire outside around the car stinks like a sewer when i stop. at traffic lights, the smell is really bad. i can not use the fresh air circulation because of the smell. seems like the pcv system may not be working right, but there are no mils on indicating a problem. if there is a circulation problem which includes the exhaust system there could be a significant co issue that we wouldn't be aware of until it is too late. please help get to the bottom of this. *ak | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | |||
| 05/02/2003 | 1 | ||
| The vehicle tail pipe had a sharp edge which cut the consumer finger while he was washing his vehicle. the consumer received a stitch to close the cut. *mr *scc *nlm | |||
| 1 | 11/20/2001 | ||
| Consumer stated while removing a stone from the right rear tire, he noticed the extremely low structure of the exhaust system, which is only 5 1/4 inches above street level at the lowest point, consumer feels the pipe could easily be punctured or otherwise damaged while ascending or descending a steep driveway or by hitting an obstruction on the road, consumer was informed by the dealership the design was inherent on all 2002 camry's.*jb | |||
| 07/12/2002 | |||
| Tail pipe is too low to the ground.*ak | |||