Page 7 of 20 · complaints 301–350 of 953

2002 Toyota Camry complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2002 record →

Unknown or Other
Filed Mar 2, 2010100,000 milesNJ

2002 TOYOTA CAMRY,SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *TR

Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
Filed Mar 2, 20107,000 milesPA

I HAD A NEW 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE BRAKES SEEMED TO BE VERY SOFT WHEN THE FIRST DAY I DROVE THE CAR HOME FROM THE DEALER - I NEEDED TO REALLY PRESS THE BRAKE DOWN TO GET THE CAR TO STOP. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY, THEY CHECKED AND TOLD ME NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. LATER I ALSO FOUND THAT WHEN BRAKING FROM A SLIGHTLY MORE ELEVATED SPEED (BET 40-50 MILES), THE CAR'S ABS SYSTEM SEEMED TO MAKE THE BRAKE PUMP BY ITSELF AND CAUSE BRAKING TO DELAY. I WAS WORRIED ABOUT THIS AND WENT BACK TO THE DEALERS AT LEAST ANOTHER TWO TIMES BUT EVERY TIME WAS TOLD NO PROBLEMS. BECAUSE THE BRAKE, I HAD THREE ACCIDENTS IN WHICH TWO TIMES I REAR-ENDED THE VEHICLES THAT HAD STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME AND THE FRONT END OF CAR WAS BADLY DAMAGED. I HAD NOT BEEN GOING MORE THAN 30 MILES AN HOUR, AS FAR AS I KNOW. BUT IF THE BRAKES HAD FUNCTIONED CORRECTLY, I DO NOT THINK THE ACCIDENTS WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Mar 2, 2010400 milesVA

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

Service Brakes, Electric
Filed Mar 1, 201052,000 milesNY

WHEN I DRIVE OVER ROUGH ROAD OR A GRATE, MY VEHICLE APPEARS TO NOT STOP IMMEDIATELY. IT SEEMS TO ACCELERATE INSTEAD. IT IS VERY SCARY WHEN THERE IS A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF YOU AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOUR VEHICLE WILL STOP. I DRIVE VERY SLOW WHEN I SEE ROUGH ROAD OR A GRATE. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Feb 28, 201025,000 milesCA

LAST YEAR MY DAD'S TOYOTA WAS GOING INTO REVERSE ON THE 710 FREEWAY (EASTBOUND TO PARAMOUNT, CA, TO WORK) WITHOUT TOUCHING THE GEAR SHIFT. THIS REALLY FRIGHTENED US. HE TOOK MY CAR IN TO HAVE THEM THOROUGHLY INSPECT THIS PROBLEM. THEY TOLD HIM NOTHING WAS WRONG THAT THEY COULD SEE. HE TRIED TO DRIVE IT AGAIN AND IT WAS JUST A SHORT TIME THAT MY DAD'S TOYOTA WAS GOING INTO REVERSE ON THE 710 FREEWAY (EASTBOUND TO PARAMOUNT, CA, TO WORK)WITHOUT TOUCHING THE GEAR SHIFT. AGAIN, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR!! FRIGHTENED AT THE THOUGHTS OF THIS HAPPENING AGAIN AND SERIOUS THREAT TO MY DAD'S LIFE, HE TRADED IN HIS 2002 CAMRY AND BOUGHT A 2009 COROLLA LAST YEAR - TO SAVE HIS LIFE!! THIS IS AN ABSOLUTELY INAPPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO MY DAD'S PROBLEM. HE LOVED THE CAMRY COMPARED TO THE COROLLA AND WOULD NEVER, EVER HAVE SOLD HIS CAR IF HE WEREN'T IN FEAR OF HIS LIFE ON LOS ANGELES FREEWAYS. WE WATCHED THE TESTIFYING OF A LADY IN FRONT OF THE COMMITTEE IN WASHINGTON, D.C., SAYING SHE COULDN'T STOP HER CAR FOR 500 FT. THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO OUR DAD AND ONLY BY CIRCUMSTANCE, IT DIDN'T. HOWEVER, HE HAD TO BUY A NEW CAR WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOTALLY UNNECESSARY. HE IS ON SS AND MEDICARE AND THIS WAS A HORRIFYING AND VERY APPALLING EXPERIENCE AND EXPENSE THAT SHOULD HAVE NOT BEEN IN HIS LIFE. *TR

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Feb 27, 20101,200 milesKY

WE PURCHASED A NEW 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY 7-16-02 AND THE ACCELERATOR SURGED WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY 11-9-02 CAUSING IT TO STRIKE ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE AND STOPPED 6 INCHES FROM STRIKING A HOUSE. THE TOTAL DAMAGE WAS ALMOST $10,000. WE TOLD THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT HAD TO BE AN OPERATOR ERROR BECAUSE THEY NEVER HEARD OF ANOTHER ACCELERATION PROBLEM. THE DEALER NEVER OFFERED TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK AND THEY TOLD US TO GO TO A DEALER CLOSER TO OUR HOME IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN. IN 2004 WE READ AN ARTICLE ABOUT SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEMS WITH THE CAMRY AND LEXUS VEHICLES. WE LOOKED ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE AND UNDER SPEED CONTROL COMPLAINTS WE SAW A COMPLAINT OF A 2002 OR 2003 CAMRY ACCIDENT EXACTLY LIKE THE ONE WE EXPERIENCED. WE SENT A LETTER TO TOYOTA INC. 4-18-04 AT P.O. BOX 2991 IN TORRANCE, CA 90509 AND TOYOTA NEVER RESPONDED BACK. WE NEVER EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION IN THE 2002 CAMRY AGAIN AND EVENTUALLY SOLD IT. WE HAVE A COPY OF THE TOYOTA LETTER. THERE WAS A NEIGHBOR THAT WITNESSED THE ACCIDENT AND SAID THE CAMRY MADE A LOUD ACCELERATION NOISE. MY WIFE PUT BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES TO BRING IT TO A STOP. *TR

Power TrainCrash
Filed Feb 26, 201040,000 milesCA

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

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash1 injured
Filed Feb 26, 201074,000 milesOH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY LE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, SWERVED TO THE SIDE AND HE ENGAGED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE MEDIAN AND BECAME UNCONSCIOUS. THE VEHICLE ALSO ROLLED OVER MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR SEVERAL WEEKS AND SUSTAINED MULTIPLE INJURIES. THE CONTACTS INJURIES HAVE CONFINED HIM TO A WHEELCHAIR FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT HAS NOT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS CONTACTED IMMEDIATELY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 74,000.

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash1 injured
Filed Feb 26, 20102,700 milesMA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY PURCHASED BRAND NEW. WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 50 MPH, SHE SWITCH LANES TO AVOID A CONSTRUCTION AREA. THE VEHICLE THEN ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING OR DRIVER INTENT. SHE ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES, HOWEVER THE BRAKES WERE NOT RESPONSIVE TO DRIVER INPUT. SHE ALSO ATTEMPTED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BUT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ALSO NON-RESPONSIVE AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE IN AND OUT OF TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE THEN SWAYED TO THE LEFT AND CRASHED THROUGH A METAL GUARD RAIL. THE CONTACT WAS HOSPITALIZED AND SUFFERED NECK INJURIES .THE SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER. CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS INCONCLUSIVE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2700. UPDATED 4/13/10 *CN UPDATED 05/10/10*JB

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator PedalCrashFire1 injured
Filed Feb 25, 20102,000 milesMA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH, THE DRIVER STATED THAT SHE SWITCHED LANES AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE MADE A U-TURN ON ITS OWN AND THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO 2 GUARD RAILS. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DRIVER WAS ALSO INJURED AND TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Feb 24, 201052,000 milesOH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN HE TRIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE INTO AN INTERSECTION. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY STOPPED ON IT'S OWN. THE CAMRY IS A 6 CYLINDER VEHICLE AND THE MECHANIC WHO LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE STATED THAT THE 4 CYLINDER HAD A GAS CABLE AND A 6 CYLINDER HAS ELECTRONICS. THE MECHANIC THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY THE ELECTRONICS. THE CONTACT ALSO HIT A WIRE WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHICH PREVENTED HIM FROM MAKING THE RIGHT TURN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56759. UPDATED 04/01/10 *BF UPDATED 07/14/10.*JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Feb 24, 20101,500 milesVA

IN JAN. 2002 I BOUGHT A 2002 V6 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH AUTO TRANSMISSION. I NOTED THAT ON LEVEL SURFACES AT A CONSTANT SPEED OF +/- 50 MPH IT WOULD SHIFT RANDOMLY BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH. ON SLICK ROAD SURFACES THERE WAS A MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL. I REPORTED TO MY TOYOTA DEALER WHO FOR MONTHS DENIED THE PROBLEM. THEN TOYOTA ANNOUNCED A REPROGRAMMING OF THE COMPUTER. I GOT THIS, BUT IT MADE NO IMPROVEMENT. I REPORTED TO TOYOTA USA, AND TO NHTSA, BUT THERE WAS NO ACTION. *TR

EquipmentCrash
Filed Feb 24, 201019,000 milesIL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE DRIVER WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH IN MAY 2009. THE CONTACT DROVE 3 MPH IN HER DRIVEWAY AND TURNED HER VEHICLE AROUND WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UP TO 40 MPH ON ITS OWN AND CRASHED INTO A FENCE. THE DRIVER WAS THROWN FROM THE CAR INTO HER NEIGHBORS YARD. THE DRIVER WAS VERY SORE FROM THE CRASH BUT DID NOT GO TO THE HOSPITAL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD DOCUMENT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 24, 201032,300 milesCA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING 38 MPH THE VEHICLE SURGED AND ACCELERATED GOING INTO TRAFFIC AS SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKES PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. SHE SHUT THE ENGINE OFF IMMEDIATELY AFTER SHE MADE A RIGHT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN SLOWLY BACK TO HER HOME. SHE CALLED THE DEALER INFORMING THEM OF WHAT HAPPENED AND REQUESTED THAT THEY HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY. THE DEALER TOLD HER SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER WAS DIFFICULT TO REACH WHEN SHE CALLED THEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,3000.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 24, 2010MD

TODAY, I WAS EXITING A PARKING GARAGE. AFTER THE ARM WENT UP, I MOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE AND MOVED IT TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, GENTLY, REALIZING THAT THERE WERE PEOPLE AND OTHER CARS IN THE SAME EXIT AREA. THE CAR "PEELED OUT" LEAVING RUBBER MARKS ACCELERATING AT A HIGH SPEED EVEN THOUGH I HAD TAKEN MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR. I HIT THE BRAKES HARD AND THE CAR SKIDDED TO A STOP ABOUT THREE CAR LENGTHS FROM THE GARAGE EXIT AT WHICH PLACE THERE IS A LARGE TRAFFIC AND PEDESTRIAN CIRCLE BEFORE YOU ENTER THE STREET AGAIN. THERE WAS A POLICEMAN AT THE EXIT WHO JUMPED OUT OF THE WAY WHEN HE SAW MY CAR ACCELERATE. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE CAR OFF. THE POLICEMAN CAME TO THE CAR TO SEE IF I WAS OKAY. I WAS SHAKEN BUT NOT INJURED. THE POLICEMAN ASKED PERMISSION TO ENTER MY CAR. I EXITED AND HE TURNED ON THE IGNITION AND PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, MOVED FORWARD, AND THEN IN REVERSE AND MOVED BACKWARD. IT SEEMED TO BE OKAY. AS THE CAR EXITED THE GARAGE WHEN THE ACCELERATION HAPPENED, THE CAR SIDESWIPED ONE OF THE YELLOW 4 FOOT POLES CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE TO THE REAR RIGHT DOOR AND BACK FENDER PANEL. FORTUNATELY NO PERSON OR CAR WAS HIT. I DROVE THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR AND THEY ARE KEEPING IT OVERNIGHT TO CHECK IT OUT. *TR

Structure
Filed Feb 24, 201065,000 milesOH

SECOND TIME IN THE 8 YEARS THAT WE HAVE OWNED OUR 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY THE CHROME PLATING ON THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES ARE STARTING TO PEEL AGAIN CREATING A HAND CUTTING HAZARD. FIRST TIME THEY WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. I TALKED TO A SERVICE REP AT TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND HE SAID HE HAS SEEN MANY DO THIS. MY WIFE AND NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CUT BECAUSE OF THIS MANUFACTURER DEFECT. TOYOTA REFUSES TO CORRECT PROBLEM AND I REFUSE TO PAY MONEY TO PAY FOR OTHER DEFECTIVE PARTS ONLY TO DO THE SAME THING IN THE FUTURE. *TR

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Feb 23, 20108,000 milesCA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO EXIT A CAR WASH AT 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING IT TO CRASH INTO A POLE. NO ONE WAS INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPRODUCED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8000.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Feb 22, 2010200 milesMI

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ON A BUMPY ROAD SURFACES. THERE WAS PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, FOLLOWED BY A SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS; AND CONTINUED IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER ENCOUNTERING A ROUGH ROAD SURFACE, BUMPS AND ICE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE BRAKES FUNCTIONED PROPERLY AND WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Feb 22, 201090,000 milesNJ

MY 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AS I WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT CAUSING ME TO HIT A PARKED CAR.. THE CAR THAT WAS HIT WAS TOTALED & MY CAR HAD 3400.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT IN SEPT. 2009 I DID NOT KNOW THAT TOYOTA'S WERE HAVING A PROBLEM. NOW IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT RECALLS I BELIEVE MY CAR HAS AN ACCELERATION PROBLEM. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 22, 2010163,000 milesNC

CAR STARTS AND SHIFTS INTO GEAR OK, BUT NO RESPONSE FROM GAS PEDAL,CAR WOULD NOT REV UP OR RESPOND AT ALL. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Feb 22, 201078,650 milesMI

I DID NOT NOTICE ANY MALFUNCTIONS OF MY CAR PRIOR TO THE EVENT THAT I AM REPORTING. IN JUNE OF 2009 I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN A PARKING LOT. MY FOOT WAS LIGHTLY ON THE BRAKE AND I NEARLY AT A COMPLETE STOP WHEN MY CAR LURCHED FORWARD LIKE A ROCKET. MY CAR JUMPED THE CURB OF THE PARKING SPOT, SIDESWIPED A ROW OF MAILBOXES ON MY LEFT WHILE TRAVELING ACROSS AN SMALL ISLAND OF LAWN AND SHOOTING OVER ANOTHER CURB ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ISLAND. MY VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PARKING LOT APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET SHORT OF RAMMING THE SIDE OF A PARKED CAR. BOTH OF MY FEET WERE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, BOTH OF MY LEGS WERE FULLY EXTENDED WITH MY KNEES LOCKED AND MY ENTIRE BODY WAS FULLY EXTENDED WITH ALL OF MY WEIGHT APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. I IMMEDIATELY PLACED THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. THE LEFT FRONT QUARTER PANEL OF MY CAR RECEIVED MINOR DAMAGE FROM HITTING THE MAIL BOXES. THERE WAS A WITNESS FROM THE VETERINARY CLINIC WHERE THE EVENT OCCURRED WHO SAW THE ACCIDENT. BECAUSE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AND NOT ON THE GAS PEDAL I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS EVENT OCCURRED BECAUSE OF A MECHANICAL PROBLEM WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL OR FLOOR MAT. *TR

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Feb 22, 201060,000 milesMA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. SHE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH WHEN PARKING THE VEHICLE WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE, WITHOUT A WARNING IT ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. SHE CRASHED INTO A CEMENT PILLAR AND THERE WERE FRONT END DAMAGES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE POLICE WAS CONTACTED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. TOYOTA HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THERE HAVE BEEN REPAIRS DONE TO THE VEHICLE . AFTER THE CRASH, IT HAPPENED ONE ADDITIONAL TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65000. UPDATED 5/3/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE INCIDENT HAPPENED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE, FORTUNATELY THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL. UPDATED 06/10/10.*JB

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 20, 2010102,000 milesMA

UNANTICIPATED ACCELERATION. *TR

Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
Filed Feb 20, 201040,000 milesMI

THE BRAKE OF MY TOYOTA CAMRY WAS NOT FUNCTION. THE CAR WAS CRASHED WITH ROAD SIDE BARRIER. *TR

Steering
Filed Feb 20, 201058,000 milesOK

PROBLEM WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. I HAVE HAD TWO OCCURRENCE. ONE WHILE DRIVING THROUGH MY RESIDENT PARKING LOT AT A SPEED OF 10 MILES PER HOUR, I APPLIED THE BRAKES. I HEARD A GRINDING SOUND OF THE BRAKES. MY HANDS WAS BLASTED OFF THE STEERING WHEEL AND I FELT A HARD THUMP IN THE SEAT WHICH EJECT ME TOWARD THE CEILING OF MY CAR. I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. I ENDED UP FACING THE REAR OF THE CAR NEAR DRIVER DOOR. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING TO WORK IN THE SNOW. I WAS DRIVING 20 MILE PER HOUR AND APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE SAME THING HAPPENED AS MENTION BEFORE. HANDS BLASTED OFF STEERING WHEEL, HARD THUMP IN SEAT, AND EJECTION OUT OF THE DRIVER SET. HAD TOYOTA TO REPAIR BRAKES AT COST OF NEARLY $450. I NEVER GOT AN EXPLANATION OF WHY MY HANDS WERE BLASTED OFF THE STEERING WHEEL OR THE HARD THUMP IN THE SEAT WHICH LEAD TO ME BEING EJECTED OUT OF THE SEAT. THE PARKING LOT WAS SMOOTH SURFACE, SO I DID NOT HIT A BUMP. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Feb 19, 201074,800 milesPA

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.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Feb 18, 201075,000 milesTN

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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Feb 17, 201060 milesMD

2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. BRAKES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SPONGY AND GO TO THE FLOOR. TOYOTA SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT WAS NORMAL. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 16, 201031,998 milesCA

AFTER BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY INTO STREET, WHEN I SHIFTED FROM "REVERSE" INTO "DRIVE", CAR SUDDENLY HAD NO ACCELERATION. ENGINE WAS RUNNING, BUT NO MOVEMENT OR ABILITY TO "REV" ENGINE. REPAIR AT TOYOTA DEALER STATED: "CODE P1121 DIAGNOSED & REPLACED ACCELERATOR POSITION SENSOR. *TR

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Feb 16, 201019,197 milesKY

WHILE ENTERING MY GARAGE TOYOTA CAMRY 2002 SURGED AND CRASHED THROUGH NEIGHBOR'S GARAGE HITTING HER CAR. INCIDENT WAS TOSSED ASIDE AS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT BY TOYOTA WHEN I CONTACTED THE MAIN COMPANY. I ALSO FILED A COMPLAINT THROUGH NHTSA. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT PROBLEM . CAR WAS SOLD IN 2007 AFTER SURGING CONTINUED. *TR

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Feb 15, 201028,000 milesRI

TL*THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONSUMERS WIFE BACKED OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND THEN SHIFTED THE GEAR INTO DRIVE, WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONSUMERS WIFE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE FAILED AND CONSEQUENTLY, SHE CRASHED INTO TWO UNOCCUPIED PARKED VEHICLES. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED NO INJURIES. THE POLICE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP AND REPAIRED FOR THE DAMAGES. THE CONTACT NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS CONCERN REGARDING THE SAFETY OF THAT YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. UPDATED 03/10/10. *LJ UPDATED 06/24/10.*JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Feb 15, 2010500 milesMI

I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE WITH A 4 CYLINDER ENGINE. THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES HAVE NEVER REALLY ENGAGED PROPERLY WHEN BRAKING EVEN MODERATELY ON ANY UNEVEN SURFACE, SUCH AS RIPPLED PAVEMENT, RAILROAD TRACKS OR SMALLER PAVEMENT IRREGULARITIES. THE PEDAL FEEL IS VERY LIGHT AND YOU NEED TO REALLY BRAKE QUITE HARD TO GET THE BRAKES TO ENGAGE. THIS SITUATION CASES A VERY LONG STOPPING DISTANCE AND WITH A VERY WEAK AND DANGEROUS BRAKING EFFECT. IT IS ALMOST AS IF THERE IS VERY LITTLE BRAKING ACTION WHEN TRYING TO STOP ON THE UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE. THE BRAKING EFFECT IS BETTER, BUT NOT AS STRONG AS IT SHOULD BE ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. I HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED THE CAR TO THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED LEVEL AND HAVE ASKED ABOUT THIS BRAKING ISSUE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE DEALER HAS SAID THAT THE BRAKES PERFORM PROPERLY. I THINK THIS MAY BE A COMPUTER RELATED SYSTEM ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE EXAMINED. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT A SINGLE INSTANCE OCCURRENCE. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 5 OR 6 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN JUNE 2002. IT IS A VERY DISCONCERTING FEELING WHEN TRYING TO BRAKE AND THE CAR JUST DOESN'T RESPOND AS IT SHOULD. WE HAVE 4 OTHER CARS IN OUR FAMILY, TWO HONDAS (ACCORD AND ODYSSEY), A TOYOTA COROLLA AND A NISSAN ALTIMA. NONE OF THOSE CARS HAVE ANY SUCH BRAKING ISSUES. I CAN GET YOU THE VIN ,BUT DO NOT HAVE IT AS I AM FILLING OUT THIS FORM. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Feb 15, 201090,117 milesWV

AS I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE, MY FRONT BRAKES ENGAGED AND LOCKED UP MY FRONT TIRES COMPLETELY AND SUDDENLY AND WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. II HAD NOT PUSHED ON MY BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THIS HAPPENED. HAD TO HAVE MY VEHCILE TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. SMOKE WAS POURING OUT OF THE TIRE WELL DUE TO THE HEAT ON THE BRAKES. THE REPAIR FACILITY STATED THAT THE BRAKE PADS WERE WELDED TO THE ROTARS FROM THE AMOUNT OF HEAT GENERATED. THE REPAIR FACILITY STATED THEY HAD CORRECTED THE PROBLEM BY REPLACING THE MASTER CYLINDER. AS I DROVE MY VEHICLE HOME, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURED AGAIN AND I WAS VERY CLOSE TO BEING IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. MY FRONT TIRES ONCE AGAIN SUDDENLY LOCKED AND WOULD NOT TURN DUE TO THE FRONT BRAKES ENGAGING AND THEN WOULD NOT DISNEGAGE. I WAS NOT PUSHING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THIS OCCURED. THE MECHAINC AT THE GARAGE STATED THAT HE WATCHED THE BRAKES ENGAGE THEMSELVES WHEN HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE. I PICKED THE VEHICLE UP ONCE AGAIN AND DRIVE 2 BLOCKS AND THE BRAKES BEGAN LOCKING UP ONCE AGAIN. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE REPAIR FACILITY WHO THEN HAD TO TAKE IT TO TOYOTA FOR REPAIRS. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Feb 15, 201035,000 milesWI

2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE ABS HAS ALWAYS LET GO WHEN I BRAKE ON A ROAD WITH A SERIES OF ROUGH POT HOLE TYPE PAVEMENT. ALSO WHEN BRAKING ON RAIL ROAD TRACKS. IT CATCHES AGAIN WHEN I AM OVER THE ROUGH SPOTS. I HAD THE BRAKES CHECKED BY A CERTIFIED TECH AND THEY TELL ME NOTHING IS WRONG. SEEMS VERY SIMILAR TO THE PRIUS PROBLEMS TO ME. *TR

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Feb 15, 201048,000 milesNM

AFTER PICKING UP HER MAIL AT HER CONDO MAILBOX AREA, MY MOTHER (93 YEARS OLD BUT IN GOOD HEALTH) STARTED UP HER CAR, HEARD A LOUD ROARING NOISE, THOUGHT IT WAS AN AIRPLANE FLYING LOW OVERHEAD (IT WAS HER CAR ENGINE), AND PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE TO EXIT HER PARKING SPACE. WITH THE THROTTLE JAMMED FOR SOME REASON, THE CAR TOOK OFF VERY FAST IN REVERSE IN AN UNCONTROLLED MANNER, CIRCLED AROUND SEVERAL TIMES OVER CURBS, GRASSY AREAS, SIDE SWIPED A SIGN POLE, AND CAME TO A STOP FINALLY AFTER BACKING (CRASHING) INTO ANTHER CONDO UNIT ACROSS THE STREET FROM WHERE SHE LIVES. OBVIOUSLY SHE WAS VERY SCARED AFTER THIS VERY FAST UNCONTROLLED BACKWARD RIDE, BUT HAPPY TO FIND THAT SHE HAD NOT BEEN INJURED, OR THAT SHE HAD NOT HIT ANOTHER CAR OR PERSON. THE CAR (2002 CAMRY) WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED OVER A PERIOD OF SEVERAL WEEKS (BODY AND MECHANICAL SUSPENSION PARTS) AND CHECKED OVER. NO OBVIOUS REASON WAS FOUND FOR THE THROTTLE JAM WAS FOUND. SHE DID HAVE AN EXTRA FLOOR MAT ON TOP OF OEM MAT TO BETTER PROTECT FROM WEAR AND WET WEATHER. SHE SAID SHE DID LOOK LATER TO SEE IF THE FLOOR MAT HAD GOTTEN OUT OF PLACE TO HAVE CAUSED THE INCIDENT, BUT IT DID NOT APPEAR TO HAVE MOVED OUT OF PLACE ENOUGH TO HAVE CAUSED THE INCIDENT. FORTUNATELY, THE THROTTLE JAM HAS NOT OCCURRED AGAIN. *TR

Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
Filed Feb 14, 2010VA

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY IN AUGUST 2002 AND HAVE SINCE NOTICED THE BRAKE PEDAL IS SOMEHOW SOFTER THAN OTHER CARS. IT TAKES MORE TIME TO FULLY APPLY THE BRAKES. THIS MIGHT HAVE LED TO A REAR COLLISION IN OCTOBER 2008, AT A TIME FEW WERE AWARE OF TOYOTA BRAKE PROBLEMS. AS TOYOTA RECALLS GOT MORE MEDIA EXPOSURE, I BECAME MORE CONCERNED ABOUT MY 2002 CAMRY AND STARTED DRIVING MORE CAREFULLY AND STOPPING MY CAR EARLY AND STAYING IN MORE DISTANCE FROM OTHER CARS. HOWEVER, MY CAUTION DID NOT OVERCOME THE BRAKE PROBLEM WHEN I WAS PARKING THE CAR IN MY GARAGE ON FEBRUARY 13, 2008. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PRESSED DOWN SLOWLY WHEN THE CAR WAS IN THE GARAGE. THE TIME I FELT I PRESSED THE BRAKE ALL THE WAY DOWN, THE CAR ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AND HIT THE GARAGE WALL. I HAD TO PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP IT. THE AIRBAGS WERE NOT TRIGGERED. NEITHER MY WIFE NOR I WERE EXPLICITLY INJURED. THE FRONT BUMPER FELL APART. I AM WAITING FOR MY INSURANCE COMPANY TO EXAM THE DAMAGES. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Feb 12, 201050,000 milesNY

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.

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Filed Feb 11, 201060,000 milesSD

ON 12/8/09, ON MY WAY TO THE CLINIC MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAID ON. LEAVING THE CLINIC MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON AND THE GAS PEDAL BECAME RIGID. IT WAS HARD TO DEPRESS AND DID NOT WANT TO MOVE FREELY. THE CAR MOVED AT A COUPLE MPH. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE PEDAL TO MAKE THE CAR GO FASTER THE WHEELS WOULD SPIN. I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY LE WITH ABOUT 60,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THIS OCCURRED. MY MECHANIC REPLACED THE GAS PEDAL WITH A SENSOR ON THE REVERSE END. I AM WORRIED THAT THIS MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. IT SOUNDS AS IF IT WAS ACTING LIKE THE RECALLED VEHICLES. *TR UPDATED 03/19/10 UPDATED 03/24/10.*JB

Steering
Filed Feb 10, 20108,351 milesIL

CONSTANT SQUEAKING FROM MY STEERING WHEEL. REPAIRED TWICE AT TOYOTA DEALER BUT STILL SQUEAKS. BROUGHT CAR TO MY REPAIR SHOP AN IT STILL SQUEAKS. FIRST INCIDENT AN SECOND TOOK PLACE UNDER WARRANTY. USUALLY SQUEAKS IN COLD WEATHER. *TR

Fuel System, OtherCrash
Filed Feb 10, 201084,000 milesWA

I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. UPON PULLING INTO A PARKING STALL I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AS NORMALLY DONE WHEN PARKING. AT THIS TIME THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD, THE ENGINE RACED, THE CAR HOPPED THE CURB AND HIT A BUILDING. I BELIEVE THIS COULD BE TIED TO THE CURRENT GAS PEDAL RECALL. I HAVE A WITNESSES THAT WILL ATTEST TO THE FACT THAT DURING THIS WHOLE SCENERIO MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ON THE WHOLE TIME. *TR

Latches/Locks/Linkages
Filed Feb 10, 201048,000 milesMN

2002 CAMRY. POWERED DOOR LOCKS RANDOMLY STOP WORKING. REMOTE KEYLESS OR KEYED ENTRY WILL NOT UNLOCK AFFECTED DOORS. POWER LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTON INSIDE VEHICLE WILL NOT LOCK/UNLOCK THE AFFECTED DOOR. DOORS HAVE TO BE MANUALLY LOCKED/UNLOCKED FROM WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE 1) AFFECTED DOORS DO NOT LOCK WHEN CAR IS PUT IN DRIVE. AND 2) THE DOOR MAY NOT UNLOCK IF AIRBAGS ARE DEPLOYED. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON THE INTERNET TOYOTA CAMRY 2002-THROUGH 2007 AND HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Feb 9, 2010158,000 milesME

THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH THE ABS SYSTEM. THE ABS SYSTEM ENGAGES MUCH TOO EASILY. THIS SYSTEM ENGAGES ON SAND, LEAVE OR ANY LOOSE SURFACE. AND WHEN IT ENGAGES MY CAR ESSENTIALLY HAS NO BRAKES. RECENTLY I WAS ON A WET SLUSHY ROAD APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION AND UPON APPLYING BRAKES THE ABS ENGAGED. THE SYSTEM SHUTTERED AT A VERY HIGH FREQUENCY AND HAD NO BRAKING FUNCTION. I HAD TO TURN THE CAR INTO THE SNOW BANK IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE BEFORE CROSSING THE LINE OF TRAFFIC AT THE INTERSECTION. I DID INFORM THE DEALER OF WHAT I THOUGHT TO BE A WEIRD WAY THAT AN ABS SHOULD OPERATE, BUT THEY MEALY INSTRUCTED THAT IT IS WAS OPERATING AS DESIGN. I AM ONLY RECENTLY BECOMING AWARE THAT THIS IS A FAULTY DESIGN, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE RECOGNITION THAT PRIUS AND LEXUS HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT THIS IS THE WAY ABS OPERATES AND WAS MY ARGUMENT WHY I DON'T THINK THE ABS IS A GOOD IDEA. BUT NOW I KNOW IT A POOR DESIGN. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Feb 9, 2010103,000 milesTX

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

Unknown or OtherCrash2 injured
Filed Feb 7, 201026,000 milesOH

VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, APPLIED BRAKES AND WOULDN'T STOP. HIT VEHICLE IN FRONT OF CAMRY, AND THAT VEHICLE HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF IT. NO AIRBAGS WENT OFF. *TW

Unknown or OtherCrash
Filed Feb 7, 201090,000 milesCA

I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT FOR THE SALVATION ARMY IN SAN RAFAEL, CA AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK MY 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY IN A PARKING SLOT. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD WITH THE ENGINE REVVING AT HIGH SPEED RIGHT AFTER I APPLIED THE BRAKES. MY CAR PLOWED INTO A TOYOTA TRUCK AND PUSHED IT THROUGH THE PARKING LOT FOR TWO ROWS BEFORE MY CAR CAME TO A STOP. A WITNESS STATED THAT SHE HEARD THE MOTOR REVVING AND THE BRAKES SQUEALING AT THE SAME TIME MY CAR WAS PUSHING THE TRUCK ACROSS THE LOT. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY AND WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS. *TW

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Feb 6, 20103,750 milesMA

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW TOYOTA CAMRY IN 2002. AFTER 8 MONTHS (SEPT 04, 2002), WHEN I WAS TRYING TO STOP THE CAR AT A RED LIGHT I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. I WAS ABOUT 20 YARD BEHIND A CAR WHICH CAME TO A STOP AT THE RED LIGHT. WHEN I TRIED TO STOP THE CAR, THE CAR CONTINUE MOVING AND LOST CONTROL; I IMMEDIATELY I MOVED MY CAR TO THE LEFT LANE AND TRIED TO HIT THE BRAKE AGAIN AND AGAIN AND WHEN FINALLY I MANAGED TO STOP THE CAR IT WAS EXACTLY PARALLEL TO THE CAR WHICH WAS AHEAD OF ME. I NEARLY ESCAPED THE ACCIDENT. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO BURNARDI TOYOTA (DEALER) AT FRAMINGHAM , MA AND THEY WERE NOT LISTENING TO ME. THEN, I ALSO FACED SIMILAR PROBLEM WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON ROUTE 9. ON BOTH CASES THE GROUND WAS WET (DUE TO LITTLE RAIN) AND ON BOTH SITUATIONS, I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A BREAK DEFECT. I REPORTED AGAIN (2ND TIME) TO THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM I AM SCARED DRIVING THIS CAR AND I ALSO TOLD THEM THAT IT MAY BE ONE IN A MILLION WITH THE DEFECT BUT THEY WERE ARROGANT AND TOLD ME THAT THE CAR HAS NO PROBLEM. WITH MY REQUEST THEY GAVE ME 1-800 NUMBER TO THE TOYOTA COMPANY TO CALL IF I HAVE CONCERNS. I CALLED THE TOYOTA COMPANY AND TALKED TO A REPRESENTATIVE. THEY TOLD ME THERE ARE NO SIMILAR INCIDENTS REPORTED ON THEIR MODEL. THEN,ASKED THEM TO RECORD MY DISCUSSION WITH THEM. THEY TOLD ME ANY CONVERSATION IS RECORDED. SINCE, I DO NOT WANT ANY OTHER PERSON DRIVING THE SAME CAR MODEL TO BE HURT AND I THINK IT WAS TO NHSTA (?) THAT I REPORT (EMAIL) MY COMPL

Service Brakes, Electric
Filed Feb 5, 20102,000 milesNJ

MY 2002 CAMRY, PURCHASED NEW, DID NOT STOP WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES WHILE RIDING OVER ROAD BUMPS AND ENGAGING THE ANTILOCK BRAKES. I HAD A DEALER CHECK FOR PROPER ANTILOCK BRAKE FUNCTION IN 2002 AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THIS CONDITION IS SIMILAR TO THAT DESCRIBED FOR THE TOYOTA PRIUS. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Feb 5, 2010PA

I DRIVE A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE 4 CYLINDER CAR. EVER SINCE WE BOUGHT IT, IT HAD PROBLEMS BRAKING WHEN OVER AN IRREGULAR SURFACE LIKE POTHOLES, MANHOLES ETC. RECENT REPORTS ON TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKING ISSUES SOUNDS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT I EXPERIENCE ON MY CAR. I READ ON BLOGS ONLINE THAT OTHER 2002 CAMRY XLE OWNERS REPORTED THE SAME. I THOUGHT THIS WAS PRETTY NORMAL AT FIRST, BUT NOT ANYMORE. THE CAR JERKS FOR COUPLE OF SECONDS WHEN I TRY TO BRAKE OVER IRREGULAR SURFACES, THE ABS KICKS IN AND YOU LOSE CONTROL FOR COUPLE OF SECONDS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER WITH SERIOUSNESS. I THINK THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUE. THANK YOU. *TR

Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
Filed Feb 4, 20105,000 milesIL

I HAVE A TOYORA CAMRY 2002 MODEL. THE PROBLEM THAT IS CURRENTLY REPORTED WITH PRIUS BRAKES, I HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEM. SEVERAL TIMES I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP IN OAKBROOK, IL BUT I WAS TOLD THAT IS THE WAY IT IS DESIGNED. WHENEVER I GO OVER A BUMP AND IF HIT BRAKES, IT DOES NOT ENGAGE FOR A FEW SECONDS AND ACTUALLY ACCELARATES. CAN SOMEONE LOOK AT THESE MODELS THAT ARE NOT RECALLED YET. THIS HAPPENS PERIODICALLY NOT JUST ONCE. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 4, 201064,503 milesNM

2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. ONCE OR TWICE IN THE LAST 90 DAYS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL APPEARED TO "STICK" AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE WHILE DRIVING IN-TOWN. ONLY BY APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL HARD WAS DRIVER ABLE TO BRING VEHICLE TO A SLOW-DOWN CONDITION. DRIVER REPORTS IT HAS NOT HAPPENED AGAIN. HOWEVER, IN LIGHT OF THE RECALL AFFECTING NEWER CAMRY MODELS AND THE FACT THAT OWNER DOES NOT KNOW IF THIS SITUATION WILL OCCUR AGAIN, IT IS REQUESTED NHTSA CONTACT OWNER FOR MORE DETAILS AND MAY WISH TO EXTEND THE INVESTIGATION BACK TO PRIOR YEARS OF TOYOTA CAMRY MODELS TO CONFIRM OR DENY THE EXISTENCE OF A PROBLEM. NOTE: OWNER CHECKED AND THE FLOOR MATS ARE NOT BINDING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN ANY WAY. *TR

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 2002 Toyota Camry → · Every Camry year → · How the figures are calculated →