2002 Toyota Camry Engine Problems
- 49
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 49 stored complaint records:
- 5 indicate a crash
- 0 indicate injury
- 4 indicate fire
What owners report
- head gasket · 15 records
- independent mechanic · 12 records
- head bolts · 11 records
- cylinder head · 8 records
- taken independent · 7 records
- mechanic diagnosed · 6 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 100–150k mi | 25 |
| 150–400k mi | 9 |
| 60–100k mi | 7 |
| 30–60k mi | 3 |
| 1–30k mi | 3 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Electrical System · Engine
The car is burning a quart of oil a week and no visible signs of a leak. The door locks do not work only the drivers side door opens withe the key and fob.
ODI 11287845
Electrical System · Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota camry. While driving 40 mph, the vehicle hesitated to drive, the gauges start to go crazy, and the vehicle lunged and then stalled. The contact was able to coast the vehicle and push it over to the side of the road with assistance from another person. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the alternator failed and needed to be replaced along with the…
ODI 11265691
Body · Engine · Service Brakes
I was coming out of my mechanic driveway and i let cars go by down a busy street> my foot was clearly on the brake and suddenly i heard a wining noise and my the accelerated on it's own and went across the road and hit a car in the middle of the street. I said to myself this car is causing me to have an accident. I had my mechanic check the brakes abs and transmission no problem with that.
Crash reported
ODI 11205684
Engine
Excessive oil usage. Car at 4 years old and less than 40k miles was reported to the dealer as using 1q of oil every 1500 miles. At 60k it was using 1q every 1000 miles. All the times this was reported to the dealer i was told this is normal oil consumption, now at 100k it is using 1q every 300 miles and i am being told i need new rings. I believe the 02 camry is experiencing the exact same thing the later models…
ODI 11166272
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota camry. While driving, smoke could be seen coming from the engine compartment. There were no warning indicators illuminated during the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the valve cover failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was notified of the failure…
Fire reported
ODI 11089845
Engine
I bought my 2002 camry new. I maintained it properly every step of the way. At 107k miles a gurgling sound began in the engine and rough idling, and the temperature went straight to h, took immediately to my experienced auto mechanic, he put in a new radiator. Within days the gurgling and rough idling began again. Once again i took it to my mechanic. After thoroughly checking the engine (he even called in another…
ODI 11088837
Engine
At 145,000 miles the head gasket failed due to 3 stripped head bolt.
ODI 11082234
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota camry. The contact stated that a bolt fractured in the engine assembly and anti-freeze was leaking. An independent mechanic diagnosed that the engine bolt may need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The dealer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
ODI 11170761
Engine
Two separate episodes of rapid uncontrolled acceleration on 27jan2018 and 09feb2018 resulting in vehicle moving forward and engine running rapidly. First episode occurred while moving into my garage causing car to knock down three cases of water and hitting storage area; second episode occurred while pulling out of atm area the vehicle accelerated, had to swear left not to hit another car, hitting bank stop sign.…
Crash reported
ODI 11080698
Engine
The engine will begin to jerk and then it will not idle. I have to turn it off for at least 15 minutes before it will restart then it runs well for a month or so before it happens again. I have had it to the dealer who cleaned the throttle body. That did not help. The car has 151000 miles on it has presents this problem about every 3000 miles always when the engine is at operating temperature. When this happens on…
ODI 11061534
Engine
The engine light came on and i took it to find out why, and was told it was the catalytic converter, so i had it repaired, the light was off. I was driving on the [redacted] louis, mo when going around a circular off ramp the car turned off and it would not turn back on. I lift the hood but could not tell what was wrong. Mo dot (highway tow service) pushed me off of the road, and the driver said it was the engine. I…
ODI 11030868
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota camry. While driving 30 mph, the check engine indicator illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle did not stall, but there was a knocking noise coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was driven to the contact's residence and a tow truck service was requested. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the cylinder…
ODI 10949298
Engine
Head gasket failure due to head bolt was stripped, common in toyotas why i see i have 107xxx miles in my car
ODI 10928114
Engine · Suspension · Vehicle Speed Control
Took the car to good year change a bunch of parts. Aftet that took the car to get the oil changed. On the 01/27/2016 check engine light is now on the the vehicle. I sent you are report last week as well. I need your intervention. Please stop toyota from ripping consumer off. It now states that the gas cap is off and or loose. This is not the case.
ODI 10823559
Engine
The exhaust manifold on my 2002 toyota camry with 2.4l cracked. It seems to be a common problem on these cars. My camry only had a little over 60,000 miles when it happened. Other toyota cars have been recalled for the same problems.
ODI 10837803
Engine · Service Brakes
The exhaust manifold on my 2002 toyota camry with 2.4l cracked. It seems to be a common problem on these cars. My camry only had a little over 60,000 miles when it happened. Other toyota cars have been recalled for the same problems. Brake need long distance.
ODI 10854622
Body · Engine · Vehicle Speed Control
Sudden unintend acceleration at slow speed--on december 17, 2015, when pulling slowly into a garage and nearly stopped, the car suddenly surged forward raming the car into the garage interior wall. This resulted in "totaling the car" and damage to the garage and property in the garage. This is the second time that this sudden unintend acceleration occurred with this 2002 camry . It also occurred on january 20, 2010…
Crash reported
ODI 10817641
Engine
Bough the car from a toyota dealer 8/2013 with 36k miles. Yes, very low mileage, 36,000 miles. On 11/[redacted] to work while i was in the free way, i've noticed my temperature gauge was starting to go up, i was lucky enough to exit out of the freeway and was able to take it to one of the mechanic i usually use after i was able to add water. The mechanic did not even looked at the car after i told him what happen,…
ODI 11309457
Engine
2002 toyota camry. Consumer writes in regards to engine and valve head gasket failure due to poor design in the head bolt attachment. *smd the consumer requested toyota replace the engine before a failure occurred. Toyota declined to assist the consumer. *jb
ODI 10806894
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota camry. While operating the vehicle, smoke appeared coming from the exhaust pipe. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the head gasket had blown due to the head gasket bolt stripping from the engine block. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The vin was not available. The failure mileage was 140,000.
ODI 10818963
Air Bags · Body · Engine
I had an accident with my toyota while my husband was driving on a city street and i was sitting beside him. We hit a car when it stopped suddenly. The seat belt and air bags did not protect me. My head strongly hit the windshield.
Crash reported
ODI 10782321
Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System
Husband was driving home from playing golf on the highway. As he headed north up the hill, he pressed the gas. The car promptly jerked then completely shut down/ceized. Husband immediately looked at the temperature gauge, which read normal, as well as the gas gauge (full). As he stepped from the car to pop the hood, he could smell smoke. In opening the hood, there was a small flame that within 1-2 minutes,…
Fire reported
ODI 10763584
Engine
02 camry 2.4l 5 spd: bought the car from a bay area toyota dealer 2 yrs ago, aug 2013. Car did have 36k miles on day of purchase and does have 53.5k on it when engine issue occurred. Used the car as a back up or weekend car. Work car is a 92 camry 4 cyc with 279k (original motor). Decide to use 02 camry for work and temp gauge went to hot, check coolant level and it was empty, although 2 days prior to the engine…
ODI 10763393
Engine
Cylinder head bolts pulled out of the block causing catastrophic engine failure
ODI 10724848
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota camry. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph, the engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the engine valve cover needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 180,000.
ODI 10715009