Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Toyota Camry submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 39 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 39, in the owner's own words
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2002 Toyota Camry. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 127,000. It was later discovered that the mileage on the Title was 283,000.
The components or systems that have failed are (Catalytic Converter, Exhaust Manifold, Air Bag Control Module, Engine including head gasket) My safety is at risk due to catalytic converter not functioning properly producing harmful carbon monoxide that can be smelled through air vents, Air bag control module not functioning which will not able to initiate the deployment of airbag in the event of a wreck/accident could lead to fatality. Engine not functioning properly due to blown head gasket which could lead to overheating amongst other things. Vehicle has been inspected by Dealership. Yes there are warning lights prior to failure (Check engine light)
The electrical/switch inside the passenger side door caught on fire, with out warning, while driving. There was a passenger in the vehicle at the time. Driver pulled over when smoke was visible. Flames were soon visible, driver poured water on the flames in effort to extinguish the fire. Flames were reduced but the door began to melt and the window shattered. Emergency services arrived at the scene shortly after calling 911. State police, fire, and ambulance arrived shortly after. Thankfully there were no injuries. The insurance was also called and a claim was filed. An adjuster was assigned to the claim to inspect the cause of the fire. After reading numerous reports of the same incident it sounds like this is a known issue that Toyota has not taken responsibility for. Serious injury could have occurred to the driver and passenger if quick action was not taken.
I was sold an bad car
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.
EVERY TIME I TRIED TO USE THE AC AIR CONDITIONER IN THE CAR IT MAKES THE CAR SHUT OFF IF I USE THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER OUTLET TO CHARGE UP MY CELL PHONE IT DRAIN THE BATTERY AND THAT WILL CAUSE THE CAR TO SHUT OFF ALSO MY FRONT PASSENGER DOOR OPENS BY ITSELF EVEN WHEN I'M DRIVING IT WILL UNLOCK AND OPEN ON ITS OWN
THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND WOULD NOT STOP. THE ACCELERATOR STUCK
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 BATTERY CABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTERWARDS, WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE, IT STALLED. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE 30 MILES FROM THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GROUND WIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE BATTERY CABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWO WEEKS LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS RATTLING AND FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RESTARTED THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A NEW BATTERY WAS INSTALLED TWO DAYS AGO, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RAN OUT OF OIL AND THREE QUARTS HAD TO BE ADDED. THE OIL HAD TO BE CHANGED EVERY 700 MILES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VALVE COVER GASKET AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS CONSUMING TOO MUCH OIL AND SHOOK WHEN DRIVING MORE THAN 50 MPH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 1909271661. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,800.
VEHICLE IS A CONVERTIBLE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON WHENEVER THE CAR IS RUNNING. CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN A COLLISION. MANY OTHERS HAVE REPORTED SAME PROBLEM FOR SAME MAKE/MODE/YEAR. WHERE COLLISIONS HAVE OCCURRED WITH VEHICLES DISPLAYING THIS CONDITION, AIR BAGS FAIL TO DEPLOY.
DURING RECENT WORK UNDER THE HOOD THE HOOD SUPPORT ROD (SUPPORT CYLINDER) BECAME NOISY AND RETARDED MOTION WHEN RAISING OR LOWERING THE HOOD. A SERIOUS ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE OCCURRED WHEN THE WHEN THE HOOD SUPPORT ROD BECAME DISENGAGED AT THE LOWER END SHORTING THE BATTERY TO THE ROD ATTACHED TO THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE FIRE WAS OBSERVED UPON RETURNING TO THE VEHICLE FROM THE AUTO PARTS STORE..
PLEASE HELP ME. I PURCHASED MY CAR FROM TOYOTA SUPERSTORE IN HARTFORD CT FEBRUARY 9,2005 NEW. THE CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE IN DRIVE.THERE ARE 3 LIGHT THAT COMES ON; CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, THE BATTERY AND THE GAS LIGHT . THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE FIRST WEDNESDAY OF 2013. TI WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM . NOW IT 21016 AND IT A FREQUENT ANNOYANCE. THEY DID NOT TRY TO HELP ME WITH ANY RECALL ISSUES. MY CAR HAS 5 RECALLED ITEMS ON THIS VEHICLE BUT ALL OF THESE WERE ISSUES THAT I ADDRESS OUT OF MY POCKET. YOU ISSUED THOSE RECALL AFTER MY MONIES WERE SPENT TO CARRY ON DIAGNOSTICS, AND THE CHANGING OF PARTS THAT HAD NO BEARING ON THE PROBLEM. WHILE CUSTOMER LIKE MYSELF SPEND AND SPEND AND SPEND.THIS CAR WAS $30,000 AND BECAUSE I HAD DONE A TRADE IN UNFAIRLY GOOD CONDITION. I WAS ABLE TO TO GET IT FOR $2000 LESS. I NEED YOUR INTERVENTION IN THE MATTER. I AM CERTAIN I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE IN AMERICA WITH THIS ISSUE. IT IS APPALLING THAT TOYOTA MAKE THESE DEFECTIVE VEHICLES AND SELL THEM WITH THE HOPES THAT AT 100,00 MILES YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GET RID OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT BEGINS TO BREAK ON YOU. NO ONE IN AMERICA IS WILLING TO DRIVE A CAR LIKE MINE, BUT I CANNOT DO ANY BETTER. MY FAMILY KEEPS SAYING I SHOULD GET RID OF THE CAR BECAUSE THE MONEY I AM SPENDING ON IT COME BUY A NEW ONE BUT I CANNOT AFFORD CAR PAYMENT RIGHT NOW. MY ECONOMICS IS NOT THE BEST. WHEN I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE I DID SO BELIEVING THAT THIS VEHICLE WOULD LAST A CONSIDERABLY LONG TIME. MY CONFIDENCE WAS BASED ON THE REPUTATION OF A COMPANY THAT HAD INTEGRITY AND WHOLESOME FAMILY VALUES. I AM RELIANT ON A CAR TO GET ME FROM POINT A TO B. I TAKE MY CLIENT TO SEE HOUSES AND I NEED A GOOD FUNCTIONING CAR TO CONDUCT BUSINESS. I NEED A GOOD FUNCTIONING CAR TO MAKE MONEY. I NEED A WELL FUNCTIONING CAR TO TAKE CARE OF MY SAFETY ON THE ROADWAY AT NIGHTS. PLEASE INTERVENE IN THIS MATTER.
THE CAR NOW HAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000 MILES ON IT - FOR AT LEAST THE LAST 35,000 MILES, IT'S HAD A PROBLEM WITH EITHER STALLING OR NOT RESTARTING AFTER THE ENGINE'S TURNED OFF (OFTEN, SEVERAL INCIDENTS WILL OCCUR IN RAPID SUCCESSION, AFTER WHICH THE CAR WILL FUNCTION PROPERLY FOR MONTHS). STALLING TENDS TO OCCUR WHEN THE CAR IS DECELERATING AND COMING TO A STOP - IF ADEQUATE SPEED CAN BE MAINTAINED, THE ENGINE WILL SPUTTER BUT WON'T SHUT DOWN. IN MY OPINION THE STALLING AND FAILURE TO RESTART PROBLEMS ARE CONNECTED AND I'VE READ OF OTHER CAMRY OWNERS WHO'VE BEEN CONFRONTED WITH THIS ISSUE. UNFORTUNATELY, AFTER AN INCIDENT NOTHING REGISTERS ON THE CAR'S COMPUTER, SO MECHANICS REALLY DON'T WHERE TO START IN DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM AND FORMULATING A POSSIBLE FIX. MY CAR'S BEEN METICULOUSLY CARED FOR AND I'VE PUT A LOT OF MONEY INTO TRYING TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, BUT NOTHING HAS WORKED SO FAR - THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A TOYOTA DEALER AND TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. I'VE CONTACTED TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS ABOUT THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY'RE UNWILLING TO ADDRESS IT, EVEN THOUGH I'VE TOLD THEM MY ONLINE SEARCHES HAVE REVEALED OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I'VE ALSO TOLD TOYOTA THAT WERE I TO EXPLORE TRADING-IN THE VEHICLE (WITH FULL DISCLOSURE), I HAVE NO DOUBT A DEALER WOULD ACCEPT IT AND PASS IT ON TO AN UNSUSPECTING BUYER. I'M CONVINCED THERE'S A FAIRLY WIDESPREAD PROBLEM TOYOTA'S UNWILLING TO ADDRESS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.
IGNITION KEY WAS REMOVED WITH TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE AND IGNITION SWITCH NOT IN OFF POSITION. THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED AT LEAST TWICE. *TR
COMPONENTS ON VEHICLE DASH NOT OPERATING. INSTRUMENT PANEL STOPPED WORKING. NO TEMP. GAUGE, NO FUEL GAUGE, NO TACH OR SPEEDOMETER. LIGHT ON INSTRUMENT PANEL NOT WORKING. HAVE BEEN TO THREE MECHANICS WHO DIAGNOSED BUT CANNOT REPAIR. CONTACTED TOYOTA AND QUOTED EXCESSIVE PRICE OF $780.00 PLUS TAX AND DIAGNOSTIC TIME TO REPAIR. *TR
HARSH/HARD/DELAYED SHIFTING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD OR 2ND AND 4TH (OVERDRIVE) ON 1MZ-FE V6 ENGINE DUE TO FAULTY ENGINE CONTROL MODULE FAILING TO REGULATE TRANSMISSION SOLENOIDS PROPERLY. THIS ISSUE OCCURRED ON THE ECM ON RAV4 (SAME YEAR, 2002) AND RESULTED IN SETTLEMENT IN WHICH TOYOTA AGREED TO REPAIR ALL. *TR
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
MY SON WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN OFF BROWN RD ONTO AMBER GLEN DR IN CHARLOTTE, NC WHEN THE CARS STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP CAUSING THE CAR TO GO OUT OF CONTROL. WHEN HE TRIED TO PRESS THE BRAKES TO STOP THE CAR IT WOULD NOT STOP. THE CAR HIT A TREE THAT CAUSE MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THANK GOD NO ONE WAS HURT/INJURED OR KILLED. BUT MY 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY IS TOTALED AND CANNOT BE REPAIRED. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR IN APRIL 2012 FROM THE TOYOTA SCION DEALERSHIP IN HUNTERSVILLE, NC AND WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS OR RECALLS WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED SOMEONE TO LOSE THEIR LIFE. I FEEL LIKE I HAVE BEEN MISLEAD AND CHEATED OUT OF MY MONEY TO PURCHASE THE VEHICLE. THIS CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SOLD TO ANYONE AND WHY WAS THE DEALERSHIP NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND MADE THE CUSTOMER AWARE OR DID THEY JUST NOT CARE. TOYOTA HAS LEFT A BAD MEMORY THAT I WILL NEVER FORGET AND THAT IS DEFINITELY A BAD WAY TO RUN A BUSINESS. I HAVE NOT EVEN HAD THE CAR FOR 3 MONTHS AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS. HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2002/TOYOTA/CAMRY/STEERINGHTTP://WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/TOYOTA/CAMRY/STEERING-WHEEL-PROBLEMS.PHP. *TR
INSTRUMENT PANEL AND ALL GAUGES , LIGHTS WENT DEAD REPLACING OR TAKING OUT THE FUSE WHICH WAS STILL GOOD , TURNS IT BACK ON BUT THEN WHEN THE CAR IS OFF THE DASH GOES OUT AGAIN. *TR
MY CAR ALARM GOES OFF DURING THE NIGHT AND WILL NOT RESET. THIS HAS HAPPENED PERIODICALLY. *TR
ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2010, AT APPROXIMATELY 8:30 PM, (AZ-GMT) I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY SE 4-DR IN A ROAD CONSTRUCTION ZONE AT 15 MILES PER HOUR. I CAME TO A STOP AT A RED SIGNAL LIGHT WHEN I SMELLED THE ODOR OF AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. I STARTED CHECKING THE DASHBOARD FOR ANY WARNING LIGHTS ON, WHICH THERE WERE NONE LIT. A/C AND HEATER SWITCHES WERE IN THE OFF POSITION. AS THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I WENT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY. I STARTED LOOKING AROUND THE INTERIOR TO SEE IF SOMETHING WAS BURNING. AS I WAS CHECKING THE BACK SEAT, I SAW BLACK SMOKE BILLOWING OUT OF THE REAR BOTTOM OF THE CAR, THINKING THAT IT WAS SOMETHING BURNING IN THE TRUNK. I USED THE TRUNK LEVER TO OPEN IT, GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND NOTICED THAT NOTHING WAS BURNING THERE, AND WENT BACK TO THE DRIVERS DOOR. I THEN NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I REALIZED THAT THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RAN A SAFE DISTANCE AWAY FROM IT. I DIALED 911 TO REPORT THE FIRE. I WAS LESS THAN A HALF MILE FROM HOME AND CALLED MY HUSBAND, WHO RESPONDED IN LESS THAN 5 MINUTES WITH A LARGE FIRE EXTINGUISHER. HE DID NOT OPEN THE HOOD, BUT TRIED TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES FROM THE FRONT END, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE FIRE SPREAD RAPIDLY INTO THE FRONT SEAT AREA BEFORE THE FIRE DEPT ARRIVED. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TOYOTA AS IT WAS IN GOOD OPERATING CONDITION AND SERVICED REGULARLY. PREVIOUSLY THAT DAY, I HAD DRIVEN THE CAR APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES WITHOUT ANY ISSUES OR PROBLEMS. JUST BEFORE THE FIRE, I HAD DRIVEN THE CAR FOR APPROXIMATELY 4 MILES ON SURFACE STREETS AT 25 MILES PER HOUR. THE CAR WAS RUNNING JUST FINE, AND THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS OF PROBLEMS LIKE A LOSS OF POWER, AND NO WARNING LIGHTS HAD COME ON AT ALL. I WAS THE SECOND OWNER OF THE CAR. MY MOTHER BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW IN 2002 IN MESA, AZ FROM SUPERSTITION SPRINGS TOYOTA. THE CAR WAS ALWAYS MAINTAINED. *TR
ONE OF TWO ELECTRONIC ACCELERATOR POSITION SENSORS MALFUNCTIONED ON MY 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. I EXPERIENCED A SLUGGISH RESPONSE TO PEDAL ACTION (I.E. I HAD TO PUSH THE PEDAL FARTHER THAN NORMAL TO GAIN ANY ACCELERATION - CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED). I IMMEDIATELY DROVE TO MY MECHANIC'S SHOP FOR EVALUATION AND REPAIR. AFTER RUNNING DIAGNOSTICS, HE DETERMINED THAT THE SENSOR HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND ADVISED ME NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR ANY FURTHER UNTIL IT WAS REPAIRED. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, FROM MY MECHANIC'S EXPLANATION, THE SENSOR DETERMINES THE POSITION OF THE ACCELERATOR AND SENDS A REQUEST FOR ACCELERATION AS A VOLTAGE RANGING FROM 0-5V, WHERE 0V IS NO ACCELERATION AND 5V IS FULL-THROTTLE. THROUGH FURTHER TESTING, HE DETERMINED THAT THE SENSOR THAT HAD MALFUNCTIONED WAS READING 5V. I FIND IT VERY CONCERNING THAT IN THE EVENT OF FAILURE THE SENSOR DOES NOT "FAIL SAFE" (I.E. FAIL TO 0V, RATHER THAN 5V). THE TECHNICIAN EXPLAINED THAT THE SECOND SENSOR WAS THERE AS A SAFETY REDUNDANCY, BUT EITHER WAY, "FAIL SAFE" IS ONE OF THE MOST BASIC DESIGN CONCEPTS IN AN APPLICATION WHERE SAFETY IS CRITICAL AS IS THE CASE HERE. IN MY CONVERSATION WITH TOYOTA, THEY WOULD NOT STAND BEHIND THE PART (MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND IT WAS NOT ON RECALL), NOR COULD THEY GIVE ME ANY ASSURANCE THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART HAD BEEN REDESIGNED IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT WOULD "FAIL SAFE." I AM A WIFE, MOTHER OF TWO SMALL CHILDREN, AND THE PRIMARY INCOME GENERATOR FOR OUR FAMILY. I DO NOT FEEL GOOD ABOUT WHAT I NOW KNOW ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY CAR AND DO NOT FEEL THAT TOYOTA TOOK MY CONCERNS TO HEART. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANYTHING YOU COULD DO TO HELP. I SUSPECT I MAY NOT BE THE ONLY ONE TO EXPERIENCE THIS SAFETY FAILURE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE ODOMETER AND TRIP ODOMETER DISPLAYED AN INACCURATE CALCULATION. THE ODOMETER READING WOULD INCREASE BY 1.6 MILES FOR EVERY MILE BEING TRAVELED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 11/03/10. *LJ
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. SHE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER AND THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE COMPUTER SYSTEM WAS DAMAGED CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
ON DRIVING, SMOKE AND FIRE FROM PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY LE. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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