2002 Toyota Camry Steering Problems

The contact owned a 2002 Toyota Camry. The contact stated while driving at approximately 65 MPH the steering wheel had seized up and the vehicle had begun to lose forward momentum. The contact heard an abnormal "popping" sound at the moment the steering had stopped functionality. The contact stated she was not aware of any warning lights. The contact pulled off of the roadway and stopped, as she placed the vehicle in park (P) she noted smoke coming from the front. The contact stated she exited the vehicle and saw that there were flames from under the vehicle. The contact stated that after about 2 to 3 minutes the entire front of the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The fire department arrived on the scene and extinguished the flames using foam and other chemicals. The police were also on scene and filed a report. The vehicle was towed away to an impound lot. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

NHTSA ID

11546975

Incident

Mar 1, 2021

Mileage

180,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY CAR RIDE IS JERKY . AT ANY LEFT EXIT THE CAR SHUTS OFF ON EXIT RAMP ON LEFT TURN. STEERING TIGHTENS AND LOCK-UP. THE CAR SHUTS DONE WHILE STILL IN DRIVE MODE. THE ENGINE GOES QUITE AND DIES.THE GAS PEDAL STOP PRODUCING POWER. THE CAR SHUTS OFF COMPLETELY WITH KEY IN IGNITION AND STILL IN DRIVE . ALSO GOING DOWN HILL THE CAR BECOMES IMMOBILE AND STALL. ON OTHER OCCASIONS CAR STALL AT LIGHTS ON LOCAL ROADS SHORTLY AFTER MAKING LEFT TURNS AND STOP LIGHT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO TOYOTA SUPERSTORE WESTON ST HARTFORD CT. ON THREE OCCASIONS. THEY KEPT IT FOR A DAY, TWO DAYS, A WEEK AND THERE IS STILL NO SOLUTION. . NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO STOP THE CONDITION. I TOOK IT TO LOCAL MECHANICS, AUTO ZONE. THEY SEE THE CAR ACT UP BUT THERE ARE NO CODES AND NO SYSTEM ERROR ACTIVITY SUMMARY. DEALERSHIP OFFER NO SOLUTION . ALWAYS THERE ARE 3 LIGHT THAT COMES ON. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, CHECK BATTERY LIGHT AND CHECK FUEL LIGHT . TRIPLE A TOLL THIS CAT ON 3 OCCASIONS. ON ONE OCCASION DURING THE SNOW IT HAD CHECK TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON. PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME. I TOOK MY CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP ALWAYS TO GET THE NECESSARY OIL CHANGE BECAUSE I HAVE LIFETIME OIL AND LUBE. THEY ARE THE ONES SERVICING THE CAR SO IF ANY PARTS GO WRONG THEY ARE THE ONES CHANGING THEM.. THEY WANT ME TO BUY A NEW CAR. I TOLD THEM I CANNOT AFFORD ONE. I WONDER IF THEY ARE SABOTAGING MY CAR. IN HOPES THAT I WILL PURCHASE A NEW ONE. PLEASE HELP ME! I LEARNED THAT THE CAR STOPS AND STARTS UP AGAIN AFTER YOU SHUT IT DOWN TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION FOR A WHILE SO THIS IS HOW I AM SURVIVING. THIS IS VERY SCARY! HELP! *TR

NHTSA ID

10694025

Incident

Jan 7, 2015

Mileage

118 mi

VEHICLE SHAKE AT 55 MPH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10683006

Incident

May 9, 2013

Mileage

53,000 mi

AS MANY OTHERS HAVE REALIZED WITH THEIR CAMRYS, MINE TOO HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE RACK AND PINION. IT IS LEAKING FLUID FROM THE RACK AND PINION BOOTS, AS WELL AS THE STEERING PUMP. I AM NOW FACED WITH A $1600 REPAIR BILL. DESIGN ERRORS OCCUR, AS AN ENGINEER I UNDERSTAND THIS. BUT THE PROBLEM IS TOYOTA WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS AND ADMIT TO THE ERROR. THIS IS MY FIRST TOYOTA. I HAD HEARD HOW RELIABLE THEY WERE. I AM NOT SO SURE NOW. I AM CURRENTLY SHOPPING FOR A NEW CAR, AND I HAVE SCRATCHED TOYOTAS OFF OF MY LIST. I CAN NOT GIVE BUSINESS TO A COMPANY THAT TREATS CLIENTS THIS WAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10667031

Incident

Dec 1, 2014

Mileage

89,000 mi

EACH TIME YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL THERE IS A "WHINING' IN THE STEERING COLUMN. IT HAPPENS EVERYTIME YOU MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. I WAS TOLD THERE IS A PLASTIC PIECE IN THE STEERING WHEEL THAT MAY CAUSE THE PROBLEM THEY ARE NOT FOR SURE AND IT WOULD COST ME OVER $200 IF THAT IS THE PROBLEM FOR A "CHEAP" PIECE OF PLASTIC THAT TOYOTA IS WELL AWARE OF USING IT. I GUESS I WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS DRASTICALLY! *TR

NHTSA ID

10577965

Incident

May 8, 2012

Mileage

122,124 mi

STEERING HAS BEEN GETTING TIGHT. THOUGHT IT WAS POWER STEERING PUMP. MECHANIC SAYS ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN NEED REPLACEMENT. WHY NO RECALL? *TR

NHTSA ID

10560698

Incident

Jan 4, 2013

Mileage

112,000 mi

OVER A PERIOD OF TIME STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT AND TURNING WAS A PROBLEM. STEERING LIKE A MAD TRUCK WITH JERKING MOVEMENTS WHEN TURNING AND PULLING BACK. TOOK TO TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. WHY HAS TOYOTA NOT HAD RECALL? AT SAME TIME THEY SAID BRAKES GONE. JUST HAD THEM FIXED AT LOCAL GAS STATION A YEAR AGO BUT DID NOT TAKE ROTOR DOWN. GRAND TOTAL $2700

NHTSA ID

10514692

Incident

Jun 1, 2013

Mileage

88,800 mi

ON NOVEMBER 13, 2009, I APPLIED MY BRAKES TO TURN IN AND PARK MY CAR (MY FOOT STILL PRESSING THE BRAKE). WHEN MY CAR UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATES ABOUT 15 FEET AND SMACKS INTO A BUILDING. A $10,000 CLAIM WAS MADE AGAINST MY INSURANCE COMPANY. I INFORMED THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR SINCE THE RESPONDING OFFICER URGED ME TO GET MY VEHICLE CHECKED OUT. ALMOST INSTANTLY AFTER I BEGAN EXPLAINING THE DETAILS OF THE INCIDENT OVER THE PHONE, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE GAS PEDAL WASN'T THE ISSUE AND THAT MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I FEEL LIKE I HAVE BEEN PASSED OVER BECAUSE MY CAR WASN'T BRAND NEW, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ONE OF THE SAME YEAR MODELS THAT RECEIVED AN ELECTRONIC THROTTLE. I RECEIVED A POST CARD NOTIFYING ME OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST TOYOTA, HOWEVER IT DOES NOT PERTAIN TO PROPERTY DAMAGE AND I'M NOT SURE WHICH AVENUE TO TAKE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10509958

Incident

Nov 13, 2009

Mileage

80,000 mi

I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. WHEN I PUT CAR IN DRIVE AND STARTED TURNING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, CAR WOULDN'T TURN AND BRAKING DID NOT STOP CAR. IT SEEMED AS IF ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK. CAR FINALLY STOPPED WHEN IT HIT PARKED CAR. SOMETHING SIMILAR HAPPENED ABOUT A YEAR AGO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10496230

Incident

Jan 21, 2013

Mileage

42,500 mi

I PURCHASED A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY 3 YEARS AGO AT 115,000 MILES. I NOW HAVE 205,000 AS OF THE DATE OF THIS LETTER. LAST SPRING, THE POWER STEERING FAILED IN COLD WEATHER AND THERE WAS A SQEAKING NOISE BEHIND OR AROUND MY STEERING WHEEL SO I REPLACED THE PUMP. IT WARMED UP, SO I COULDN'T TEST THE RESULT. THIS WINTER, THE PROBLEM IS MUCH WORSE AND UNSAFE, SO IT WASN'T THAT. AFTER NEARLY HITTING A CAR BECAUSE I COULD HARDLY COME OUT OF MY TURN, I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ON 1/17/12. THEY KEPT IT OVERNIGHT TO EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEY WOULD START BY REPLACING THE STEERING COLUMN U-JOINT FOR $510, BUT WOULD NOT GUARANTEE IT. I ASKED 5 OTHER MECHANICS WHO SAID THAT IT CAN'T BE THAT IF IT ONLY OCCURS IN COLD WEATHER, SO I TOLD THEM NOT TO DO ANYTHING. I'M BRINGING IT BACK TO MY TOWN TO HAVE OTHERS LOOK AT IT AND FIX IT. MOST OF THEM FEEL IT IS THE RACK, OR, JUST GOO'D UP POWER STEERING FLUID, WHICH THEY WILL START WITH, AT A COST OF ONLY $50 TO DRAIN AND REFILL. I HAVE HAD RACK QUOTES OF $880. THIS CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND I PLAN TO KEEP IT FOR 500,000 MILES. *TT

NHTSA ID

10444479

Incident

Dec 7, 2011

Mileage

168,450 mi

STEERING BECAME HARD AND STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT RETURN TO A STRAIGHT POSITION. THIS RESULTED IN A NEAR PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT. *KB

NHTSA ID

10437909

Incident

Nov 28, 2011

Mileage

159,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL BODY SHOP WHERE THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND THE CONTACT WAS INJURED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 77,398. UPDATED 10/27/11*LJ UPDATED 12/06/2011 *LN

NHTSA ID

10425717

Incident

Aug 21, 2011

Mileage

77,389 mi

STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND DID NOT RETURN TO CENTER WHEN RELEASED. CHECK POWER STEERING FLUID IT WAS OK. NO POWER STEERING LEAKS. TOOK CAR TO HAVE PROBLEM EVALUATED. MECHANIC SAID THAT STEERING SHAFT UNIVERSAL JOINTS WERE WORN AND RUSTED AND BINDING UP. ONLY SOLUTION WAS TO REPLACE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. IF ALLOWED TO GO TOO LONG STEERING COULD LOCK UP COMPLETELY OR SHAFT COULD SHEAR CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. REPAIR WILL COST $900 SINCE ENTIRE SHAFT MUST BE REPLACED AND PART IS ONLY AVAILABLE FROM TOYOTA. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS KIND OF PROBLEM WITH A VEHICLE AND WAS SHOCKED TO KNOW THE DESIGN OF THE STEERING SHAFT LEFT IT EXPOSED TO ROAD SPRAY AND SUBSEQUENT CORROSION DAMAGE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND GAVE NO WARNING AS TO THE IMPENDING FAILURE. STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN EVEN WITH THE POWER STEERING ASSIST. *TR

NHTSA ID

10393947

Incident

Mar 25, 2011

Mileage

110,000 mi

I OWN A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY 70,000 MI AND WHILE DRIVING ONE DAY THE STEERING FROZE AND I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL. SINCE THAT DAY THE STEERING HAS BECOME EXTREMELY STIFF AND HARD TO STEER. AFTER CHECKING THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEVELS AND FOUND IT TO BE NORMAL I HAVE MADE AN APPT WITH THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. AFTER READING THESE COMPLAINTS I FEEL IT IS AN ISSUE WITH THE PART ITSELF AND A SAFETY ISSUE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD REPLACE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10392986

Incident

Mar 14, 2011

Mileage

70,000 mi

THE STEERING FAILED, TOO HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL. THE REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT WITH U- JOINTS. THEY SAID IT IS COMMON IN 2002 CAMRY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10383114

Incident

Feb 14, 2011

Mileage

174,720 mi

I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE TOYOTA SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND HAPPENED A LOT IN THIS MODEL. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS HAPPENS TOO OFTEN TO THE 2002 CAMRY. THE STEERING COLUMN IS A TWO PIECE ROD THAT COULD TO CATASTROPHIC STEERING LOSS. I CONTACTED TOYOTA COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT AND THEY TOLD ME WAS THAT THEY HAD ISSUED A SERVICE CALL THAT ONLY INCLUDED GREASING THE SHAFT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10381542

Incident

Sep 8, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN THE STEERING FAILED AND BECAME EXTREMELY RESISTANT. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID

10353020

Incident

Aug 24, 2010

Mileage

90,000 mi

I THINK MY 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY HAS THE SAME STEERING PROBLEM AS THE RECENT STEERING RECALL FOR THE TOYOTA AVALONS. ON 2/27/09 I HAD TO GET $970.00 OF REPAIRS INCLUDING A "REMAN GEAR ASSY AND CONE RETURM". WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS THE TOYOTA DEALER WAS STUMPED AS TO THE PROBLEM, BUT IT SOUNDS A LOT LIKE THE RECENT AVALON PROBLEM, COULD THE CAMRYS HAVE THE SAME DEFECTIVE PARTS? *TR

NHTSA ID

10347502

Incident

Feb 27, 2007

Mileage

88,375 mi

I PURCHASED A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY LE, CARFAX ONE OWNER, STEERING LOSE HARD TO TURN TOOK TO SHOP THAT'S BEEN IN OPERATION SINCE 1972 TOLD I HAD ACRACKED STEERING COLUMN THE SAME AS THE TOYOTA TRUCKS AND SUV MID 2000 MODELS. THE SHOP SAID IT WOULD BE 750.00 DOLLARS SHOULD TAKE TO TOYOTA AS THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE IN TOYOTA CARS AND TRUCKS. CALLED TOYOTA THEY SAID CAR WAS TO OLD EVEN THOUGH OTHER WISE CAR IN PERFECT MECHANICAL CONDITION. I'M SURE I AM NOT THE ONLY CONSUMER OUT THEIR WITH THIS PROBLEM. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR CRACKS IN ANY VEHICLE'S STEERING COLUMN SINCE THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST COMPONENT ON ANY VEHICLE, THE BIG 3 NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD SCORES OF OTHERS. EVERY ONE KNOWS THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE, FAULTY STEERING CRACKS ON A -1 USED CAR BECAUSE OF A DESIGN FLAW, NOT USAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10329891

Incident

Jan 1, 2002

Mileage

140,000 mi

I OWN A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. I REPORTED TO TANSKY TOYOTA (COLUMBUS OHIO) THAT I HAVE A STEERING WHEEL ISSUE. TANSKY TOYOTA TECHNICIANS MENTIONED THAT THEY HAVE HEARD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE FROM OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS. HE MENTIONED THAT SINCE THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, TOYOTA IS NOT CONSIDERING THIS AS A RECALL. I READ A REPORT TODAY THAT TOYOTA COROLLA IS HAVING SIMILAR ISSUE. I WANTED TO BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT AS A TOYOTA CAMRY OWNER, I HAVE A SIMILAR ISSUE AND I WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU COULD INVESTIGATE THIS AND ENSURE THAT THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND ENSURE THAT WE ARE DRIVING A SAFE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10315727

Incident

Jan 1, 2009

Mileage

60,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10312415

Incident

May 15, 2005

Mileage

58,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10308434

Incident

Jan 10, 2003

Mileage

8,351 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH IN TRAFFIC OR WHEN HE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC SIGN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME INOPERABLE. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE OR IDENTIFY A FAILURE CODE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID

10303023

Incident

Dec 12, 2008

Mileage

110,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10188813

Incident

Feb 18, 2007

Mileage

84,000 mi

WHILE TURNING AND DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS DRIVER HEARD A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT STEERING WHEEL NEEDED LUBRICATION. *AK DEALER LUBRICATED STEERING COLUMN BOOTH ACCORDING TO TSB RELATING TO PROBLEM. CONSUMER FELT THIS IS JUST A TEMPORARY FIX, AND PARTS ARE DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. MANUFACTURE NOTIFIED. *TT

NHTSA ID

10111568

Incident

Feb 25, 2003