Vehicle Data Hub

2002 Toyota Camry engine problems

162 complaints about engine have been filed for the 2002 Toyota Camry, which is 14% of all its NHTSA complaints. It is the 3rd most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
162 14% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
99,000 miles 117 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
12 and 10
Injuries and deaths
13 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When engine problems show up

Engine complaints by mileage, 2002 Toyota Camry Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 99,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 11 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 6 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 9 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 12 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 21 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 21 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 9 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 15 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 4 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 4 complaints 200k+ miles: 5 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 99,000 miles
Based on 117 complaints that include mileage. 22% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles11
20k to 40k miles6
40k to 60k miles9
60k to 80k miles12
80k to 100k miles21
100k to 120k miles21
120k to 140k miles9
140k to 160k miles15
160k to 180k miles4
180k to 200k miles4
200k+ miles5

What the data shows

Of the 117 engine complaints that report mileage, the median is about 99,000 miles, and 22% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 12 crashes, 10 fires, 13 injuries.

What owners wrote

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.

September 2006 CrashInjury

Car was filled with gas on return trip and while in traffic suddenly began to decelerate with no warning. The car was pulled over and stopped. Samaritans stopped to support stranded car and when they tried to turn the car on , it would not turn over. When checked by a individual who identified himself as a mechanic, he said, he didn't understand the problem. It was clear that there was oil in the car and it was clean.

Reported at 79,000 miles, June 2010

Other problems reported for the 2002 Toyota Camry

Engine problems in other years

Engine problems across all Toyota models