2002 Toyota Camry Engine Problems

Your 2002 Toyota Camry may have a factory defect where the rear head studs strip out and loosen, causing the head gasket to fail and coolant to leak. Your temperature gauge will spike quickly when you try to drive. Fixing this requires a complete engine replacement, which costs $8,000–$15,000 depending on whether you use a new, rebuilt, or used engine with professional installation.

Your engine's head bolts are stripped, which allows coolant to leak into the engine block. Your mechanic indicates this is a common problem on 2002-2003 Camrys and will cost around $2,200 to repair, including a new radiator and thermostat. Fixing this issue typically involves removing the cylinder head, replacing the stripped bolts, and installing new gaskets and cooling system components.

Your 2002 Camry's 2.4L engine has stripped threads where the cylinder head bolts attach, which is a known issue affecting many cars from this model year. This is an expensive repair that requires professional work to fix the damaged threads. Toyota has issued a service bulletin (T-SB-0015-11) that describes the repair procedure. The fix will likely involve re-threading or replacing the cylinder head.

Your 2002 Camry's engine head bolts have stripped threads, a known issue affecting many 2002 Camrys with the 2.4L engine. This is an expensive repair that Toyota has documented in a service bulletin. The repair will likely involve removing the cylinder head and either repairing or replacing it to fix the stripped bolt holes.

BOUGH THE CAR FROM A TOYOTA DEALER 8/2013 WITH 36K MILES. YES, VERY LOW MILEAGE, 36,000 MILES. ON 11/2015 ON MY WAY 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, HIS RESPONSE WAS YOU NEED A NEW ENGINE. THE CAR HAS 52.5K MILES ON THE ORIGINAL ENGINE. HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET ISSUE FROM STRIP HEAD BOLTS. THE PROBLEMS THAT COULD HAVE CREATED AN UNSAFE CONDITION IS IF I DID NOT NOTICED MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND THE CAR SUDDENLY STALL WHILE I WAS ON THE FREEWAY, I COULD HAVE GOTTEN HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. I DID A RESEARCH ABOUT THE 2.4L 2AZFE ENGINES AND FOUND OUT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEMS WITH THIS ENGINES. I'VE CALLED THE DEALER AND EVEN TOYOTA CORPORATE OFFICE TO SEE IF THEY COULD HELP ME OUT, I AM PRETTY MUCH OUT OF MY LUCK. MY MOM CAR WAS A 06 SCION TC WITH SAME ENGINE, 136K, 1/18, BLOWN HEAD GASKET DUE TO STRIP HEAD BOLTS. I ENDED UP BUYING REBUILT ENGINES FOR BOTH CARS AND I DID NOT BUY IT FROM THE DEALER. I HAD A 92 CAMRY, 2.2L I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO ALMOST 300K WITH ORIGINAL 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.

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 WERE RECALLED FOR AND TOYOTA WAS HIDING THE FACT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THEIR 4 CYL MODELS. THIS WILL EVENTUALLY BECOME A SMOG EMISSIONS ISSUE WITH THE OIL USAGE. CONTACTED THE 1-800 TOYOTA NUMBER AND THEY SAID IT ISN'T UNDER A CAMPAIGN AND WONT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

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 AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

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 TOP MECHANIC FOR A SECOND OPINION) AND THEN TOLD ME THE BAD NEWS. 2002-06 TOYOTA CAMRY'S HAVE A FLAW IN THE BOLT DESIGN THAT CAUSES THE CYLINDER HEAD TO SEPARATE FROM THE ENGINE BLOCK RESULTING IN THE COOLANT LEAKING TO THE ENGINE. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THE SALESMAN SAID CAMRY'S RUN FOR 300K MILES, WELL HE NEGLECTED TO TELL ME THAT AFTER ONLY 107K MILES BECAUSE OF THIS FLAW IN THE ENGINE YOU WILL HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND STRIPPED HEAD BOLTS SO THE SEAL IS NOT TIGHT -- SO YOU NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE!!!! AFTER LOOKING ONLINE, I SEE THIS IS FAR FROM AN ISOLATED CASE!!! TOYOTA IS WELL AWARE OF THIS ENGINE FLAW. THEY NEED TO PAY FOR THESE VERY EXPENSIVE ENGINE REPLACEMENTS!!!! MY MECHANIC SAID TOYOTA USED STEEL HEAD BOLTS IN AN ALUMINUM ENGINE. VERY BAD! STEEL AND ALUMINUM EXPAND AND CONTRACT AT DIFFERENT RATES, WHICH CAUSES THE PROBLEM!

AT 145,000 MILES THE HEAD GASKET FAILED DUE TO 3 STRIPPED HEAD BOLT.

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. HAD TO PLACE CAR IN NEUTRAL, BRAKES DID NOT SLOW VEHICLE. SECOND EPISODE WITNESSED BY PASSAGE IN FRONT SEAT. AFTER FIRST EPISODE DROVE CARE CAREFULLY LOCALLY AND IT DID NOT REOCCUR, UNTIL APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS LATER WHEN SECOND EPISODE OCCURRED AT ATM SITE. WHEN GETTING CAR HOME PLACED CAR IN NEUTRAL BEFORE STOPPING, MADE APPOINTMENT FOR DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO CHECK CARE ON 12FEB2018. ABLE TO DRIVE TO DEALERSHIP, SLOWLY AND USING NEUTRAL GEAR PRIOR TO BREAKING. DEALERSHIP, AFTER EXAMINING FOR APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR SAID CAR WAS FINE. NOT HAPPY WITH THIS RESULT SINCE THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG TO CREATE SUCH A FRIGHTENING ACCELERATION. AT DEALERSHIP CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE TO START REVIEW PROCESS OF THESE EVENTS. IN PROGRESS NOW. TOYOTA HAS SAID CAR WAS INSPECTED (NO ROAD TEST) AND CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE. I DO NOT FEEL CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE. I AM COMPLETING THIS COMPLAINT TO MAKE SURE THE ISSUE IS ADDRESSED. I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF THIS CAR SINCE IT WAS NEW AND KNOW THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG THAT EITHER IS UNDISCOVERED OR UNREVEALED. THANK YOU FOR REVIEWING THIS FORM.

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 THE INTERSTATE, IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO TRY TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF OTHER TRAFFIC.

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 70 HIGHWAY IN ST 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 CALLED AAA AND HAD THEM TAKE IT TO A REPAIR STATION, BUT IT WAS CLOSED. I LEFT IT THERE TILL MORNING AND WENT BACK THE NEXT MORNING TO CHECK ON IT. IT STARTED AND I LET IT RUN A FEW MINUTES TILL SOMEONE COULD LOOK AT IT. I DROVE IT TO THE BAY AND THE TECH RAN A COMPUTER CHECK ON IT ( SEE PRINTOUT). HE SAID TAKE IT BACK TO THE OTHER PLACE BUT IT STOPPED ON THE LOT. THE WORKER LIFTED THE HOOD, AND IT WAS SPEWING FROM THE RADIATOR! HE SAID TURN IT OFF, AND AFTER LOOKING SAID THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE RADIATOR, THE HEAD GASKET AND THE ENGINE! IT WOULD NOT START BACK UP, AND I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST $4,500 TO REPAIR IT!!! I HAD IT TOWED TO ANOTHER REPAIR PLACE AND WAS TOLD THE SAME!!! BEFORE THIS, I HAD NO PROBLEMS, NO LIGHTS HAD COME ON AND NO INDICATORS OF ANY PROBLEMS!! I CHECKED TOYOTA'S SITE AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINES AND HEAD GASKETS!!! THIS SHOULD BE REPAIRED!!!! CONTACT ME!!! I AM NOT IN A POSITION TO PURCHASE THEN REPAIR THIS CAR THAT HAS UNREPORTED PROBLEMS THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF. !!!!!!! I AM 63 YEARS OLD WITH BAD BACK ISSUES, MY TOYOTA SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY, AND I AM STUCK AT HOME, NOT EVEN CLOSE TO A BUS STOP!!!!!!!

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 HEAD BOLTS WERE DEFECTIVE AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

HEAD GASKET FAILURE DUE TO HEAD BOLT WAS STRIPPED, COMMON IN TOYOTAS WHY I SEE I HAVE 107XXX MILES IN MY CAR

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.

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.

STRIPPED HEAD BOLTS.

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

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, COMPLETELY ENGULFED THE ENGINE/HOOD. HUSBAND IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AS THE CAR CONTINUED TO GROW IN FLAMES WHICH SPREAD TO A BRUSH FIRE. HUSBAND WAS NOT INJURED AND THERE WERE NO OTHER PERSONS INVOLVED IN THIS ACCIDENT (NON-COLLISION). BOTH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND STATE TROOPER ARRIVED TO THE SCENE AND TOOK A FULL REPORT AND INSPECTION OF THE ACCIDENT. ALL PARTIES AGREED THIS WAS THE RESULT OF A VEHICLE MALFUNCTION, AS CARS DO NOT NOR SHOULD THEY JUST CATCH FIRE! THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND WAS TOWED.

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 ISSUE, MY CAR'S COOLANT WAS GOOD. ADDED WATER TO COOLING SYSTEM AND NOTICED SEVERE LEAK OF WATER FROM THE BACK OF THE ENGINE. SPOKE TO TWO MECHANICS I USUALLY GO TO AND THEY DID NOT EVEN CHECK THE CAR, THEY ALREADY KNEW THE PROBLEM. DECIDE TO CALL A TOYOTA TECH MECHANIC I KNOW TO CHECK THE CAR, HE HAD INFORMED ME OF STIP HEAD BOLTS, SAME ISSUE THE OTHER TWO MECHANIC HAD MENTION TO ME. DID WENT TO THE DEALER NEXT DAY AND INFORM OF THIS ISSUE, THEY RECOMMEND TIME SERT WHICH COST ABOUT $4500. THEY HAD ALSO TOLD ME TO CALL CUSTOMER CARE, BUT I DOUBT CUSTOMER CARE WILL BE ABLE TO HELP ME WITH THIS ISSUE BECAUSE I'VE SEEN PEOPLE POST ONLINE WHO HAD CONTACT CUSTOMER CARE RE: THIS ISSUE AND DID NOT DO ANYTHING. BEEN A DIE HARD TOYOTA GUY, WITH THIS ISSUE, BEEN DISAPPOINTED WITH TOYOTA'S CRAFTSMANSHIP ON THE 2.4L ENGINES.. IN FACT THE TOYOTA TECH I SPOKE TO HAD MENTION THIS IS COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS ENGINE MODEL AND HAD ALSO INFORMED ME THE NEWER ENGINE MODEL, 2.5L HAS ALSO A DEFECT, PISTON RING ISSUE WHICH DEALER HAD BEEN REPLACING THOSE ENGINE. AT THIS TIME THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS STRIP HEAD BOLT. I GUESS TOYOTA IS WAITING FOR SOME ONE TO GET HURT FROM THIS ISSUE BEFORE THEY START ACT; SUCH AS CAR STALLING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY DUE TO BLOW HEAD GASKET AND GETTING HIT BY ANOTHER MOTORIST. I WAS JUST LUCKY ENOUGH TO SEE MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT TO HOT AND WAS ABLE TO PARK THE CAR TO SAFETY.

CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS PULLED OUT OF THE BLOCK CAUSING CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STARTED TO FLUCTUATE AS HOT AIR BLEW INTO THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000.

DEFECTIVE VALVE COVER GASKET REFER TO CHRYSLER VALVE COVER RECALL. *TR

CYLINDER HEAD GASKET LEAK, CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS STRIPPED. COOLANT LOST. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EXHAUST SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE TAIL PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT ENGINE PRESSURE WAS EXCESSIVE CAUSING THE ENGINE BOLTS TO SEPARATE AND THE HEAD GASKET TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. ATTORNEY REPRESENTING CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS SERVICE BULLETIN. *SMD THE ENGINE FAILED WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, LESS THAN SIX MONTHS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER, AFTER THE DAMAGE AND THE EXTENSIVE RE-BUILD OF THE ENGINE, OTHER PARTS WOULD BEGAN TO FAIL. *JB

ENGINE HEAD BOLTS STRIPPED CAUSING ANTIFREEZE LOSS, HEAD HAD TO BE RESURFACED, NEW HEAD GASKET, AND A SPECIAL KIT WAS NEED TO RE-THREAD THE LOOSE BOLTS REPAIRS COST OVER $3000 . WHICH IS BETTER THAN A NEW ENGINE BUT REPAIRS AREN'T GUARANTEED BECAUSE THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT WITH THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE. HAD I KNOWN THIS I WOULDN'T HAVE PURCHASED THIS PARTICULAR MAKE OF CAR. *TR

COOLANT LEAK DUE TO APPARENT STRIPPED HEAD BOLTS DUE TO MANUFACTURER DEFECT. *TR

BEGAN NOTICING GURGLING/WATER SLOSHING NOISES AT APPROXIMATELY 100K MILES. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH LATER, CAR OVERHEATED. NOTICED COOLANT WAS LOW, SO HAD COOLANT REFILLED. CHECKED OUT BY MECHANIC NEXT DAY AND WAS TOLD THAT A STOP-LEAK WOULD FIX PROBLEM. COMPLETED THIS PROCEDURE AT PERSONAL COST. THREE DAYS LATER, CAR OVERHEATED AGAIN. TOOK TO DIFFERENT MECHANIC, AND WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE RADIATOR. REPLACED RADIATOR AT PERSONAL COST. FEW DAYS LATER, CAR OVERHEATED AGAIN. TOOK TO FOUR DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND NOTICED COOLANT LEAKS. WAS ADVISED BY ALL FOUR MECHANICS THAT IT WAS BLOWN HEAD GASKET, THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL, THAT REPLACING THE ENGINE WOULD BE SAFEST SOLUTION. ONE MECHANIC ALSO SAID THAT SIMPLY REPLACING HEAD GASKET MIGHT NOT WORK BECAUSE THE BOLT THREADING IN THIS PARTICULAR MODEL WAS KNOWN TO BE DEFECTIVE. CANNOT AFFORD $4000 TO REPLACE ENGINE, ESPECIALLY IF THIS SAME PROBLEM CAN POSSIBLY RECUR. CURRENTLY REFILLING COOLANT EVERY OTHER DAY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AS THE TEMPERATURE WARNING INDICATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD BLOT WAS STRIPPED AND REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE HOWEVER, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

THE COOLANT STARTED LEAKING FROM BEHIND THE MOTOR. MY MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THAT THE FOAM INSULATION WAS SATURATED WITH COOLANT AND IT WAS LEAKING FROM THERE, BETWEEN THE HEAD AND THE CYLINDER. WHEN I RESEARCHED ABOUT IT ONLINE IN MANY TOYOTA FORUMS, THE COMMON THING THAT I HAVE COME ACROSS IS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD BOLTS STRIPPING AND THE COOLANT LEAKING FROM THAT AREA. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT I EITHER NEED A NEW ENGINE OR DO A FIX THE STRIPPED HEAD BOLTS WITH A HELI-COIL OR A TIME-SERT. THIS IS VERY DISAPPOINTING WITH TOYOTA, THAT THEY ARE NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THE DEFECT WITH THERE 5TH GEN 4 CYL 2AZ-FE ENGINES AND ARE REFUSING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT. THE SOLUTION THAT THEY ARE GIVING IS A VERY EXPENSIVE ONE OF GETTING A NEW ENGINE FOR $5000. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA OR SOMEONE NEEDS TO MAKE THEM TAKE NOTICE OF THIS ISSUE. *TR

THE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND REPROGRAMMING THE ECU. I DON'T THINK TOYOTA NOTIFIES CURRENT OWNERS OF FREE WORK TO BE DONE THAT IS NOT AN ACTUAL RECALL. INSTEAD THEY WAIT TO SEE WHO FINDS OUT ON THEIR OWN. THE SERVICE BULLETIN TSB 2404 DATED 07-01-04 COVERS THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND REPROGRAMMING THE ECU TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. IT MENTIONS THE SMELL OF SULFUR FROM THE EXHAUST AND WAS APPARENTLY THE ONLY REASON MOST PEOPLE HAD IT CHECKED OUT. MY WIFE'S CAR HAS HAD THE SMELL OF SULFUR FOR A FEW YEARS NOW, BUT SINCE WE DON'T MAKE IT A HABIT OF MAKING OUR CAR EXHAUST SMELL PLEASANT WE NEVER THOUGHT ANYTHING OF IT. NOW, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BUT HER CAR IS OVER THE 8 YEAR, 80,000 MILE LIMIT OF THE TSB. IF WE WERE NOTIFIED OF TOYOTA'S DESIGN ERROR EARLIER AND HAD THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED AND THE ECU REPROGRAMMED FOR FREE, WE WOULD NOT BE LOOKING AT A $1000 REPAIR BILL IN OUR FUTURE. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR TOYOTA'S ERROR, WE ALREADY PAID FOR THE CAR. *TR

AFTER TAKING MY CAR TO A LOCAL MECHANIC BECAUSE OF OVERHEATING, A COOLANT LEAK, AND MISFIRING, I BROUGHT MY CAMRY TO A CERTIFIED TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. I EXPLAINED TO THE TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE OF THE FORE MENTIONED ISSUES. AFTER CONDUCTING AN INSPECTION, THE TOYOTA REP. TOLD ME I HAD A BAD COIL IN CYLINDER #2, AND FOUND PRESSURE LEAKING INTO #2 AND #3 CYLINDERS. AFTER A FURTHER TEAR DOWN OF THE ENGINE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE HAD LOOSE HEAD BOLTS IN THESE CYLINDERS, AND THAT THE THREADS ON THE ENGINE FOR THESE BOLTS WAS STRIPPED. THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO FIX TO THIS PROBLEM AND QUOTED ME A NEW ENGINE WITH 90,000 MILES WITH AN ESTIMATE COST BETWEEN $5000-$6000. FURTHERMORE, I WAS TOLD REPLACING THE COIL AT $227, WOULD FIX THE MISFIRING. HOWEVER THIS DID NOT FIX THE MISFIRING PROBLEM, AS THE MISFIRE WAS DUE BECAUSE OF THE LOOSE HEAD BOLTS WHICH WAS EXPLAINED TO ME BY THE DEALERSHIP AS WELL. THIS CONFLICTING INFORMATION LED ME TO BELIEVE IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AS LONG AS COOLANT WAS PLENTIFUL IN THE RADIATOR AND OVER FLOW RESERVOIR. HOWEVER, THE OVERHEATING, LEAKING OF COOLANT AND MISFIRING CONTINUES. THE MISFIRING CREATES DANGEROUS RANDOM STALLS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCREASED RAPIDLY INTO THE RED ZONE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING AND THE THERMOSTAT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. SMOKE ALSO EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE TWO HOURS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOTH AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER DETECTED THAT THE ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS WERE STRIPED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

CYLINDER HEAD BOLT STRIPPED OFF FROM ENGINE BLOCK THREAD AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE. *TR

BLOWN HEAD GASKET ON 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY LE. APPARENTLY THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AS EVIDENCED BY ALL THE BLOGS ON THE INTERNET. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO COMPENSATE THE CONSUMER FOR THIS DEFECT. *TR

CAR WAS OVERHEATING AND WE DIDN'T KNOW WHY. THE RESERVOIR WAS FULL OF COOLANT SO WE TOOK IT INTO A MECHANIC TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM. WE WERE TOLD WE NEEDED A NEW HEAD GASKET. WE LEFT THE CAR WITH THE MECHANIC AND HE FOUND THAT 3 BOLTS FOR THE ENGINE BLOCK WERE LOOSE (HE COULD EASILY PULL THEM OUT WITH HIS HANDS AND THE THREADING CAME WITH THEM). HE HAD NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE SO HE LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE CAR HAD ABOUT 109K MILES ON IT. LOOKING ON THIS SITE SHOWS THAT TOYOTA HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LAMP WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD BOLTS WERE STRIPPED. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE HAD TO BE EITHER REPLACED OR REBUILT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 137,000.

STRIPPED HEADBOLTS CAUSING COOLANT LEAKAGE WHICH RESULTS IN OVER HEATING ENGINE. FROM ALL OF THE INFO I HAVE READ ONLINE THIS IS A TYPICAL PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE AND FEEL THAT TOYOTA SHOULD DO A RECALL. *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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY LE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, A CLICKING NOISE OCCURRED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE WAS 110,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN SMOKED WAS EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD DEVELOPED A CRACKED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 175,000.

I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW IN 2002 AND HAVE MAINTAINED IT METICULOUSLY. THE CAR OVERHEATED FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE I BOUGHT IT ON 7/9/12. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP ON 7/11/12 FOR EVALUATION OF THE PROBLEM, I WAS TOLD THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS WERE DEFECTIVE, CAUSING THE CAR TO LOSE COOLANT RESULTING IN THE OVERHEATING INCIDENT. THE AUTO SHOP ALSO TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT IS WELL KNOWN, BUT TOYOTA REFUSES TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES FOR REPAIR. THE COST OF REPAIR IS APPROXIMATELY $2200.00 TO $2400.00, IF IT CAN BE REPAIRED. IF IT CANNOT BE REPAIRED, THE ENGINE WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A MUCH HIGHER COST. I WENT ON LINE TO CARCOMPLAINTS.COM AND FOUND MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME EXACT PROBLEM FROM OTHER 2002 CAMRY OWNERS AROUND THE USA. *TR

MY 2002 CAMRY HAD NO ISSUES UNTIL AT ABOUT 211,000 MILES WHEN ANTIFREEZE STARTED TO LEAK FROM BACK OF ENGINE. AFTER MECHANIC INSPECTED, HE SAID WATER HAD GOTTEN INTO HEAD GASKET. WHEN HE TRIED TO REMOVE BOLTS WE NOTICED THREE BACK BOLTS WERE LOOSE ALREADY AND THREAD WAS STRIPPED. AFTER HAVING HEAD GASKET CLEANED AND "REPAIRED" THIS REPAIR GUY SAID THERE WASN'T ANYTHING WRONG WITH HEAD ITSELF. ALL HE DID WAS INSPECT, CLEAN, AND SAND IT. HE DID SAY IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM HE ENCOUNTERS WITH TOYOTA'S. THE ONLY REPAIR HE SAYS WILL WORK IS TO HAVE ENGINE BLOCK REMOVED AND HE WILL RETHREAD ALL THE HOLES WITH DIFFERENT MATERIAL TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. NONE OF THIS IS A SURE FIX BECAUSE IT COULD STILL FAIL, THE ONLY SURE WAY IS TO BUY A NEW ENGINE, BUT IF TOYOTA MAKES DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS, THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. I HAVE ALWAYS SWORE BY TOYOTA CARS, THAT IS ALL I HAVE EVER OWNED BUT I WILL NEVER BUY A VEHICLE FROM THEM AGAIN. *JS

BAD THREADS ON ENGINE BLOCK. ENGINE LEAKING COOLANT. MECHANIC DETERMINED HEAD GASKET BAD. TOYOTA CERTIFIED MECHANIC TORE APART ENGINE AND ON REASSEMBLY FOUND THE THREADS ON THE LOWER ENGINE BLOCK WERE STRIPPED AND THIS WAS THE CAUSE OF THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. NEW ENGINE/REBUILD REQUIRED AT $5200. FAILURE CAUSED BY FAULTY THREADS/ENGINE BLOCK AT MANUFACTURING END. SIMPLY DRIVING VEHICLE CAUSES THREADS TO DISINTEGRATE AND CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN A BURNING SMELL EMITTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

RADIATOR/OIL COOLER COPPER NIPPLE DISINTEGRATED CAUSING LOSS OF OIL. PART THAT FAILED IS ORIGINAL PART OF VEHICLE. THE NUT HOLDING THE NIPPLE RUSTED AND CRUMBLED CAUSING THE OIL COOLER HOSE TO SEPARATE FROM THE OIL COOLER. CAR HAS NEVER HAD FRONT END OR ANY OTHER DAMAGE. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY AND HAVE MAJOR DAMAGE TO CYLINDER BLOCK WITH STRIPPED HEAD BOLTS. COST IS APPROX $4700 TO REPAIR. I TALKED TO EXECUTIVE OFFICES AT TOYOTA THEY WILL NOT HELP. ALSO HAS CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK INTO ENGINE. PLEASE SEE HTTP://WWW.CAMRYFORUMS.COM/FORUM/GENERAL-TECH-8/2002-STRIPPED-HEAD-BOLTS-4585/ AND CHECK OUT THE "TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TSB2740. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHEN THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS LEAKING COOLANT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE AND THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 135,000.

2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HIS MECHANIC WANTED TO CHARGE HIM AN ADDITIONAL $3,450 TO PERFORM VALVE WORK AND OTHER REPAIRS TO THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE STARTED THE VEHICLE IN THE MORNING TIME, A PLUME OF EXHAUST SMOKE COULD VISIBLY BE SEEN. *JB

THREE HEAD BOLTS IN THE ENGINE HAVE STRIPPED AND PULLED OUT OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE LARGEST CONSEQUENCE OF THIS IS A HEAD GASKET FAILURE; THIS ALSO CAUSED COOLANT LOSS AND OVERHEATING, WHICH IN TURN RUINED MY RADIATOR. WHEN MY MECHANIC OPENED UP THE ENGINE TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKETS, THESE FAULTY BOLTS WERE LOOSE AND HE WAS ABLE TO PULL THEM OUT BY HAND WITHOUT NEEDING WRENCHES/TOOLS. THE TOTAL COST OF THE FIX, WHICH INCLUDED DRILLING OUT AND RETAPPING THE BOLT HOLES, REPAIRING/RESURFACING HEADS, INSTALLING NEW HEAD GASKETS AND INSTALLING A NEW RADIATOR EXCEEDED $3500; THE ONLY OTHER OPTION WAS BUYING A NEW/RECONDITIONED ENGINE FOR $7000+. TOYOTA REFUSES TO ADMIT THAT THIS LINE OF CARS HAS DEFECTIVE HEAD BOLTS. MY 2002 CAMRY XLE HAD ABOUT 98,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME, WHICH IS NOT A LOT BY TOYOTA STANDARDS. WHILE SEARCHING INTERNET FORUMS, I HAVE FOUND MANY MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH TOYOTA VEHICLES (ESPECIALLY CAMRYS FROM 2002 TO 2005) THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME EXACT BOLTS FAIL ON THEIR ENGINES, LEADING TO BLOWN HEAD GASKETS. *TR

I WAS LOSING COOLANT IN MY SYSTEM SO I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC. HE TOLD ME THAT THE HEAD BOLTS ON MY ENGINE HAD BECOME STRIPPED AND THAT I WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE PUT IN. I PAID FOR THAT REPAIR AND NOW TWO YEARS LATER I AM HAVING THE SAME SYMPTOMS. I WENT ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT I AM NOT ALONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. IT SEEMS THAT STRIPPED THREADS ARE VERY COMMON IN 2002-2008 CAMRYS. IT IS CLEARLY A DESIGN DEFECT. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT A CLASS ACTION SUIT IS NOT BEING ARRANGED. *TR

AFTER WAITING IN LINE AT A FAST FOOD OUTLET FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES, MY TOYOTA CAMRY'S ENGINE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO VERY HIGH RPMS. ONLY MY QUICK REACTION TO APPLY THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD KEPT US FROM HITTING THE CAR AHEAD. THE PASSENGER REACTED BY PULLING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. SHUTTING OFF THE IGNITION STOPPED THE ENGINE. IT RESTARTED NORMALLY AND SEEMED TO BE FINE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD BOLTS IN THE ENGINE BLOCK WERE STRIPPING AND THE FAILURE WAS A RECURRING ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC ALSO ADVISED THE CONTACT TO NOTIFY THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

2002 CAMRY LE WITH 153,000 SUFFERED FAILURE OF CATALYST AND CHARCOAL CANISTER AT TIME OF STATE INSPECTION. THIS IS THE THIRD FAILURE OF THE CATALYST SINCE PURCHASE OF THE CAR. DEALER SAID THAT CATALYST IS ONLY WARRANTIED FOR ONE YEAR FROM DATE OF INSTALLATION AND GAVE AN ESTIMATE OF MORE THAN $1700 TO COMPLETE REPAIRS. CONTACT WITH TOYOTA CONCERNING THIS ONGOING PROBLEM WAS A COMPLETE AND TOTAL WASTE OF TIME. VEHICLE TAKEN TO PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED REPAIRS WITH CONFORMING NON OEM PARTS CARRYING BETTER WARRANTIES AT HALF THE PRICE QUOTED BY DEALER. *TR

IT IS 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY LE WITH 2.4L 2AZ-FE ENGINE. IT HAPPENED WHILE CAR WAS DRIVEN. ENGINE PRODUCED A LOUD BANG AND STALLED. DID NOT STARTED AFTER CRANKING IT. BEFORE TRIP THERE WAS NOTICEABLE STEAM OUT OF EXHAUST. AFTER CONSIDERING HEAD GASKET FAILURE THERE WAS ATTEMPT TO REPLACE THE GASKET. DURING REPAIR WAS FOUND THAT SEVERAL HEAD BOLTS WERE LOOSE DUE TO STRIPING FROM THEIR SITS. AFTER DIGGING IN GOOGLE IT WAS FOUND THAT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS ENGINES. IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS A MANUFACTURER DESIGN FLOW. ALL 2AZ-FE ENGINES ARE PRONE TO THIS BECAUSE OF INADEQUATE HEAT DISPERSION AT THE BACK OF THE ENGINE. TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE RESPONSE IS THAT THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS A MAJOR DESIGN FLOW AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. ALL ENGINES FROM 2002 ARE PRONE TO IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE ENGINE COOLANT WAS LOW AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND ADDED MORE COOLANT TO THE VEHICLE. APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES AFTER BEING REPAIRED THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHILE REPAIRING THE ENGINE, THE MECHANICED NOTICED THE BOLTS WHICH MOUNTED THE ENGINE WERE STRIPPED. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE WAS PREVIOUSLY MOUNTED OUT OF POSITION, PREVENTING THE ENGINE COOLANT FROM PROPERLY ENTERING THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT DUE TO THIS FAILURE, THE ENGINE RAN AT A LOW TEMPERATURE AND THE HEAD GASKET FAILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY STALL INTERMITTENTLY, THEN THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE SINCE HE KNEW THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BLUE SMOKE WAS EMITTING FROM THE TAIL PIPE ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THERE WAS SLUDGE BUILDING UP IN THE ENGINE AND CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BURN MILEAGE EXTREMELY QUICKLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, HE NOTICED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCREASED AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. HE PULLED OVER AND OPENED THE HOOD AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS NO COOLANT IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE HEAD BOLT WAS STRIPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000. UPDATED 08/05/11*LJ UPDATED 08/15/11

THE CAR ACCELERATES AT A HIGH RATE WITH LITTLE PRESSURE ON GAS. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN AT RANDOM TIMES WHEN THE CAR IS WARM. I COULD BE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT THEN HAVE IT HAPPEN WHEN THE LIGHT TURNS AND I STEP ON THE GAS. IT ALSO HAS HAPPENED WHEN ACCELERATING WHILE STILL MOVING IE: TAKING A CORNER WHILE SLOWING THEN STEPPING ON THE GAS ONCE I HAVE STRAIGHTENED OUT. *TR

MY 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY HAD STALLED-ENGINE PROBLEM THESE YEARS. MOST OF THE PROBLEM HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR STOPPED AT THE TRAFFIC RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN AND WAITING AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS OR AT THE STOP SIGN, MY CAMRY CAR ENGINE ABRUPTLY CEASES OPERATING AND STOPS TURNING. I HAVE TO TURN THE KEY AND START THE ENGINE AGAIN. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED A LOT OF TIMES THESE YEARS AND GIVE ME A BIG TROUBLE WHEN A LOT OF OTHER CARS WAITING BEHIND ME. IT'S NOT SAFE AND BE DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THIS STALLED ENGINE PROBLEM JUST HAPPENED THIS MORNING WHEN I SENT MY SON TO THE BASEBALL GAME. *TR

ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO I STARTED EXPERIENCING A JERKING OF MY CAR AT ABOUT 40 MPH. MY CAR IS A 2002 CAMRY XLE V6. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD TWO TECH'S RIDE WITH ME AND THEY EXPERIENCED THE JERKING BUT COULDN'T DETERMINE WHAT IT WAS. NOW THE JERKING IS GETTING WORSE AND IS HAPPENING AT ALL SPEEDS. I HAVE ABOUT 111000 MILES ON THE CAR PRESENTLY. I HAVE HAD A FEW TIMES WHERE I THOUGHT THE CAR WAS GOING TO STOP COMPLETELY IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I CALLED TOYOTA'S NATIONAL OFFICE TO MAKE SURE MY DEALERSHIP HADN'T MISSED A RECALL OR SERVICE BULLETIN AND THE NATIONAL OFFICE SAID THERE WASN'T A RECALL OR SERVICE BULLETIN. HOWEVER, I HAVE FOUND MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET. THE NATIONAL OFFICE OFFERED TO CALL MY DEALERSHIP, WHICH THEY DID, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'LL DO FOR ME SINCE LAST TIME THEY TOLD ME UNTIL A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE EXAMINING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT NOTICED A PUDDLE OF COOLANT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WHERE IT WAS PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED. ONE MONTH AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE FAILURE RECURRED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 130000.

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. INSURANCE COMPANY AND TOWING SERVICE SUPPORT CALLED AND $400.00 PLUS DOLLARS LATER THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO LOCAL DEALER. AFTER CONVERSATION WITH DEALER REPRESENTATIVE , WE WERE INFORMED THAT OUR OBVIOUS NEGLIGENCE AROUND REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND OIL CHANGES WERE THE CAUSE OF THE OIL SLUDGE THAT CAUSED THE DAMAGE TO OUR CAR TO THE TUNE OF $4,600. SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS LATER, ALLOWING COOLER HEADS TO PREVAIL, WE WERE ABLE TO GAIN SOME SUPPORT FROM THE LOCAL DEALER HOWEVER WE WERE STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THE SECOND HAND ENGINE BECAUSE TOYOTA REFUSED TO COVER THE COST OF THE PROBLEM.BECAUSE WE LIVE IN A SMALL COMMUNITY AND HAVE BEEN DOING BUSINESS WITH THIS GROUP FOR YEARS, WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE PART OF THE CAR THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC IN QUESTION REPORTED THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING QUITE LIKE THIS BEFORE AND HE HA BEEN WORKING FOR MANY YEARS AT THE SAME LOCATION. ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE ACCESS TO THE PAPERWORK FROM OUR LOCAL MECHANIC WHO HAS ROUTINELY DONE THE OIL CHECKS SINCE WE'VE HAD THE CAR. EVEN AFTER PHONE CALLS AND LETTER REQUESTING THAT TOYOTA "DO THE RIGHT THING" EVEN THOUGH OUR SITUATION WAS A FEW MONTHS SHY OF THE "07 SETTLEMENT, THEY REFUSED TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

ON MY CAMRY 2002 SE ENGINE STALLS AND/OR ROUGH IDLES ANYTIME WHILE COLD OR AFTER BEING WARMED UP. PREMATURE AND UNJUSTIFIED THROTTLE BODY FAILURE IS SUSPECTED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING LESS THAN 40 MPH, THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE OIL TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATED THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INSPECTED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED THAT THE ENGINE BE REPLACED DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS. THE TECHNICIAN ORDERED A NEW REPLACEMENT ENGINE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE VEHICLE LEAKING COOLANT AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC INFORMED HIM THAT THE HEAD BOLTS WERE STRIPPED AND THE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN. THE MECHANIC TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THE PROBLEM WAS COMMON WITH HIS PARTICULAR MODEL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 99,000.

2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONSUMER WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR REPAIRS. *DT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE EMISSION SYSTEM. THE PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED AND THE CONSUMER WAS CHARGED $600.00. TWO DAYS LATER, THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. WHEN THE CONSUMER STOPPED FOR GAS, HE NOTICED THE GAS TANK WOULD NOT FILL UP, THE GAS WOULD SPILL OUT. THE CONSUMER WENT TO ANOTHER ESTABLISHMENT AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A PAIR OF PLIERS WERE ON THE VENT OF THE GAS TANK. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED AND THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD A MISTAKE WAS MADE BY ONE OF THEIR MECHANICS. THE SECOND DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE VACUUM SWITCHING VALVE. *JB

2002 TOYOTA SOLARA CONVERTIBLE STALLED ON RAILROAD TRACKS IN RALEIGH, NC. THE DRIVER WAS KILLED SECONDS AFTER WHEN AN AMTRAK TRAIN COLLIDED WITH THE VEHICLE. A MECHANICAL DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN RULED OUT. THE CAR IS STILL IN THE POSSESSION OF THE DECEDANTS WIDOW. *TR

I OWN A TOYOTA CAMRY 2002 V6. LATE 2009, THE CAR STARTS TO BLOW LIGHT BLUE SMOKE EVERYTIME I START THE ENGINE. I CALLED HAMER TOYOTA ON MISSION HILLS, CA ABOUT THE PROBLEM. IWAS TOLD THAT THEY WILL CHECK THE ENGINE BUT IT WILL COST ME $95.00 TO OPEN THE CYLINDER HEAD. I INFORMED THE SERVICE MANAGER ABOUT THE RECALL FOR ENGINE SLUDGE PROBLEM BUT HE STILL INSIST THAT THERE IS A CHARGE TO OPEN THE CYLINDER HEAD. HE SAID THAT IF WHAT IS CAUSING THE SMOKE IS THE ENGINE SLUDGE, THEY WILL NOT CHARGE $95.00. AFTER LEAVING THE CAR FOR A FEW DAYS, THEY CALLED ME AND SAID THAT THE CAR'S ENGINE WAS SO CLEAN AND I TOOK GOOD CARE OF THE CAR. JUST WONDERING WHAT'S THE REASON WHY THE CAR IS EXHALING WHITE SMOKE UP TO NOW IF HE SAID THAT THE ENGINE IS CLEAN. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I CAN GO DIRECTLY TOYOTA TO FILE A COMPLAIN OR YOU CAN PUBLISH MY COMPLAIN ON YOUR WEBSITE. *TR

WE HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH A 2.4 LITER ENGINE WITH A 38, 900 MILES IN THE ODOMETER. AND ON MARCH 4, 2010 MY WIFE CAME HOME FROM A THE GROCERY STORE ASKED ME TO CHECK THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IIS ON. I DROVE THE CAR FOR A TEST DRIVE AROUND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD FOR FIVE MINUTES WITH THE SPEED OF 10 MILES TO 15 MILES AN HOUR. BEFORE I CAME TO THE STOP SIGN, THE ENGINE START RACING, RPM IS UP THE RED LINE, I COULD HEAR THE ENGINE ROAR. I STEP ON THE BRAKE HARD, SHIFT THE GEAR HARD INTO PARK AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION. I WAS SO LUCKY, I WAS DRIVING IN THE RIGHT PLACE AND THE RIGHT TIME WITH NO TRAFFIC AND KIDS PLAYING ON THE STREET. IF MY WIFE WOULD BE DRIVING AT THAT MOMENT ESPECIALLY SHE IS AN ELDERLY LIKE ME, IT COULD BE BIG ACCIDENT. IT'S A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE. I SUGGEST THAT 2002 CAMRY SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS HURT. THAT SAME DAY I CALLED TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE APPOINTMENT. *TR

2002 TOYOTA CAMRY SE V6 - AROUND SEPTEMBER 2009 I BEGAN TO NOTICE SUDDEN SURGES IN ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 40-45 MPH. WITHOUT CHANGING THE POSITION OF THE GAS PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE-HESITATE-SURGE SEVERAL TIMES THEN SUDDENLY STOP THE BEHAVIOR. SINCE THEN, I NOTICE IT OCCURS AT LEAST ONCE EVERY 3 OUT OF 4 TIMES I'M DRIVING THE CAR. TO ME, THIS IS NOT RELATED TO ANYTHING ON THE FLOOR OR THE GAS PEDAL ITSELF. IT APPEARS TO COME FROM WITHIN THE ENGINE OR OTHER COMPONENT. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATED OR PERFORMED. I AM CONSIDERING A VISIT TO THE DEALER. *TR

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

I KEPT HEARING RUSHING WATER COMING FROM SOMEWHERE BUT NOTHING SEEMS TO BE WRONG. SO AT THE END OF NOVEMBER MY CAR RAN HOT I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THE THERMOSTAT MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. I REPLACED IT'.IT RAN HOT AGAIN THE NEXT DAY. WAS TOLD I HAD A COOLANT LEAK. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT' I NEED AN ENGINE! STRIPPED HEAD BOLTS IN THE BLOCK, NO NOT JUST A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM I WAS TOLD THE HEAD BOLTS HAVE LET GO FROM THE BLOCK. I ASKED THE MECHANIC FOR A WRITE UP OF HIS FINDINGS: (PARAPHRASED) 'THE ONLY OPTION LEFT IS TO REMOVE THE HEAD, WHICH REQUIRES AN EXTENSIVE DISASSEMBLY (R AND R CYLINDER HEAD). AFTER LOOSENING THE BOLTS IN SEQUENCE, I NOTICE THE HEAD BOLTS IN THE BACK OF THE ENGINE ARE LOOSE. FROM MY EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD, I CAN CONFIDENTLY CONCLUDE THAT THIS ONLY MEANS ONE OF TWO THINGS: THE BOLTS WERE LEFT LOOSE AT THE FACTORY, OR THE BOLTS ARE STRIPPED. ( I COMMONLY HAVE SEEN STRIPPED BOLTS IN THE ALUMINUM CADILLAC NORTH STAR BLOCK DISCOVERED THROUGH LEAKING COOLANT.) NEXT, I REMOVED THE HEAD AND SURE ENOUGH, ONE BOLT CAME OUT WITH ALUMINUM IN THE THREAD...THUS INDICATING A STRIPPED BOLT. MY THEORY: THE PLACEMENT OF THE (INSULATION) FOAM RUBBER PIECE BETWEEN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE ENGINE BLOCK CREATED AN UNEVEN DISPERSION OF HEAT, CREATING "METAL FATIGUE" IN THE ALUMINUM BLOCK ALLOWING THE HEAD BOLT TO STRIP.' I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED. TOYOTA IS RESPONSIBLE, THERE'S NO PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE FOR THIS AND MY PROBLEM IS NOT ISOLATED... LOOK IT UP! *TR

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK IN MY 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I SAW A FIRE AND SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN I LIFTED THE HOOD I NOTICED THAT THE EXHAUST WAS RED NEAR THE BURN SITE. AFTER LOOKING ON THE INTERNET I FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS WITH THIS MODEL CATCHING FIRE WHILE DRIVING. *CN *TR

I HAVE JUST NOTICED THAT MY 2002 CAMRY 4 CYLINDER HAS A COOLANT LEAKING PROBLEM. SEARCH ON THE WEB, THE ISSUE IS VERY LIKELY DUE TO THE STRIPPED HEAD BOLT AS MANY PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS WARRANTS A RECALL!!!!!! *TR

WIFE DRIVING 2002 CAMRY FOR SMOCK INSPECTION. I AM FOLLOWING BEHIND. CAMRY STALLS - ENGINE JUST DIES. STEERING IS LOCKED. WIFE STOPPED AND TRIED TO RESTART. AFTER ~2MINS, CAR RESTARTED. CONTINUED ~2 MILES AND ENGINE DIES AGAIN, STEERING AGAIN LOCKS. WIFE ABLE TO START AGAIN. AFTER CAR STARTS, VSC AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS ARE NOW ON. TOOK CAR TO TOYOTA DEALER NEXT DAY. A SKID CONTROL COMPUTER IS DOWN PER TOYOTA. TOYOTA UNABLE TO DUPLICATE ENGINE DYING, BUT ADMIT FAULTY COMPUTER COULD BE CAUSE. SKID CONTROL COMPUTER COSTS $1453 TO REPLACE + $XXX FOR LABOR. I HAVE READ THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE FOR 2002 TOYOTA SO AM FILING A COMPLAINT. WHY HAS TOYOTA NOT RECALLED/FIXED THIS YET? IF THIS OCCURRED ON FREEWAY, STEERING WHEEL LOCKUP AT 55+ MPH? ARE THEY CRAZY? *TR

LOSS OF COOLANT. TOOK TO AUTO REPAIR. TOLD TO REPLACE HEAD GASKET. UPON REPLACEMENT OF HEAD, DISCOVERED HEAD BOLTS WOULD NOT TIGHTEN BECAUSE THREADS IN ALUMINUM BLOCK WERE STRIPPED. *TR

I OWN A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY V6 LE WITH A MILEAGE READING OF ABOUT 115000. I DO REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND ALL NECESSARY SERVICES. HOWEVER OFF LATELY THE CAR HAS RANDOMLY STARTED TO STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF ROAD WHILE BEING DRIVEN. THIS HAS STARTED TO BE A BIG PROBLEM AND I HESITATE TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR LONG DISTANCE. THE CAR WOULD SUDDENLY DIE IN THE MIDDLE OF ROAD SPECIALLY WHEN I STOP FOR A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN AND THEN WOULD REFUSE TO START AGAIN. I HAVE TO KEEP THE GAS PEDAL DEPRESSED IN ORDER FOR THE CAR TO STAY IDLE AND NOT DIE. AFTER ABOUT 5-10 MINS THE CAR WOULD AGAIN START UP AND WORK NORMALLY. I'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM ABOUT THREE TIMES THIS PAST 2 WEEKS AND ITS SCARY NOW TO EVEN DRIVE THIS CAR ANYWHERE. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHERE I GET ALL SERVICES DONE AND HE SAYS EVERYTHING IS FINE, BUT THEN I HAD TWO STALLS AFTER THE VISIT. PROBLEM IS THAT IT STALLS RANDOMLY AND WHEN I TAKE IT TO MECHANIC, IT PERFORMS QUIET WELL WITH NO PROBLEMS AT ALL. I READ TODAY IN MOTORTREND WEBSITE THAT NHTSA IS ENQUIRING ABOUT SOME TOYOTA VEHICLES REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE AND WAS WONDERING IF THESE INCIDENTS ARE RELATED? *TR THANKS.

MY 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH 72,500 MILES HAD THE CHECK LIGHT COME ON. I TOOK IT TO A TOYOTA DEALER IN COLUMBIA, SC. I WAS TOLD THE ENGINE HAD SLUDGE AND WOULD SOON STOP WORKING. I TOLD THE DEALER I CHANGED THE OIL REGULARLY WHEN NEEDED BUT THE DEALER SAID IT WAS MY FAULT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL, AND THEN THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. THE TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THERE WAS LEAKAGE FROM THE ENGINE GASKETS DUE TO STRIPPED HEAD BOLTS. HE THEN ADDED THAT HE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR FREE REMEDY. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 95,900. UPDATED 10/21/09. *LJ UPDATED 10/20/09.*JB

2002 TOYOTA CAMRY, ENGINE STALL/LOW IDLE PROBLEM AT 60K MILES, NO CODES ON OBD REPLACED SPARK PLUGS, COIL PACK, FUEL INJECTION SERVICE BUT STILL SAME PROBLEM, NO ERROR CODE ON DIAGNOSTICS. *TR

2002 TOYOTA CAMRY HAS FOUL ODOR COMING FROM HVAC VENTS. DEALER HAS REMOVED FAN ENCLOSURE IN ENGINE AND CLEANED OUT AND ADDED DISINFECTANT. ODOR REMAINS A PROBLEM. *TR

2002 TOYOTA CAMRY, STALLS AS COMING TO A STOP OR SLOWING DOWN FOR TRAFFIC, TURNING OR SOMEONE PULLING IN FRONT OF ME IN TRAFFIC. CAR WILL NOT START FOR 20 MINUTES. WHEN TRYING TO START CAR BEFORE 20 MINUTES IT TURNS OVER BUT NOT START OR HAS A HARD TIME STARTING AND SPUTTERS TILL I CAN PULL OVER OFF THE STREET AND STALLS IN A PARKING LOT. WHEN I WAIT THE FULL 20 PLUS MINUTES THE CAR STARTS AS IF NEVER HAD A PROBLEM. BY THE TIME I GET TO THE DEALER OR ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG OR SAY IT HAS TO DO WITH THE EMISSIONS CONTROL AND THEY DO NOT GUARANTEE THAT MAY BE THAT PROBLEM & I MAY HAVE TO BRING THE CAR BACK IN & I WILL NOT BE REFUNDED MY MONEY & WILL HAVE TO PAY MORE OUT OF THE POCKET. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 2 YEARS. IT IS WORSE IN THE HEAT & HUMIDITY (HAPPENS MORE OFTEN). *TR

OIL SLUDGE BUILD UP RESULTING IN POTENTIAL FOR ENGINE SEIZURE AND FIRE. *TR

I OWN A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY PURCHASED NEW FROM DEALERSHIP AND REGULARLY MAINTAINED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND SO I TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC WHO SAID IT WAS A FAULTY SENSOR WHICH HE REPLACED. THE NEXT DAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING AND SHE WAS JUST ABLE TO MAKE IT BACK TO THE MECHANIC'S SHOP WITH THE CAR RUNNING ROUGHLY. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE (136,000 MILES) HAD SUFFERED A "BLOWN" HEAD GASKET. HE RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE HEAD GASKET BUT WARNED ME THAT BECAUSE OF THE ALUMINUM CASTING OF THE ENGINE THAT THERE WAS A GOOD CHANCE THAT WHEN HE REMOVED THE STEEL BOLTS THEY WOULD STRIP OUT THE ALUMINUM THREADS AND THEN I WOULD BE LOOKING AT A NEW ENGINE. UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED - TOTAL COST TO PUT IN A REASONABLY "NEW" USED ENGINE (FROM A 2009 SCION) WAS $5,800. I UNDERSTAND THAT THINGS CAN HAPPEN AND AM NOT UNDULY UPSET THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN HOWEVER, SOMETHING AS BASIC AS KNOWING THAT YOU SHOULD NOT USE STEEL BOLTS IN AN ALUMINUM THREAD SHOULD BE REMEDIED BY TOYOTA. WHEN A REPAIR SUCH AS MINE IS UNDERTAKEN THERE IS A HIGH PROBABILITY OF THE BOLTS STRIPPING OUT THE ALUMINUM THREADS. WHEN THAT HAPPENS THE COST OF REPAIR GOES FROM APPROXIMATELY 1600 TO REPLACE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET TO 5800 TO REPLACE AN ENTIRE ENGINE. THIS IS REALLY A DESIGN FLAW THAT SHOULD BE OBVIOUS TO ANY ENGINEER AND SHOULD BE REMEDIED BY TOYOTA. *TR

MY 2002 CAMRY LE CHECK ENG. LIGHT CAME ON FROM A COOLANT LEAK WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP I NEEDED A NEW MOTOR AT THE COST OF $3,500 THE CAR WAS ONLY THREE YEARS OLD IT WAS A LEASE CERTIFIED BUY BACK ALSO WHEN I BOUGHT IT THE WINDSHIELD WASHER WENT BAD LESS THEN A MONTH WAS TOLD I HAD TO FIX ON MY OWN THEY THE MOTOR RAN HOT BUT THE COOLANT GAGE NEVER INDICATED THE PROBLEM. *TR

AT SUBZERO TEMPERATURE (BELOW 0) CAR STARTS WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON (ERROR CODE P1128), TRACTION CONTROL AND VSC DISABLED. IDLE AT 600-800 RPM. ENGINE DOES NOT RESPOND TO ACCELERATION PEDAL, SO CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE. AFTER WARMING ENGINE UP AND ERASING ERROR CODE FROM ECU CAR DRIVES NORMALLY. *TR

VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING (WHITE SMOKE) I TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER HE ADVISED THAT THE PRIOR YEAR VEHICLES HAD A DEFECT OF THE MOTOR SLUDGING UP BUT MY MODEL HAD BEEN REDESIGNED AND THAT IT WAS DUE TO ME NOT CHANGING THE OIL FILTER MY HUSBAND OWNS A REPAIR SHOP AND HAD DONE THE OIL CHANGES AND REPLACED THE FILTERS THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER 50,000 BUT DEALER WOULD NOT TAKE CARE OF PROBLEM. *TR

3/21/2008 CAR STOPPED RUNNING WHILE ON EXPRESSWAY. TOWED 50 MILES INTO DEALERSHIP ALAMO TOYOTA, SAN ANTONIO, TX =NOT WHERE PURCHASED 100 MILES FROM RESIDENCE. TOLD ENGINE MOUNTING BOLTS SHEERED OFF INTO THE ENGINE BLOCK WHICH CAUSED CRACK. ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. DEALER FOUND SALVAGE ENGINE WITH 37000 MILES ON IT. OWNER DID NOT RECEIVE PROOF OF THE MILEAGE. DEALER KEPT USED ENGINE $4,000.00+. INCLUDED USED LONGBLOCK, OIL, OIL FILTER COOLANT REAR MAIN SEAL, FIPC, RADIATOR CLEANING. OWNER RENTED AT OWN EXPENSE RENTAL VEHICLE. TOLD CAR WAS REPAIRED. PICKED CAR UP DROVE OFF LOT, TURNED AROUND AND WENT BACK INTO DEALERSHIP. CAR WAS MISFIRING. HAD TO LEAVE CAR AGAIN. ADDITIONAL $235.00 TO REPLACE 4 COILS APRIL 11,2008. ON MAY 2 2008, A/C STOPPED COOLING. TOOK CAR INTO CHAMPION TOYOTA, AUSTIN TEXAS. $613.00 FOR AC CONDENSER, CONDENSER ASSY, RELAY, WARRANTY. AC CONDENSER LEAKING, PROBABLY DAMAGED DURING RADIATOR CLEANING AT ALAMO TOYOTA. *TR

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: WE PURCHASED A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY FROM ARLINGTON TOYOTA, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA- NEW IN DECEMBER 2001. WE HAVE ALWAYS OWNED TOYOTAS WITH NO PROBLEMS. PRESENTLY THE CAR HAS 64,000 MILES. ON JUNE 26 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND THEN WENT OFF, AFTER THAT THE A/C STOPPED WORKING. WE TOOK THE CAR INTO COGGIN TOYOTA AT THE AVENUES ON JUNE 28 AND WERE GIVEN A BILL OF $1154 WITH AN EXPLANATION THAT THE ENTIRE A/C CONDENSER ASSEMBLY, AIR FLOW SENSOR AND AIR FUEL SENSOR NEEDED REPLACEMENT. OBVIOUSLY WE HAD TO PAY FOR THIS AND HAVE IT DONE AS WE'RE GOING OUT OF TOWN AND HAVE A CHILD WHO RIDES IN THIS CAR REGULARLY, BUT THIS IS BEYOND RIDICULOUS. FOR THIS AGE OF A CAR, AND SUPPOSEDLY BEING THE MOST RELIABLE AND HIGHLY RATED CAR FOR THAT YEAR THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. THIS CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY BAD ACCIDENTS AND IS NOT DRIVEN EXCESSIVELY. ALL ROUTINE MAINTENANCE IS PERFORMED ON A REGULAR BASIS. THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECT ON TOYOTA'S PART AND NEEDS TO BE COMPENSATED FOR. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO PAY THIS MUCH FOR A REPAIR ON THIS TYPE OF CAR, WHETHER OR NOT THE WARRANTY IS EXPIRED. I EXPECTED MUCH MORE FROM TOYOTA THAN WE HAVE PRESENTLY EXPERIENCED AND AM VERY DISAPPOINTED AND FRUSTRATED. WE HAD PLANNED TO PURCHASE A NEW SIENNA WITHIN THE NEXT FEW YEARS BUT NOW WILL LOOK ELSE WHERE. ************ KRISTI B. GABRIEL, LMT, BA, MBA HEALING WATERS THERAPY *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH, SHE HEARD A GRINDING NOISE THEN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT ENGINE MOUNTING BOLTS SHEERED OFF INTO THE ENGINE BLOCK, WHICH CAUSED THE CORNER OF THE ENGINE TO CRACK. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. AS OF JUNE 6, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 92,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE

I PURCHASED A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY NEW AND RECENTLY NOTICED THE CAR BLOWING BLUE SMOKE ON START UP IN THE MORNINGS. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY DEALER WHERE THEY DID AN EVAL. THEY ARE SUGGESTING THAT I HAVE THE VALVE STEM SEALS REPLACED AT A COST OF AROUND $2,000.00. I WAS SHOCKED. MY CAR IS 5 YEARS OLD WITH 77,000 MILES. HOW COULD THIS BE? I HAVE TAKEN EXCELLENT CARE OF MY CAR, GETTING OIL CHANGES EVERY 3,000 MILES (AND HAVE THE RECEIPTS AND RECORDS TO PROVE IT. IN FACT THE DEALER HANDLED ALL THE OIL CHANGES AND SERVICE FOR ME, UP TILL THE LAST 2 OIL CHANGES.) I KNOW THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION SUIT FOR AN OIL SLUDGE/GEL PROBLEM, WHICH AFTER READING EVERYTHING ON THE INTERNET, I BELIEVE IS PROBABLY THE REAL ISSUE WITH MY CAR, BUT EVERYTHING I'VE READ SAYS IT ENDED WITH THE 2001 CAMRY MODELS. HAVE YOU HEARD OR RECEIVED ANY COMPLAINTS FOR THE 2002 MODELS AS WELL? ANY INFORMATION OR ADVICE YOU COULD GIVE ME WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SHE STATED THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY CHARCOAL CANISTER THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 82,630. UPDATED 07/15/08 *BF UPDATED *JB 07/15/08

AT ABOUT 105,000 MILES ON MY 2002 CAMRY V6, THE CAR EXPERIENCED HESITATING DRIVING WHILE DRIVEN AT SPEEDS ABOVE 40 MPH WHEN REMOVING SLIGHTLY THE FOOT FROM THE THROTTLE PEDAL. THE CAR IS BUCKING BACKWARD AND FORWARD FOR INDEFINITE TIME UNTIL THE THROTTLE PEDAL IS FULLY DEPRESSED OR FULLY PRESSED. THIS IS AN UNSAFE SITUATION SINCE ON THE HIGHWAY THE SPEED CANNOT BE DECREASED OR INCREASED ANY TIME. NOTIFIED DEALER AND TOLD THAT THIS CANNOT BE IDENTIFIED SINCE THERE IS NO ERROR CODE GENERATED (NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON). REPLACED ALL SPARK PLUGS AT 108,000 MILES ON AUG 24, 2007. PROBLEM NOT SOLVED. SPOUSE NOTICED INCREASED BUCKING WHILE DRIVING DOWN HILL. WENT BACK TO THE DEALER. PERFORMED TEST DRIVE WITH TECHNICIAN IN THE CAR AND THE DIAGNOSE SYSTEM HOOKED TO THE CAR'S COMPUTER. DETECTED SOME MISFIRES ON CYLINDERS 5 AND 6. REPLACED SOLENOID IGNITION PACKS FOR CYLINDER 5 & 6 AND TEST DROVE AGAIN. PROBLEM NOT SOLVED. TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT FUEL INJECTORS ARE CLOGGED. PERFORMED FUEL INJECTORS PURGE (CLEANING). PROBLEM NOT SOLVED. TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE ALL FUEL INJECTORS AND SOLENOID IGNITION PACKS. CAR WAS MAINTAINED PROPERLY DURING THE OWNERSHIP. OIL & FILTER CHANGED EVERY 3000 MILES, REPLACED AIR FILTER EVERY 30,000 MILES, REPLACED TIMING BELT AND BELT TENSIONERS AT 87,000 MILES, REPLACED WATER PUMP AT 87,000 MILES, FLUSHED TRANSMISSION FLUID AT 87,000 MILES. FROM READING VARIOUS CUSTOMERS COMPLAINTS, IT APPEARS TO BE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM BUT DEALER DID NOT MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *JB

I PURCHASED MY CAR IN 2001, USED WITH 17K MILES, FORM TOYOTA OF DURHAM. I HAVE 105K MILES NOW ON IT. I KEPT THE ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND HAD SLUGGISH OIL PROBLEMS EVERY TIME I GOT MY OIL CHANGED. THERE WAS NO DOCUMENTED OIL SLUGGISH PROBLEM FROM TOYOTA. MY VEHICLE IS CLICKING WITH A STRANGE SOUND. I HAD IT LOOKED AT AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE TIMING BELT IS GOING. BUT HE ADVISED ME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT. I DID AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE ENGINE. I NEED A NEW ENGINE. A NEW ENGINE, NO WAY. HOW IS IT THAT A TOYOTA CAMRY WITH BARELY 100K MILES NEED A NEW ENGINE AND NOTHING IS SAID TO BE WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE OWNED TOYOTA AND LEXUS MODELS FOR A LONG TIME NOW AND HAVE YET TO DEAL WITH SUCH SHAME IN THEIR MODELS. I AM REALLY DISAPPOINTED AT THIS MESS OF A CAR. SURELY, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOMETHING THAT NEED TO BE DONE AT A CERTAIN TIME BUT WHY IS IT THAT A NEW ENGINE WOULD BE REQUIRED? I AM REALLY NOT GOING TO BE THE BEST PERSON PROMOTING TOYOTA CARS IN THE FUTURE. I HAD PLANS ON LOOKING INTO THE TOYOTA SIENNA FOR MY FAMILY. BUT THE ODYSSEY IS LOOKING MUCH BETTER NOW. *JB

I WAS COMING HOME ONE DAY AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE O2 SENSOR GOING BAD. I WANTED A SECOND OPINION SO I TOOK MY CAR TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO TOLD ME IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I WAS VERY CONCERN BY THESE TWO DIFFERENT ANSWERS, SO I WENT TO A THIRD DEALER WHO TOLD ME IT WAS INDEED THE O2 SENSOR. AFTER HAVING THAT REPLACED, WITHIN 2 MONTHS THE LIGHT WAS BACK ON AGAIN. *NM

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. I WAS TOLD THAT IF THEY DETERMINED THAT IT WAS A MECHANICAL FAILURE, THEY HAVE ANOTHER 30 DAYS TO FIX IT. I AM IN SALES AND USE MY CAR ALL DAY, EVERY DAY. THEY WEREN'T VERY CONCERNED ABOUT IT. *NM

MY CAR'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND MY SON WOULD CHECK THE CODE (PO420) THEN SEND ME TO THE DEALER. I TOOK THIS CAR TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS DURING THIS TIME. THE FIRST TIME THE LIGHT CAME ON I WAS OUT OF TOWN AND TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO CHANGED A SENSOR CONNECTED TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE NEXT TIME TO LIGHT CAME ON I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALER IN MY AREA AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A BAD SENSOR (SAME ONE THAT HAD JUST BEEN CHANGED) AFTER I TOLD THEM THAT SENSOR HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED THEY CAME BACK AND TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A DIFFERENT SENSOR. I LEFT THIS DEALER AND SHORTLY AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AGAIN AND I WENT BACK TO THE SECOND DEALER WHO SAID THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ON GOING FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS, DURING WHICH TIME MY CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THE FIRST SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM WAS ISSUED ON MAY 24, 2004 AND THE SECOND ON JULY 27, 2004. NOW THAT THE CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY I HAVE FOUND OUT ABOUT THESE SERVICE BULLETINS. I INTEND TO TAKE THIS ISSUE UP WITH TOYOTA AS THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED BACK IN 2004. *NM

THE 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY, PURCHASED USED FROM RAY BRANDT TOYOTA IN AUGUST OF LAST YEAR, COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE MY MOTHER WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THIS PAST MONDAY. SHE BARELY MISSED A HEAD-ON COLLISION, BECAUSE SHE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR WITHOUT POWER STEERING. I ADVISED HER TO BRING THE CAMRY IMMEDIATELY TO RAY BRANDT TOYOTA?? S SERVICE DEPARTMENT. SHE TURNED IT OVER TO THEM THAT SAME AFTERNOON. THE NEXT DAY A SERVICE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM IN THE SHOP. EVEN WITH THE PROBLEM OCCURRING AT THE SHOP, THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE CAUSE THAT DAY. YESTERDAY, SHEILA, A RAY BRANDT TOYOTA SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, ASSURED ME THAT THEY HAD SOLVED THIS TYPE OF INTERMITTENT PROBLEM BEFORE. I ASKED IF THE DIAGNOSTIC COST WOULD RUN INTO THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. SHE SAID $300 WOULD MOST LIKELY BE ENOUGH TO PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC TIME TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. SHE ADDED THAT SHE WOULD BE CALLING ME WITH THE RESOLUTION TODAY. TODAY, AT APPROXIMATELY 12:45 PM I WENT IN PERSON TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I SPOKE TO ANOTHER RAY BRANDT TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE NAMED MIKE. I ASKED HIM HAD RAY BRANDT TOYOTA SOLVED THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM BEFORE. MIKE STATED THAT YES THEY HAD ALTHOUGH IT TOOK 2 WEEKS AND COST $850. MIKE TOLD ME TO BE PATIENT; GIVE RAY BRANDT TOYOTA TIME TO FIX IT. LATER THIS AFTERNOON SHEILA TOLD MY MOTHER THAT THERE WAS NOTHING RAY BRANDT TOYOTA??S SERVICE COULD DO TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THIS WAS, OF COURSE A DIRECT CONTRADICTION TO WHAT SHE STATED TO ME YESTERDAY. MY MOTHER THEN AGAIN EXPRESSED HER CONCERN THAT THE CAR WAS A DEATH TRAP. SHEILA AGREED THAT THE CAR WAS, IN FACT, NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. SHE NEVERTHELESS TOLD MY MOTHER TO COME PICK THE CAR UP. DOING THAT TO MY MOTHER WAS DESPICABLE. *NM

WITH NO WARNING OR PREVIOUS PROBLEMS, WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE 4 CYLINDER ENGINE IN MY 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. I AM A 78 YEAR OLD WOMAN AND I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR WITH NO POWER. I JUST BARELY AVOIDED A HEAD-ON COLLISION. THIS HAPPENED 5 MORE TIMES IN QUICK SUCCESSION BEFORE I COULD DRIVE IMMEDIATELY BACK TO MY HOME. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO RAY BRANDT TOYOTA OF METAIRIE 504-464-4500. TOLD THEM OF THE PROBLEM AND THE POTENTIAL FOR A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, DUE TO THE CAR SHUTTING DOWN WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS HAD THE CAR FOR A DAY, DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM, BUT CLAIM THEY CAN FIND NO REASON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. I DO NOT WANT TO DIE IN A FATAL ACCIDENT CAUSED BY THE ENGINE SHUTTING DOWN AND IF THEY CANNOT LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM, I WILL GET RID OF THE CAR AND NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER TOYOTA. PLEASE HELP. *JB

DURING A 60,000 MILE CHECK-UP AT MY SERVICE STATION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT I NEEDED A NEW "FLEX PIPE ASSEMBLY" (MANIFOLD EXHAUST PIPE AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER COMBINED). THE MECHANIC SAID THAT HE HAS SEEN THE SAME PROBLEM ON MANY 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY LE'S. THE PART ALONE COST ME $900 AND $100 IN LABOR TO INSTALL. TOYOTA TOLD ME THAT THIS PART IS NOT ON RECALL LIST. I APPROVED THE REPLACEMENT BY MY MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD FILE A COMPLAINT. *NM

I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH 42,608 MILES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON YESTERDAY. TODAY I HAD THE CHARCOAL CANISTER, HOSE AND VACUUM SEALED VALVE REPLACED AT GREAT COST. NOW I HAVE READ THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE 96-98 CAMRY'S AND THAT THE EPA REQUIRED TOYOTA TO EXTEND THE EMISSIONS WARRANTY TO 14/150000. *JB

TERRIBLE SMELL FROM HEAT/AIR VENTS,KIDS HAVE ASTHMA AND CAN'T STAND THE SMELL, TOYOTA DEALER JUST SPRAYED VENTS AND POURED FRESHNER IN OUTSIDE VENT, PROBLEM KEPT COMING BACK AND POLLEN FILTER KEPT PLUGGING, NOTHING DONE TO CORRECT IT, NOW IN 2005 MY WATER PUMP WENT BAD. I KNOW THAT THE SMELL IS SOME KIND OF MILDEW OR MOLD FROM SOMETHING NOT BEING FIXED, WHICH COULD LEAD TO SEVERE HEALTH CONDITIONS!

I BOUGHT A TOYOTA SAQUOIA LIMITED 4X4 USED IN 2003. WHEN I TOOKIT TO A FRIENDS HOUSE HER HUSBAND SIAD I SHOULD GET THAT TICKING NOISE CHECKED OUT. I TOLD HIM THAT ALL OF THE SUV'S AT THE DEALERSHIP MADE THE TICKING NOISE. WELL, HE WAS RIGHT. WHEN I TOOK IT IN TO BE INSPECTED I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD A CRACKED MANIFOLD. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT ALL OF THE TOYOTA SUV'S AND TRUCKS HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR MANIFOLDS. IF THIS IS TRUE, WHY HAVE THEY NOT DONE A RECALL TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM? I MANIFOLD IS NOT A CHEAP PART TO REPLACE.

AT APPROXIMATELY 90,000 MILES, THE VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CHECKING WITH TOYOTA DEALER, THEY INDICATED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER MUST BE REPLACED. THEY FUTHER INDICTATED THAT THERE IS A NATIONWIDE BACKORDER FOR THIS ITEM AND THEY ALREADY HAVE 10 VEHICLES ON THE WAITING LIST AT THEIR DEALERSHIP. I BELIEVE, FROM THIS INFORMATION, THAT THIS MUST BE A PROBLEM THAT IS A RESULT OF A DESIGN DEFECT AND THEREFORE SHOULD BE RESOLVED BY TOYOTA.

WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED BUT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REIMBURSE THE TOWING COST. THEY WON'T PAY FOR THE 7 MILES TOWING CHARGE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER. *BF

DURING A REGULAR MAINTENANCE CHECK, IT WAS DISCOVERED THE ENGINE HAD A CRACK IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE CONSUMER MADE CONTACT WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY WILL BE REPLACING THE ENGINE. *JB. TOYOTA HAS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM IN THE NEW MODELS OF CAMRY.*AK

WHILE DRIVING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE' TO DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE, AND SINCE THEN THE VEHICLE EMITTED GRAY SMOKE. DEALER DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED CORRODED SPARK PLUG WIRES, AND GAVE THE VEHICLE A TUNE UP. ALSO THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT SMOKE CAME FROM A DEFECTIVE VALVE SEAL OR RINGS . *AK IT WAS FINALLY DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT THE PROBLEM IT WAS THE ENGINE WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

MY VEHICLE, A VINTAGE 1965 PONTIAC CATALINA HARDTOP COUPE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AT MY FRIEND'S RESIDENCE AT 1271 N.E. 207TH STREET WHEN AT AROUND 4:50 P.M. IT WAS STRUCK BY A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY SEDAN DRIVEN BY A MRS. UNA ELIZABETH TUCKER OF PORT ST. LUCIE, FL. THE TOYOTAS WAS ON THE NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORS DRIVEWAY. ACCORDING TO HER, SHE WAS TRYING TO GET OUT OF HER DRIVEWAY WHEN SHE CLAIMS HER CAR STARTED SMOKING AND SUDDENLY BOLTED. HER VEHICLE SMASHED ONTO MY CAR WITH SUCH FORCE.. THAT IT MOVED IT AND PUSHED IT AGAINST A VAN THAT WAS PARKED NEXT TO IT. MY CAR'S FRONT FENDERS WHERE SMASHED, MAKING THE FRONT WHEELS IMMOBILE. THE LEFT FRONT BUMPER BENT UNDER, LEFT FRON HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY SMASHED, UNABLE TO OPEN HOOD, POSSIBLE FRONT SUSPENSION DAMAGE, UNKNOWN DAMAGE TO ENGINE. HSMV CRASH REPORT NUMBER 4464507 MIAMI DADE COUNTY. *AK

WHILE PARKED VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND ENGINE ROARED AND SURGED FORWARD. CONSUMER HAD TO USE EXTREME FORCE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING. ALSO, WHEN AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON AND TURNED OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN THERE WAS A FOUL ODOR COMING FROM THE VENTS. *AK

I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE, SINCE I GOT THE CAR NEW IT STARTED TO LUNGE SEVERAL TIMES WHILE SITTING AT STOP LIGHTS/SIGNS. I WENT TO TWO DIFFERENT TOYOTA DEALERS AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR IS RUNNING AS MANUFACTURED. I SAID THIS CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. ALSO, SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IT WANTS TO STALL WHEN COMING TO A STOP. AGAIN, NO DEALER WILL HELP. SOMETHING IS WRONG BUT THE DEALERS WON'T HELP. I DO NOT HAVE TIME TO KEEP RUNNING TO DEALERS, THAT IS WHY I BOUGHT A NEW CAR. THERE IS A DEFINITE PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. AS TIMES GOES BY, IT'S GETTING WORSE, ESPECIALLY IN WARM WEATHER CONDITIONS.

DRIVER SIDE WINDOW DID NOT ROLL SMOOTHLY. SQUEAKED BUT WAS ONLY FIXED AFTER TAKING THE CAR A DEALER A THIRD TIME. SPUTTERING/RATTLING SOUND SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHEN THE CAR IS IDLE OR UPON COLD START. SOUND GETS PROGRESSIVELY LOUDER. DEALER CLAIMS THAT NO SOUNDS WERE HEARD. CAR ALSO HESITATES WHEN RESPONDING TO ACCELERATION. IN RESEARCHING FOR ANSWERS, I FOUND THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG HAS A RECALL. I WAS IN DISBELIEF WHEN I FOUND THAT NO EFFORTS WERE MADE IN CONTACTING ME ABOUT AN AIRBAG RECALL! I FEEL UTTERLY DISAPPOINTED. I'D COME FROM A "HONDA" FAMILY AND DECIDED TO GIVE TOYOTA A TRY. I HAVE LEARNT MY LESSON NOW THAT BUYING A BRAND NEW TOYOTA MEANS HAVING TO CHECK UP ON RECALLS AND PROBLEMS.*AK

ROTTEN EGG SMELL SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THE REGIONAL REP WITHOUT A RESOLUTION. THE REP SUGGESTION WAS TO JUST PUT PREMIUM GAS IN IT. CERTAINLY NOT WHAT I EXPECTED FROM TOYOTA BUT I HAVE BEEN PUTTING PREMIUM GAS IN THE CAR AND IT DOES SEEMS TO TAME THE SMELL SOMEWHAT. IN ADDITION WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT ALIGNMENT AND THE CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT. HAVE PURCHASED A LIFE TIME ALIGNMENT WARRANTY BUT IT STILL SEEMS TO GO OUT OF ALIGNMENT QUICKLY. ALSO HAVE A CONSTANT WIND PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT DOOR. BEEN REPAIRED ONCE, GOING INTO THE SHOP AGAIN TO REPAIR. ALSO THE ORIGINAL TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 24,000 MILES. I WOULDN'T CONSIDER A TOYOTA IN FUTURE CAR PURCHASES.*AK

AT 1,500 MILES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER ON NOVEMBER 8, 2002 AND WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR AND THEY RESET THE COMPUTER. THE CAR WAS FINE UNTIL I ARRIVED AT HOME AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AGAIN. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER ON NOVEMBER 11TH AND THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THEY WERE GOING TO REMOVE THE TRANSMISSION BUT NEEDED A PART. IT IS NOW NOVEMBER 25TH AND THE PART STILL HASN'T ARRIVED AND THE CAR HASN'T BEEN REPAIRED.

I OWN A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH BRIDGESTONE TIRES WHICH WERE ON THE CAR WHEN WE PURCHASED IT IN FALL OF 2002. WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR INTO DEALERSHIP, HIGH COUNTRY TOYOTA IN SCOTTSBORO, AL, 3 TIMES AND PHONED OUR SALES REPRESENTATIVE APPROXIMATELY 6 TIMES FOR 3 PROBLEMS. #1 - RATTLING - WHICH WE WERE TOLD ON THE FIRST VISIT TO DEALER IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HEAT SHIELD COVER AND THEY HAD FIXED IT BY BENDING IT OUT. IT'S RATTLING AGAIN, NOW. #2 - SMELL OF SULFER/ROTTEN EGGS - WHICH WE WERE TOLD THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM, SO THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT COULD BE. IT STILL SMELLS! #3 - MY HUSBAND TOOK THE CAR TO WAL-MART TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED AND THE TIRES BALANCED AND ROTATED BECAUSE WE NOTICED ALOT OF WEAR ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRES AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VIBRATING WHEN DRIVING. MY HUSBAND WAS PAGED BACK TO THE AUTOMOTIVE SECTION BY AN EMPLOYEE TO SEE THE TIRES HIMSELF BEFORE THEY TOOK THEM ALL OFF THE CAR AND TO WARN MY HUSBAND ABOUT DRIVING ON THE TIRES IF WE DIDN'T REPLACE THEM IMMEDIATELY. MY HUSBAND SAID THE INSIDE OF THE TIRES WERE SHOWING THE WIRES FROM SEVERE WEARING. MY HUSBAND TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHERE WE PURCHASED IT TO HAVE THEM INSPECT THE FRONT END FOR DAMAGE THAT COULD CAUSE THE TIRES TO WEAR IN SUCH A WAY SO QUICKLY. OUR VEHICLE IS 1 YR. OLD WITH 30,000 MILES ON IT. HE WAS TOLD IT WAS OK, BUT THE TIRES ON THE CAR AT TIME OF PURCHASE WEREN'T MEANT TO LAST VERY LONG, ANYWAY. HE TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL - TRUSTED - TIRE COMPANY AND HAD THE TIRES REPLACED. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT OUR DEALER ISN'T AWARE OF ANY RECALLS AND/OR COMPLAINTS ON ANY OF THESE ISSUES, BUT AFTER RESEARCHING THE INTERNET, I HAVE COME ACROSS MORE THAN ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO MAKE ME WONDER IF I'VE MADE A HUGE/COSTLY MISTAKE IN TRUSTING THE TOYOTA NAME AND PAST REPUTATION, ESPECIALLY WITH 3 CHILDREN WHO WERE PUT AT RISK AND A MONTHLY CAR PAYMENT!*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. *AK

2002 XLE CAMRY OIL AND FILTER HAS BEEN CHANGED EVERY 3000-3500 MILES. AT THE FIRST 3000 MARK A SMALL AMOUNT OF METALLIC METAL WAS FOUND IN THE OIL. AT THE 9000 MARK OIL AND FILTER CHANGE (THIRD OIL CHANGE) A LARGER AMOUNT OF METALLIC METAL WAS FOUND IN THE OIL. BETWEEN THE THIRD OIL AND FILTER CHANGE THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF METAL UNTIL THE OIL CHANGE THAT WAS DONE AT 18145 MILES. MORE METAL IS FOUND IN THE OIL AT THE 18145 MILE OIL AND FILTER CHANGE. *NLM

THERE IS A STRONG SULFUR/ROTTEN EGG SMELL EMITTED BY THE VEHICLE WHETHER I DRIVE FOR ALONG TIME OR NOT. SERVICE FOLKS OVER PHONE INDICATED THAT IT WAS JUST A "NEW CAR" SYNDROME AND WOULD GO AWAY SHORTLY. 11,000 MILES LATER IT HAS NOT GONE AWAY. I LIVE IN ATLANTA WHERE WE HAVE LOW SULFUR CONTENT FUEL AND IT SHOULD NOT BE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. ON SHORT TRIPS, THE ENTIRE OUTSIDE AROUND THE CAR STINKS LIKE A SEWER WHEN I STOP. AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS, THE SMELL IS REALLY BAD. I CAN NOT USE THE FRESH AIR CIRCULATION BECAUSE OF THE SMELL. SEEMS LIKE THE PCV SYSTEM MAY NOT BE WORKING RIGHT, BUT THERE ARE NO MILS ON INDICATING A PROBLEM. IF THERE IS A CIRCULATION PROBLEM WHICH INCLUDES THE EXHAUST SYSTEM THERE COULD BE A SIGNIFICANT CO ISSUE THAT WE WOULDN'T BE AWARE OF UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE. PLEASE HELP GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS. *AK

THE VEHICLE TAIL PIPE HAD A SHARP EDGE WHICH CUT THE CONSUMER FINGER WHILE HE WAS WASHING HIS VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A STITCH TO CLOSE THE CUT. *MR *SCC *NLM

WHILE TRAVELING ON INDIAN HEAD HIGHWAY, CONSUMER SWERVED TO AVOID A DEER, INSTEAD SWERVED TO THE RIGHT/LOST CONTROL AND HIT A GUARD RAIL. UPON IMPACT, FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES, AND VEHICLE WAS DEMOLISHED. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A SULFUR-LIKE OR ROTTON EGG ODOR COMING FROM EXHAUST SYSTEM. ALSO, BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: POOR ALIGNMENT/ENGINE CHECK LIGHT/FUEL INJECTOR/ SPARK PLUGS, MIRRORS, AND STRUCTURAL DEFECTS *AK

I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY, AUTO, 4 CYLS. THE CAR HAS A SURGE LIKE MOVEMENT WHEN I TRY TO PULL OUT OF STOP, REDUCE SPEED THEN REACCELERATE AND PRESS THE GAS PEDAL AFTER TURNING THE CAR AT AN INTERSECTION. WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATES, IT INCREASE SPEED INITIALLY, THEN LOOSE POWER FOR A SECOND, AFTER THAT REGAIN SPEED. THE CAR ALSO ABRUPTLY REDUCES SPEED WHEN CRUISING BETWEEN 40 AND 60 MPH IF I RELEASE THE GAS JUST A LITTLE.

CAR EMITS AN STRONG ODOR OF ROTTEN EGGS (SULFUR DIOXIDE) THROUGH THE INTERIOR VENT SYSTEM. THIS CONDITION IS DOCUMENTED IN TOYOTA TSB EG003-03 DATED 2/24/03. ALTHOUGH THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE CONDITION, THEY SAY IT IS THE FAULT OF THE GASOLINE. I HAVE TRIED MANY DIFFERENT BRANDS AND MY NEIGHBORS CARS DO NOT EXHIBIT THIS SMELL. SULFUR DIOXIDE IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS TO PEOPLE WITH RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS SUCH AS MY DAUGHTER WHO HAS ASTHMA. HER CONDITION HAS BECOME WORSE THIS WINTER BECAUSE (WE THINK) OF HER CONTACT WITH THIS CAR. TOYOTA HAS SAID THAT THE CONDITION IS NOT COVERED IN THEIR WARRANTY AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT. *NLM

EVERY SINCE THE PURCHASE OF MY NEW CAMRY, THE CAR HAS EMITTED A SULFUR/ROTTEN EGG SMELL. THE SMELL COMES FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR AND, WHEN THE DEFROSTER IS ON, IT SUCKS THE TERRIBLE SMELL RIGHT INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. (NOTE TO NHTSA: YOU HAVE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ALREADY LISTED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM UNDER BOTH "CATALYTIC CONVERTER," "EXHAUST SYSTEM," AND "DEFROSTER"...THEY ARE ALL THE SAME THING.) I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THEY HAVE TOLD ME: 1) THAT IT IS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, 2) THAT IT HAPPENS IN ABOUT 70 OF EVERY 3,000+ CARS PRODUCED, 3) THAT I SHOULD TRY A NEW GASOLINE AND 4) THAT IT WILL GO AWAY AT AROUND 6,000 MILES. I HAVE TRIED SEVERAL NEW GASOLINES AND AM CURRENTLY AT 5,000 MILES WITH NO CHANGE TO THE SMELL. I WILL TAKE MY CAR INTO THE SHOP TWO MORE TIMES FOR THE SAME COMPLAINT AND THEN WILL ATTEMPT TO INVOKE THE LEMON LAW IN OREGON.

THE ENTIRE MUFFLER HAD TURNED BLACK. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND JUMPED OUT BEFORE CAR WENT OVER AN EMBANKMENT. DOCTOR DIAGNOSED CONSUMER WITH CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. PH *TT

CONSUMER STATED WHILE REMOVING A STONE FROM THE RIGHT REAR TIRE, HE NOTICED THE EXTREMELY LOW STRUCTURE OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, WHICH IS ONLY 5 1/4 INCHES ABOVE STREET LEVEL AT THE LOWEST POINT, CONSUMER FEELS THE PIPE COULD EASILY BE PUNCTURED OR OTHERWISE DAMAGED WHILE ASCENDING OR DESCENDING A STEEP DRIVEWAY OR BY HITTING AN OBSTRUCTION ON THE ROAD, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP THE DESIGN WAS INHERENT ON ALL 2002 CAMRY'S.*JB

CAR PRODUCES A HORRIBLE ROTTEN EGG SMELL WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC. DT

CONSUMER ENTER THE PARKED VEHICLE TURNED ON IGNITION AND CONSUMER STATES' VEHICLE TOOK OFF, CONSUMER TRIED TO STOP VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP, VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AFTER HITTING A FIRE PLUG. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION TS

EXHAUST PIPE COULD EASILY BE PUNCTURED OR OTHERWISE DAMAGED ASCENDING OR DECENDING A STEEP DRIVEWAY OR BY HITTING AN OBSTRUCTION IN THE ROAD. EXPENSIVE REPAIRS MIGHT BE REQUIRED AND PERHAPS TOXIC CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES COULD BE RELEASED. LIBERTY TOYOTA ASSERTS THAT ALL 2002 CAMRY'S ARE DESIGNED THIS WAY. I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IF I HAD BEEN AWARE OF THIS FLAW. DT

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING OCCASIONALLY WHITE SMOKE EXITS THE EXHAUST. CONSUMER STATES DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

TAIL PIPE IS TOO LOW TO THE GROUND.*AK

THERE IS A BAD LINKAGE BETWEEN ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, AND THERE IS A LOUD NOISE WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER STATES THERE IS SLACK IN THE DRIVETRAIN. *JB

THERE IS A VERY STRONG ROTTEN EGG/SULPHER ODOR EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN A SHORT OR LONG DISTANCE. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE ODOR WAS CAUSED BY HIGH SULPHER CONTENT IN THE GASOLINE THAT I WAS PUTTING IN THE CAR AND THAT I SHOULD TRY DIFFERENT BRANDS OF GASOLINE TO SEE WHICH ONE CAUSED THE LEAST ODOR. I HAVE TRIED 3 DIFFERENT BRANDS AND THE ODOR IS STILL THE SAME. I HAVE TALKED TO THE DEALER TWICE ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT SINCE IT WAS THE GASOLINE THAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THEH ENGINE OR THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND THAT EITHER THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM OR REFUSES TO ADMIT THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM.*AK

ROTTEN EGG SMELL INSIDE VEHICLE CAB SINCE I LEASED IT , BEEN IN SHOP 5 TIMES THEY ASKED ME TO DO THINGS LIKE PUT BLUE PLANET GAS IN IT AND DRIVE IT FOR ALONG TIME NONE OF THIS SEEM TO WORK LAST TIME WAS THEY SWAPED THE COMPUTER SYSTEM AND CONVERTERS FROM ANOTHER 2002 CAMRY AND THE GAS SMELL IS STILL THERE. I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING..THE SMELL IS TO THE POINT WHERE IT MAKES MY DAUGHTER AND I HAVE HEADACHES. AT ONE POINT I HAD TOYOTA TELL ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME....IM NOT SURE IF MY CAR HAS A DEFECT DUE TO SOME OTHER REASON IT SEEMS FUNNY TO ME THAT THEY JUST DONT KNOW WHATS WRONG WITH THIS CAR.THERE IS ALSO A CLUNKING SOUND IN THE STERRING THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NORMAL TOO? NOT SURE ABOUT WHATS GOING ON .....AND THOUGHT SOMEONE ELSE LIKE YOU GUYS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT IT. THANKS TAMMY COLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

A STRANGE ODOR WAS COMING INTO CAB OF VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER STATED IT WAS CARBON MONOXIDE. CONSUMER STATED THAT SUNROOF WAS VACUUMING FUMES BACK INTO VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

EXHAUST SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TOO CLOSE TO GROUND AND MAY CAUSES A POTENTIAL FIRE, MAKING CONTACT WITH DEBRIS. DEALER AND MANFUCTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK *YH

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER STATED HEAT SHIELD RATTLES, DEALER REPLACED. *TT

WHILE OPERATING MY VEHICLE ON A HIGHWAY, I WAS STARTLED WHEN AN OBJECT SUDDENLY FELL/DROPPED ONTO MY ANKLE/FOOT FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE'S DASH. THIS INCIDENT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SELLING DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED THAT OBJECT WHICH FELL OFF WAS THE "DRIVER'S SIDE AIR FLOW DUCT." FURTHER INFORMED THAT PIECE FELL OFF BECAUSE A CLIP(S) WAS EITHER NOT INSTALLED DURING ASSEMBLY OR, CLIP FELL OFF DURING OPERATION OF VEHICLE PRIOR TO MY INCIDENT. NOTE: STILL AWAITING FOR SPECIAL ORDER PART (CLIP) TO ARRIVE AT DEALERSHIP.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER, DASHBOARD COMPLETELY ILLUMINATED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM VEHICLE. WHEN CONSUMER SAW SMOKE STOPPED VEHICLE, AND THEN VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN ENGINE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY IN FLAMES AND FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. *YD