2002 Toyota Camry Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 107 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the 2002 Toyota Camry, 11% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 82,630 miles. The words owners use most often: “head bolts” (8% of reports).
- 107engine and engine cooling complaints
- 82,630median miles at failure
- 6mention a crash
- 7mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $2,800typical repair cost reported by owners
- 50%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Head bolts: mentioned in 9 of 107 complaints (8%)
- Rotten egg: mentioned in 7 of 107 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine and engine cooling repair on the 2002 Toyota Camry at $2,800, and half of them between $1,450 and $5,600.
Based on 12 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2006–2012), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems happen?
Based on 69 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 107 complaints, 6 mention a crash, 5 a fire, 7 an injury.
Toyota Camry engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine and Engine Cooling complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Camry | 4 | 1% | 97,150 |
| 2019 Camry | 2 | 1% | 106,769 |
| 2018 Camry | 5 | 1% | 70,000 |
| 2017 Camry | 1 | 1% | 200,000 |
| 2016 Camry | 2 | 1% | 39,368 |
| 2015 Camry | 1 | 0% | 25,000 |
| 2014 Camry | 5 | 1% | 5,500 |
| 2013 Camry | 4 | 1% | 2,716 |
| 2012 Camry | 4 | 1% | 87,719 |
| 2011 Camry | 9 | 1% | 10,905 |
| 2010 Camry | 15 | 2% | 10,000 |
| 2009 Camry | 46 | 4% | 20,000 |
| 2008 Camry | 12 | 1% | 53,000 |
| 2007 Camry | 152 | 5% | 45,000 |
| 2006 Camry | 9 | 3% | 43,305 |
| 2005 Camry | 35 | 5% | 51,918 |
| 2004 Camry | 30 | 5% | 65,250 |
| 2003 Camry | 112 | 14% | 76,000 |
| 2002 Camry | 107 | 11% | 82,630 |
| 2001 Camry | 47 | 17% | 73,000 |
| 2000 Camry | 54 | 12% | 70,700 |
| 1999 Camry | 110 | 22% | 66,000 |
| 1998 Camry | 92 | 15% | 93,613 |
| 1997 Camry | 96 | 17% | 86,000 |
| 1996 Camry | 76 | 18% | 77,350 |
| 1995 Camry | 34 | 11% | 130,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine and engine cooling for the 2002 Toyota Camry. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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…
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. 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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2002 Toyota Camrys have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 107 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the 2002 Toyota Camry (11% of the 953 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2002 Toyota Camry engine and engine cooling?
No recall currently lists engine and engine cooling for this vehicle.
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems start?
The median reported mileage is 82,630 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine and engine cooling problems on the 2002 Toyota Camry?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,800 (half paid between $1,450 and $5,600), from 12 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the 2002 Toyota Camry?
The most frequent phrase is “head bolts”, in 9 of 107 complaints, followed by “rotten egg” (7).
Other 2002 Toyota Camry problems
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (281)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (146)
- Air Bags problems (89)
- Power Train problems (68)
- Engine problems (58)
- Structure problems (56)
- Tires problems (54)
See all 2002 Toyota Camry problems or engine and engine cooling problems across all Camry years.