2002 Toyota Camry Engine Problems
Owners have filed 58 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2002 Toyota Camry, 6% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 117,450 miles. The words owners use most often: “head bolts” (28% of reports).
- 58engine complaints
- 117,450median miles at failure
- 5mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $5,600typical repair cost reported by owners
- 33%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 16 of 58 complaints (28%)
- Engine block: mentioned in 8 of 58 complaints (14%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the 2002 Toyota Camry at $5,600, and half of them between $3,450 and $7,550.
Based on 9 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2012–2024), 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 problems happen?
Based on 52 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 58 complaints, 5 mention a crash, 5 a fire.
Toyota Camry engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Camry | 4 | 8% | — |
| 2023 Camry | 5 | 8% | 38,500 |
| 2022 Camry | 6 | 10% | 93,000 |
| 2021 Camry | 7 | 4% | 205,000 |
| 2020 Camry | 60 | 22% | 10,000 |
| 2019 Camry | 80 | 20% | 20,000 |
| 2018 Camry | 135 | 18% | 17,000 |
| 2017 Camry | 11 | 7% | 51,000 |
| 2016 Camry | 17 | 9% | 20,355 |
| 2015 Camry | 24 | 9% | 21,234 |
| 2014 Camry | 57 | 13% | 24,945 |
| 2013 Camry | 26 | 9% | 17,000 |
| 2012 Camry | 59 | 10% | 48,000 |
| 2011 Camry | 36 | 6% | 71,641 |
| 2010 Camry | 43 | 7% | 80,000 |
| 2009 Camry | 208 | 16% | 96,000 |
| 2008 Camry | 131 | 14% | 89,719 |
| 2007 Camry | 377 | 13% | 102,897 |
| 2006 Camry | 10 | 3% | 94,847 |
| 2005 Camry | 21 | 3% | 95,994 |
| 2004 Camry | 26 | 4% | 104,000 |
| 2003 Camry | 52 | 7% | 128,400 |
| 2002 Camry | 58 | 6% | 117,450 |
| 2001 Camry | 13 | 5% | 80,250 |
| 2000 Camry | 8 | 2% | 95,000 |
| 1999 Camry | 5 | 1% | 210,000 |
| 1998 Camry | 3 | 1% | 174,500 |
| 1997 Camry | 6 | 1% | 100,000 |
| 1996 Camry | 1 | 0% | — |
| 1995 Camry | 1 | 0% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine 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.
Toyota dealer contacted me; said my car will cost $15000 to fix. He said people at Toyota who has my exact car costed $15000 to fix! itâs known in automotive circles this year make model & engine size has this factory defect of the rear head studs stripping out and becoming loose. This causes…
The components or systems that have failed are (Catalytic Converter, Exhaust Manifold, Air Bag Control Module, Engine including head gasket) My safety is at risk due to catalytic converter not functioning properly producing harmful carbon monoxide that can be smelled through air vents, Air bag…
The contact owned a 2002 Toyota Camry. The contact stated while driving at approximately 65 MPH the steering wheel had seized up and the vehicle had begun to lose forward momentum. The contact heard an abnormal "popping" sound at the moment the steering had stopped functionality. The contact stated…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2002 Toyota Camrys have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 58 owner complaints about engine for the 2002 Toyota Camry (6% 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?
No recall currently lists engine for this vehicle.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 117,450 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the 2002 Toyota Camry?
Owners report a typical cost of $5,600 (half paid between $3,450 and $7,550), from 9 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2002 Toyota Camry?
The most frequent phrase is “head bolts”, in 16 of 58 complaints, followed by “engine block” (8).
Other 2002 Toyota Camry problems
See all 2002 Toyota Camry problems or engine problems across all Camry years.