Total Complaints
67 filings
TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA · model year
67 NHTSA complaints, 23 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002TOYOTACAMRY SOLARA carries 67 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 23 crashes, 0 fires, 10 injuries, and 1 fatality. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2002 CAMRY SOLARA is vehicle speed control with 10 filings, followed by air bags (9) and seat belts (6). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 51 investigation files overlapping the 2002 CAMRY SOLARA, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
67 filings
Crashes Reported
23 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 10 |
| AIR BAGS | 9 |
| SEAT BELTS | 6 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 5 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 3 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL | 3 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 3 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 2 |
| SEATS | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 2 |
| TIRES | 2 |
| STEERING | 2 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT | 1 |
Tire size P205 60R16 evolution tour series This is the second tire of the set of 4 that suddenly had a belt shift inside the tire and the steering wheel would violently shake , one of the tires when failed pulled to left into oncoming traffic (luckily I retained control)
WHILE DRIVING, AFTER THE VEHICLE GETS HOT, NOT OVERHEATED, THE BRAKES GO SOFT AND YOU CANT STOP! IF YOU SLAM THEM THEY WORK, IF YOU PRESS NORMALLY, NOTHING. WE REPLACED, MASTER CYLINDER, BRAKE BOOSTER, BRAKE LINES, CALIPERS, AND ALL PADS, HAD A PRESSURE BLEED PERFORMED, NOTHING HELPS! IT'S THE SEAL ON THE FIRE WALL THAT IS DEFECTIVE!
Mileage: 189,000
THE AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUES TO GO ON. I'VE SPENT MANY DOLLARS TO GET IF FIXED, HOWEVER, NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHY THE LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON. IT SEEMS TO BE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE LIGHT GOES ON WHENEVER THE KEY IS ENGAGED.
Mileage: 15
THE PASSENGER LIGHT WENT ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 70,000 ORIGINAL MILES. I NOTICED SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME COMPLAINT. IS THIS A SAFETY ISSUE?
WHILE DRIVING MY 2002, (75,000 MILES) BRAKES WERE NOT FUNCTIONING AS NORMAL. IT WAS NECESSARY TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE DOWN TO THE FLOOR. ABOUT 15 MINS LATER I NOTICED THE "BRAKE" DISPLAY LIT. I CALLED ARLINGTON TOYOTA WHERE I HAVE BEEN A CUSTOMER FOR 20 YEARS AND ADVISED OF THEM OF THE PROBLEM. I WAS GIVEN AN APPOINTMENT, BUT DECIDED TO CAUTIOUSLY DRIVE TO THE DEALER AFTER # CALLS. I LEARNED THAT BOTH MY BRAKE LINE AND FUEL LINES HAD RUSTED AND WERE LEAKING FLUID. I COMMENTED THAT I HAD MY CAR IN FOR BRAKE WORK MANY TIMES OVER THE PAST YEAR +. I SPOKE TO MY REGULAR ATTENDANT AT LEAST 4 TIMES ABOUT THE BRAKES. I HAD BRAKE WORK DONE, GLAZING AND OTHER TYPES OR BRAKE WORK. LONG STORY, AFTER MUCH SHOPPING AROUND, DECISION MAKING, . THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS ASSIGNED TO DEAL WITH ME. ORIGINALLY $2100, THEN HE TONY NITTY BROUGHT IT TO $1600. FINALLY OFFERED PAYING $1,000 SHOULD HAVE BEEN CAUGHT LONG BEFORE MY BRAKES WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT AS IT HAD BEEN IN SEVERAL TIME OVE
Mileage: 75,000
WHILE DRIVING MY 2002, (75,000 MILES) BRAKES WERE NOT FUNCTIONING AS NORMAL. IT WAS NECESSARY TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE DOWN TO THE FLOOR. ABOUT 15 MINS LATER I NOTICED THE "BRAKE" DISPLAY LIT. I CALLED ARLINGTON TOYOTA WHERE I HAVE BEEN A CUSTOMER FOR 20 YEARS AND ADVISED OF THEM OF THE PROBLEM. I WAS GIVEN AN APPOINTMENT, BUT DECIDED TO CAUTIOUSLY DRIVE TO THE DEALER AFTER # CALLS. I LEARNED THAT BOTH MY BRAKE LINE AND FUEL LINES HAD RUSTED AND WERE LEAKING FLUID. I COMMENTED THAT I HAD MY CAR IN FOR BRAKE WORK MANY TIMES OVER THE PAST YEAR +. I SPOKE TO MY REGULAR ATTENDANT AT LEAST 4 TIMES ABOUT THE BRAKES. I HAD BRAKE WORK DONE, GLAZING AND OTHER TYPES OR BRAKE WORK. LONG STORY, AFTER MUCH SHOPPING AROUND, DECISION MAKING, . THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS ASSIGNED TO DEAL WITH ME. ORIGINALLY $2100, THEN HE TONY NITTY BROUGHT IT TO $1600. FINALLY OFFERED PAYING $1,000 SHOULD HAVE BEEN CAUGHT LONG BEFORE MY BRAKES WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT AS IT HAD BEEN IN SEVERAL TIME OVE
Mileage: 75,000
MY AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON AND GOING OFF FOR YEARS DEPENDING ON HOW THE PASSENGER SEAT IS POSITIONED BUT THERE WAS NEVER A RECALL. AFTER REVIEWING THE SITE AND OTHER COMPLAINT FOR THE SAME YEAR MAKE AND MODEL AS MY VEHICLE I'M WONDERING WHY THIS ISN'T A SAFETY CONCERN. THE DEALER DOESN'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. I GOT IT FIXED LAST YEAR THEY SAID IT WAS THE PINS. NOW THEY ARE SAYING THE HARNESS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. WHILE AT A RED LIGHT, A SECOND VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT STRUCK THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SUSTAINED FRONT END DAMAGE, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. AFTER THE CRASH, THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT REMAINED PERMANENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE DASHBOARD EXPERIENCED CRACKING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
Mileage: 48,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. WHILE AT A RED LIGHT, A SECOND VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT STRUCK THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SUSTAINED FRONT END DAMAGE, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. AFTER THE CRASH, THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT REMAINED PERMANENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE DASHBOARD EXPERIENCED CRACKING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
Mileage: 48,000
THIS REPORT IS NOT IN REFERENCE TO THE VEHICLE, IT IS AN ISSUE WITH TIRES. I PUT ON A SET OF MICHELIN PRIMACY MXV4 205/60R16 92H IN FEBURARY OF 2012, AND AFTER THE SECOND YEAR FOUND THE MATERIAL HARDENING AND WITH LOW TRACTION, WET OR DRY (WORSE WET OF COURSE) AND WHEN I CONTACTED MICHELIN ABOUT THIS WAS TOLD NO WARRANTY EXISTS IN REGARDS TO TRACTION. I FOUND UNCOMFORTABLE WITH CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AND CHANGED THE TIRES. SERIAL NUMBERS ON THE TIRES WERE: HN7RPK1X4911, HN7RPK1X01122, HN7RPK1X4611, HN7RPK1X5111 I AM NO LONGER IN POSSESSION OF THE TIRES, THEY WERE LEFT WITH COSTCO IN MELVILLE, NY. I WANT TO REPORT THIS IN CASE THESE TIRES ARE IN QUESTION IN ANY OTHER INCIDENT.
Mileage: 69,000
TIRES SHOWED SIDEWALL DRYROT WHICH WAS DISMISSED AS 'OZONE CRACKING' AND EXTREMELY REDUCED TRACTION AFTER 2 YEARS, 25,000 MILES. MICHELIN WOULD NOT MAKE GOOD ON COMPLAINT. ENTIRE SET HN7RPK1X4911, HN7RPK1X01122, HN7RPK1X4611, HN7RPK1X5111
THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT NEVER GOES OFF. DEALERSHIP SAYS IT'LL COST $500 TO FIX BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT IN THE FIRST PLACE BUT BECAUSE OF IT THEY SAY NONE OF THE AIR BAGS WILL WORK IN A CRASH. ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS.
2002 TOYOTA SOLARA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *SMD
THIS VEHICLE (AND MANY OTHER SOLARA'S) SEEMS TO HAVE ISSUES WITH THE ACCELERATION. AT TIMES, THE CAR ACCELERATES A LITTLE BIT BY ITSELF. IT HAS NEVER CAUSED ME TO CRASH OR ANYTHING MAJOR, BUT I'VE HAD TO HIT THE BRAKES REAL HARD BECAUSE ITS TAKEN ME BY SURPRISE. THIS MAINLY HAPPENS WHEN I'M NOT MOVING, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN I'M WAITING AT A RED LIGHT. THE CAR MAKES NOISES THAT TECHNICIANS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PROPERLY DIAGNOSE. I AM THE THIRD OWNER OF THIS 2002 TOYOTA SOLARA AND I HAVE A REPORT FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER DATING BACK TO 2002. THIS OWNER DESCRIBES WEIRD NOISES COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE BUT THAT TOYOTA WAS NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. AS IT SEEMS, THIS CAR HAS BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH UNEXPLAINABLE NOISES SINCE ITS DAY OF MANUFACTURE. I'VE BEEN REPLACING MANY THINGS ON THE CAR THINKING BECAUSE OF AGE IT IS MAKING SUCH NOISES, BUT NOISES PERSIST. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HE HAD TO CLICK THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER FOR IT TO ENGAGE. EVENTUALLY THE SEAT BELT BECAME COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147.200.
Mileage: 147,200
PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINS LIT WHETHER OR NOT A PASSENGER IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. *TR
Mileage: 117,275
PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT...THE SEATBELT LIGHT STAYS ON WHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. I HAD THE LIGHT DIAGNOSED FOR $91 BUT THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS ACTUALLY A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. REGARDLESS, THE SEATBELT STILL DOES NOT RETRACT. *TR
Mileage: 117,275
PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT...THE SEATBELT LIGHT STAYS ON WHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. I HAD THE LIGHT DIAGNOSED FOR $91 BUT THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS ACTUALLY A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. REGARDLESS, THE SEATBELT STILL DOES NOT RETRACT. *TR
Mileage: 117,275
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
Mileage: 112,000
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.
Mileage: 130,000
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.