2002–2006 Toyota Camry: what to inspect before you bid at auction

Before you bid: what to have checked

Issues documented for this generation. They are patterns for the model, not findings about any specific car, and many depend on the engine, mileage and service history. Confirm on the unit you are bidding on.

• Cylinder head bolt threads in the aluminum block damaged on the 2AZ-FE 2.4L (subject of Toyota TSB T-SB-0015-11), which can lead to head gasket leaks/coolant loss verified source
  System: Engine (major) · Documented around: 52,500-180,000 mi · About: whole generation
  Source: Toyota TSB T-SB-0015-11 (2011-03-02); carcomplaints.com 2002 Camry engine page
• Owner reports of automatic transmission failure, many requiring replacement (carcomplaints.com, 2002 model year) commonly reported
  System: Transmission (major) · Documented around: ~115,950 mi · About: 2002 model year is the worst year for this specific failure
  Source: carcomplaints.com 2002 Camry (47 complaints, avg repair $3,280, range $625 used unit-$5,000 new)
• Recall 04V346000: "ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CURTAIN SHIELD AIR BAGS (CSA), ONE OR BOTH OF THE CURTAIN AIR BAGS MAY BE TWISTED NEAR THE INFLATOR DUE TO IMPROPER ASSEMBLY." NHTSA recall 04V346000 consequence: "IF THIS OCCURS, THE CSA MAY NOT DEPLOY RAPIDLY ENOUGH WHEN ACTIVATED IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION. THIS MAY RESULT IN FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE INTENDED HEAD PROTECTION, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY." verified source
  System: Body hardware · Documented around: not applicable · About: 2002-2004 model years
  Source: NHTSA recall 04V346000 (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=04V346000), report received 13/07/2004, 128316 units potentially affected per NHTSA
• Recall 04V595000: "ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A FRONT PASSENGER POWER SEAT, WHEN INSTALLING CERTAIN REAR-FACING INFANT CHILD SEAT BASES ONTO THE SEAT WITH AN EXCESSIVELY HIGH SEATBELT TENSION, IT MAY BE POSSIBLE TO UNSEAT A COMPONENT CALLED THE BUCKLE STATUS SWITCH FROM THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE." NHTSA recall 04V595000 consequence: "IF THE SWITCH BECOMES UNSEATED, THE FRONT PASSENGER OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM MAY MISTAKE THE REAR-FACING CHILD RESTRAINT FOR AN UNBELTED ADULT OCCUPANT, AND MAY NOT SUPPRESS THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG." verified source
  System: Body hardware · Documented around: not applicable · About: 2004-2005 model years
  Source: NHTSA recall 04V595000 (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=04V595000), report received 15/12/2004, 150061 units potentially affected per NHTSA
• Recall 11V539000 (2004-2005 Camry with 1MZ-FE/3MZ-FE V6, built Jun 1, 2004 - Mar 31, 2005): NHTSA recall 11V539000 consequence: "IN SOME CASES, THE BELT FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAY BECOME DETACHED FROM THE PULLEY WHICH COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND A SUDDEN INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH." verified source
  System: Suspension/steering · Documented around: not applicable · About: 2004-2005 model years
  Source: NHTSA recall 11V539000 (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=11V539000), report received 09/11/2011, 420326 units potentially affected per NHTSA
• Owner reports of warped brake rotors requiring resurfacing/replacement commonly reported
  System: Brakes · Documented around: 10,000-29,000 mi (recurring) · About: 2002 model year
  Source: carcomplaints.com 2002 Camry (13 hydraulic-brake complaints, ~$250 repair)
• Brake master cylinder failure (single owner report) commonly reported
  System: Brakes · Documented around: ~67,266 mi · About: 2005 model year
  Source: carcomplaints.com 2005 Camry (single documented owner report, $576 replacement)

Recon cost reference

Estimates from the sources shown, priced as of 2026-09-04. Your shop rate, parts sourcing and the car's actual condition decide the real number. These are not quotes.

NHTSA recalls: verify this VIN

A recall that applies to a model is not proof that a specific car has an open recall. Whether this VIN is affected, and whether the repair was done, is shown by NHTSA's VIN lookup. Check it before you bid.

No campaign list is stored for this generation. Look the VIN up with NHTSA.

Manufacturer bulletins (TSBs)

Technical service bulletins are the manufacturer's own guidance to its dealers. A bulletin is not a recall and does not mean a repair is free. Coverage depends on the manufacturer's terms and the VIN.

• T-SB-0015-11 (2011-03-02)
  Cylinder head bolt threads damaged, 2AZ-FE engines
  Full applicability model-year list on the bulletin itself could not be independently confirmed (fetch error); owner/forum reports consistently tie it to this generation's 2.4L engines
  Source: Referenced by carcomplaints.com and samarins.com

Sources and when this was researched

Last researched: 2026-09-04. VehicleIQ research for this generation; each item above names its own source and whether it is a verified source or commonly reported. Details change, so treat this as a starting point for your inspection.