2002 vs 2003 Toyota Camry

vs

Both years are the same generation, so most of what they offer is shared.

Watch out for

Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check. Walk away if found marks a fault serious enough to walk away from the car.

2002

  • Engine oil sludge, 2002 V6

    What to check: Look under the oil filler cap for sludge, watch for blue smoke at start-up, and ask for the oil change records.

    Toyota's 2002 support program and the 2007 settlement both covered sludge damage on 2002 Camry V6s. Both have run out.

    Work Truck Online, ConsumerAffairs

2003

Nothing that 2002 lacks.

Both years

  • Stripped head bolt threads in the 2.4L All years Walk away if found One source so far

    What to check: Look for coolant loss and for coolant at the back of the engine where the head meets the block, and ask about any overheating or a head bolt thread repair.

    On CarComplaints.com's page for the 2002, a complaints site and an unofficial source, 38 owners report stripped head bolts at an average of 136,050 miles, with coolant leaks and overheating; 18 needed a new engine and 10 had thread inserts fitted.

    Owners' reports (unofficial)

Recalls

2002

  • 01V306000 2002

    The passenger front airbag may not deploy fully in a crash. NHTSA

  • 01V372000 2002

    The bottom of the driver's airbag cover can tear away when the airbag deploys. NHTSA

2003

Nothing that 2002 lacks.

Both years

  • 04V346000 2002–2004

    One or both curtain airbags may be twisted near the inflator. NHTSA

What changed between

After 2002, up to and including 2003.

  1. 2003Power-adjustable pedals become available. Edmunds

What it came with

2002

Nothing that 2003 lacks.

2003

Packages
Power-adjustable pedals (2003–2006) Edmunds

Both years

Engines
2.4L four-cylinder Edmunds, a published reference, 3.0L V6 Edmunds, a published reference
Transmissions
5-speed manual Edmunds, a published reference, 4-speed automatic (2002–2004) Edmunds
Drivetrains
Front-wheel drive A published reference
Trims
LE Edmunds, SE Edmunds, XLE Edmunds

Colors

2002

Nothing that 2003 lacks.

2003

Nothing that 2002 lacks.

Both years

  • Super White 040 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Lunar Mist Metallic 1C8 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Phantom Gray Pearl 1E3 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Black 202 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Desert Sand Mica 4Q2 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Black Walnut Pearl 3P5, 2002–2004 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Salsa Red Pearl 3Q3 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Aspen Green Pearl 6S7 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Catalina Blue Metallic 8Q2, 2002–2004 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Stratosphere Mica 8Q0, 2002–2004 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)

What owners and buyers say

Reputation: what owners and the press report

2002

  • Sought after: 2002, by owner ratings One source so far

    SlashGear's best-years list includes the 2002, for owner ratings at Consumer Reports, Kelley Blue Book and Cars.com, its room and comfort, fuel economy and low repair costs. SlashGear

  • Avoid: 2002 Less sought after

    SlashGear names the 2002 as the 5th gen year to avoid, with over 1,000 complaints and a warning badge from CarComplaints.com. CarComplaints.com's top problems for it are transmission failure, stripped head bolts and overheating. SlashGear, owners' reports (unofficial)

2003

Nothing that 2002 lacks.