2002 Toyota Corolla

Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues

Air bags is the leading concern among 144 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 20th highest complaint count among 26 Corolla model years with reports.

Complaints by model year
  1. 144

Of the 2002 reports, 30 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 23 people were injured.

Primary concernAir bags24 reports · 17% of complaints
Owner complaints144Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship5 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Air bags24
  2. Engine and engine cooling20
  3. Service brakes13
  4. Hydraulic11
  5. Vehicle speed control11
  6. Suspension9
  7. Tires9
  8. Visibility9

Recalls and investigations

  1. SuspensionFeb 11, 2010

    RIDE CONTROL IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT STRUT MOUNTS BRANDED AS GABRIEL RIDE CONTROL OR ARVINMERITOR, P/NOS. 142435, 142193, 142305, 142303, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FRONT STRUT MOUNTS DID NOT CONTAIN A WELD JOINT BETWEEN THE BEARING HOUSING AND THE RATE PLATE.

    THE ABSENCE OF THE WELD CAN ALLOW THE STRUT TO COME OUT OF ITS MOUNTING POSITION UNDER CERTAIN EXTREME DRIVING CONDITIONS WHICH COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO SURROUNDING VEHICLE COMPONENTS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

    RIDE CONTROL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE AFFECTED PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RIDE CONTROL AT 1-248-458-1396.

    Campaign 10E002000 on NHTSA.gov

  2. Exterior lighting, headlightsMay 11, 2009

    DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

    DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

    DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

    Campaign 09E025000 on NHTSA.gov

  3. Exterior lightingApr 7, 2009

    SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

    DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

    SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

    Campaign 09E012000 on NHTSA.gov

  4. Exterior lightingMay 24, 2006

    CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

    WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

    CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

    Campaign 06E049000 on NHTSA.gov

  5. Exterior lighting, headlightsMar 21, 2006

    CERTAIN POLI-AUTO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES, P/NOS. 11-728, 11-728D, 11-710, 11-419, 11-713, 11-703, 11-704, 11-708P, 11-735, 11-725, 11-726, 11-716 (P&C), 11-721-1, 11-733, 11-729, 11-730, AND 11-732, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

    WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

    POLI-AUTO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE HEADLAMPS AT ITS ORIGINAL PURCHASE PRICE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT POLI-AUTO AT 305-477-1356.

    Campaign 06E025000 on NHTSA.gov

Representative owner complaints: hydraulic

11 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Air bags, Mar 4, 2010, crash

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH AND APPROACHING A RED LIGHT WHEN HE STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL IT DID NOT RESPOND AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE VEHICLE IN-FRONT OF HIM. THE DRIVERS FRONT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. HE HAD EXPERIENCE BRAKE FAILURE TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

  2. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Nov 25, 2009

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA COROLLA. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO STOP DURING BRAKE APPLICATION AT 25 MPH. HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS CORRODED, AND THUS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT AN EXPENSE OF $1400.00. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,995.

  3. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Exterior lighting, Nov 16, 2007

    I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA WITH 62,000 MI. I HAVE BEEN TO TWO TOYOTA DEALERS TO FIGURE OUT MY PROBLEM. THE VSC TRAC, VSC OFF, ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ARE COMING ON. FINALLY AFTER @$700 OF MY MONEY, THEY FIGURED OUT THE PROBLEM TO BE THE ECU. THIS WILL NOW COST ME @1800 FOR PARTS, AND WHO KNOWS YET FOR LABOR. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT MANY OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE SITUATION, UNLESS YOU HAVE THE EXT. WARRANTY. I FEEL THAT TOYOTA NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, MAYBE RECALL THIS AND FIX THESE CARS BEFORE THERE IS AN ACCIDENT. I LIVE IN NEW YORK WHERE THERE IS ALOT OF SNOW. MY VSC WILL NOT WORK UNTIL I GET THIS FIXED. I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND HAVE TO RELAY ON STANDARD BRAKES IN THE SNOW UNTIL THIS IS FIXED. TOYOTA SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR REPUTABLE NAME AND FIX THESE PROBLEMS ASAP..... *TR

  4. Service brakes, Hydraulic, May 22, 2006

    DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED THE FRONT END MADE A GRINDING NOISE. THIS OCCURRED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS FIVE TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE ATHE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 06/05/2006. *AK

  5. Service brakes, Hydraulic, May 16, 2005

    STRONG VIBRATIONS FROM FRONT BRAKES

  6. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jan 26, 2005

    I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA LIMITED. THE BRAKES NEEDED REPLACING AT 21000 MILES.THIS IS CONCIDERED NORMAL , FOR THIS HEAVY CAR. THE DEALER REQUESTED $330.00 TO REPLACE PADS I SHOPPED AROUND GOT THE JOB DONE FOR $250.00. BUT THE BRAKES STARTED VIBRATING WHENEVER I APPLIED THEM. TOOK IT BACK TO REPAIR CENTER THEY RE-DID THE ENTIRE BRAKE JOB WITH DIFFERENT FACTORY PADS (26000 MI) , SAME RESULT. I THEN TOOK IT TO THE DEALER I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM (33000 MI) , THEY CHECKED IT OUT, PROBLEM NOT OCCURING AT THIS TIME. NO REPAIR DONE. I TOOK IT TO THE TIRE CENTER I ALWAYS USE FOR TIRES, THEY REPLACED REAR ROTORS, PROBLEM NOT FIXED. I THEN REPLACED THE FRONT ROTORS & PADS MYSELF. VIBRATION STILL OCCURING. I HAVE SPENT $800.00 TO FIX THE VIBRATION. TALKED TO TOYOTA ABOUT IT THERE IS A SERVICE BULITTEN ABOUT THIS COMPLANT, IT SHOULD BE FIXED FREE OF CHARGE. BUT THE CAR IS AT 41000 MI NOW. THE WARRANTY IS 36000 MILES.TOYOTA REFUSED TO MAKE NECESSARY REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH COMPLAINT WAS ORIGINALLY PLACED DURING WARRANTY PERIOD. REPAIR COST APPROX $2000.00 PER SERVICE WRITER. I WILL NEVER DEAL WITH TOYOTA AGAIN! *AK

  7. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Dec 21, 2004

    2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA BRAKES VIBRATE SEVERELY. VSC SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT FREQUENTLY COMES ON. PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE CAR HAD 10,000 MILES, NOW HAS 36,000 AND DEALER AND TOYOTA CLAIM IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. TOYOTA CLAIMS THAT CAR HAS NO BRAKE PROBLEMS, NO SAFETY PROBLEMS AT ALL, AND THAT ORIGINAL BRAKES ARE NOT DEFECTIVE IN DESIGN. I AM INFORMED THAT TOYOTA ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, ALTHOUGH TOYOTA DENIED THIS THE DEALER ADMITTED THAT IT EXISTED, BUT I HAD TO SPECIFICALLY COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SPECIFIC BRAKE PROBLEM, OR THEY WOULD NOT AND DID NOT ADVISE ME OF THE REMEDY. THESE BRAKE ISSUES ARE A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM.*AK

  8. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Air bags, Oct 5, 2004, crash

    WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT HIT THE GUARD RAIL AND FLIPPED OVER THREE TIMES. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO A HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK

  9. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Nov 10, 2003, crash

    WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKES VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. MECHANIC REPLACED BRAKE ROTORS AND OTHER BRAKE PARTS.*AK

  10. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Oct 24, 2003

    MY 2002 TOYOTA COROLLA HAD WARPED DISCS AFTER 20,000 MILES OF FREEWAY DRIVING, NO HILLS. TOYOTA RESURFACED DISCS AND SAID THERE WOULD BE NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. AR 38,000 MILES THEY WARPED AGAIN NOW TOYOTA SAYS ITS MY PROBLEM. THIS CAR IS DRIVEN ONLY ON THE HIGHWAY. I TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO SAID THE BRAKES WERE IN PERFECT CONDITION EXCEPT THE WARPED DISCS AND THOUGHT THAT TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THE DISCS AT 20,000 INSTEAD OF RESURFACING THEM. *LA

  11. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Aug 26, 2002, crash

    NOT SURE OF SPEED ON IMPACT. DRIVER WAS BRAKING FROM 50MPH.