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: tires

9 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Tires, Aug 22, 2023

    Tire size: TM-1 185/65R14 86 T Tire. I bought 4 tires in Sept 2022. I just found out that, after 11 months of normal city driving (which added bout 10K miles to the mileage) and normal maintenance, the tires already showing belt. They have become a safety hazard so I have to buy 4 new tires of another brand.

  2. Tires, Jun 22, 2010

    2002 TOYOTA COROLLA, SUSTAINED A BLOWOUT ON THE STEER TIRE.*BF THE TIRE SEPARATED AND DAMAGED THE LEFT FRONT QUARTER PANEL ON THE VEHICLE. (OHIO TRAFFC CRASH REPORT # 10-0190-89)*JB UPDATED 08/05/10 *BF

  3. Tires, Sep 29, 2008

    EARLY A.M. WENT TO CAR NOTICED TIRE COMPLETELY FLAT DUE TO 'CRACKED/DEFECTIVE' VALVE STEM. HAD PURCHASED 4 NEW TIRES 2/8/07 FROM SAM'S CLUB. THEY REPLACED VALVE STEM BUT DID NOT MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT A RECALL AND DID NOT CHECK OTHER VALVE STEMS FOR DEFECTS. I WAS NOT AWARE OF RECALL UNTIL HEARING IT ON THE NEWS THIS WEEK. NOW CONCERNED ABOUT OTHER TIRES AND IF THE 'NEW REPLACEMENT VALVE IS SAFE. *TR

  4. Tires, Jun 30, 2008

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE VEHICLE HAS FOUR MICHELIN TIRES, SIZE P185/65S14 (NA). IN MAY OF 2008, WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH IN A PARKING LOT, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED A FLAT TIRE ON HER VEHICLE. THE TIRE STORE STATED THAT THE VALVE STEM WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND MADE THE REPLACEMENT . THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VALVE STEM, ALONG WITH TWO OTHER TIRE STEMS WERE DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,500. UPDATED 07/29/08. *LJ UPDATED 07/29/08

  5. Tires, Feb 24, 2004

    GOODYEAR INTEGRITY, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, P185/65R14. TIRE WAS LUMPY, AND WEARING UNEVENLY. IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT THE BELTS BROKE FROM WITHIN. *AK *MR

  6. Tires, Dec 26, 2003

    PURCHASED TOYOTA MR2 SPYDER IN AUGUST OF 2002. CAR NOW HAS 18,300 MILES AND BOTH FRONT TIRES (YOKOHAMA ADVAN A043 185/50R15) ARE WORN BEYOND RECOMMENDED TREAD DEPTH AND BLISTERED ON INSIDE(BECAUSE OF FRONT-END MISALIGNMENT ACCORDING TO DEALERSHIP). *AK

  7. Tires, Nov 3, 2003

    FIRESTONE TIRE SIDEWALL BLOWOUT. TIRE MODEL FR680, SIZE P185/65-R14. *LA

  8. Tires, Oct 3, 2002

    THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE SIDEWALL WAS TORN. THE DEALER HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE IT BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER WOULDN'T REFUND THEM. THE TEAR IS FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THE SIZE OF THE TIRE IS 205/65R15 92T. THE TIRES ARE BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RE92. NLM

  9. Suspension, Tires, Wheels, Oct 12, 2001

    VEHICLE WANDERS AND SWAYS BACK AND FORTH. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC STATED THAT ALL FOUR WHEELS WERE BENT. VEHICLE CAME FROM FACTORY THAT WAY. GOODYEAR, INTEGRITY, P185/65R14 . RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD A BULGE ON OUTSIDE. *AK NEW VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT, ALL 4 WHEELS WERE BENT AND WARPED FROM THE FACTORY, THE TIRES WERE OUT OF BALANCE. GOODYEAR INTEGRITY TIRES ON VEHICLE WERE DEFECTIVE AND WERE REPLACED DUE TO DEFECTIVE BELTS. VEHICLE HAS A HANDLING PROBLEM. NLM