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: visibility

9 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Visibility, Latches/locks/linkages, Jun 1, 2010

    SOMETIME WITHIN THE FIRST 2 YEARS OF OWNING MY 2002 COROLLA, THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW STARTED TO STOP WORKING. IT WAS INTERMITTENT. SOMETIMES I WOULD ROLL MY WINDOW DOWN TO ORDER TAKEOUT AND COULDN'T ROLL IT BACK UP AND HAVE TO DRIVE IN COLD THEN AFTER SEVERAL TRIES, IT WOULD ROLL UP AND BE FINE UNTIL THE NEXT TIME.....MAYBE 2 MONTHS WOULD GO BY,,,,SO I DECIDED TO HAVE THE DRIVER SIDE MOTOR REPLACED UNDER MY 6 YEAR, 100,000 MILES WARRANTY. IT HAS BEEN FINE UNTIL THIS YEAR, NOW MY DOOR HANDLE ON THE INSIDE HAS BROKEN, AND SOME HOW THE WINDOW HAS COME OFF THE TRACT AND WHEN I ROLL THE WINDOW UP YOU CAN SEE BY THE TINTING, THAT IT HAS SHIFTED AND NOW THE GAP ON MY WINDOW, NOT AT THE TOP BUT AT THE SIDE TOWARDS THE REAR, THERE IS A 1/4 INCH GAP WHEN WINDOW ROLLS UP. THIS HAPPENED AFTER MY OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE BECAME STUCK WHEN I OPENED MY DOOR, IT STAYED LIFTED UP AND I COULDN'T CLOSE MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. I HAD TO PHYSICALLY PUSH DOWN ON THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE IN ORDER TO GET MY DOOR TO SHUT AND LATCH.....NOW MY WINDOW WON'T ROLL UP ALL THE WAY AND .....ITS A PAIN NOT TO BE ABLE TO GO THRU THE CAR WASH....I HAVE TO HOLD TOWELS IN IT IN ORDER TO NOT GET INTERIOR WET. MY CAR ONLY HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT.....ANYONE ELSE HAVING THAT KIND OF PROBLEMS....PEOPLE HAVE TRIED TO GET DOOR PANEL OFF AND YOU NEED A SPECIAL TOOL....OF COURSE YOU DO! I DON'T HAVE ANY CASH TO FIX IT SO I JUST LIVE WITH IT.....WHAT A PAIN! THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN SOLD SO, I AM SOL! SORRY THEY SAID.....THAT WAS UNDER THE OLD DEALERSHIP AND WE DON'T HONOR THEIR REPAIRS! WHATEVER........AT LEAST I SHOULD BE THANKFUL MY GAS PEDAL DOESN'T STICK! *TR

  2. Visibility, Jun 18, 2008

    I DRIVE ALONE YET MY PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW FAILED AT ALMOST 3 YEARS AND VERY MINIMAL USAGE. NOW, AT ALMOST 6 YEARS, MY DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW HAS ALSO FAILED. COST TO REPLACE MOTOR (PER TOYOTA DEALERSHIP) IS $495.00. I THINK TOYOTA SHOULD INVESTIGATE THEIR SOURCE AND TRY TO UPGRADE, THIS IS NOT STANDARD FOR ELECTRIC WINDOWS. *TR

  3. Visibility, May 19, 2008

    DRIVER SIDE AUTOMATIC WINDOW STOPPED WORKING WITHOUT ANY PRIOR PROBLEM. *TR

  4. Visibility, Oct 1, 2007

    INTERMITTENT FUNCTION OF PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW BEGAN IN 2004. TOTAL FAILURE OF PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW FUNCTION FOLLOWED. WINDOW IS COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE, NEITHER MASTER CONTROL OR PASSENGER WINDOW CONTROL WILL WORK. DIFFICULT TO COMPREHEND WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT I RARELY HAVE PASSENGERS AND NEVER USE THE WINDOW IN QUESTION. I EXPECT MUCH BETTER OF TOYOTA WHICH IS WHY I CHOSE TO PURCHASE ANOTHER TOYOTA. *TR

  5. Visibility, May 22, 2007

    I PURCHASED A 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA IN NOVEMBER 2002. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THE SALES PERSON TOLD ME THAT THE HEATING/AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM APPEARED TO BE A POORLY DESIGNED, BUT I DID NOT THINK THAT A BIG OBSTACLE TO MY PURCHASE. I HAD CONTINUAL PROBLEMS TRYING TO REGULATE THE TEMPERATURE IN THE VEHICLE. IT WAS EITHER 65 DEGREES AND THE NEXT LEVEL DOWN WAS COLD. I WAS ALWAYS FLIPPING THE KNOB BACK AND FORTH TRYING TO REGULATE THE TEMPERATURE. THIS WAS NOT A BIG SAFETY ISSUE UNLESS TAKING MY EYES OFF THE ROAD FOR THESE ADJUSTMENTS CAN BE CONSIDERED HAZARDOUS. BUT I LIVE IN A SOMEWHAT COLD CLIMATE AND I HAVE HAD TROUBLE KEEPING THE WINDOWS DEFROSTED ON SOME DAYS PARTICULARLY IF THE HUMIDITY WAS HIGH. THIS COULD BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE. I JUST TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE AIR CONDITIONER LIGHT WAS BLINKING. LOOKING AT A REPAIR BILL OF AROUND $1,600.00 FOR A NEW COMPRESSOR AND CLUTCH. OF COURSE, I DO NOT HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AS THIS WAS MY SIXTH TOYOTA ,AND I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS SUCH AS THIS IS THE PAST. SINCE I HAVE READ THAT OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS I WOULD URGE SOMEONE TO LOOK INTO THE ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE GOT KILLED BECAUSE OF INABILITY TO SEE OUT THE FRONT WINDOW. *AK

  6. Visibility, May 16, 2007

    THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW MOTOR FAILED.*AK

  7. Visibility, Aug 12, 2004

    WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR VIEW MIRRORS FAILED TO ADJUST PROPERLY DUE TO THE LEVER FOR ADJUSTING WAS NOT MOUNTED ON THE MIRROR. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *JB

  8. Fuel system, Gasoline, Electrical system, Visibility, Other or unspecified, Feb 13, 2003

    THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS INOPERATIVE, THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO READ THE VARIOUS FEATURES THAT WERE DISPLAYED ON THE UNIT. THE BATTERY HAD GONE DEAD, AND THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED. THE FUEL CONSUMPTION WAS ABNORMAL AND THE AIR HANDLING SYSTEM DID NOT PERMIT OUTSIDE AIR. *SCC *JB

  9. Visibility, Jul 10, 2001

    ACCORDING TO OWNERS MANUAL OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRRORS HAVE TWO WAYS TO ADJUST THEM BY POWER SWITCH OR MANUALLY. THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE EITHER OPTION. CONSUMER STATES IN ORDER TO ADJUST MIRRORS CONSUMER MUST USE HANDS. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK