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.
Of the 2002 reports, 30 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 23 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
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
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
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
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
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
144 reports, newest first.
Other or unspecified, Jan 15, 2004
I PURCHASED A 2002 TOYOTA COROLLA AND FOUND THAT MY NASAL PASSAGES BURNED, MY MOUTH HAD A BITTER CHEMICAL TASTE AND I FELT SPACY WHEN I DROVE THE CAR FOR MORE THAN 15 MINUTES. I DEVELOPED A HEADACHE AND MY LUNGS BURNED IF I WAS IN THE CAR FOR 45 MINUTES OR MORE. THE LONGER I WAS IN THE CAR THE LONGER IT TOOK TO GET RID OF THIS TOXIC CHEMICAL FEEL IN MY RESPITORY SYSTEM. THE DEALER WAS WILLING TO TRADE ME OUT OF THIS "TOXIC" CAR INTO A NEW ONE BUT EVEN THOUGH I EAGERLY TRIED A NEW COROLLA, ECHO, AND MATRIX, THE NEW CARS WERE EVEN WORSE. I HAVE OWNED BRAND NEW TOYOTAS TWICE BEFORE AND HAVE DRIVEN THIS MAKE FOR 20 YEARS. THE ONE I TRADED WAS PURCHASED IN 1992. MUCH TO MY SHOCK AND DISBELIEF, THE CHEMICAL OFFGASSING INSIDE MODELS AS OLD AS 2000'S HAS MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO BUY A NEW OR EVEN RELATIVELY NEW TOYOTA. I HAVE RECENTLY RIDDEN IN A NEW DODGE CARAVAN AND A NEW VOLKSWAGAN, GOLF WITHOUT A PROBLEM.
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
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
Tires, Nov 3, 2003
FIRESTONE TIRE SIDEWALL BLOWOUT. TIRE MODEL FR680, SIZE P185/65-R14. *LA
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
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 21, 2003
WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. *JB DEALERSHIP WOULDN'T SERVICE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY APPOINTMENT. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR SERVICE, SHE WAS INFORMED VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE. THE DEFECTIVE PART. THE DEALER "GOOD WILLED" THE PART SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS JUST OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY AND THE CONSUMER JUST HAD TO PAY FOR THE LABOR. *PH *NLM
Seats, Sep 12, 2003
THE SEAT DID NOT STAY IN PLACE AND THIS HAPPENED ON THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND FIXED THE DRIVERS SEAT BUT THEY DID NOT FIX THE PASSENGER'S SEAT. *PH THERE WERE SEAT RELEASE PROBLEMS. WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS FIRST EXPERIENCED, THE DRIVER'S SEAT MADE NOISE AFTER THE SEAT RELEASED. (UPON ACCELERATION, STOPPING GOING UP AN INCLINE) THE NOISE OCCURRED PRIOR TO RELEASE. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO BE THROWN AWAY FROM THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL. *SCC *JB
Other or unspecified, Aug 25, 2003
I HAVE A TOYOTA COROLLA 2002. I NOTICED SEVERAL SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUES. WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE IN RESOLVING ON THIS MATTER?*AK
Air bags, Seat belts, Aug 11, 2003, crash
CONSUMER STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH DRIVER WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION. PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD, BELT CAME OUT FROM OUT OF THE RETRACTOR. ALSO, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. AS A RESULT PASSENGER SUFFERED A CHEST CONCUSION/ NECK SPRING AND BACK SPRING BREAKS. *AK
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 22, 2003
"THERE IS AN OFF GASSING OF CHEMICAL IN VEHICLE THAT IS CAUSING AN IRRITATION TO CONSUMER RESPIRATORY SYSTEM". *AK
Parking brake, May 15, 2003, crash
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY FORTY FIVE MINUTES AND WITHOUT WARNING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE RELEASED AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. (MODEL/MR2 SPYDER) SCC *JB
Power train, May 6, 2003
THE GEAR SHIFT LOCKED UP THREE TIMES. *AK *JB
Exterior lighting, May 2, 2003
THERE APPEAR TO BE A DISTRACTING STRAY OF LIGHT WHEN I HAVE MY HEADLIGHTS ON AT NIGHT. IT IS EVEN WORSE WHEN YOU HAVE THE HIGH BEAMS ON. IS THERE ANYWAY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP CAN TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM? *TT
Vehicle speed control, Apr 25, 2003
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE WAS ON CRUISE CONTROL. AFTER EXITING THE HIGHWAY, PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. *JB
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
Power train, Feb 12, 2003
THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE OUT OF GEAR, AND IF IT DID MOVE OUT OF GEAR, IT ABRUPTLY DOWN SHIFTED TO SECOND GEAR WHILE DRIVING.*AK 2002 TOYOTA SPYDER) *JB
Exterior lighting, Jan 15, 2003
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT TIME THE HEAD LIGHT IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND SAID NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE HEAD LIGHTS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS *TR
Power train, Dec 18, 2002
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 25MPH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BROKE. DEALER REPLACED WITH ONE TRANSMISSION REMANUFACTURE WENT AGAIN AFTER A WEEK. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
Suspension, Dec 9, 2002
CONSUMER STATES THAT SUSPENSION IS DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING SERIOUSLY AFFECTING ABILITY TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. CONSUMER HAD SAME PROBLEM WITH A 99 COROLLA WHICH MANUFACTURER HAD TO BUY BACK. TS
Other or unspecified, Nov 14, 2002
WHEN MERCED TOYOTA APPLIED A CLEAR COAT THEY DAMAGED THE PAINT JOB. THEY REFUSE TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY. WHEN I FIRST WENT TO LOOK FOR A CAR I ASKED THEM FOR A DEMO AND HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT THE VEHICLE THEY SOLD ME WAS PRE-OWNED BY AT LEAST TWO OTHERS. THE PAINT HAS BEEN DAMAGED ON THE HOOD, TOP, SIDES & TRUNK. THEY HAVE STATED THEY HAVE ALL THEIR IS DOTTED SO THERE IS NOTHING THEY WILL DO. THEY HAVE TRIED TO BLAME ME STATING I FOLLOWED A TRUCK LEAKING ACID OR GRAVEL, OR ACID RAIN, IT HASN'T RAINED PRIOR TO THE DAMAGE. DROVE OVER ROAD WORK, I WAXED THE CAR, PARKED UNDER A TREE & SAP DID THE DAMAGE. THE CONVERTER EXPLODED, ALL THESE THINGS WERE SAID ON THE SAME DAY TO ME. IF THE DAMAGE WAS THERE WHY DID THEY APPLY THE CLEAR COAT? DURING MY VISIT A MAN CAME IN STATING HE DID THE CLEAR COAT & HE TRIED TO BUFF OUT THE DAMAGE!!IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO HANDLE THIS TYPE OF SITUATION PLEASE FORWARD THIS AND REFER ME TO THE CORRECT PLACES. THANK YOU. DT
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
Parking brake, Oct 2, 2002, crash
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN AN INCLINED SPOT. PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED. PARKING BRAKE FAILED AND CAR ROLLED OVER A CURB INTO A METAL POLE ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES AFTER THE CAR WAS PARKED. *PH (2002 TOYOTA MR2) *JB **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**768022
Seats, Oct 1, 2002
CONSUMER STATES HEAD RESTS ARE NOT ADJUSTABLE AND ARE CAUSING AILMENTS WHICH AFFECT CONSUMER'S ABILITY TO PROPERLY DRIVE VEHICLE. CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING MUSCLE SPASMS, TENDENITIS, CARPAL TUNNEL'S SYNDROME AND SLIGHT SPINE CURVATURE. NLMCONSUMER IS ASKING FOR A REDESIGNED HEAD REST TO HELP AID IN THE NATURAL RESTING OF THE NECK AND SPINE CURVATURE. *JG
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Aug 26, 2002, crash
NOT SURE OF SPEED ON IMPACT. DRIVER WAS BRAKING FROM 50MPH.
Structure, Aug 12, 2002
GAP BETWEEN FRONT DRIVERSIDE DOOR AND REAR DRIVERSIDE DOOR UNEVEN. *AK