2002 Toyota Mr2 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Vehicle Speed Control (2) · Power Train:manual Transmission (2) · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:catalytic Convertor (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Toyota Mr2 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).
Service bulletins (43)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0039-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. if these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof,
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0038-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
to prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. the purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer.
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0035-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. if these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfa
Structure:body 2024-12-05 · T-SB-0061-23 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
toyota vehicles are currently protected with rapgardtm protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. this material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. follow the removal procedure in this bulletin to remove the rapgardtm protective film wi
Structure:body 2024-12-03 · T-SB-0062-23 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. this type of contamination can be identified by the presence of small, red or brown particles on the paint surfa
Structure:body 2024-07-12 · T-SB-0039-24 Rev1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. if these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof,
Showing the 6 most recent of 43 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2010-09-17 · Power Train:manual Transmission · 47,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota mr2 spyder. the contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer for a clutch replacement when he was advised that the transmission would also need replacing. both were replaced however, when the contact drove the vehicle off the dealer's lot, the engine seized. the engine was replaced by a different deale…”
2010-04-21 · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:catalytic Convertor · 118,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota mr2. while driving at 55mph the check engine light illuminated. the vehicle started to loose power and would not accelerate over 30mph. the vehicle was taken to the garage. the diagnostic testing located the failure at the catalytic coverter, which had blockage causing the sensors to fail. the estimated cost to …”
2010-02-25 · Vehicle Speed Control · 43,000 mi“tl*the contact owns a 2002 toyota mr2. the vehicle has experienced unexpected acceleration. when the vehicle was driving 35 mph off of an on ramp and starting to accelerate, the vehicle continued to accelerate even after taking his foot off of the gas pedal. the failure mileage was 43,000. the current mileage was 60,000. …”
2010-02-24 · Vehicle Speed Control · 30 mi“2002 toyota mr2 spyder mid-driving, smt slips out of gear into neutral. only way to fix it is to disconnect the battery & let it sit overnight, disconnected. this resets the computer & thereafter the gears work again until it happens again. i've seen at least 50 complaints online about same problem, which is how i learned how to fix it. toyota i…”
2010-02-04 · Power Train:manual Transmission · 145,720 mi“toyota mr2 spyder smt transmission problems. (5 speed - clutchless shifting system) smt transmission went out on my mr2 spyder car. got it fixed (or so i thought)at the dealership after excessive expense ($3,500) replacing two assemblies within the system. after this initial first trip to the dealership and supposedly repair, i was advised by de…”
2006-06-03 · Air Bags · 21,500 mi · 💥 crash“on june 3, i had a collision with another auto that had run a red light. the other vehicle was crossing in front of me about 30 mph and i impacted her car on the passengers side at about 25 mph. the air bag on my 2002 toyota mr2 did not deploy. have not had the car repaired yet. *jb…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.