Total Complaints
141 filings
TOYOTA COROLLA · model year
141 NHTSA complaints, 38 crash reports, and 5 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002TOYOTACOROLLA carries 141 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 38 crashes, 1 fire, 27 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2002 COROLLA is air bags with 16 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (9) and engine and engine cooling:engine (7). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 5 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle, the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 2002 COROLLA. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
141 filings
Crashes Reported
38 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | 16 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 9 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 7 |
| SUSPENSION | 6 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 6 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 6 |
| SEATS | 6 |
| ENGINE | 5 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 4 |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM | 3 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL | 3 |
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
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 THA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
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
SUSPENSION
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
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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
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.
IVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR 3 WEEKS AND HAVE HAD TO PUT 2 QUARTS OF OIL IN EVERY WEEK BECAUSE EVERY MORNING I START MY CAR LOT OF BLUE SMOKE IS COMING OUT MY EXHAUST. THIS IS BECAUSE THE DESIGN TEMPERATURE FOR THE PISTONS IN THIS ENGINE WAS 120 DEGREES CELSIUS AND THE ACTUAL TEMPERATURES REACHED ARE 160 DEGREES CELSIUS, WHICH CAUSES THE PETROLEUM OIL TO SLUDGE UP AND CARBON TO ACCUMULATE IN THE PISTON OIL HOLES THAT ALLOW OIL TO FLOW TO THE PISTON RINGS. THIS BLOCKS THOSE OIL HOLES, PREVENTING OIL FROM GETTING TO THE PISTON RINGS AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE PISTON RINGS WEAR VERY, VERY QUICKLY, THEN ALLOWING OIL TO BE ABLE TO SLIP PAST THE PISTON RINGS, INTO THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER AND OUT THE EXHAUST. THIS WILL LEAD TO REPLACING THE PISTONS WHICH IS AN EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE AND LABOR INTENSIVE JOB JUST BECAUSE TOYOTA MADE A MISTAKE WITH THE WAY THEY BUILT THE ENGINE. IT'S A SHAME THAT TOYOTA HASN'T RECALLED THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE THERE ARE COUNTLESS AMOUNTS OF RECORDS ON THESE CARS HAVING THAT PROBLEM
Mileage: 74,047
THE ENGINE IS USING EXCESSIVE OIL. NEED TO ADD 1 QUART EVERY 300 MILES TO KEEP FILLED. THE CAR HAS 120,000 MILES. NOTICE BLUE SMOKE UPON ACCELERATION. CAR HAS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED ACCORDING TO TOYOTA OWNER'S MANUAL.
MY TOYOTA COROLLA 2002 CE HAS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE PISTONS. THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH HOLES IN THE PISTONS TO ALLOW ENOUGH OIL TO GO THROUGH AND AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE IS BURNING A LOT OF OIL, UP TO 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 250 MILES. PLEASE! CAN YOU HELP ME WITH THIS SITUATION? THANK YOU.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THERE WAS A LOW RUMBLING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THERE WAS ALSO A STRONG EXHAUST ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND IT BURNED MORE OIL THAN NORMAL. THE CONTACT HAD TO PLACE APPROXIMATELY FIVE QUARTS OF OIL INTO THE VEHICLE AFTER DRIVING 150 TO 200 MILES. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Mileage: 50,000
THE DASH LIGHT INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH MY AIR BAG IS ON. TOYOTA STATES THAT A SAFETY RECALL IS PENDING THAT MIGHT AFFECT MY CAR. UNTIL THEN, THEY ARE UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO REPAIR MY CAR. THEY STATE THAT THE AIRBAG MAY GO OFF ON IT'S OWN. THEY CANNOT TELL ME HOW LONG IT MAY BE BEFORE THE RECALL IS ANNOUNCED. THIS SEEMS HIGHLY DANGEROUS TO ME.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE CRASH. THE CRASH WAS SERIOUS; IT TOTOLED THE CAR. *TR
Mileage: 54,500
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORKING 12 HOUR GRAVEYARD SHIFT. I FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL AND RAN OFF THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF OUR BLACKTOP ROAD 1 MILE FROM HOME. MY 2002 COROLLA WAS TRAVELING AROUND 50MPH I AWOKE AND ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE CAR'S PATH AND HIT A TREE HEAD ON DESTROYING THE RIGHT GRILL BUMPER HOOD, WINDSHIELD, RIGHT FENDER, INNER UPPER FRAME WORK AND HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY AND WIRING. MY DASH LIGHT CAME ON THAT SAID MY AIRBAG DEPLOYED. MY STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG WAS STILL INTACT IT FAILED TO DEPLOY OR INFLATE. I WAS SAVED BY GOD AND MY SEAT BELT. *TR
Mileage: 300,000
TOYOTA TOLD US NOT TO PUT ANYONE IN PASSENGER SIDE BECAUSE AIRBAG IS DANGEROUS. WE HAVE FOUR ADULTS IN OUR FAMILY AND NEED TO USE THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT. TOYOTA (JOHNSON CITY TN) SAY THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THEY CAN FIX THE AIR BAG BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHEN PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. "IT COULD BE MONTHS". WE NEED TO HAVE IT FIXED SOON. *TR
I WAS IN THE "SLOW " LANE ON THE INTERSTATE HEADED TO SCHOOL. I RECEIVED A SPEEDING TICKET THE DAY BEFORE SO I MADE SURE TO ON BE IN SLOW LANE GOING SPEED LIMIT. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME A RED CADILIAC BRAKE AND KIND OF HARD SO I BRAKE TRAVELING AT 60 TO 65 MPH. I BRAKE QUICK NOT REAL HARD AND WITH IN SECONDS I REALIZED THE CAR WAS LOOSING CONTROL. I QUICKLY JUMPED INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT AS SOON AS I REALIZED IT WAS IN GODS HANDS. I THEN DID A 360 AND A 180 ACROSS ALL THREE LANES NEVER HITTING ANOTHER CAR OR TRUCK HIT THE CENTER OF THE INTERSTATE AND ROLLED THREE TIMES. I KNOW THAT THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED BECAUSE THE WOMEN TRAVELING BEHIND ME SAID SHE HAD TO STOP BC SHE DIDN'T KNOW HOW I WAS ALIVE. I TOLD THEM THAT I THOUGHT A TIRE HAD BLOWN BUT REALLY I HAD NO CLUE I KNEW I WAS PISSED BC MY 6 MONTH OLD CAR GONE. IT WAS THE FIRST THING I WAS ACTUALLY BUYING ON MY OWN AND BAM. I HAD A SPRAINED ANKLE AND CUT ON SHOULDER ROAD RASH AND WHIP LASH BAD. RECENTLY I HAVE RESEARCHED AND SAW MY CAR
Mileage: 8,000
I WAS IN THE "SLOW " LANE ON THE INTERSTATE HEADED TO SCHOOL. I RECEIVED A SPEEDING TICKET THE DAY BEFORE SO I MADE SURE TO ON BE IN SLOW LANE GOING SPEED LIMIT. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME A RED CADILIAC BRAKE AND KIND OF HARD SO I BRAKE TRAVELING AT 60 TO 65 MPH. I BRAKE QUICK NOT REAL HARD AND WITH IN SECONDS I REALIZED THE CAR WAS LOOSING CONTROL. I QUICKLY JUMPED INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT AS SOON AS I REALIZED IT WAS IN GODS HANDS. I THEN DID A 360 AND A 180 ACROSS ALL THREE LANES NEVER HITTING ANOTHER CAR OR TRUCK HIT THE CENTER OF THE INTERSTATE AND ROLLED THREE TIMES. I KNOW THAT THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED BECAUSE THE WOMEN TRAVELING BEHIND ME SAID SHE HAD TO STOP BC SHE DIDN'T KNOW HOW I WAS ALIVE. I TOLD THEM THAT I THOUGHT A TIRE HAD BLOWN BUT REALLY I HAD NO CLUE I KNEW I WAS PISSED BC MY 6 MONTH OLD CAR GONE. IT WAS THE FIRST THING I WAS ACTUALLY BUYING ON MY OWN AND BAM. I HAD A SPRAINED ANKLE AND CUT ON SHOULDER ROAD RASH AND WHIP LASH BAD. RECENTLY I HAVE RESEARCHED AND SAW MY CAR
Mileage: 8,000
WHILE DRIVING ON BUMPY ROADS I WOULD HEAR A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE FROM UNDER THE CAR. I ASKED A MECHANIC WHAT IT WAS AND HE SAID IT WAS THE STRUTS. THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE, 2002 TOYOTA COROLLA FOR THAT VERY THING. ONE DEALER SAID HE WOULDN'T FIX IT. *TR
Mileage: 130,000
TOYOTA CENTRAL DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES HAS FAILED TO REMEDY THE RECALL OF THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE(ECM),I'VE BEEN TO CENTRAL TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT TWO TIMES AND THEY TURNED ME AWAY BY GIVING ME EXCUSE OF PARTS UNAVAILABILITY. THEREFORE PLEASE ADVICE ME WHAT TO DO NEXT?. THANK YOU. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF HIS VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 165,000. *TR
Mileage: 140,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND WITHIN A FEW MINUTES IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE DEPRESSED IN ORDER TO CONTROL THE SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED THAT WAS UNABLE TO DISPLAY A FAILURE CODE. THE 02 SENSOR AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 147,000.
Mileage: 78,000
THE PROBLEM IS AND HAS BEEN EXCESS OIL USUAGE. IT USES A QUART ABOUT EVERY 400 HUNDRED MILES. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED AT A LOCAL HONDA DEALER MAY, 2010. IT HAD 102,000 MILES ON IT. IT NOW HAS 117,000. IT'S BEEN USING OIL EVERY SINCE I'VE HAD IT. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY THING WRONG. THEY SAID THE ENGINE WAS CLEAN AND THERE WERE NO OIL LEAKS ANYWHERE. I'VE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE ALOT OF COMPLAINTS POSTED ABOUT THIS CAR. THE PROBLEM IS THE ENGINE PUT IN THE CAR IN 2002. A 1.6L WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW 1.8L ENGINE AND EVIDENTLY THE 1.8L DIDN'T SEAT PROPERLY CAUSING OIL USUAGE. MY SON DROVE THIS CAR WHILE HE WAS AT COLLEGE. THE PROBLEM IS, WITH THIS KIND OF OIL USAGE, YOU CAN RUN THE CAR OUT OF OIL. WE TRIED TO KEEP UP WITH IT, BUT IF YOU RUN IT HIGH SPEEDS IT WILL USE MORE OIL. IF THE CAR RUNS OUT OF OIL ON AN INTERSTATE AND THE ENGINE LOCKS UP, WELL YOU COULD HAVE A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. I KEEP THE CAR AT HOME NOW BECAUSE OF THE SAFE
STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME VERY STIFF AND DIFFICULT. TOOK TO LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED A FAILED RACK, AT 75,000 MILES. REPAIRED AT COST OF $1060. THREE WEEKS LATER EXPERIENCED SAME PROBLEM. RETURNED TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT JOINT WAS CORRODED AND STUCK. CLAIMS THEY HAVE FIXED IT. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO AND A RECALL ORDERED. THIS IS A DANGEROUS AND SUDDEN FAILURE! *TT
Mileage: 75,000
ABOUT A WEEK AGO, DRIVER SEAT COULD NOT RETURN TO UPRIGHT POSITION AFTER ADJUSTING ANGLE. THEN WE NOTICED LARGE PIECE OF SEAT BACK FRAME WAS PROTRUDING ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE. UPON REMOVAL OF COVERING AND CUSHION TO UNCOVER THE BACK FRAME, WE DISCOVERED THAT, OF THE TWO SOLID-STEEL ARMS ATTACHING THE BACK FRAME TO THE BOTTOM PART OF THE BUCKET SEAT (THE ADJUSTER MECHANISM), THE ARM ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE HAS BEEN SPLIT INTO TWO SEPARATE PIECES, ALONG A HORIZONTAL BREAK IN THE STEEL ITSELF. IN SHORT, THE LEFT HALF OF THE SEAT BACK FRAME IS NOT ATTACHED ANYMORE. INITIALLY WE SUSPECTED VANDALISM, BUT THE BREAK IS DEFINITELY NOT A SAW CUT (EVEN IF WERE POSSIBLE); AND WE ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE STEEL ARM ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE HAS A HALF-INCH LONG CRACK IN ALMOST EXACTLY THE SAME SPOT, AND ALSO HORIZONTAL. THIS LED US TO CONCLUDE THAT THE BREAK ON THE LEFT ARM WAS DUE TO A DEVELOPING CRACK IN THE STEEL, AND THE RIGHT ARM IS CLEARLY HEADED TOWARDS AN IDENTICAL FRACTURE -- WHICH WOULD COMPLETE
Mileage: 122,500
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED FROM A DEALER ON OCTOBER 17, 2007. AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR I NOTICED THAT SOMETIMES WHEN I PULL OUT THE SEAL BELT, IT LOCKS AND CAN NOT BE PULLED OUT ANY FURTHER. THE BELT CAN ONLY BE PULLED OUT FURTHER ONLY AFTER A DRIVE AND START TO APPLY THE BRAKES. AFTER AN ARGUMENT WITH THE SALESMAN THE MANAGER AGREED TO REPLACE THE FRONT SEAT BELTS. A DAY LATER, I WATCHED THE MECHANIC INSTALL THE PAIR OF SEAT BELTS THAT CAME FROM THE DEALER IN SEALED BOXES. AFTER INSTALLATION THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. MANAGEMENT TOLD ME I WAS LUCKY THEY REPLACED THE SEAT BELTS BECAUSE USED CARS ARE ALL SOLD "AS IN". THEY REFUSED TO DO ANY FURTHER REPAIRS. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY A DIAGNOSTIC TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND THEN PAY FOR REPAIRS. A GENTLEMAN FROM TOYOTA'S PARTS DEPARTMENT TRIED TO BUCKLE HIMSELF IN AND HAD THE BELT LOCKED AS HE WAS PULLING THE BELT OUT. HE TRIED AGAIN SLOWLY BUT SAME RESULTS. HE CLAIMS HE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY
Mileage: 67,051
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.