Total Complaints
3 filings
TOYOTA MR2 · model year
1985 TOYOTA MR2
3 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1985TOYOTAMR2 carries 3 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 0 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 1985 MR2 is engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline with 1 filings, followed by exterior lighting:headlights (1) and seat belts (1). 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.
NHTSA currently has 51 investigation files overlapping the 1985 MR2, and 1 remain open. 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.
3
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20010611SEAT BELTS
THIS VEHICLE APPEARS TO USE A MECHANICAL (MADE OUT OF PLASTIC!) ROCKER LEVER THAT ENGAGES THE SEAT BELT REEL WHEN THE DOORS ARE SHUT. DUE TO HIGH SPRING TENSION ON THIS PART, BOTH LEVERS HAVE BROKEN OFF AND DO NOT ENGAGE THE SEAT BELT REELS AS THE ARE SUPPOSED TO WHEN THE DOORS ARE SHUT. THE MECHANISM IS INSIDE THE BODY AND THERE ARE NO WARNING LIGHTS, OR OTHER INDICATIONS, TO LET A DRIVER/OWNER KNOW THAT THE LEVER HAS FAILED. *AK
19970109EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
19960404FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, ANOTHER VEHICLE HONKED, TURNED TO LOOK, VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. *AK
Compare 1985TOYOTAMR2 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1985 TOYOTA MR2 have?▼
The 1985 TOYOTA MR2 has 3 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1985 TOYOTA MR2?▼
The most-complained component for the 1985 TOYOTA MR2 is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS and SEAT BELTS.
Is the 1985 TOYOTA MR2 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
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.