Total Complaints
10 filings
TOYOTA MR2 · model year
10 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2003TOYOTAMR2 carries 10 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 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 2003 MR2 is power train with 3 filings, followed by engine (2) and power train:manual transmission (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 2003 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.
Total Complaints
10 filings
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 3 |
| ENGINE | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM) | 1 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MR2. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE STEERING AND GEARS SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,500.
Mileage: 41,500
THE DESIGN OF THE COMPUTER CONTROLLED POWER TRAIN MAKES THROTTLE, TRANSMISSION AND STARTER INTER-DEPENDENT. MY VEHICLE HAS REPEATEDLY LOST POWER AND COASTED TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RECENTLY INSPECTED BY A TOYOTA DEALER, WHO SAYS THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. BUT THE VEHICLE OPERATOR'S MANUAL ANTICIPATES STALLING WHILE UNDERWAY AND GIVES DIRECTIONS TO RE-START - SOMETIMES SUCCESSFUL, SOMETIMES NOT AND THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE TOWED, IN MY EXPERIENCE. MANUAL DIRECTIONS (PAGE 153): IF YOUR ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING ... REDUCE SPEED GRADUALLY, KEEPING A STRAIGHT LINE. MOVE CAUTIOUSLY OFF THE ROAD TO A SAFE PLACE... MANUAL TRANSMISSION, NA SEQUENTIAL MANUAL TRANSMISSION: TURN THE IGNITION KEY TO THE ?ACC? OR ?LOCK? POSITION. APPROXIMATELY 5 SECONDS AFTER, TRY STARTING THE ENGINE AGAIN. IF YOUR ENGINE WILL NOT START, SEE ?IF YOU ENGINE WILL NOT START -? ON PAGE 150 OF THIS MANUAL. HOW CAN ONE "MOVE CAUTIOUSLY OFF THE ROAD TO A SAFE PLACE", IF THE ENGINE WON'T RUN? THIS CA
Mileage: 28,000
THE DESIGN OF THE COMPUTER CONTROLLED POWER TRAIN MAKES THROTTLE, TRANSMISSION AND STARTER INTER-DEPENDENT. MY VEHICLE HAS REPEATEDLY LOST POWER AND COASTED TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RECENTLY INSPECTED BY A TOYOTA DEALER, WHO SAYS THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. BUT THE VEHICLE OPERATOR'S MANUAL ANTICIPATES STALLING WHILE UNDERWAY AND GIVES DIRECTIONS TO RE-START - SOMETIMES SUCCESSFUL, SOMETIMES NOT AND THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE TOWED, IN MY EXPERIENCE. MANUAL DIRECTIONS (PAGE 153): IF YOUR ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING ... REDUCE SPEED GRADUALLY, KEEPING A STRAIGHT LINE. MOVE CAUTIOUSLY OFF THE ROAD TO A SAFE PLACE... MANUAL TRANSMISSION, NA SEQUENTIAL MANUAL TRANSMISSION: TURN THE IGNITION KEY TO THE ?ACC? OR ?LOCK? POSITION. APPROXIMATELY 5 SECONDS AFTER, TRY STARTING THE ENGINE AGAIN. IF YOUR ENGINE WILL NOT START, SEE ?IF YOU ENGINE WILL NOT START -? ON PAGE 150 OF THIS MANUAL. HOW CAN ONE "MOVE CAUTIOUSLY OFF THE ROAD TO A SAFE PLACE", IF THE ENGINE WON'T RUN? THIS CA
Mileage: 28,000
THE DESIGN OF THE COMPUTER CONTROLLED POWER TRAIN MAKES THROTTLE, TRANSMISSION AND STARTER INTER-DEPENDENT. MY VEHICLE HAS REPEATEDLY LOST POWER AND COASTED TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RECENTLY INSPECTED BY A TOYOTA DEALER, WHO SAYS THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. BUT THE VEHICLE OPERATOR'S MANUAL ANTICIPATES STALLING WHILE UNDERWAY AND GIVES DIRECTIONS TO RE-START - SOMETIMES SUCCESSFUL, SOMETIMES NOT AND THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE TOWED, IN MY EXPERIENCE. MANUAL DIRECTIONS (PAGE 153): IF YOUR ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING ... REDUCE SPEED GRADUALLY, KEEPING A STRAIGHT LINE. MOVE CAUTIOUSLY OFF THE ROAD TO A SAFE PLACE... MANUAL TRANSMISSION, NA SEQUENTIAL MANUAL TRANSMISSION: TURN THE IGNITION KEY TO THE ?ACC? OR ?LOCK? POSITION. APPROXIMATELY 5 SECONDS AFTER, TRY STARTING THE ENGINE AGAIN. IF YOUR ENGINE WILL NOT START, SEE ?IF YOU ENGINE WILL NOT START -? ON PAGE 150 OF THIS MANUAL. HOW CAN ONE "MOVE CAUTIOUSLY OFF THE ROAD TO A SAFE PLACE", IF THE ENGINE WON'T RUN? THIS CA
Mileage: 28,000
THE CAR WAS PARKED WITH ENGINE RUNNING AND PARKING BRAKE ON. I RELEASED THE BRAKE ON AND THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD CROSSING A CURB AND HITTING A ALUMINUM GUARD RAIL. THE SERVICE SEQ TRANSMISAME LIGHT CAME ON . AFTER BEING TOWED TO THE DEALER. IT WAS FOUND A HYDRAULIC LINE HAD BROKEN FROM CORRODING. THE DEALER PUT IN A NEW UNIT BUT THE OLD COMPUTER WOULD NOT WORK AND IS NOW PUTTING A NEW COMPUTER ABOUT 6600.00 AT THE THIS POINT. SO FAR TOYOTA DOESN'T KNOW US. *TR
Mileage: 53,000
PURCHASED USED FROM CARMAX AND WITHIN 100 MILES THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON, IT WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. I HAD IT DELIVERED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT, AND IT REFUSED TO GO INTO REVERSE GEAR NEXT. WHEN THEY ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE IT ONLY 1 ST AND 2ND GEAR WOULD WORK. AFTER HAVING A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION INSTALLED FROM TOYOTA BY AAMCO TRANSMISSION AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE MADE IT BACK TO THE CAR DEALER, IT STARTED LEAKING FLUIDS ALL OVER THE LOT. THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID HAD QUIT WORKING AND STARTING SPRAYING HOT FLUIDS ALL OVER THE VEHICLE. IT HAS BEEN TOWED BACK FOR FOLLOWUP REPAIRS AND THEY ARE CONSIDERING REFUNDING DUE TO EXCESSIVE VEHICLE DAMAGE. *TR
Mileage: 67,800
PURCHASED USED FROM CARMAX AND WITHIN 100 MILES THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON, IT WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. I HAD IT DELIVERED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT, AND IT REFUSED TO GO INTO REVERSE GEAR NEXT. WHEN THEY ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE IT ONLY 1 ST AND 2ND GEAR WOULD WORK. AFTER HAVING A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION INSTALLED FROM TOYOTA BY AAMCO TRANSMISSION AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE MADE IT BACK TO THE CAR DEALER, IT STARTED LEAKING FLUIDS ALL OVER THE LOT. THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID HAD QUIT WORKING AND STARTING SPRAYING HOT FLUIDS ALL OVER THE VEHICLE. IT HAS BEEN TOWED BACK FOR FOLLOWUP REPAIRS AND THEY ARE CONSIDERING REFUNDING DUE TO EXCESSIVE VEHICLE DAMAGE. *TR
Mileage: 67,800
PURCHASED USED FROM CARMAX AND WITHIN 100 MILES THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON, IT WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. I HAD IT DELIVERED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT, AND IT REFUSED TO GO INTO REVERSE GEAR NEXT. WHEN THEY ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE IT ONLY 1 ST AND 2ND GEAR WOULD WORK. AFTER HAVING A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION INSTALLED FROM TOYOTA BY AAMCO TRANSMISSION AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE MADE IT BACK TO THE CAR DEALER, IT STARTED LEAKING FLUIDS ALL OVER THE LOT. THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID HAD QUIT WORKING AND STARTING SPRAYING HOT FLUIDS ALL OVER THE VEHICLE. IT HAS BEEN TOWED BACK FOR FOLLOWUP REPAIRS AND THEY ARE CONSIDERING REFUNDING DUE TO EXCESSIVE VEHICLE DAMAGE. *TR
Mileage: 67,800
THE DRAIN TUBES IN THE CAR DOES NOT WORK SO, RAIN AND SNOW WILL MAKE THE CAR FILL WITH WATER . IF THE CAR IS FULL OF WATER THE COMPUTER IN THE CAR DOESN'T READ CAUSING THE CAR TO FAIL WHICH HAPPENED TO ME ON THE FREEWAY. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED THEY REPLACED ALL WET THINGS IN CAR . IT DID NOT FIX THE DRAIN TUBE PROBLEM BECAUSE AFTER THE RAIN MY CAR IS FULL OF WATER AGAIN. SAME FAILURE WITH OTHER CARS. I THINK THEY WANT TO PUT DRY PARTS IN THE CAR AGAIN AT WHO'S COST THEIRS OR MINE? WITH ALL THE WATER IN MY CAR AGAIN THERE HAS TO BE CORROSION AND OTHER DAMAGE TO THE CAR THAT IS NOT BEING FIXED. I WOULD LIKE THE CAR REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE SINCE I AM PAYING FIFTY THOUSAND FOR MY CAR . I DID NOT BY A FISH TANK. THAT IS WHAT I GOT . PLEASE HELP! NEW CAR NIGHTMARE. THANKS *TR
Mileage: 2,005
3/15 05 1ST PROBLEM CAME TO A STOP AND WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE GEARS HAD IT TOWED. TOYOTA REPLACED COMPUTER TRANSMISSION. 6/7/06 2ND TIME CAME TO A STOP IN 3 LANE ROAD IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND COULDN'T RECOGNIZE GEARS. TOYOTA REPLACED COMPUTER ENGINE. 6/10 3RD TIME CAR WOULDN'T SHIFT OUT OF 2ND. TOYOTA COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. 6/21/06 4TH TIME TRANSMISSION WENT INTO "N" WHILE IN 4TH GEAR. TOYOTA REPLACED PUMP ASSY. SEQEN. 7/20/06 5TH TIME AS I WAS TAKING A TURN OFF MAJOR ROAD COMPUTER FAILED TO RECOGNIZE GEAR. PULLED TO THE SIDE AND CAR DIED. I MADE IT HOME AND NOW WAITING ON A TOW. THIS IS VERY UPSETTING TO ME THE CAR ONLY HAS 23,000 MILES. THE LAST 3 TIMES ITS GONE IN THE SHOP HAS ONLY BEEN ABOUT 400 MILES IN BETWEEN SERVICE. I'VE BEEN LUCKY SO FAR ON THE BREAKDOWNS. BUT, I MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY NEXT TIME. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. IT GIVES ME NO WARNING. IT COULD BE FATAL. *NM
Mileage: 23,900
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.