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Toyota MR2Model year report

2002 Toyota MR2 Problems

Complaints
6filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
45,000miles, 6 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
24 mpgcombined, 1.8L 4-cyl RWD · 22 city / 27 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2002 Toyota MR2 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 6 consumer complaints for the 2002 Toyota MR2. The part named most often is engine cooling, with 2 complaints (33% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain (2) and vehicle speed control (2). 6 of the complaints include a mileage, and 67% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 45,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 43 technical service bulletins for this model year. Engine cooling complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Transmission and drivetrain complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Engine cooling: “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 dealer. The vehicle began to become stuck in certain gears and would stall sporadically. The transmission warning light was illuminated since the date the transmission was replaced. The vehicle was not further diagnosed or repaired. …”

NHTSA complaint #10356100, filed 2010-09, 47,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “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 dealership that the car was thoroughly tested, all codes erased on the on board computer, and car transmission was fixed and working properly. So I drove it home. Drove and shifted fine for about 1 1/2 weeks and I thought it was fixed. …”

NHTSA complaint #10305887, filed 2010-02, 145,720 miles

Vehicle speed control: “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 ignores complaints. It will happen while driving it, on the road. Recurs, not a one time incident.”

NHTSA complaint #10313851, filed 2010-02, 30 miles

Air bags: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #10158921, filed 2006-06, 21,500 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

67% of the 6 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 21,500 and 118,000 miles.

17%0–1017%10–2533%25–500%50–750%75–10033%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (6 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 45,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

200620105
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2002 Toyota MR2 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
MR2 RWD1.8L 4-cyl5-speed manual222724$2,800

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2002 Toyota MR2 in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 43 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 43 bulletins →

Other model years of the Toyota MR2

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2003634,7500—25—Not enough data
2002645,0000—24—Not enough data
199112130,0001—22—Not enough data
19875—0—25—Not enough data
19866250,0000—25—Not enough data

All Toyota MR2 model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2002 Toyota MR2 have?

NHTSA recorded 6 consumer complaints for the 2002 Toyota MR2 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2002 Toyota MR2 is reported most often?

Engine cooling is named most often, in 2 complaints (33% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 2.

Has the 2002 Toyota MR2 been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2002 Toyota MR2 get?

The EPA rates the 2002 Toyota MR2 (MR2, 1.8L 4-cyl) at 24 mpg combined, 22 city and 27 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,800 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2002 Toyota MR2 reported?

Among the 6 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 45,000 miles and the middle half falls between 21,500 and 118,000 miles; 67% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.