2002 Toyota COROLLA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
117 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
62,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 61 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 117 complaints (13.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 16 | 13.7% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 5.1% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 2.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 1.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 1.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 16 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 7 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 6 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 6 |
| Seats | 6 |
| Suspension | 6 |
| Engine | 5 |
Air Bags: 16; Vehicle Speed Control: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 7; Air Bags:Frontal: 6; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 6; Seats: 6; Suspension: 6; Engine: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 15 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 15 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 15; 75,000 to 99,999: 15; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 56 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 7 |
| 2002 | 17 |
| 2003 | 11 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 20 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2001: 7; 2002: 17; 2003: 11; 2004: 8; 2005: 7; 2006: 7; 2007: 7; 2008: 6; 2009: 7; 2010: 20; 2011: 2; 2012: 4; 2013: 2; 2014: 2; 2015: 6; 2019: 2; 2021: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10017600 · 2003-04-25 (April 25, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE WAS ON CRUISE CONTROL. AFTER EXITING THE HIGHWAY, PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017600 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032385 · 2003-09-12 (September 12, 2003)
THE SEAT DID NOT STAY IN PLACE AND THIS HAPPENED ON THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND FIXED THE DRIVERS SEAT BUT THEY DID NOT FIX THE PASSENGER'S SEAT. *PH THERE WERE SEAT RELEASE PROBLEMS. WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS FIRST EXPERIENCED, THE DRIVER'S SEAT MADE NOISE AFTER THE SEAT RELEASED. (UPON ACCELERATION, STOPPING GOING UP AN INCLINE) THE NOISE OCCURRED PRIOR TO RELEASE. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO BE THROWN AWAY FROM THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 13,262 miles reported. Look up ODI 10032385 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088192 · 2004-08-19 (August 19, 2004)
DEAR SIR/MADAM, THIS IS TO NOTIFY YOU THAT THURSDAY, 12 AUGUST, MY MOTHER, A FRIEND AND I WERE INVOLVED IN A FATAL ACCIDENT WHILE MY MOTHER WAS DRIVING A TOYOTA COROLLA S 2002. THE ACCIDENT LEFT MY MOTHER IN A DEEP FRIGHT AND WITH INJURIES ON HER FACE, AS SHE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. SHE IS PRESCRIBED TO GO TO THERAPY FOR OVER A MONTH TO OVERCOME THE CATASTROPHE. I, NOW, SUFFER FROM MINOR BACK PROBLEMS CAUSED DUE TO THE ACCIDENT. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON ONE OF THE MOST EVENTFUL HIGHWAYS OF GEORGIA, HIGHWAY US 78. OUR CAR, TRAVELING ON THE M…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10088192 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10161158 · 2006-06-30 (June 30, 2006)
I BOUGHT A CAR RECENTLY THAT HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND REPAIR (RESTORED / SALVAGE TITLE). FOUND OUT LATER THAT THERE IS NO AIR BAG ON PASSENGER SIDE AND NO AIR BAG SQUIB ON DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG IN STEERING WHEEL. ALSO AIR BAG LIGHT BULB IN DASH HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT. SELLER NEVER TOLD ME ABOUT ANY OF THIS. HE WORKS WITH (SELLS VEHICLES FOR) THE BODY SHOP THAT FIXED THE CAR AFTER ACCIDENT. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 40,198 miles reported. Look up ODI 10161158 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10115776 · 2005-03-24 (March 24, 2005)
VEHICLE WAS GOING ABOUT 45 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY. VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN BOLT WAS TOO TIGHT, WHICH BENT THE VALVE, AND TOTALLY RUINED OTHER ENGINE PARTS. VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A DEALER FOR REPAIRS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10115776 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10258632 · 2009-02-13 (February 13, 2009)
2002 TOYOTA COROLLA - CAR JUST STOPS RUNNING, SYMPTOMS LIKE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. CAR STALLS AND WILL NOT DIE WHILE DRIVING. DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10258632 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001152 · 2002-12-18 (December 18, 2002)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 25MPH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BROKE. DEALER REPLACED WITH ONE TRANSMISSION REMANUFACTURE WENT AGAIN AFTER A WEEK. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001152 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10310459 · 2010-02-15 (February 15, 2010)
MY 2002 TOYOTA COROLLA AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFT HANDLE CAN BE SHIFTED BY ACCIDENTALLY TOUCH. THERE IS NO NEED TO PUSH DOWN THE LOCK BUTTON FOR CHANGING THE GEAR FROM "D" TO "N" OR OTHERS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10310459 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10317201 · 2010-03-05 (March 5, 2010)
IN AUGUST 2009 MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER ATTACHED TO THE MUFFLER WENT OUT. THEY PUT IN THE CODE THAT WAS GIVEN FOR THAT JOB. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS , I WAS BACK IN THE SHOP EVERY OTHER WEEK BECAUSE MY EMERGENCY LIGHT WOULD KEEP COMING ON. I AM 68 YEARS OLD AND FOR ME THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE MY CAR WAS HAVING OTHER PROBLEMS. THIS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED/CORRECTED TO THIS DAY. L WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU WOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AND HAVE THEM TAKE CARE OF THIS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10317201 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10693173 · 2015-03-10 (March 10, 2015)
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 B…
Owner-reported narrative. 300,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10693173 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 566176 · 2002-06-21 (June 21, 2002)
CONSUMER STATES THE GAS TANK LID WORKS ERRATICALLY. *YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 566176 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 759646 · 2002-03-21 (March 21, 2002)
PURCHASED CAR ON 9-4-2001, NO SMELL AT ALL. FUEL PUMP GOES BAD AND IS REPLACED AFTER 20 DAYS OWNING CAR AT 300 MILES. AFTER PUMP REPLACEMENT I NOTICED VERY BAD ROTTEN EGG SMELL. TOOK IT TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND SAID NOTHING WRONG WITH CAR, BUT IT COULD BE THE FUEL. IT WAS ADVISED TO USE 5 DIFFERENT FUELS. FILL TANK 3 TIMES USING EACH FUEL UNTIL THE CAR BURNS THE GAS THAT DOES NOT SMELL. THEY ALL SMELL AND PEOPLE AS MYSELF ARE GETTING SICK RIDING IN THE CAR. THE SMALL HAPPENS AT LEAST TWICE A DAY WITH NO SET TIME. SOME ORDERS ARE LIGHT IN S…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 759646 at NHTSA ↗