2003 Toyota MR2 SPYDER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
12 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
42,900 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 12 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 33.3% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 16.7% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 16.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 8.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 8.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Fog Lights | 1 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 1 |
Electrical System: 4; Power Train: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Engine: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor: 1; Exterior Lighting:Fog Lights: 1; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 4 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 1 |
2003: 1; 2004: 2; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2014: 3; 2015: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10041873 · 2003-09-29 (September 29, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING CATALYTIC CONVERTER BROKE OFF INTO PIECES. DEALER REPLACED CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10041873 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070899 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
PROBLEM 1: TRANSMISSION WILL AT RANDOM TIMES DURING DRIVING GO INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING AND LOSE POWER SLOWING THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT DIES. THE CAR WILL THEN NOT HAVE POWER STEERING MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THIS HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC TWICE CAUSING A NEAR SERIOUS ACCIDENT. IT HAS LEFT MY WIFE STRANDED AND REQUIRING THE DEALER TO TOW THE VEHICLE AS IT WOULD NOT RE-START. IT HAPPENED ONE TIME WHERE THERE WAS ROOM TO PULL TO THE ROADSIDE WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE CAR RAN ROUGHLY AND WOULD NOT IDLE FOR A PERIOD OF TI…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070899 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10083945 · 2004-08-20 (August 20, 2004)
AROUND 1:48 AM WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION. *AK THE RELAY SWITCH UNDER THE BATTERY CAUSED THE FIRE. REPORTED BY A PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE INSPECTOR. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10083945 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10119509 · 2005-05-03 (May 3, 2005)
2003 TOYOTA MR2 SPYDER BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RE040 215/45R16 DOT NO. EJ1EJAA3602, MOUNTED ON DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL MILEAGE AT FAILURE: 9142 ROAD CONDITIONS AT FAILURE: CLEAR, DRY, ~ 40 F., SOUTH-BOUND ON U.S. I-69 MICHIGAN EXIT NO. 3, NO ROAD HAZARDS, 70 MPH VEHICLE SPEED THE TIRE IN QUESTION WAS INSPECTED BY A QUALIFIED TIRE DEALER THE EVENING BEFORE THE BLOW OUT. THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS CERTIFIED TO MANUFACTURERS SPECIFICATIONS. FROM THE POINT OF INSPECTION, THE TIRE WAS OPERATED WAS OPERATED 10 MILES IN CITY TRAFFIC AND THEN PARKED …
Owner-reported narrative. 9,142 miles reported. Look up ODI 10119509 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10147781 · 2006-01-14 (January 14, 2006)
DURING THE COURSE OF NORMAL, EVERYDAY DRIVING, THE DRIVER'S SIDE FOG LAMP LENSE OBTAINED A HOLE. THIS ALLOWS WATER, AMONG OTHER ELEMENTS TO COMPROMISE THE INTEGRITY OF THE FOG LAMP AS WELL AS THE FOG LAMP BULB. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE THIS UNDER THE MANUFATURER'S WARRANTY AND/OR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. I AM SEEKING TO PURCHASE AND REPLACE THE FOG LAMP, MYSELF. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 19,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10147781 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10251987 · 2008-12-16 (December 16, 2008)
MY CAR HAS A HARD SHIFT PROBLEM. IT STOPS AT EVERY TRAFFIC LIGHT AND I HAVE TO START IT AGAIN. ALSO WHEN I SHIFT THE STICK IT CHANGES SO HARD, IT PUSHES ME AND SHAKE IT ITSELF SO HARD. I WAS GOING TO CRASH WHEN IT HAPPENED FIRST TIME. I TOOK IT TO REPAIR SHOP. THEY SAID "TRANSMISSION CONTROL COMPUTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND REPROGRAMMED" "SEQUENTIAL MANUAL TRANSMISSION (SMT) HARSH SHIFT" THIS IS A BULLETIN OF TOYOTA, I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA DEALER, THEY SAID THEY WILL CHARGE FOR IT. IT S NOT UNDER WARRANTY. BUT IT IS MANUFACTURING MISTAKE, IT S…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10251987 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10284996 · 2009-09-23 (September 23, 2009)
PLATE UNDER ENGINE COMES LOOSE, HANGING UNDER CAR AND EXPOSING THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TO THE ROAD. THIS PLATE HAD COME LOOSE SEVERAL TIMES AND I HAVE REPLACED SCREWS TO PUT IT BACK IN PLACE, BUT THIS TIME IT COMPLETELY FAILED AND BROKE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 66,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10284996 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10355396 · 2010-09-13 (September 13, 2010)
SEQUENTIAL MANUAL TRANSMISSION CLUTCH FAILED TO COMPLETELY DISENGAGE LEAVING THE CAR IN GEAR WITH POTENTIAL CRASH RESULTS. TRANSMISSION COMPUTER WAS REPLACED AFTER 3 SEPARATE TIMES IN THE SHOP. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10355396 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.