Toyota · Corolla · 2002
5
Recalls
118
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2002 Toyota Corolla has 5 recalls and 118 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: air bags (17 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
RIDE CONTROL IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT STRUT MOUNTS BRANDED AS GABRIEL RIDE CONTROL OR ARVINMERITOR, P/NOS. 142435, 142193, 142305, 142303, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FRONT STRUT MOUNTS DID NOT CONTAIN A WELD JOINT BETWEEN THE BEARING HOUSING AND THE RATE PLATE.
Remedy Status
RIDE CONTROL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE AFFECTED PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RIDE CONTROL AT 1-248-458-1396.
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy Status
DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy Status
SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
CERTAIN POLI-AUTO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES, P/NOS. 11-728, 11-728D, 11-710, 11-419, 11-713, 11-703, 11-704, 11-708P, 11-735, 11-725, 11-726, 11-716 (P&C), 11-721-1, 11-733, 11-729, 11-730, AND 11-732, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Remedy Status
POLI-AUTO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE HEADLAMPS AT ITS ORIGINAL PURCHASE PRICE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT POLI-AUTO AT 305-477-1356.
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy Status
CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
Tire size: TM-1 185/65R14 86 T Tire. I bought 4 tires in Sept 2022. I just found out that, after 11 months of normal city driving (which added bout 10K miles to the mileage) and normal maintenance, the tires already showing belt. They have become a safety hazard so I have to buy 4 new tires of another brand.
IVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR 3 WEEKS AND HAVE HAD TO PUT 2 QUARTS OF OIL IN EVERY WEEK BECAUSE EVERY MORNING I START MY CAR LOT OF BLUE SMOKE IS COMING OUT MY EXHAUST. THIS IS BECAUSE THE DESIGN TEMPERATURE FOR THE PISTONS IN THIS ENGINE WAS 120 DEGREES CELSIUS AND THE ACTUAL TEMPERATURES REACHED ARE 160 DEGREES CELSIUS, WHICH CAUSES THE PETROLEUM OIL TO SLUDGE UP AND CARBON TO ACCUMULATE IN THE PISTON OIL HOLES THAT ALLOW OIL TO FLOW TO THE PISTON RINGS. THIS BLOCKS THOSE OIL HOLES, PREVENTING OIL FROM GETTING TO THE PISTON RINGS AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE PISTON RINGS WEAR VERY, VERY QUICKLY, THEN ALLOWING OIL TO BE ABLE TO SLIP PAST THE PISTON RINGS, INTO THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER AND OUT THE EXHAUST. THIS WILL LEAD TO REPLACING THE PISTONS WHICH IS AN EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE AND LABOR INTENSIVE JOB JUST BECAUSE TOYOTA MADE A MISTAKE WITH THE WAY THEY BUILT THE ENGINE. IT'S A SHAME THAT TOYOTA HASN'T RECALLED THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE THERE ARE COUNTLESS AMOUNTS OF RECORDS ON THESE CARS HAVING THAT PROBLEM. THE CAR CAN BREAK DOWN AFTER SO MUCH OIL HAS BEEN BURNED AND THAT COULD HAPPEN UN EXPECTEDLY. IT'S DRIVABLE BUT NOT SAFE.
THE ENGINE IS USING EXCESSIVE OIL. NEED TO ADD 1 QUART EVERY 300 MILES TO KEEP FILLED. THE CAR HAS 120,000 MILES. NOTICE BLUE SMOKE UPON ACCELERATION. CAR HAS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED ACCORDING TO TOYOTA OWNER'S MANUAL.
MY TOYOTA COROLLA 2002 CE HAS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE PISTONS. THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH HOLES IN THE PISTONS TO ALLOW ENOUGH OIL TO GO THROUGH AND AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE IS BURNING A LOT OF OIL, UP TO 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 250 MILES. PLEASE! CAN YOU HELP ME WITH THIS SITUATION? THANK YOU.
THE DASH LIGHT INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH MY AIR BAG IS ON. TOYOTA STATES THAT A SAFETY RECALL IS PENDING THAT MIGHT AFFECT MY CAR. UNTIL THEN, THEY ARE UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO REPAIR MY CAR. THEY STATE THAT THE AIRBAG MAY GO OFF ON IT'S OWN. THEY CANNOT TELL ME HOW LONG IT MAY BE BEFORE THE RECALL IS ANNOUNCED. THIS SEEMS HIGHLY DANGEROUS TO ME.
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 BELT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE CRASH. THE CRASH WAS SERIOUS; IT TOTOLED THE CAR. *TR
TOYOTA TOLD US NOT TO PUT ANYONE IN PASSENGER SIDE BECAUSE AIRBAG IS DANGEROUS. WE HAVE FOUR ADULTS IN OUR FAMILY AND NEED TO USE THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT. TOYOTA (JOHNSON CITY TN) SAY THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THEY CAN FIX THE AIR BAG BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHEN PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. "IT COULD BE MONTHS". WE NEED TO HAVE IT FIXED SOON. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON BUMPY ROADS I WOULD HEAR A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE FROM UNDER THE CAR. I ASKED A MECHANIC WHAT IT WAS AND HE SAID IT WAS THE STRUTS. THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE, 2002 TOYOTA COROLLA FOR THAT VERY THING. ONE DEALER SAID HE WOULDN'T FIX IT. *TR
TOYOTA CENTRAL DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES HAS FAILED TO REMEDY THE RECALL OF THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE(ECM),I'VE BEEN TO CENTRAL TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT TWO TIMES AND THEY TURNED ME AWAY BY GIVING ME EXCUSE OF PARTS UNAVAILABILITY. THEREFORE PLEASE ADVICE ME WHAT TO DO NEXT?. THANK YOU. *TR
ABOUT A WEEK AGO, DRIVER SEAT COULD NOT RETURN TO UPRIGHT POSITION AFTER ADJUSTING ANGLE. THEN WE NOTICED LARGE PIECE OF SEAT BACK FRAME WAS PROTRUDING ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE. UPON REMOVAL OF COVERING AND CUSHION TO UNCOVER THE BACK FRAME, WE DISCOVERED THAT, OF THE TWO SOLID-STEEL ARMS ATTACHING THE BACK FRAME TO THE BOTTOM PART OF THE BUCKET SEAT (THE ADJUSTER MECHANISM), THE ARM ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE HAS BEEN SPLIT INTO TWO SEPARATE PIECES, ALONG A HORIZONTAL BREAK IN THE STEEL ITSELF. IN SHORT, THE LEFT HALF OF THE SEAT BACK FRAME IS NOT ATTACHED ANYMORE. INITIALLY WE SUSPECTED VANDALISM, BUT THE BREAK IS DEFINITELY NOT A SAW CUT (EVEN IF WERE POSSIBLE); AND WE ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE STEEL ARM ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE HAS A HALF-INCH LONG CRACK IN ALMOST EXACTLY THE SAME SPOT, AND ALSO HORIZONTAL. THIS LED US TO CONCLUDE THAT THE BREAK ON THE LEFT ARM WAS DUE TO A DEVELOPING CRACK IN THE STEEL, AND THE RIGHT ARM IS CLEARLY HEADED TOWARDS AN IDENTICAL FRACTURE -- WHICH WOULD COMPLETELY SEPARATE THE SEAT BACK FRAME FROM THE BUCKET SEAT ALTOGETHER! THE TWO STEEL ARMS ARE CLEARLY MADE OF SUB-STANDARD MATERIAL. WITHOUT CONSIDERING THE SIGNIFICANT COST OF REPLACING THE BUCKET SEAT, THIS IS CLEARLY A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD, SINCE AT ANY MOMENT THE SEAT BACK COULD COLLAPSE COMPLETELY DUE TO SUB-STANDARD STEEL PARTS TEARING APART. IT IS FORTUNATE THIS WAS DISCOVERED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN MOTION. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY RECALL ISSUE. WE HAVE SEVERAL PHOTOS OF THESE DEFECTS, INCLUDING CLOSE-UPS, READY TO SEND YOU UPON REQUEST. *TR
STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME VERY STIFF AND DIFFICULT. TOOK TO LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED A FAILED RACK, AT 75,000 MILES. REPAIRED AT COST OF $1060. THREE WEEKS LATER EXPERIENCED SAME PROBLEM. RETURNED TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT JOINT WAS CORRODED AND STUCK. CLAIMS THEY HAVE FIXED IT. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO AND A RECALL ORDERED. THIS IS A DANGEROUS AND SUDDEN FAILURE! *TT
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED FROM A DEALER ON OCTOBER 17, 2007. AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR I NOTICED THAT SOMETIMES WHEN I PULL OUT THE SEAL BELT, IT LOCKS AND CAN NOT BE PULLED OUT ANY FURTHER. THE BELT CAN ONLY BE PULLED OUT FURTHER ONLY AFTER A DRIVE AND START TO APPLY THE BRAKES. AFTER AN ARGUMENT WITH THE SALESMAN THE MANAGER AGREED TO REPLACE THE FRONT SEAT BELTS. A DAY LATER, I WATCHED THE MECHANIC INSTALL THE PAIR OF SEAT BELTS THAT CAME FROM THE DEALER IN SEALED BOXES. AFTER INSTALLATION THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. MANAGEMENT TOLD ME I WAS LUCKY THEY REPLACED THE SEAT BELTS BECAUSE USED CARS ARE ALL SOLD "AS IN". THEY REFUSED TO DO ANY FURTHER REPAIRS. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY A DIAGNOSTIC TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND THEN PAY FOR REPAIRS. A GENTLEMAN FROM TOYOTA'S PARTS DEPARTMENT TRIED TO BUCKLE HIMSELF IN AND HAD THE BELT LOCKED AS HE WAS PULLING THE BELT OUT. HE TRIED AGAIN SLOWLY BUT SAME RESULTS. HE CLAIMS HE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS AND DON'T KNOW WHAT COULD BE WRONG. CAN ANYONE HELP ME?
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED WHILE DRIVING AROUND A CURVE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND LOST POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND AND CRASHED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 75,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF HIS VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 165,000. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, IT REMAINED STUCK IN THE FULL THROTTLE POSITION. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND APPLIED EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE PEDAL IN ORDER TO RELEASE IT. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND VERIFIED THAT THE THROTTLE WAS STICKING BUT DID NOT PROVIDE A DIAGNOSIS NOR DID THEY REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,217. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 93,000. UPDATED 2/23/11 *CN UPDATED 05/09/11
MY TOYOTA COROLLA 2002 KEEPS WANTING TO STALL. I'VE TAKEN IT IN SEVERAL TIMES AND MECHANICS SAYS THERE IS NO PROBLEM. NOT SURE WHAT TO DO. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS STRUCK FROM THE FRONT END BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO HER HEAD AND CHEST. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER INVESTIGATED FOR THE FAILURE OF THE AIR BAGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 106,000.
2002 TOYOTA COROLLA, SUSTAINED A BLOWOUT ON THE STEER TIRE.*BF THE TIRE SEPARATED AND DAMAGED THE LEFT FRONT QUARTER PANEL ON THE VEHICLE. (OHIO TRAFFC CRASH REPORT # 10-0190-89)*JB UPDATED 08/05/10 *BF
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2002 Toyota Corolla has 5 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 118 owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Toyota Corolla.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2002 Toyota Corolla.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2002 Toyota Corolla are air bags (17 reports), engine and engine cooling (15 reports), vehicle speed control (8 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 5 recalls on record for the 2002 Toyota Corolla. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.