Open safety recalls, the components owners report failing most often, crash-test results and running costs for the 2002 Toyota Corolla, assembled from NHTSA and EPA records.
Everything on this page applies to the model as a whole. Run its VIN to decode that exact car, its engine, trim, assembly plant and factory equipment, alongside these records.
Open a VIN recordRecalls and complaints are filed against a specific model year, so figures differ from one year to the next even within a single generation. See every Toyota Corolla year.
NHTSA lists 5 recalls for this make, model and year. Recalls apply to the model, so some may already be fixed on this specific car. A dealer can confirm from the VIN.
Issue: 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.
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: 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.
Campaign 06E049000
Issue: 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.
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: 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.
Campaign 09E012000
Issue: 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.
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: 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.
Campaign 09E025000
Issue: 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.
Risk: THE ABSENCE OF THE WELD CAN ALLOW THE STRUT TO COME OUT OF ITS MOUNTING POSITION UNDER CERTAIN EXTREME DRIVING CONDITIONS WHICH COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO SURROUNDING VEHICLE COMPONENTS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: 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.
Campaign 10E002000
Issue: 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."
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: 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.
Campaign 06E025000
30.3 mpg average · 25–37 range · EPA says 27
Over 5 years this costs $500 more in fuel than an average new vehicle.
1 open NHTSA investigation into this model. Investigations come before recalls, so these are potential defects not yet covered by one.
Rated configuration: 2002 Toyota Corolla 4-DR. w/SAB
The parts named most often across 149 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this make, model and year.
12 crashes · 14 injured
4 crashes
1 crash · 1 injured
Complaints are self-reported and skew toward problems people find alarming, so read this as where to look rather than as a defect rate.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THERE WAS A LOW RUMBLING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THERE WAS ALSO A STRONG EXHAUST ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND IT BURNED MORE OIL THAN NORMAL. THE CONTACT HAD TO PLACE APPROXIMATELY FIVE QUARTS OF OIL INTO THE VEHICLE AFTER DRIVING 150 TO 200 MILES. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
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.
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
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
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
I WAS IN THE "SLOW " LANE ON THE INTERSTATE HEADED TO SCHOOL. I RECEIVED A SPEEDING TICKET THE DAY BEFORE SO I MADE SURE TO ON BE IN SLOW LANE GOING SPEED LIMIT. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME A RED CADILIAC BRAKE AND KIND OF HARD SO I BRAKE TRAVELING AT 60 TO 65 MPH. I BRAKE QUICK NOT REAL HARD AND WITH IN SECONDS I REALIZED THE CAR WAS LOOSING CONTROL. I QUICKLY JUMPED INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT AS SOON AS I REALIZED IT WAS IN GODS HANDS. I THEN DID A 360 AND A 180 ACROSS ALL THREE LANES NEVER HITTING ANOTHER CAR OR TRUCK HIT THE CENTER OF THE INTERSTATE AND ROLLED THREE TIMES. I KNOW THAT THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED BECAUSE THE WOMEN TRAVELING BEHIND ME SAID SHE HAD TO STOP BC SHE DIDN'T KNOW HOW I WAS ALIVE. I TOLD THEM THAT I THOUGHT A TIRE HAD BLOWN BUT REALLY I HAD NO CLUE I KNEW I WAS PISSED BC MY 6 MONTH OLD CAR GONE. IT WAS THE FIRST THING I WAS ACTUALLY BUYING ON MY OWN AND BAM. I HAD A SPRAINED ANKLE AND CUT ON SHOULDER ROAD RASH AND WHIP LASH BAD. RECENTLY I HAVE RESEARCHED AND SAW MY CAR IS IN FACT ON THE LIST. THE YEAR AND MODEL BUT HOW WOULD YOU KNOW IF MY EXACT CAR WAS DEFECTIVE? ITS BEEN IN THE IMPOUND SINCE APRIL 2002. I FEEL THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND I SHOULD BE COMPENSATED ACCORDINGLY. *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
Showing 12 of 149 complaints.