The Weekly Driver
Reliability
Toyota

MR2 (2002)

2002 · Sports Car
Reliability score 7.7/10
17 NHTSA Complaints
0 Recalls
0 Fire Reports
4 Crash Reports
View all 2 generations of the Toyota MR2 → Inspection checklist

Reliability Score

7.7 / 10

Reliability score

Fewer owner complaints than similar sports cars

The class average is 7.0. Based on complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the engine, transmission or drivetrain.

Owners filed 6 powertrain complaints. A typical sports car fleet of this size and age would have drawn about 7.

Scores this high have held: three years on they had moved 0.2 points in the typical case.

Breakdown
Complaints overall6 complaints against about 7 for similar vehicles
7.7
Last three years
n/aNot enough data
Engine, transmission or drive unit failed or replaced
n/aNot enough data
Oil consumption, fuel in the oil or overheating
n/aNot enough data

Each line scores one view of the same complaints the same way, so the lines overlap. The mark on each bar is the class average. A line needs 20 expected complaints to show a number.

Similar vehicles are others in the same class, compared at the same age and in the same years. The score counts complaints owners filed with NHTSA, per vehicle built, which is different from the share of vehicles that fail. How the score is worked out

On the record

No serious powertrain recall covering 5% or more of this generation and no escalated investigation in NHTSA's files. Warranty extensions and settlements have not been researched.

Owner Complaints by System

Complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Toyota MR2, counted across every engine. A complaint can name more than one system.

Transmission: 5 owner complaints

All Generations

2002200220032003

Alternatives in Sports Car

Mazda
MX-5 Miata
2006-2015
9.8/10
4 engines / 69 complaints
Pontiac
Firebird
2000
9.7/10
5 engines / 24 complaints
Porsche
911
2012-2019
9.6/10
6 engines / 41 complaints
Mitsubishi
Eclipse Spyder
2003
9.5/10
3 engines / 27 complaints
Mitsubishi
Eclipse Spyder
2007
9.5/10
1 engine / 22 complaints
Pontiac
Firebird
2001
9.5/10
3 engines / 24 complaints

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common 2002-2002 Toyota MR2 complaints?

Owners have filed 17 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002-2002 Toyota MR2. The systems they name most often are the transmission, the brakes and the engine.

Is the 2002-2002 Toyota MR2 a good used car?

That depends on the model year, the mileage and the maintenance history of the car in front of you. Owners have filed 17 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002-2002 Toyota MR2. Check which systems they name most often and whether a recall is still open on that car.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2002-2002 Toyota MR2 have?

NHTSA has 17 owner complaints on file for the 2002-2002 Toyota MR2 as of the latest data pull. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.

What recalls affect the 2002-2002 Toyota MR2?

NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2002-2002 Toyota MR2.

What should I check before buying a used Toyota MR2?

Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup and confirm every open recall has been done. Look hardest at the transmission, the brakes and the engine, the systems owners complain about most. Ask for maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the car and run a vehicle history report for prior accidents and title issues.

Does the MR2 have NHTSA crash test ratings?

NHTSA has not published crash test ratings for the 2002 Toyota MR2. Not all vehicles are tested each year. For the latest NHTSA safety information, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 17 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: low. Last updated: 2026-10-12.

© 2026 The Weekly Driver
RSS Feed About Contact Privacy Policy