2002 Toyota Corolla: Reliability Data
Source: NHTSA — 141 complaints
141
Total Complaints
62,000mi
Median Mileage
Air Bags
Top Issue
38
Crash Reports
When Do Complaints Happen?
Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.
29,230
25th Percentile
62,000
Median Mileage
85,000
75th Percentile
What Fails?
Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.
Air Bags
16
Vehicle Speed Control
9
Engine
7
Frontal
6
Headlights
6
Seats
6
Suspension
6
Engine
5
Power Window Devices And Controls
4
Fuel System, Gasoline
4
Severity Assessment
38
Crashes
1
Fires
27
Injuries
0
Deaths
Sample Complaint Reports
"ACCORDING TO OWNERS MANUAL OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRRORS HAVE TWO WAYS TO ADJUST THEM BY POWER SWITCH OR MANUALLY. THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE EITHER OPTION. CONSUMER STATES IN ORDER TO ADJUST MIRRORS CONSUMER MUST USE HANDS. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK"
"WHEN VEHICLE IS DRIVEN OVER 50 MPH OR MORE IT CAUSES VEHICLE TO WANDER ACROSS THE ROAD; VEHICLE BEEN INTO DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER.*AK"
"VEHICLE WANDERS AND SWAYS BACK AND FORTH. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC STATED THAT ALL FOUR WHEELS WERE BENT. VEHICLE CAME FROM FACTORY THAT WAY. GOODYEAR, INTEGRITY, P185/65R14 . RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD A BULGE ON OUTSIDE. *AK NEW VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT, ALL 4 WHEELS WERE ..."
Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.
When Were Complaints Filed?
Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.
When Does Each Component Fail?
Median mileage at complaint for top components.
Air Bags
16 complaints
25th: 50,875 mi
Median: 95,500 mi
75th: 140,000 mi
Vehicle Speed Control
9 complaints
25th: 42,500 mi
Median: 85,000 mi
75th: 91,523 mi
Engine
7 complaints
25th: 56,870 mi
Median: 73,784 mi
75th: 79,980 mi
Where Are Complaints Coming From?
Top states by complaint count.
CA: 19
MD: 10
NY: 9
VA: 9
AZ: 8
FL: 8
GA: 7
NC: 6
MA: 6
UN: 5
Who Files Complaints?
33.3%
Original Owners
66.7%
Second+ Owners
Toyota Corolla — Other Years
See how this model compares across different model years.
| Year | Complaints | Crashes |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 31 | 3 |
| 1991 | 96 | 22 |
| 1992 | 115 | 8 |
| 1993 | 154 | 46 |
| 1994 | 199 | 78 |
| 1995 | 226 | 63 |
| 1996 | 151 | 34 |
| 1997 | 149 | 22 |
| 1998 | 278 | 45 |
| 1999 | 188 | 30 |
| 2000 | 176 | 35 |
| 2001 | 163 | 39 |
| 2003 | 857 | 142 |
| 2004 | 558 | 85 |
| 2005 | 969 | 144 |
| 2006 | 970 | 163 |
| 2007 | 983 | 165 |
| 2008 | 378 | 95 |
| 2009 | 1769 | 276 |
| 2010 | 1567 | 210 |
| 2011 | 689 | 71 |
| 2012 | 496 | 54 |
| 2013 | 269 | 62 |
| 2014 | 379 | 104 |
| 2015 | 303 | 104 |
| 2016 | 306 | 104 |
| 2017 | 271 | 67 |
| 2018 | 193 | 33 |
| 2019 | 281 | 39 |
| 2020 | 380 | 35 |
| 2021 | 234 | 28 |
| 2022 | 111 | 17 |
| 2023 | 108 | 16 |
| 2024 | 89 | 19 |
| 2025 | 28 | 6 |
Active Recalls (5)
Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.
Exterior Lighting
Campaign 06E049000 | 24/05/2006
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
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.
Exterior Lighting
Campaign 09E012000 | 07/04/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
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.
Headlights
Campaign 09E025000 | 11/05/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
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.
Suspension
Campaign 10E002000 | 11/02/2010
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.
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.
Headlights
Campaign 06E025000 | 21/03/2006
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
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.
Airbag Safety
Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.
- Check for open airbag recalls at NHTSA.gov using your VIN
- Never ignore the airbag warning light — get it diagnosed immediately
- Don't install aftermarket steering wheel covers that block the airbag
- Keep the area around airbag deployment zones clear of accessories
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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.
Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.
Data through: 2026-03-28