There are no safety recalls for the 2002 Toyota Corolla, but owners have filed 117 complaints with NHTSA.
2002 Toyota Corolla problems reported by owners
| Problem area | Reports | |
|---|
| Air Bags | 23 | |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 19 | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 | |
| Visibility | 8 | |
| Tires | 7 | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 7 | |
| Seats | 7 | |
| Suspension | 6 | |
| Exterior Lighting | 6 | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 6 | |
| Seat Belts | 6 | |
| Power Train | 5 | |
Most reported parts
- Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine — 7
- Exterior Lighting › Headlights — 6
- Air Bags › Frontal — 6
- Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls — 4
- Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System — 3
- Power Train › Automatic Transmission — 3
- Seat Belts › Front › Retractor — 3
- Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control — 3
Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 62,000 miles (median of owner reports).
Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.
Recent 2002 Toyota Corolla complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.
Tires · reported Aug 22, 2023
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.
Engine · at 74,047 miles · reported Apr 23, 2021
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…
Engine · reported Dec 3, 2019
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.
Engine · reported Oct 18, 2019
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.
Engine · at 50,000 miles · reported Nov 30, 2015
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…
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2002 Toyota Corolla have any recalls?
No. NHTSA has no safety recalls for the 2002 Toyota Corolla as of this update. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the latest status.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Toyota Corolla?
Owners report air bags problems most often (23 reports), followed by engine and engine cooling (19). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 62,000 miles.
Are Toyota recall repairs free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Toyota dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.