Independent · Not affiliated with NHTSA or any automaker MethodologyData sourcesData refreshed Oct 6, 2026

2002 Toyota Corolla: Problems, Recalls and MPG

What this means

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns for the 2002 Toyota Corolla. Owners have filed 117 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags.

Data summary generated from official records. Methodology Data: NHTSA, DOT, EPA · Refreshed Oct 6, 2026
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Recalls (0)

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns for the 2002 Toyota Corolla. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗

Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.

Check on NHTSA ↗

PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.

Owner complaints (117)

117 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The air bags is mentioned most often.

27involved a crash
1involved a fire
21injuries reported
0deaths reported

As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.

Most-reported components

Complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2002 Toyota Corolla, by component (top 10). One complaint can list several components, so these add up to more than 117.Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints · Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 · Report a data error

How 2002 compares with other Corolla years

Best and worst Corolla years →
1998199920002001200220032004200520062007
This year (2002)Other yearsStill collecting reports

Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.

Fuel economy: up to 31 mpg combined

31
mpg combined
28
city
37
highway
EPA annual fuel cost
$2,150
CO₂ tailpipe
287 g/mi
EPA class
Compact Cars

What it costs you to run

$2,107per year
$176per month
484gallons a year

Miles ÷ 31 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.

EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.

Specs by configuration

2002 Toyota Corolla configurations with EPA data
Engine · transmissionDriveCity / Hwy / CombEPA $/yrCO₂ g/mi
1.8 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manualFront-Wheel Drive28 / 37 / 31$2,150287
1.8 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive26 / 36 / 30$2,250296
1.8 L 4-cyl · 3-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive25 / 30 / 27$2,500329

Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.

Used blue SUV on a sunny dealer lot with its hood open and a clipboard on the fender

Looking at a 2002 Corolla for sale?

Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.

All Corolla years

Where to next

2002 Toyota Corolla FAQ

How many recalls does the 2002 Toyota Corolla have?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2002 Toyota Corolla. Check a specific car with NHTSA's VIN lookup, which also covers newly announced recalls.

What are the most common 2002 Toyota Corolla problems?

Owners filed 117 complaints with NHTSA. Air bags (23), Engine and engine cooling (19), Vehicle speed control (11) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.

What mpg does the 2002 Toyota Corolla get?

EPA rates the 1.8 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 28 city, 37 highway and 31 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.

How does the 2002 Corolla compare with other years?

Among the 1998–2007 Toyota Corolla model years at least five years old, the 2002 drew the fewest complaints (117) and the 2005 the most (853). The 2002 drew 117. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.

How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes

Processing

  • Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
  • Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.

Limitations

  • Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
  • Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
  • Recent model years are still collecting reports.

Review

Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.

Changelog

  • 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.
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