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2003 Toyota MR2 Spyder

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
12Owner complaints

Model-year median: 6.5

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
1
200012
2003
Compare all MR2 Spyder years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
4Power Train
4Vehicle Speed Control
3Engine
2Electronic Stability Control (esc)
1
All reported categories
Engine And Engine Cooling
1Exterior Lighting
1Service Brakes
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Structure
1Tires
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 8 of 12 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

4 reports
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30,800 miles · Sep 29, 2014
Electrical SystemPower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MR2 SPYDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE GEAR WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE COMPUTER CHIP AND HYDRAULIC PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILUR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MR2 SPYDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE GEAR WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE COMPUTER CHIP AND HYDRAULIC PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,800. UPDATED 12/2/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10640007

Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 2014
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

2003 TOYOTA MR2 SPYDER 6-SPEED TRANSMISSION/ SHIFTING MALFUNCTION - WHILE AT TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CAR JERKED FORCEFULLY FORWARD WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PROCEED FROM STOPPED POSITION, THEN TURNED ITSELF OFF. THE CAR BECAME INCAPABLE OF SHIFTING AND HAD TO BE TOWED. ECU WAS REPLACED. SIMILAR PROBLEMS RESURFACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10632785

Mileage unknown · Dec 16, 2008
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

MY CAR HAS A HARD SHIFT PROBLEM. IT STOPS AT EVERY TRAFFIC LIGHT AND I HAVE TO START IT AGAIN. ALSO WHEN I SHIFT THE STICK IT CHANGES SO HARD, IT PUSHES ME AND SHAKE IT ITSELF SO HARD. I WAS GOING TO CRASH WHEN IT HAPPENED FIRST TIME. I TOOK IT TO REPAIR SHOP. THEY SAID "TRANSMISSION CONTROL COMPUTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND RE…

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MY CAR HAS A HARD SHIFT PROBLEM. IT STOPS AT EVERY TRAFFIC LIGHT AND I HAVE TO START IT AGAIN. ALSO WHEN I SHIFT THE STICK IT CHANGES SO HARD, IT PUSHES ME AND SHAKE IT ITSELF SO HARD. I WAS GOING TO CRASH WHEN IT HAPPENED FIRST TIME. I TOOK IT TO REPAIR SHOP. THEY SAID "TRANSMISSION CONTROL COMPUTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND REPROGRAMMED" "SEQUENTIAL MANUAL TRANSMISSION (SMT) HARSH SHIFT" THIS IS A BULLETIN OF TOYOTA, I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA DEALER, THEY SAID THEY WILL CHARGE FOR IT. IT S NOT UNDER WARRANTY. BUT IT IS MANUFACTURING MISTAKE, IT S NOT MY MISTAKE. THEY HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THIS. WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THIS? PLEASE HELP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10251987

Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2004
Electrical SystemFire

AROUND 1:48 AM WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION. *AK THE RELAY SWITCH UNDER THE BATTERY CAUSED THE FIRE. REPORTED BY A PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE INSPECTOR. *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10083945

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.