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1986 Toyota MR2

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →
6Owner complaints

Model-year median: 3.5

0Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
3
19856
19865
19871
19881
1989
Compare all MR2 years →

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

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
2Parking Brake
2Equipment
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Power Train
1
All reported categories
Seat Belts
1Suspension
1Vehicle Speed Control
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: 2 of 6 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Parking Brake. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Equipment. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

Seat Belts complaints

1 reports
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250,000 miles · Feb 7, 2010
Latches/locks/linkagesParking BrakeSeat Belts

SEAT BELTS ARE CONTROLLED FROM A PLASTIC PIECE WHICH MAKES CONTACT WITH DOOR. OUT OF ALL THREE MR2'S I OWN AND ONES THAT I'VE SEEN NONE OF THEM ARE INTACT. MAKING ALL THE SEAT BELTS USELESS. I'VE SOLVED THIS PROBLEM BY BUYING A FIVE POINT RACE HARNESS'. EMERGENCY BRAKES ARE NOTORIOUS FOR BREAKING. SO FAR I HAD TO REPLACE ALL OF …

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SEAT BELTS ARE CONTROLLED FROM A PLASTIC PIECE WHICH MAKES CONTACT WITH DOOR. OUT OF ALL THREE MR2'S I OWN AND ONES THAT I'VE SEEN NONE OF THEM ARE INTACT. MAKING ALL THE SEAT BELTS USELESS. I'VE SOLVED THIS PROBLEM BY BUYING A FIVE POINT RACE HARNESS'. EMERGENCY BRAKES ARE NOTORIOUS FOR BREAKING. SO FAR I HAD TO REPLACE ALL OF MY EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLES. ALSO ALL NONE OF THE TRUCK LATCHES WORK. I'VE EVEN REPAIRED MY DAD'S FRIEND TOYOTA SIERRA VAN'S REAR SLIDING DOOR MECHANISM. THIS IS ALL BECAUSE THE CABLES BECOME LONGER AFTER USE. *TW

NHTSA ODI #10307138

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

1

PE87047 · Engine Compartment Fires

Opened Aug 18, 1987 · Closed Dec 10, 1987

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:AFTER INVESTIGATION, TOYOTA CANFIND NO COMMON OR SPECIFIC CAUSE OF THE 4 FIRES FROM A VEHICLE POPULATIONOF 77,034.WARRANTY CLAIMS ARE INCONCLUSIVE AND PARALLEL VEHICLE SALES.ANALYSIS:A REVIEW OF THE 2 COMPLAINTS ON THE 1986 MODEL MR2 SPORT COUPE(A RELATIVELY LOW PRODUCTION, SPECIAL INTEREST VEHICLE) DID NOT REVEAL APOTENTIALLY COMMON CAUSE.BOTH VEHICLES WERE OCCUPIED AT THE TIME OF THEFIRES.ONE FIRE WAS NOTICED BECAUSE THE ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES FAILEDAND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART, MOMENTS LATER SMOKE AND FLAMES ENGULFEDTHE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.THE OWNER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE REPORTS THEVEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT IDLE WHEN HE NOTICED FLAMES OUT OF THE RIGHT OFTHE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.STATUS:RECOMMEND CLOSING THIS PE AND MONITOR FOR FUTURE EVIDENCE OF ANEMERGING DEFECT TREND.#===