IllustrationTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA MR2. THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING 35 MPH OFF OF AN ON RAMP AND STARTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE EVEN AFTER TAKING HIS FOOT OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
2002 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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all MR2 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
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: 6 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 →
- Power Train. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 2 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 reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
2 reports2002 TOYOTA MR2 SPYDER MID-DRIVING, SMT SLIPS OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL. ONLY WAY TO FIX IT IS TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY & LET IT SIT OVERNIGHT, DISCONNECTED. THIS RESETS THE COMPUTER & THEREAFTER THE GEARS WORK AGAIN UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN. I'VE SEEN AT LEAST 50 COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT SAME PROBLEM, WHICH IS HOW I LEARNED HOW…
Read full complaint
2002 TOYOTA MR2 SPYDER MID-DRIVING, SMT SLIPS OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL. ONLY WAY TO FIX IT IS TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY & LET IT SIT OVERNIGHT, DISCONNECTED. THIS RESETS THE COMPUTER & THEREAFTER THE GEARS WORK AGAIN UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN. I'VE SEEN AT LEAST 50 COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT SAME PROBLEM, WHICH IS HOW I LEARNED HOW TO FIX IT. TOYOTA IGNORES COMPLAINTS. IT WILL HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING IT, ON THE ROAD. RECURS, NOT A ONE TIME INCIDENT. *TR
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.