FaultScore

2002 Toyota Corolla acceleration problems

12 of the 141 complaints about the 2002 Toyota Corolla are about the throttle and cruise control — 9% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 86,523 miles.

F

12

Complaints

6

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Vehicle Speed Control 9 75.0%
Accelerator Pedal 2 16.7%
Cruise Control 1 8.3%

Acceleration & Cruise Control across every Toyota Corolla year

1998 18 1.7%
1999 14 1.3%
2001 14 1.3%
2002 12 1.1%
2003 78 7.2%
2004 60 5.5%
2005 66 6.1%
2006 75 6.9%
2007 95 8.8%
2008 54 5.0%
2009 198 18.2%
2010 199 18.3%
2011 46 4.2%
2012 16 1.5%
2013 18 1.7%
2014 29 2.7%
2015 18 1.7%
2016 22 2.0%
2017 29 2.7%
2018 11 1.0%
2019 13 1.2%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 93,000 miles Waterford, MI

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, IT REMAINED STUCK IN THE FULL THROTTLE POSITION. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND APPLIED EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE PEDAL IN ORDER TO RELEASE IT. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND VERIFIED THAT THE THROTTLE WAS STICKING BUT DID NOT PROVIDE A DIAGNOSIS NOR DID THEY REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,217. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 93,000. UPDATED 2/23/11 *CN UPDATED 05/09/11

NHTSA complaint #10372263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 88,047 miles Downers Grove, IL Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2009 MY 2002 TOYOTA COROLLA CE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INTO MY GARAGE WALL CAUSING THE CAR TO BE TOTALED (LOSS OF OVER 7,000) PER FARMERS INSURANCE. [XXX] AT THAT TIME WAS UNAWARE OF ANY ISSUES WITH TOYOTA'S - THE FLOOR MAT SITUATION WAS JUST COMING OUT. I REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA ON 10/2/09 INCIDENT [XXX]AND THEY HAD SAID THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS REPORTED ON THE 2002 COROLLA'S. I DID REPURCHASED A NEW 2010 AND NOW WITH ALL THE ISSUES I FEEL UNSAFE WHEN DRIVING THIS CAR BUT AM LEFT LIKE MANY OTHERS STUCK WITH IT. TOYOTA HAD A GOOD REPUTATION AND I WISH THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE RESOLVED. JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW SO THIS WILL SOMEHOW HELP IN THE ONGOING SEARCH FOR AN ANSWER. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #10320617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 1,000 miles Falls Church, VA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

2002 TOYOTA COROLLA LE ACCELERATION PEDAL: --OCCASIONALLY, BUT RARELY, APPEARS TO STICK MOMENTARILY (A SENSATION LIKE A SPRING THAT HAS TEMPORARILY STUCK AND THEN SPRUNG LOOSE). I TOOK IT INTO MY TOYOTA DEALER BUT THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG THAT THEY COULD DETECT. THEREFORE NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE MYSTERY. THE STICKING/SPRINGING SENSATION STILL OCCASIONALLY OCCURS BUT IT IS VERY HARD TO PREDICT WHEN IT WILL. --IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN SHORTLY AFTER STARTING UP. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT THE ACCELERATION PROBLEMS THAT HAVE OCCURRED WITH OTHER TOYOTAS. THE DATE OF THE FIRST INCIDENT, LISTED BELOW (MAR 5, 2002), IS APPROXIMATE. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED OCT. 2001.

NHTSA complaint #10315720 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 98,000 miles Palmer, OH Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING INTO A PARKING SPACE UNDER 5 MPH WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RPMS HAD INCREASED EXCESSIVELY. THE CONTACT ALSO CRASHED INTO A SNOW BANK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,000. UPDATED 3/24/10 *CN UPDATED 07/27/10

NHTSA complaint #10313574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 95,000 miles Hopkins, MN

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WE HAVE A 2002 MODEL TOYOTA COROLLA LE. IN THREE INSTANCES THE CAR SPED UP. THE CAR ALSO LEAPS FORWARD ONCE IN A WHILE.

NHTSA complaint #10312911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 60,000 miles Geneva, NY Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE 50MPH USING THE CRUISE CONTROL SHE ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE LATE TO ENGAGE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FISH TAIL AND CRASH INTO A MAIL BOX POST. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60000.

NHTSA complaint #10310753 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 25,000 miles Topsfield, MA Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING A TOYOTA COROLLA NORMALLY WHEN SHE SUDDENLY FOUND THAT SHE COULD NOT REDUCE SPEED AND TO CONTROL THE CAR. THE CAR WENT FAR OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A POST. THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES AROUND OR INVOLVED; IT WAS DAY TIME; THERE WERE NO EXTERNAL FACTORS THAT AFFECTED THE ROAD CONDITION, SUCH AS SNOW OR RAIN. MY WIFE WAS (AND IS) IN GOOD HEALTH, SHE WAS NOT UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS (NOR DOES SHE DRINK ALCOHOL OR USE DRUGS); SHE HAS A FLAWLESS DRIVING RECORD, AND SHE HAS NEVER RECEIVED TICKETS OR GOTTEN INTO ANY OTHER ACCIDENTS SINCE SHE HAS GOTTEN HER DRIVERS LICENSE ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO.

NHTSA complaint #10304529 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 85,000 miles Valencia, CA Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WAS PARKING CAR IN GARAGE AND CAR SURGED OVER PARKING BARRIER BEFORE I COULD APPLY BRAKES.WHEN FOOT FINALLY PRESSED ON BRAKE ENGINE RACED, AND I REGAINED CONTROL BY SHLIFTING INTO NEUTRAL. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DISTANCE TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 5 FEET.

NHTSA complaint #10118179 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Columbia, MD Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKES VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. MECHANIC REPLACED BRAKE ROTORS AND OTHER BRAKE PARTS.

NHTSA complaint #10046704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Irving, TX

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE WAS ON CRUISE CONTROL. AFTER EXITING THE HIGHWAY, PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS.

NHTSA complaint #10017600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fountain Hill, AZ

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE TRAVELING AT 75 MPH ON CRUISE CONTROL AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION GAS PEDAL TRAVELED TO FLOORBOARD, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE TO 100 MPH. CONSUMER PUSHED CLUTCH TO STOP VEHICLE, VEHICLE WAS STILL IDLING HIGH AFTER VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE ACCELERATOR JAMMED OPEN AND TURNING OFF. ALSO, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT RETURN ENGINE TO NORMAL IDLING.

NHTSA complaint #8000614 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fountain Hill, AZ

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

WHILE TRAVELING AT 75 MPH ON CRUISE CONTROL AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION GAS PEDAL TRAVELED TO FLOORBOARD, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE TO 100 MPH. CONSUMER PUSHED CLUTCH TO STOP VEHICLE, VEHICLE WAS STILL IDLING HIGH AFTER VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE ACCELERATOR JAMMED OPEN AND TURNING OFF. ALSO, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT RETURN ENGINE TO NORMAL IDLING.

NHTSA complaint #8000614 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2002 Toyota Corolla problems

← Full 2002 Toyota Corolla report