Toyota MR2 problems

Owners have filed 66 complaints about the Toyota MR2 with NHTSA across model years 1985 to 2005. More of them are about the engine & cooling than anything else.

Every Toyota MR2 year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2005 — 2 0 0 — Transmission & Drivetrain
2004 — 2 0 0 — Transmission & Drivetrain
2003 — 10 1 0 34,750 Transmission & Drivetrain
2002 — 7 1 0 47,000 Engine & Cooling
2001 — 2 0 0 — Engine & Cooling
2000 — 4 0 0 — Engine & Cooling
1993 — 4 0 0 — Engine & Cooling
1992 — 1 0 0 — Body & Structure
1991 — 14 1 2 130,000 Engine & Cooling
1989 — 1 0 0 — Seat Belts
1988 — 1 0 1 — Engine & Cooling
1987 — 5 1 0 — Engine & Cooling
1986 — 10 1 2 250,000 Engine & Cooling
1985 — 3 0 1 — Engine & Cooling

What breaks on a Toyota MR2

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Engine & Cooling 17 25.8%

Worst in 1991

Transmission & Drivetrain 13 19.7%

Worst in 2003

Airbags 6 9.1%

Worst in 1991

Acceleration & Cruise Control 5 7.6%

Worst in 2002

Seat Belts 4 6.1%

Worst in 1985

Doors, Latches & Locks 4 6.1%

Worst in 1991

Steering 3 4.5%

Worst in 1991

Tires 3 4.5%

Worst in 1991

Brakes 2 3.0%

Worst in 1986

Fuel & Propulsion 2 3.0%

Worst in 2003

Other & Unspecified 2 3.0%

Worst in 1991

Electrical System 1 1.5%

Worst in 2003

Body & Structure 1 1.5%

Worst in 1992

Suspension 1 1.5%

Worst in 1986

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Toyota MR2, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Feb 1995 peak 9 Mar 2026

Compare the Toyota MR2

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.