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Engine & cooling

2003 Toyota MR2 Engine problems

Owners have filed 8 complaints about the 2003 Toyota MR2's engine & cooling with NHTSA - 26% of all its complaints, most recently on February 1, 2026. They describe 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Complaints
8
Recalls
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
0

Engine complaints

Wheels & tiresBrakesEngine & cooling

Many things are happening to my truck that's why I am contacting you people to see if I got any callback thank you so much

Filed Incident Wheels · Service brakes · EngineNHTSA 11714805
Acceleration & cruise controlBrakesEngine & coolingCrash

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota mr2 spyder. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle suddenly accelerated without the accelerator pedal being depressed. The contact mentioned that the vehicle spun out of control and crashed into a curb. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was not filed and no injuries were sustained. The vehicle was driven to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 55,000.

Filed Incident Vehicle speed control · Service brakes · EngineNHTSA 10778822
Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine & cooling

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

Filed Incident Power train · Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 10632785
Fuel systemTransmission & drivetrainEngine & cooling

The design of the computer controlled power train makes throttle, transmission and starter inter-dependent. My vehicle has repeatedly lost power and coasted to a stop. The vehicle has been recently inspected by a toyota dealer, who says there's nothing wrong with it. But the vehicle operator's manual anticipates stalling while underway and gives directions to re-start - sometimes successful, sometimes not and the vehicle has to be towed, in my experience. Manual directions (page 153): if your engine stalls...

Read the full complaint

while driving ... Reduce speed gradually, keeping a straight line. Move cautiously off the road to a safe place... Manual transmission, na sequential manual transmission: turn the ignition key to the ?Acc? Or ?Lock? Position. Approximately 5 seconds after, try starting the engine again. If your engine will not start, see ?If you engine will not start -? On page 150 of this manual. How can one "move cautiously off the road to a safe place", if the engine won't run? This car is unsafe as manufactured, imo. *Tr

Filed Incident Fuel system, gasoline · Power train · EngineNHTSA 10574607
Transmission & drivetrainEngine & coolingFuel system

Purchased used from carmax and within 100 miles the transmission light came on, it would not shift out of first gear. I had it delivered to have the vehicle looked at, and it refused to go into reverse gear next. When they attempted to drive it only 1 st and 2nd gear would work. After having a brand new transmission installed from toyota by aamco transmission as soon as the vehicle made it back to the car dealer, it started leaking fluids all over the lot. The transmission solenoid had quit working and starting spraying hot fluids all over the vehicle. It has been towed back for followup repairs and they are considering refunding due to excessive vehicle damage. *Tr

Filed Incident Power train · Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 10513052
Engine & cooling

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 toyota camry. The contact heard a loud ticking and rattling noise coming from under the hood when the vehicle was started. She immediately took the vehicle to a dealer and they performed a diagnostic test. The test indicated that the intake manifold was separating from the inside. The dealer stated that the vehicle had too many miles to be covered under warranty. The vehicle has not been repaired. The vin was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 62,000.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10204188
Engine & cooling

While driving catalytic converter broke off into pieces. Dealer replaced catalytic converter. *Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10041873
Engine & cooling

Consumer is loosing engine power. Dealer was contacted. Ph

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10006444

Toyota MR2 engine complaints by year

MR2 engine problems, every year

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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