1986 Toyota MR2 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1986 Toyota MR2, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine220.0%
- Brakes220.0%
- Interior & seats110.0%
- Other / unspecified110.0%
- Seat belts110.0%
- Suspension110.0%
- Transmission110.0%
- Driver assistance110.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE FLANGE OF THE EXHAUST PIPE HEAT SHIELD IS LOCATED TOO CLOSE TO THE OUTLET END OF THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE FLANGE HAS WORN THROUGH THE OIL PAN, CAUSING AN OIL LEAK. *AK
THE OUTLET END OF THE EXHUAST PIPE FLANG WEARS THROUGH, CAUSING OIL TO LEAK RECALL #93E021001. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
PARKING BRAKE FREEZES IN LOCKED POSITION EVERYTIME THE WEATHER GETS BELOW FREEZING, ALSO TRANSMISSION GEARS GRIND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT AT RPM OVER 4000. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
I OWN AN 1986 TOYOTA MR2 WITH A 4 AGE ENGINE AND MANUAL TRANSMISSION. I WAS DRIVING AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN I APPROACHED A NEIGHBORHOOD INTERSECTION. THE ENGINE STARTED TO "REV" REALLY HIGH AND I PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL. I SAT AT THE INTERSECTION FOR A WHILE TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THIS WAS THE FIRST AND ONLY TIME IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME. SO I STARTED TO JIGGLE THE LIMP GAS PEDAL. SOON AFTER I LOOKED IN THE ENGINE BAY AND HAD SEEN THAT A RUBBER PIECE WAS JAMMED UNDER THE THROTTLE LINKAGE. THE PIECE OF RUBBER WAS A CAP TO PREVENT WATER FROM GOING INTO AND RUINING THE THROTTLE LINKAGE. I DROVE HOME AND LATER ON WENT TO A SPECIALIST THAT TOLD ME TO REMOVE THE RUBBER PIECE FROM LETTING THAT HAPPEN TO ME. I HOPE THIS INFORMATION CAN HELP, MAYBE THE NEWER TOYOTAS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. ANOTHER INCIDENT WAS WHEN I BROUGHT THE SAME VEHICLE TO GET IT SMOGED. ME AND MY MOM FINISHED AND LEFT TO GO HOME. WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF INTERSECTIONS I LOOKED BACK AND NOTICED SPARKS SHOOTING UP FROM THE ENGINE BAY. I TOLD MY MOTHER WHOM DIDN'T BELIEVE ME TO STOP. THE CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION, THEN MY MOTHER AND I EVACUATED THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE BAY BURST INTO FLAMES AND LUCKY THERE WAS A FIRE DEPARTMENT NEAR BY. WE FOUND OUT THAT THE HOOD PROP HAD FALLEN ONTO THE BATTERY WHICH SHORTED OUT THE ELECTRICS AND CAUSED NEAR BY PLASTIC TO CATCH ON FIRE. THE REAR HOOD WAS RUINED, PAINT, WINDOW, WIREHARNESS, AND OTHER PIECES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID WE WERE LUCKY THAT THE FLAME DIDN'T RUPTURE THE FUEL IN THE CAR. HE SHOWED THAT THE FLAME WAS RIGHT NEXT TO THE PLACE YOU FILL YOUR CAR WITH GAS. THE CAR WAS TOWED AWAY AND AN OFFICER WROTE UP A REPORT. *TW
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE ROLLED OVER IN AN ACCIDENT. *DH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
PARKING BRAKE FREEZES IN LOCKED POSITION EVERYTIME THE WEATHER GETS BELOW FREEZING, ALSO TRANSMISSION GEARS GRIND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT AT RPM OVER 4000. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
I OWN AN 1986 TOYOTA MR2 WITH A 4 AGE ENGINE AND MANUAL TRANSMISSION. I WAS DRIVING AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN I APPROACHED A NEIGHBORHOOD INTERSECTION. THE ENGINE STARTED TO "REV" REALLY HIGH AND I PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL. I SAT AT THE INTERSECTION FOR A WHILE TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THIS WAS THE FIRST AND ONLY TIME IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME. SO I STARTED TO JIGGLE THE LIMP GAS PEDAL. SOON AFTER I LOOKED IN THE ENGINE BAY AND HAD SEEN THAT A RUBBER PIECE WAS JAMMED UNDER THE THROTTLE LINKAGE. THE PIECE OF RUBBER WAS A CAP TO PREVENT WATER FROM GOING INTO AND RUINING THE THROTTLE LINKAGE. I DROVE HOME AND LATER ON WENT TO A SPECIALIST THAT TOLD ME TO REMOVE THE RUBBER PIECE FROM LETTING THAT HAPPEN TO ME. I HOPE THIS INFORMATION CAN HELP, MAYBE THE NEWER TOYOTAS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. ANOTHER INCIDENT WAS WHEN I BROUGHT THE SAME VEHICLE TO GET IT SMOGED. ME AND MY MOM FINISHED AND LEFT TO GO HOME. WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF INTERSECTIONS I LOOKED BACK AND NOTICED SPARKS SHOOTING UP FROM THE ENGINE BAY. I TOLD MY MOTHER WHOM DIDN'T BELIEVE ME TO STOP. THE CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION, THEN MY MOTHER AND I EVACUATED THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE BAY BURST INTO FLAMES AND LUCKY THERE WAS A FIRE DEPARTMENT NEAR BY. WE FOUND OUT THAT THE HOOD PROP HAD FALLEN ONTO THE BATTERY WHICH SHORTED OUT THE ELECTRICS AND CAUSED NEAR BY PLASTIC TO CATCH ON FIRE. THE REAR HOOD WAS RUINED, PAINT, WINDOW, WIREHARNESS, AND OTHER PIECES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID WE WERE LUCKY THAT THE FLAME DIDN'T RUPTURE THE FUEL IN THE CAR. HE SHOWED THAT THE FLAME WAS RIGHT NEXT TO THE PLACE YOU FILL YOUR CAR WITH GAS. THE CAR WAS TOWED AWAY AND AN OFFICER WROTE UP A REPORT. *TW
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .