Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2000 Toyota MR2, most frequently naming the engine and airbags categories. 42 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 2006 | 1 | 1 |
| Mar 2012 | 1 | 2 |
| Apr 2014 | 1 | 3 |
| Mar 2026 | 1 | 4 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
The contact owns a 1991 N/A Toyota MR2. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 91V223000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, who confirmed that the parts were on back order. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer provided a Lien letter. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The contact had not experienced a failure.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA MR2. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONSUMED OIL AT AN ALARMING RATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 122,000.
SIMILAR TO THE HUNDREDS OF OTHER EARLY AFFECTED 1ZZ ENGINES (MR2, COROLLA, MATRIX, VIBE AND OTHERS) MY ENGINE IS CURRENTLY BURNING 1 QUART EVERY 400 MILES. MY MECHANIC HAS NOTED THAT IT IS DUE TO PISTON RINGS OR THE OFF SHAPED BORE IN EARLIER 1ZZ ENGINES. SO THE ENGINE IS BURNING OIL AND MY HEAD IS ALSO BEING STARVED FOR MUCH NEEDED OIL. I AM NOW JEOPARDIZING THE OXYGEN SENSORS AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHICH WERE JUST REPLACED. *TR
IN JUNE OF 2006 I HEARD A TICKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE OF MY 2000 MR2 SPYDER. WHEN I BROUGHT T TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD MY I HAD SPUN A BEARING DUE TO OIL STARVATION, EVEN THOUGH I HAD MY OIL CHANGED EVERY 3000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BEARINGS AND CRANK AND THE NOISE WAS GONE. 2 MONTHS LATER, AFTER DRIVING 4000 MILES AND HAVING THE OIL CHANGED AFTER 2500, THE TICKING NOISE RETURNED. THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN STATED THAT I HAD A SPUN BEARING DUE TO OIL STARVATION. WHEN INVESTIGATED FURTHER THE TECH SAID THAT THE SMALL BLOCK OF THE ENGINE ISN'T ALLOWING OIL TO REACH THE PISTONS. WHEN I SEARCHED ONLINE I FOUND THAT MULTIPLE OTHER MR2 SPYDER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS. *JB
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
STRUCTURE:BODY
To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer. Consequently, the film should remain on the wheel for as long as possible.
STRUCTURE:BODY
The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage can occur. This damage is the result of actual etching of the paint and appears as pitting or water spots. As acid rain droplets on the vehicle surface evaporate, the concentration strength of the acid increases, causing deeper and more rapid damage. This evaporation and corrosive action also occur more rapidly on dark colored cars as direct sun heat increases. It is the dealer’s responsibility to protect and maintain the quality of the vehicle’s paint finish after receipt at the dealership prior to the first sale. In areas known for high frequency and/or concentration of acid rain, frequent vehicle washing during high heat or humidity periods will minimize the potential for paint damage caused by acid rain. It is further recommended that either reverse osmosis or deionized water be used to prevent water spotting.
STRUCTURE:BODY
Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfaces can occur. Acid rain damage can typically be identified on vehicles by the presence of stains on the paint surface that resemble hard water spots. Unlike water spots however, acid rain damage cannot be removed by regular washing procedures. Also, because acid rain can etch and soften the paint, normal buffing or polishing repair procedures should not be attempted. This can cause further damage and result in visible depressions in the paint surface. The following are the three major categories of acid rain damage: •Minor damage: requires only buffing to repair. •Moderate damage: usually requires neutralizing, color sanding, and buffing. •Severe damage: extending beyond 1/2 mil of clearcoat on a pearl, metallic, or solid color, requires neutralization, sanding, and repainting. In cases where acid rain damage is minor, neutralization and buffing with a liquid-type paint finessing product may provide an adequate repair. Only specially formulated products outlined in this bulletin should be used for that purpose. Unfortunately, other than minor damage, there is no simple method of determining the actual extent (depth) of acid penetration other than color sanding a representative affected area until there is no visible etching or depressions, followed by measuring the amount of paint removed with either a magnetic or digital-type film thickness gauge. The procedures in this bulletin are intended for use by qualified body/paint technicians and should not be attempted by inexperienced personnel. It is the dealer’s responsibility to protect and maintain the quality of the vehicle’s paint finish after receipt at the dealership prior to the first sale. Perform frequent vehicle washing, as often as daily, during high heat and humidity periods to minimize the potential for paint damage due to acid rain exposure. This is especially important in geographical areas known for high frequency and concentration of acid rain and industrial fallout.
STRUCTURE:BODY
Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. Follow the Removal Procedure in this bulletin to remove the RapgardTM protective film within 90 days from initial application.
STRUCTURE:BODY
Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. This type of contamination can be identified by the presence of small, red or brown particles on the paint surface. These particles are often difficult to see on dark color paints but can be easily felt when brushing a hand across horizontal body surfaces such as the hood, roof, or deck lid. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to clean vehicles that may have been subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles such as rail dust during rail transportation or extended storage near industrial areas.
STRUCTURE:BODY
To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer. Consequently, the film should remain on the wheel for as long as possible.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.