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8.0

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$3,670
Average Mileage:
82,600 miles
Total Complaints:
10 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. replaced with a rebuild engine (6 reports)
  2. not sure (4 reports)
2002 Toyota Corolla engine problems

engine problem

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2002 Toyota Corolla Owner Comments

problem #10

Nov 202011

Corolla CE 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I can't believe this vehicle turned out to be such a junk wagon. I purchased it as a brand new car. As soon as the warranty ran out I noticed a high pressure oil leak. I didn't lose enough oil at first to make a big difference. Later on, I knew to always, always check the oil.

I live in a city, so getting to work and stuff was never a problem, that's why the car has so few miles on it. I was shocked when the timing chain slipped at only 65,000 miles! That's really bad!! It slipped forward by about 2-3 teeth. I'm not certain yet what all is destroyed inside the engine, but I know it's really bad. I was going ~75mi/hr when it happened.

Anyways, I'm currently looking for a replacement engine. It's currently the best option for me financially. My parents both have always driven Toyota's, they never seem to have any problems - they drive a Camry and a Tundra. That just makes all of this much, much more confusing and irritating...

- scottcomplaints, Oklahoma City, OK, US

problem #9

Jul 182012

Corolla LE

  • Automatic transmission
  • 149,000 miles

Toyota Corolla started giving excessive oil burning about 80K miles and never knew 2002 Corolla has a problem. Eventually engine went bust while I was driving in the highway. Replaced the engine with another old engine and spent $3500.00 to fix it. Toyota customer service didn't help. I thought Toyotas last forever if you change oil every 4-5K miles. Its actually not true. Toyotas are no longer reliable and their quality cannot be trusted. I will think twice before buying Toyota anymore.

- Robin D., Lawrenceville, NJ, US

problem #8

Jun 012007

Corolla

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,000 miles

Today my 19 yr old daughter was stranded in the middle on nowhere because her toyota corrolla died on her. We have always had a problem with the oil with this car. Putting in oil every week ,took it to the dealer and they said it had a small oil leak . Then took it again and they said the oil leak was gone which gave us a false sense of security . She is 10 hrs away from home and I am a wreck. The car was towed to the dealership and they said the engine is shot. Now she has no car and will have to fly to her destination......

- Elizabeth G., El Paso, TX, US

problem #7

Jul 222010

Corolla 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 93,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This is Toyota for goodnees sake. You are supose to get 300,000 mile on them. Worng. I have 256,000 miles on my 1990 4- runner, 144,000 on my 94 4-runner before the engine went, 143,000 on my 96 camrey (both engine and tranny failure) and now my 2002 Corolla with 93,000 and another engine failure. Can you see the trend. Ford here I come.

- robert.matheny, Athens, AL, US

problem #6

Jun 102008

Corolla S 4 cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 100,000 miles

now that i see all these people with the same problem as me i dont feel so bad I have to change the oil in this car all the time right now the oil light is on so from what i read im probably bone dry, car started to have a light tapping noise after aa year of owning it was given to me by my grandpa when i turned 16, my dad said i was driving it to hard, clutch burnt out with in a few months i don't know if that was my fault or not but from what i read thats a problem too cost 600 bucks! also the power window on th drivers side stopped working ( another problem i read about) fixed it my self, I taken good care of the car changer oil and filters often. So far all the maintenance has been a pain in the ass all i want is a nice car that doesn't need work every month!! i am so pissed now the tapping rattling noise is just gone crazy, super loud and annoying afraid its going to blow up at any moment, im just going to run it into the ground and forget about Toyota

- angryman, Felton, CA, US

problem #5

Oct 092008

Corolla Sport 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles

engine stop and the oil produce excessive dirt. I pay for a new motor. $2000.

- hectort, Ponce, PR, Puerto Rico

problem #4

Oct 192007

(reported on)

Corolla

  • Automatic transmission
  • 34,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My toyota corolla only had 34000 miles on it when the engine had to be replaced. Thank goodness it was under warranty. I had to have the car towed to the dealership and they took care of it. A few days after it came out of the shop my brake line broke as well and it was under warranty. The toyota dealer took care of both issues with no problem but I did find out that the new engine in the car is not under warranty so from what I have been reading I will be facing the same problem again. I sure hope that toyota does something about this sludge problem and take care of the customers that dont have a warranty and this happens.

I was given the advice to use a different kind of oil so the oil doesnt build up. So I will try it.

- Donaa H., St Peters, MO, US

problem #3

Sep 262007

(reported on)

Corolla LE V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 47,000 miles

I always serviced my 2002 corolla at the dealer I bought it from, Conicelli Toyota Springfield, Delaware County, PA. Lately I want to have the engine oil changed as usual. To my surprise the dealer told me that he found a knock in my lower engine and he can’t change the oil, instead the engine needs to be changed. Of course I was shocked, I have 47000 miles in my odometer and nobody else touched my car but the dealer techs and mechanics. I was told the possible cause of this damage may be the use of poor quality engine oil. My warranty had expired after 5 years even if I have 47000 in my odometer below the 50000 mark.

- Bakir G., Philadelphia, PA, US

problem #2

Oct 132006

(reported on)

Corolla LE

  • 31,000 miles

Cracked number one piston. Clicking sound starting at 20,000. Engine seized. Toyota was wonderful. Did not cost me a dime. Corolla engines almost never fail. Engine sent back to factory for examination due to rarity of such failures. The rest of the car has been solid. Should mention it is a five-speed and I drive the pee out of it. It was hit by a Peterbilt when I was stopped at a light. Now 63,000 miles with not even one other problem.

- sw.pats, Waynesboro, PA, US

problem #1

Apr 022006

(reported on)

Corolla CE

  • 107,000 miles

The engine oil light came on and I stopped immediately to fill the oil and noticed it was completely dry! Why the hell does the oil light come on when it is completely out of oil?! Anyway, I fill the oil back up and notice that I am putting about a quart a week in, and there were absolutely no leaks whatsoever. So I'm thinking several things that come to mind, rings are bad so on and so forth well the car is making a ticking sound I think its the lifters but dont really know. I'm driving the car to work and boom a huge knocking sound happens and I lose most power, I pull to the side of the road have it towed to a shop, I am told i needs either a new motor or to rebuild this one. Well being suspicious as I am of mechanics I take it to several places towing it to places on my dollar and they all tell me the same thing, How could this have happened I ask, I mean its a newer toyota with only a 107,000 miles on it well it seems I recieved a car with a bum engine. Well it cost me 3500 bucks to rebuild from a quality mechanic and of course I bought the car from Hertz so no warranty whatsoever. This is my third toyota and my last one I had the transmission rebuilt on my 91' camry 3 times. I have had nothing but bad luck with toyota's I think they're sh*t cars and I'm going to stop listening to my dad telling me I've got to stick with toyota's and if anything goes wrong with them it's my fault (it must be the way your driving them, dad says; Shut up dad). I should have bought a kia at least they're not overpriced and you know buying one that its gonna only last you 100,000 miles.

- Shawn M., Kennewick, WA, US

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