Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 131 of 555 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 100 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 96 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Suspension. Review the 70 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
79 crash reports27 fire reports50 injury reports
What owners actually said
555 reports
50,000 miles · Jan 31, 2003
Latches/locks/linkagesStructureInjury
IN 2001, WHEN OPENING DRIVER'S DOOR FROM OUTSIDE WITH THE DOOR UNLOCKED THE FLAT PART OF THE HANDLE THAT IS FLUSH WITH THE OUTER BODY OF THE DOOR BROKE OFF FROM THE REMAINDER OF THE HANDLE FIXED INTO THE DOOR LEAVING A SHARP PIECE OF PLASTIC ON EITHER SIDE OF THE HANDLE AREA THAT MUST BE PRIED UP TO OPEN THE DOOR. IN THE SAME WE…
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IN 2001, WHEN OPENING DRIVER'S DOOR FROM OUTSIDE WITH THE DOOR UNLOCKED THE FLAT PART OF THE HANDLE THAT IS FLUSH WITH THE OUTER BODY OF THE DOOR BROKE OFF FROM THE REMAINDER OF THE HANDLE FIXED INTO THE DOOR LEAVING A SHARP PIECE OF PLASTIC ON EITHER SIDE OF THE HANDLE AREA THAT MUST BE PRIED UP TO OPEN THE DOOR. IN THE SAME WEEK, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR DID THE SAME THING. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER/SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT "THESE PLASTICS JUST DON'T HOLD UP WELL IN THIS SUN." I WAS ALSO TOLD IT WOULD COST $150 TO REPAIR THEM [AS OF JANUARY 2003 IT WOULD NOW COST $200 TO REPAIR THEM] AND THAT SINCE THE CAR WAS IN ITS FOURTH YEAR, THE WARRANTY WAS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. I AND MY WIFE HAVE BOTH BEEN CUT SEVERAL TIMES TRYING TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE. TOYOTA'S RESPONSE IS STILL "THE WARRANTY WAS ONLY FOR 36 MONTHS."
NHTSA ODI #10005020
70,000 miles · Jan 29, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
WHILE ACCELERATING THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND SMOKE CAME FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. UPON INSPECTION THE DRIVER NOTICED THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE ENGINE. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE BLEW DUE TO LACK OF OIL. *PH *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10005938
52,960 miles · Jan 27, 2003
Tires
FIRESTONE FR 690 TIRE SEPARATION AND BLOWOUT-TIRE DEFECTIVE. ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENT P18570R14 87S M+S
NHTSA ODI #10003450
Mileage unknown · Jan 23, 2003
Steering
THE DEALERSHIP SOUTH BAY TOYOTA; GARDENA CA; 310-323-7800 IS REFUSING TO HONOR THE RECALL FOR THE STEERING WHEEL 99 V 307 000. THE VEHICLE HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE DEFECT STATED IN THE RECALL AND IS PRESENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP. TS
NHTSA ODI #10004510
Mileage unknown · Jan 20, 2003
Suspension
FRONT RIGHT SUSPENSION AT STRUT MOUNTS MAKE A NOISE WHEN DRIVING OVER SMALL BUMPS IN THE ROAD AT 20 TO 30 MPH.
NHTSA ODI #10003036
Mileage unknown · Jan 20, 2003
Seat Belts
DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BEATS DO NOT RETRACT PROPERLY.
NHTSA ODI #10003033
Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2003
Unknown Or Other
NAR 1/15/2003. 40% OF THE VEHICLES PAINT WAS PEELING OFF OF THE HOOD, ROOF AND TRUNK. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10003860
62,000 miles · Dec 31, 2002
Suspension
CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE'S FRONT RIGHT STRUT HAS BEEN DESTROYED. WHEN VEHICLE DRIVES OVER BUMPS IT MAKES LOUD NOISE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
NHTSA ODI #10001781
75,041 miles · Dec 31, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingSteering
THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE RACK AND PINION. WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE, VIEWED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA, AND IMMEDIATELY THE ENGINE DIED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT A ROD HAD BLOWN A HOLE THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK. ALSO, THE TURN SIGNAL MALFUNCTIONED. SCC DEALER RECOMMENDED ENGINE …
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THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE RACK AND PINION. WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE, VIEWED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA, AND IMMEDIATELY THE ENGINE DIED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT A ROD HAD BLOWN A HOLE THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK. ALSO, THE TURN SIGNAL MALFUNCTIONED. SCC DEALER RECOMMENDED ENGINE BLOCK BE REPLACED. TIMING AND DRIVE BELTS REPLACED. *TT
NHTSA ODI #10001779
Mileage unknown · Dec 30, 2002
Service Brakes, AirCrash
JUST STARTED RAINING I WAS CUT OFF AND BRAKED. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES THEY LOCKED AND I HIT THE MIDDLE MERIDIAN.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO A POSSIBLE JAMMING OF THE LOCK PIN OF THE KEY INTERLOCK SOLENOID, IT IS POSSIBLE TO REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY EVEN WHEN THE SHIFT LEVER OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS NOT IN THE "PARK" POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: UNDER SUCH A CONDITION, SHOULD A DRIVER FAIL TO MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER TO "PARK" POSITION AND ALSO FAIL TO ACTIVATE THE PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AWAY DOWN A SLOPE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE KEY INTERLOCK SOLENOID.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALASKA, COLORADO, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, IOWA, KANSAS, MAINE, MICHIGAN,MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEVADA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, NOTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. A CONDITION CAN OCCUR WHERE ACCUMULATED MOISTURE CAN TEMPORARILY FREEZE IN THE BRAKE VACUUM HOSE IF THE VEHICLE IS USED IN EXTREMELY COLD CLIMATES FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN THE ELIMINATION OF VACUUM ASSIST TO THE BRAKES THAT CAN INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCES AND COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN BRAKE VACUUM HOSE.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3
PE02079 · Engine Compartment Fire
Opened Oct 22, 2002 · Closed Mar 18, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
ODI'S DATA ANALYSIS FOUND THE FIRES RATES TO BE CONSISTENTLY LOW AND EVENLY DISTRIBUTED AMONG SIX MODEL YEARS AND SIX DIFFERENT ENGINE CONFIGURATIONS.ODI EXAMINED A VARIETY OF ROOT CAUSES, THOSE BEING DETONATION (RESULTING IN OIL PAN PUNCTURE FROM CONNECTING ROD), STARTER FIRES, VARIOUS FUEL RELATED FIRES, LEAKING OIL FILTERS, WIRING ISSUES, IMPROPER REPAIRS AND BRAKE FLUID LEAKS.NONE OF THE ISSUES EXAMINED HAD REPORTS THAT INDICATED A TREND WHEN NORMALIZED FOR POPULATON AND EXPOSURE.SEE ATTACHED REPORT FOR FULL DETAILS.
DP02004 · Engine Seizure
Opened Apr 30, 2002 · Closed Jun 20, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
No summary supplied.
PE97034 · Ignition Interlock Failure
Opened Jul 16, 1997 · Closed Nov 28, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
Illustration