ToyotaMR22002Overview/toyota/mr2/2002/base/

2002 Toyota MR2

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2002 MR2.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Manual 5-spd

The 2002 Toyota MR2 is a passenger‑car that features a mid‑mounted engine holding 3.9 qt of 5W‑30 API‑specified oil and is mated to a manual five‑speed transmission. EPA fuel‑economy testing records 22 mpg city, 27 mpg highway and 24 mpg combined. In its final model year the MR2 accumulated 32 owner complaints—the highest tally across its 1991‑2005 production span—yet none of these issues resulted in a recall, indicating a concentration of power‑train concerns without formal corrective action.

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity3.9 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque76 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy22/27/24 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 51R · 430 CCA battery, OE oil filter 90915YZZN1. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 51R · 430 CCAOEM · verified
Tire size205-50VR15: RearOEM · verified
Wheel / rim6.5-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter90915YZZN1
Engine air filter178011602083
Fuel filter2330023040 alt 2321721030
Spark plug9008091184
Front wiper blades8522252131 alt 8521253051
Serpentine belt99366J1690
Thermostat9091603125 alt 1632562010

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionManual 5-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined22 / 27 / 24 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the MR2 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.20 sec — 2002 Spyder
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2002Spyder 1.8L I-48.20 sec16.20 sec138 hpRWD
2001Spyder 1.8L I-46.60 sec15.20 sec138 hpRWD
2001Spyder 1.8L I-47.10 sec15.30 sec138 hpRWD
2001Spyder 1.8L I-47.16 sec15.40 sec138 hpRWD
2000Spyder 1.8L I-47.10 sec15.50 sec138 hpRWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 3.9 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil. Torque lug nuts to 76 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity3.9 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts89 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts76 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub159 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub159 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)800 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerDenso
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing8-12, Not adjustable degrees

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.10 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity6.90 oz
Standard BCI Group Number51R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance430 cca

Service checks

Injector Primary Resistance13.4-14.2 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Injector Primary Resistance12-16 na ohms
Engine Compression145-215 psi
Engine Oil Pressure43-78 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM3000 rpm
Intake Valve Lash0.006-0.010 in
Exhaust Valve Lash0.010-0.014 in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket80 ft-lbs / 15 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle76 ft-lbs / 44 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.039; Rear: 0.039 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in / 0.0039 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.787 in / 0.63 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.787 in / 0.63 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.709 in / 0.591 in

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs at 120,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Steering Gear Box Assembly (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap O-Ring (inspect)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash)
At 120,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2002 MR2 sits at the peak of complaint volume for the second generation, with 32 complaints versus 4 in 2001 and 31 in 2003, while recalls remain zero throughout the decade. This spike follows a gradual rise from 1991–1993 and precedes a sharp drop in 2004, indicating a brief but notable quality dip in the 2002 model year. The most common complaint categories—Power Train (5), Suspension (3), Latches/Locks/Linkages (3), and Service Brakes/Hydraulic (3)—highlight issues that were not present in earlier years with fewer complaints. Crash and fire complaints are low (4 and 0, respectively), suggesting that safety and fire risks were not elevated. Overall, the data show that 2002 experienced a temporary increase in problems, but without recalls or safety recalls, a used 2002 MR2 can still be a viable purchase if inspected for the listed complaint areas.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
50
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
32
Owner complaints
4 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 32 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train5
Suspension3
Latches/Locks/Linkages3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic3
Engine & Engine Cooling2
Vehicle Speed Control2
Air Bags2
Tires2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 50 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
T-SB-0035-24 Rev22024-12-06StructureAcid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to…
T-SB-0038-24 Rev22024-12-06StructureTo prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film…
T-SB-0039-24 Rev22024-12-06StructureThe condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the…
T-SB-0061-23 Rev22024-12-05StructureToyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to…
T-SB-0062-23 Rev22024-12-03StructureVehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific MR2. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2002 MR2 take?

3.9 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2002 MR2 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the MR2 get?

EPA figures are 22 city / 27 highway / 24 combined mpg.