2002 vs 2003 Toyota Corolla
Each year's own entries sit side by side, then what both share. Warnings of different generations are listed apart even under the same name, because what to check can differ.
Watch out for
Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check.
2002
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Burning oil All years
What to check: Check the oil level and ask how much it uses between changes. Look for blue smoke at start-up and oil fouling on the plugs.
On CarComplaints.com's page for oil use in the 2002, an unofficial source, 59 owners report it at about 99,200 miles on average, at rates from about a quart every 1,000 miles to one every 150 to 300, and 14 had the engine replaced. In a BobIsTheOilGuy forum thread, also unofficial, two owners report their 2001 and 2002 Corollas burning oil.
Owners' reports (unofficial)
2003
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Manual gearbox and differential, 2003 One source so far
What to check: Listen for grinding or whine from the gearbox and differential on a test drive, and ask whether the transmission or clutch has been replaced.
On CarComplaints.com's page, an unofficial source, 12 of the 17 reports ended with the transmission and clutch replaced, seven describe grinding noises, and five name the differential.
Owners' reports (unofficial)
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Intake manifold gasket All years One source so far
What to check: Look for a check-engine light, and listen for a hiss of a vacuum leak at the intake.
Two owners in the same BobIsTheOilGuy thread, an unofficial source, report a leaking intake manifold gasket.
Owners' reports (unofficial)
Rare catches
2002
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Rare
Front side airbags and anti-lock brakes Package
Very few cars had this option A published reference
2003
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Rare
TRD supercharger Package
A TRD kit, not a factory option A published reference
Recalls
2002
Nothing that 2003 lacks.
2003
- 02V074001 2003
The bolts holding the rear brake and hub to the axle carrier may not have been tightened enough. NHTSA
- 08V162000 2003–2004
The front door glass bolts may loosen and come off, letting the glass drop away from the window regulator. NHTSA
- 13V029000 2003–2004
The airbag circuits can short inside and overheat, which could set off the front airbags or seat belt pretensioners. NHTSA
- 15V043000 2003–2004
Electrical noise can make a part of the airbag computer fail, setting off the airbags or seat belt pretensioners while driving. NHTSA
- 15V286000 2003–2007
The passenger front airbag inflator may rupture when the airbag deploys, throwing metal fragments. NHTSA
- 15V285000 2003–2007
The passenger front airbag inflator may build up too much pressure and rupture when the airbag deploys. NHTSA
- 18V883000 2003–2005
The passenger front airbag inflator may explode after its propellant degrades, throwing metal fragments. NHTSA
- 19V627000 2003–2008
In high heat the passenger front airbag may not unfold as designed, and may not inflate properly. NHTSA
- 19V741000 2003–2013
Inflators fitted under an earlier recall were of the same design, and can still explode after long exposure to heat and humidity. NHTSA
What changed between
After 2002, up to and including 2003.
What it came with
2002
2003
Both years
Colors
2002
- Silverstream Opal 1C4, 1999–2002 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
- Mystic Teal Mica 760, 1998–2002 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
- Woodland Pearl 6R1, 2000–2002 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
2003
- Lunar Mist Metallic 1C8, 2003–2004 An owners' registry (unofficial)
- Moonshadow Metallic 1E6, 2003–2004 An owners' registry (unofficial)
- Mineral Green Opal 6R6, 2003–2004 An owners' registry (unofficial)
Both years
- Super White 040, 2003–2008 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
- Black Sand Pearl 209, 2003–2008 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
- Sandrift Metallic 3M5, 2003 An owners' registry (unofficial)
- Impulse Red Pearl 3P1, 2003–2008 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
- Indigo Ink Pearl 8P4, 2003–2008 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
What owners and buyers say
Reputation: what owners and the press report
2002
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Sought after: Cars that do not burn oil All years One source so far
Not every engine burns oil. In a BobIsTheOilGuy forum thread, an unofficial source, two owners report theirs uses none, one at about 235,000 miles. Owners' reports (unofficial)
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Avoid: Oil burning, 1998–1999 and 2002 All years Less sought after
A published reference reports a flawed piston ring design on the engines without VVT-i, which made higher-mileage cars burn oil. CarComplaints.com, a complaints site and an unofficial source, rates the 2002 the worst Corolla year, with excessive oil use its top problem, and SlashGear says to avoid the 2002 for the same reason. SlashGear, a published reference, owners' reports (unofficial)
2003
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Sought after: High-mileage durability All years One source so far
In a BobIsTheOilGuy thread on high-mileage 2003–2008 Corollas, an unofficial source, five of seven owners praise their cars' durability, including one at 174,000 miles and a 2003 that reached about 290,000. Owners' reports (unofficial)
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Avoid: The 2003 manual gearbox Less sought after
CarComplaints.com, a complaints site and an unofficial source, ranks transmission failure on the 2003 among the Corolla's three worst problems. On its page for the fault, 16 of 17 reports are manuals, failing at about 96,000 miles on average. Owners' reports (unofficial)