ToyotaMR22001Overview/toyota/mr2/2001/base/

2001 Toyota MR2

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2001 MR2.

Transmission Manual 5-spd

The 2001 Toyota MR2 is configured with a Manual 5-spd transmission and achieves EPA fuel economy ratings of 22/27/24 mpg while requiring 3.9 qt of 5W-30 API oil. Within the 1991-2005 model history, this year recorded zero recalls and only 2 total owner complaints with tires as the top complaint area, placing it well below the 2002 peak of 32 complaints and just above the 1992 low of 1. This minimal issue count indicates the 2001 model sits in a highly reliable segment of the vehicle's reliability history.

Model year200520042003200120001995199419931992

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 blades8521253051 alt 8522252131
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.

6.6–7.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.60 sec — 2001 Spyder
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
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
2002Spyder 1.8L I-48.20 sec16.20 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 2001 MR2 belongs to the second generation (20002005) and sits at the favorable end of a sharply U-shaped complaint curve: it posts just 2 complaints with no recalls, no investigations, and no fire or crash reports, trailing only its 2000 sibling (4) as the calmest year of the generation. The trend is dramatic — complaints surge to 32 in 2002 and 31 in 2003 before collapsing back to 2 and 3 in 2004–2005 — but the data does not specify a root cause for that spike, so any buyer should investigate the 2002–2003 issues separately rather than assume the 2001 is immune. The two 2001 complaints split evenly between Tires and Engine & Engine Cooling (one each), suggesting no concentrated or systemic failure point. One mild concern is the steady climb in TSBs from 42 in 2000 to 111 in 2005, indicating accumulating service advisories across the run even as the 2001 itself remains quiet. On balance, the 2001 is one of the better years to target in this generation: low complaint volume, no recalls or investigations, no fire or crash incidents, and only a modest 43 TSBs, though a pre-purchase inspection focusing on engine cooling and tire condition would be prudent.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
43
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
2
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 2 complaints on record, top 2 components.

Tires1
Engine & Engine Cooling1

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 43 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 2001 MR2 take?

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

Does the 2001 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.