2002 Toyota Tacoma

◆ Worse than typical

2002 Toyota Tacoma
BUILT 2026-09-02

This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

2002: 333 complaints

View as data table

Year	Complaints
1995	177
1996	253
1997	131
1998	300
1999	249
2000	210
2001	396
2002	333
2003	359
2004	414
2005	707
2006	782
2007	540
2008	445
2009	519
2010	292
2011	186
2012	294
2013	124
2014	93
2015	101
2016	323
2017	238
2018	202
2019	214
2020	87
2021	78
2022	57
2023	52
2024	144
2025	85
2026	6

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

Percentages can add to more than 100% -- a complaint can name more than one system.

STRUCTURE 55%

55% of complaints: structure — 183 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing body and underbody shields.

CRASH INJURY

Show complaint excerpts

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH HOOD FLEW OPEN AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. DUE TO NO VISIBILITY THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. VEHICLE HIT THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED ON 7/10/2003. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 20030711

Also filed under VISIBILITY

SUSPENSION 27%

27% of complaints: suspension — 89 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing lower ball joint and shock absorber.

CRASH INJURY

Show complaint excerpts

Rackandpinon replacement was also the upper and lower ball joints my steering is still giving me problems and I feel like itâs asafty concern because if Iâm going down the highway I could loose control I have some receipts for what my mechanic...

NHTSA ODI report, 20250514

Also filed under FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE and STEERING

2002 TOYOTOA TRUCK, LOST CONTROL AND HIT MY FORD S/W, TRUCK WAS ON RECALL FOR BALL/JOINTS , BOTH ME AND WIFE WAS HURT BY THIS UN INSURED DRIVER, DRIVER WAS CITED FOR WRONG TURN INTO MY LANE, I LOST BOTH MY CAR AND MY HEALTH, WHAT CAN I DO TO...

NHTSA ODI report, 20120319

Also filed under WHEELS and STEERING

THE TRUCK HAS ALWAYS WALKED ALL OVER THE ROAD WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP .. THIS TIME IT WAS RAINING OUR SON HIT A BUMP AND LOST CONTROL ON THE WET ROAD BECAUSE OF THE TRUCKS...

NHTSA ODI report, 20020125

POWER TRAIN 7%

7% of complaints: power train — 22 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing automatic transmission and manual transmission.

AIR BAGS 6%

6% of complaints: air bags — 19 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing frontal.

CRASH FIRE INJURY

Show complaint excerpts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED THE ACCELERATED PEDAL BECAME STUCK, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED BUT TRAVELLED TO THE FLOOR, AS THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A METAL MAIL BOX.

NHTSA ODI report, 20201023

Also filed under SERVICE BRAKES and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH AT NIGHT, THE DRIVER DIDN'T JUDGE THE DISTANCE OF TRAFFIC DUE TO IMPROPER SIGN ILLUSTRATIONS BY ROAD COMPANY. DRIVER HAD IMPACT OF LEFT FRONT WHICH NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ODI report, 20020923

I WAS INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT ON THE FREEWAY, I WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC WHEN I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND AND FORCED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, THERE WAS ALOT OF DAMAGE DONE TO MY VEHICLE AND THE OTHER VEHICLES INVOLVED.

NHTSA ODI report, 20020409

WHEELS 5%

5% of complaints: wheels — 18 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing rim and hub.

CRASH INJURY

SAFETY TIMELINE

▮ 2002 — complaint volume: 333

R 20030603 — fuel system, gasoline

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, DURING SIDE IMPACT NCAP TEST (I.E. LINCAP TEST), A FLANGE AT THE REAR END OF THE DOUBLE CAB BODY DEFORMED AND INTERFERED WITH THE FUEL INLET HOSE THAT CONNECTS THE FUEL FILLE

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUEL HOSE PROTECTOR ON THE BODY FLANGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 3, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NO

Campaign 03V189000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20050705 — suspension

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, DUE TO A MANUFACTURING ISSUE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE SURFACE OF THE BALL OF THE JOINT MAY HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED. THE

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 5, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

Campaign 05V225000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060403 — exterior lighting

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER S

Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Campaign 06E026000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060731 — exterior lighting

CERTAIN AJ MOTORSPORT COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE RE

Remedy: AJ MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AJ MOTORSPORT AT 626-618-2026.

Campaign 06E065000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20130215 — tires

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2004 Tacoma light trucks manufactured from August 28, 2000, through August 27, 2004, and originally sold, or currently registered, in the following

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace the spare tire carrier lift plate as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in February 2013. Owners may contact their To

Campaign 12V542000 — check if this car was fixed