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2002 Toyota 4 Runner

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Toyota 4 Runner are lower than the model-year median of 96.5.

About this comparison →
32Owner complaints

Model-year median: 96.5

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
110
1999104
200031
200132
2002168
200366
200415
2005
Compare all 4 Runner years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Suspension
6Engine And Engine Cooling
5Service Brakes, Hydraulic
4Tires
4Air Bags
3
All reported categories
Fuel System, Other
3Power Train
3Vehicle Speed Control
3Electrical System
2Steering
2Wheels
2Electronic Stability Control
1Equipment
1Exterior Lighting
1Parking Brake
1Seat Belts
1Visibility
1

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: 19 of 32 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.

  • Suspension. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

2 reports
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17,557 miles · Nov 2, 2005
Electrical SystemPower TrainSuspension

2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER FRONT END MAKES LOUD NOISES, WHEN GOING OVER HIGH BUMPS AND SOME STIFFNESS IN STEERING. *TS THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACE DUE TO LITTLE OR NO FLUIDS, NOISES WERE COMING FROM THE FRONT END, THE SHOCK WERE LEAKING, AND TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A REPLACEMENT OF THE FRONT SUSPE…

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2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER FRONT END MAKES LOUD NOISES, WHEN GOING OVER HIGH BUMPS AND SOME STIFFNESS IN STEERING. *TS THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACE DUE TO LITTLE OR NO FLUIDS, NOISES WERE COMING FROM THE FRONT END, THE SHOCK WERE LEAKING, AND TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A REPLACEMENT OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION/LOWER BALL JOINTS AND THE LEAKING SHOCKS AT NO COST. *SC

NHTSA ODI #10142135

Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 2003
Electrical SystemFire

VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY BURST INTO FLAMES WHILE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. *MR THE FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED IN THE AREA AROUND THE CENTER CONSOLE AND FLAMED UP TO THE CEILING AND MELTED THE COMPONENTS AROUND THE SUN ROOF, ETC. DUE TO THE WINDOWS BEING SHUT THE FIRE PUT ITSELF OUT. THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR CONCLU…

Read full complaint

VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY BURST INTO FLAMES WHILE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. *MR THE FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED IN THE AREA AROUND THE CENTER CONSOLE AND FLAMED UP TO THE CEILING AND MELTED THE COMPONENTS AROUND THE SUN ROOF, ETC. DUE TO THE WINDOWS BEING SHUT THE FIRE PUT ITSELF OUT. THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR CONCLUDED THAT THE FIRE STEMMED FROM THE CELL PHONE CHARGER. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10022525

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.