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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

Fuel System, Other complaints

3 reports
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41,153 miles · Nov 3, 2005
Fuel System, Other

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. THIS SITUATION COULD BE FATAL, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. LUCKILY, NOBODY WAS INJURED. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED A FAULTY RHEOSTAT IN THE THROTTLE BODY OF THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE RHEOSTATE FAILURE CAUSES THE BUTTERFLY VALVE TO CLOSE, THUS NOT LETTING ENOUGH AIR INTO TH…

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WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. THIS SITUATION COULD BE FATAL, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. LUCKILY, NOBODY WAS INJURED. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED A FAULTY RHEOSTAT IN THE THROTTLE BODY OF THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE RHEOSTATE FAILURE CAUSES THE BUTTERFLY VALVE TO CLOSE, THUS NOT LETTING ENOUGH AIR INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. DUE TO THE LACK OF AIR, THE ENGINE "STALLS OUT", CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE VERY QUICKLY. REPLACEMENT OF THE THROTTLE BODY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM, WITH NO FURTHER INCICENTS OCCURING.

NHTSA ODI #10141669

28,000 miles · Mar 24, 2005
Fuel System, Other

FUEL GAUGE HAND GONE TO FULL AND DROPPED TO EMPTY WHILE DRIVING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10115728

5,000 miles · Mar 14, 2004
Fuel System, Other

THE CAR'S RESTING IDLE WILL SUDDENLY SURGE CAUSING MORE BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE TO BE APPLIED. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE AIR CONDITIONING KICKING ON, BUT THE AC IS NOT ON. THE SURGE IN IDEL SPEED IS SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO MOVE THE VEHICLE FORWARD, MAKING FOR MANY CLOSE CALLS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10062146

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.