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2002 Toyota 4RUNNER

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most 4RUNNER years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Toyota 4RUNNER are substantially higher than the model-year median of 58.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

146 reports with mileage · 46 unknown

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.

  • Structure. Review the 88 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

12 crash reports2 fire reports9 injury reports

What owners actually said

192 reports
152,000 miles · Jul 1, 2011
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR AXLE WAS LEAKING FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR AXLE WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AS A RESULT, FLUIDS WERE LEAKING THROUGH THE REAR AXLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS N…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR AXLE WAS LEAKING FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR AXLE WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AS A RESULT, FLUIDS WERE LEAKING THROUGH THE REAR AXLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 152,000.

NHTSA ODI #10410200

100,000 miles · May 9, 2011
Power Train

2002 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER RUSTED OUT REAR AXLE HOUSING. REAR AXLE HOUSING LEAKS OIL DUE TO RUST EROSION ON THE REAR AXLE COVER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10399713

258,000 miles · Oct 12, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ALL THE SERVICE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY MORE PRESSURE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE VEHIC…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ALL THE SERVICE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY MORE PRESSURE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ABS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 258,000.

NHTSA ODI #10360119

Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY BEGAN TO LOSE POWER WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ALUMINUM RADIATOR AND THE BOLT THAT CONNECTED THE COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID TRANSFER WAS FAULTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY BEGAN TO LOSE POWER WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ALUMINUM RADIATOR AND THE BOLT THAT CONNECTED THE COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID TRANSFER WAS FAULTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD CAUSE THE TWO LIQUIDS TO COMBINE ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH SEVERAL MECHANICS THAT CONFIRMED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO OPERATE WITH EXTREMELY LIMITED POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10356532

Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 2010
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER ABNORMALLY ACCOMPANIED BY THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE CONTACT LATER DISCOVERED THAT THE ALUMINUM RADIATOR AND THE BOLT THAT CONNECTED THE COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID TRANSFER WAS FAU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER ABNORMALLY ACCOMPANIED BY THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE CONTACT LATER DISCOVERED THAT THE ALUMINUM RADIATOR AND THE BOLT THAT CONNECTED THE COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID TRANSFER WAS FAULTY CAUSING THE TWO FLUIDS TO COMBINE ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED SPOKE WITH SEVERAL MECHANICS THAT ADVISED HIM OF THAT THE TWO FLUIDS WERE COMBINING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10356528

76,000 miles · Sep 8, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH SHE HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SHE PULLED OVER AND SHE OBSERVED SMOKE AND OIL COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT ONE OF THE PISTONS PIERCED…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH SHE HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SHE PULLED OVER AND SHE OBSERVED SMOKE AND OIL COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT ONE OF THE PISTONS PIERCED AND ENGINE BLOCK NEAR THE OIL FILTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 76,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10354507

51,700 miles · Sep 6, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

VIBRATION FROM BRAKING CAUSING VERY DECREASED VEHICLE CONTROL POSING VERY INCREASED ACCIDENT RISK. TOYOTA FOUR RUNNER 02 LIMITED, RECURRENCE OF PULSING BRAKE PEDAL AND VERY HIGH VEHICLE VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING. THIS OCCURS AFTER LONG MOUNTAIN DESCENTS AT NORMAL / POSTED HIGHWAY SPEEDS UNDER NORMAL PASSENGER LOADS (NOT HAULIN…

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VIBRATION FROM BRAKING CAUSING VERY DECREASED VEHICLE CONTROL POSING VERY INCREASED ACCIDENT RISK. TOYOTA FOUR RUNNER 02 LIMITED, RECURRENCE OF PULSING BRAKE PEDAL AND VERY HIGH VEHICLE VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING. THIS OCCURS AFTER LONG MOUNTAIN DESCENTS AT NORMAL / POSTED HIGHWAY SPEEDS UNDER NORMAL PASSENGER LOADS (NOT HAULING), CLEAR DRY CONDITIONS. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCE THIS ISSUE. FIRST TIME, THE FRONT ROTORS WERE REPLACED AT THE DEALER AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE UNDER 40K MILES. THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AT MOST 5K MILES A YEAR. THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED AND POSES A SERIOUS HAZARD TO OCCUPANTS AND OTHER HIGHWAY TRAVELERS. SEARCHING THE WEB, THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF WARPED ROTORS WHICH TOYOTA DEALERS ARE SAYING ITS DRIVER ERROR / NORMAL USE. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THIS VEHICLE MUCH AND NOT HARD. MY USE WOULD EASILY QUALIFY AS NORMAL HIGHWAY TRAVEL. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 65K MILES ON IT NOW. CERTAINLY THE EXPENSE OF AGAIN REPLACING ROTORS IS CONCERNING, BUT REALLY, THE AMOUNT OF VIBRATION AND DECREASED CONTROL CAUSES ME TO BE VERY CONCERNED FOR MY, AND OTHERS, SAFETY. EVEN IF THE ROTORS ARE REPLACED, IT SEEMS VERY LIKELY THAT THE VIBRATION AND LOSS OF CONTROL WILL RETURN IN A FEW THOUSAND MILES OF NORMAL USE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10354032

100,000 miles · Jul 21, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingSteeringCrash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WITH THE BRAKES ENGAGED, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND AND CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE POLICE WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE REAR AND FRONT BUMPER WERE DAMAGED. THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST WAS $3000. THE VEHICLE WAS D…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WITH THE BRAKES ENGAGED, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND AND CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE POLICE WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE REAR AND FRONT BUMPER WERE DAMAGED. THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST WAS $3000. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THEM BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10344531

106,925 miles · Jul 19, 2010
Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AT A VERY LOW UNKNOWN SPEED THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS TURNED INWARD AND THE CONTACT NOTICED A ROD WAS HANGING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AT A VERY LOW UNKNOWN SPEED THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS TURNED INWARD AND THE CONTACT NOTICED A ROD WAS HANGING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INNER AND OUTER TIE ROD WAS BROKEN. THE TIE ROD WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,925 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,200. UPDATED 10/05/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALERSHIIP MADE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS AT NO CHARGE. UPDATED 10/07/10

NHTSA ODI #10343929

1 miles · Apr 16, 2010
Traction Control System

1) STOPPED AT STOP SIGN WITH SNOW ON THE GROUND. THEN ACCELERATE TURNING ONTO ANOTHER ROAD. 2) VEHICLE CAN ACCELERATE AND MOVE A FEW FEET BEFORE THE TRAC (TRACTION CONTROL) SYSTEM ACTIVATES. THE POWER TO THE ENGINE IS THEN CUT OFF. AT THIS POINT YOU ARE UNABLE TO MOVE, STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. THERE IS A FEW …

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1) STOPPED AT STOP SIGN WITH SNOW ON THE GROUND. THEN ACCELERATE TURNING ONTO ANOTHER ROAD. 2) VEHICLE CAN ACCELERATE AND MOVE A FEW FEET BEFORE THE TRAC (TRACTION CONTROL) SYSTEM ACTIVATES. THE POWER TO THE ENGINE IS THEN CUT OFF. AT THIS POINT YOU ARE UNABLE TO MOVE, STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. THERE IS A FEW SECOND DELAY BEFORE YOU CAN GET ANY POWER BACK TO THE ENGINE. ULTIMATELY, YOU ARE LEFT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION WITH NO POWER TO THE WHEELS WAITING TO SEE IF ANOTHER VEHICLE IS GOING TO T-BONE YOU. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE, VERY CLOSE CALLS. FAILURE OCCURS EVERY SINGLE TIME YOU TRY TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP AND THE SYSTEM SENSES EVEN A TINY LOSS OF TRACTION. THE COMPLETE LOSS OF ACCELERATOR FUNCTION AND DELAY UNTIL THE RETURN OF POWER IS VERY DANGEROUS. 3) THERE IS NO FIX. I WAS TOLD THERE IS NO WAY TO DISABLE THE TRAC SYSTEM THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A SAFETY FEATURE WHEN IN REALITY IT IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SYSTEM. TOYOTA MUST THINK A LITTLE WHEEL SPIN IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN COMPLETELY TAKING AWAY THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO CONTROL THEIR OWN VEHICLE I HAVE DRIVEN VEHICLES THAT HAVE TRAC AND IT DOES NOT FUNCTION LIKE IT DOES ON THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. THE SYSTEM IS SEVERELY OVERLY SENSITIVE AND OVERLY CONTROLLING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10326072

Official recalls

1

05V225000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint

May 17, 2005

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 BALL JOINT MAY EVENTUALLY EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE WEAR AND LOOSENESS, RESULTING IN INCREASED STEERING EFFORT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE LOWER BALL JOINT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

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.

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

1

DP18002 · Frame Corrosion

Opened Aug 17, 2018 · Closed Mar 18, 2022

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure:frame And Members

On August 7, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a defect petition from Mr. Gary Weinreich alleging premature frame corrosion failure in model year (MY) 2002 - 2006 Toyota 4Runner vehicles. The petitioner based his request upon a corrosion-related front suspension failure he experienced in his MY 2005 Toyota 4Runner, a class action lawsuit settlement involving other Toyota products, and other complaints of underbody corrosion in Toyota 4Runner vehicles that he found in NHTSA?s online complaint database. The petitioner submitted a complaint to NHTSA documenting his experience (NHTSA ID 11098055). On August 17, 2018, ODI opened DP18-002 to evaluate the petitioner?s request. ODI?s evaluation included information provided by the petitioner regarding his vehicle, facts related to the class action lawsuit cited by the petitioner, and consumer complaint data received by NHTSA regarding underbody corrosion in third and fourth-generation Toyota 4Runner vehicles.The undercarriage of the petitioner?s vehicle exhibited severe corrosion damage indicative of seawater immersion. The vehicle?s service history shows that concerns with underbody corrosion were first noted by a Toyota dealer in a multi-point vehicle inspection performed on April 28, 2011. The invoice for that inspection noted ?severe and excessive amount of rust on the undercarriage and on the drive shaft transmission.? Two years later, on October 21, 2013, another multi-point inspection by a Toyota dealer observed further progression of underbody corrosion damage, noting: ?rust on shocks/struts and other components,? ?rust on exhaust system,? ?both splash shields severely rusted,? and ?undercarriage very rusty.? On July 17, 2017, approximately 10 months prior to experiencing the suspension failure incident, an independent repair facility performing routine oil change and brake maintenance informed the Petitioner of a concern with ?excessive frame corrosion? on his vehicle. The service history, severe general corrosion damage, failure age, and environment do not support the petitioner?s allegation of premature corrosion failure.ODI?s analysis of NHTSA complaint data identified fifteen incidents of front lower control arm failure in fourth-generation Toyota 4Runner sport utility vehicles. Two of the failures, including the petitioner?s vehicle, involve vehicles operated in ocean front communities with continuous exposure to aerosolized marine salts and potential exposure to seawater immersion. The remaining thirteen failures all involved vehicles owned or previously registered in states with the greatest use of deicing salts to treat road surfaces in winter months (?Salt states?). On average, the front lower control arm failures occurred after 13.1 years in service in highly corrosive environments. The failure ages and environments do not support the petitioner?s allegation of premature corrosion failure. NHTSA is authorized to issue an order requiring notification and remedy of a defect if the Agency?s investigation shows a defect in design, construction, or performance of a motor vehicle that presents an unreasonable risk to safety. 49 U.S.C. ?? 30102(a)(9), 30118. Since the information before the Agency is not indicative of a vehicle-based defect, it is unlikely that any investigation opened because of granting this petition would result in an order concerning the notification and remedy of a safety-related defect. Therefore, upon full consideration of the information presented in the petition and the potential risks to safety, the petition is denied. The denial of this petition does not foreclose the Agency from taking further action if warranted or the p