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2002 Toyota Tacoma

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Toyota Tacoma do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 228.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

245 reports with mileage · 88 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 180 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 82 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

26 crash reports3 fire reports16 injury reports

Structure complaints

180 reports
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130,000 miles · Aug 28, 2014
StructureSuspension

PART OF THE FRAME SUDDENLY BROKE FROM THE FRAME RAIL UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF MATERIAL LOOSING ALL STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY. THIS WAS DUE, IT SEEMS, TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE FRAME QUALITY LEADING TO EXCESSIVE ROT AND RUST. THE VEHICLE IS NOW STRUCTURALLY UNSOUND AND THUS U…

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PART OF THE FRAME SUDDENLY BROKE FROM THE FRAME RAIL UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF MATERIAL LOOSING ALL STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY. THIS WAS DUE, IT SEEMS, TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE FRAME QUALITY LEADING TO EXCESSIVE ROT AND RUST. THE VEHICLE IS NOW STRUCTURALLY UNSOUND AND THUS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN SAFELY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10629040

162,000 miles · Aug 25, 2014
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED FOR AN UNRELATED REPAIR, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.

NHTSA ODI #10628193

148,000 miles · Aug 21, 2014
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE FRAME DETACHED AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000.

NHTSA ODI #10627086

167,152 miles · Aug 15, 2014
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING THE ANNUAL STATE INSPECTION PERFORMED, THE INSPECTOR NOTIFIED HIM THAT THE ENTIRE SUB FRAME, REAR BUMPER AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL WERE EXCESSIVELY CORRODED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING THE ANNUAL STATE INSPECTION PERFORMED, THE INSPECTOR NOTIFIED HIM THAT THE ENTIRE SUB FRAME, REAR BUMPER AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL WERE EXCESSIVELY CORRODED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,152.

NHTSA ODI #10622561

300,000 miles · Jul 31, 2014
Structure

EXCESSIVE FRAME RUST. I BROUGHT IT INTO A TOYOTA DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION FOR RUST TO THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER. THE DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM THE INSPECTION BECAUSE THEY SAID THE FRAME WAS TOO RUSTY FOR THEM TO SAFELY PERFORM THE INSPECTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10617916

120,000 miles · Jul 29, 2014
Structure

FRAME RUSTED AND CRACKED. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10617311

80,000 miles · Jul 28, 2014
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE INSPECTED BECAUSE THE SUBFRAME WAS CORRODED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR AN UNRELATED RECALL. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE PER THE RECALL AND RELEASED THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFAC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE INSPECTED BECAUSE THE SUBFRAME WAS CORRODED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR AN UNRELATED RECALL. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE PER THE RECALL AND RELEASED THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #10616916

254,609 miles · Jul 25, 2014
StructureSuspension

THE SWAY BAR ARM BRACKET ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE PULLED OUT OF THE FRAME DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS FOUND TO HAVE CORROSION PERFORATIONS IN MULTIPLE AREAS OF THE FRAME. FRAME HAS EXCESSIVE CORROSION AND I HAVE BEEN ADVISED VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO OPERATE. MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10616231

120,000 miles · Jul 24, 2014
Structure

FRAME CRACKED AT RIGHT REAR BOX RAIL... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10616083

66,000 miles · Jul 9, 2014
Fuel System, GasolineStructureTires

MY FUEL TANK IS RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH TO THE POINT OF LEAKING GAS. I KNOW TOYOTA HAS RECALLED THE FRAME (REPLACED) AND THE SPARE TIRE HOLDER (NOT YET REPLACED) DUE TO RUST. SEEMS LIKE THE WHOLE UNDERSIDE IS RUSTING OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10609269

Official recalls

3

12V542000 · Tires:temporary/emergency Spare Tire

Nov 23, 2012

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 cold climate states with high road salt usage: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. The spare tire in the subject vehicles is located underneath the rear of the vehicle and held by a spare tire carrier. A lift plate on the carrier is used to help raise, lower and retain the tire. During its manufacture, the lift plate may not have been sufficiently coated with anti-corrosion materials. If the plate is insufficiently coated and the vehicle is operated in cold climate regions where road salts are frequently used, road spray can reach the carrier assembly and corrode the lift plate.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Corrosion of the plate could cause it to break, which could result in detachment of the spare tire from the vehicle. Detachment of the spare tire could result in a road hazard which may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.

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 Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.

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.

03V189000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

May 19, 2003

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 FILLER PIPE AND FUEL TANK, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE FUEL INLET HOSE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS DAMAGE COULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE IF IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE.

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 NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.