Illustration2002 TOYOTA TACOMA HAS PREMATURE FRAME DETERIORATION ON FRAME SIDE RAILS AND REAR. REAR FRAME IS SO BAD THAT THE RUST IS CAUSING THE BUMBERTO LIFT UP IN THE MIDDLE BY ABOUT 1-2INCHES. OWNER KEEPS TRUCK WASHED AND WAXED EVEN THROUGH WINTER MONTHS. HAVE NOT YET LOOKED TO GET REAR PROBLEM REPAIRED. *TR
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Tacoma years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
150–25K
2125–50K
3250–75K
3175–100K
65100–150K
81150K+
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 reportsI WAS GETTING INTO MY TRUCK AND NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE SCREWS THAT HOLD THE DOOR STRIKER PLATE HAD BACKED OUT AT LEAST HALF THE LENGTH OF THE BOLT AND THE OTHER ONE WAS LOOSE. THE DOOR NEVER RATTLED WITH IT BEING LOOSE. I WAS ABLE TO TIGHTEN THE BOLT. I CHECKED ALL OF THE OTHER DOORS AND FOUND THEY WERE LOOSE, BUT NOT AS BAD AS…
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I WAS GETTING INTO MY TRUCK AND NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE SCREWS THAT HOLD THE DOOR STRIKER PLATE HAD BACKED OUT AT LEAST HALF THE LENGTH OF THE BOLT AND THE OTHER ONE WAS LOOSE. THE DOOR NEVER RATTLED WITH IT BEING LOOSE. I WAS ABLE TO TIGHTEN THE BOLT. I CHECKED ALL OF THE OTHER DOORS AND FOUND THEY WERE LOOSE, BUT NOT AS BAD AS THE DRIVER'S DOOR. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STEPPING ONTO THE TAILGATE, THE SUPPORT CABLES FRACTURED SIMULTANEOUSLY WITHOUT WARNING. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. UPDATED 5/10/2006 - *NM
PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AS CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLE. MASSIVE LEAKS RENDERED BACK OF DRIVERS SIDE CREW CAB FLOODED. REVERSED DRAIN PLUG PREVIOUSLY INSTALLED UP SIDE DOWN, THEN SILICONED OEM ROOF RACK AND LEAK SLOWED. TOYOTA IS REPLACING REAR DOOR SEAL. WAS NOT NOTIFIED OEM ROOF RACK NEGATED WARRANTY. CPV SHOULDN'T LEAK. *N…
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PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AS CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLE. MASSIVE LEAKS RENDERED BACK OF DRIVERS SIDE CREW CAB FLOODED. REVERSED DRAIN PLUG PREVIOUSLY INSTALLED UP SIDE DOWN, THEN SILICONED OEM ROOF RACK AND LEAK SLOWED. TOYOTA IS REPLACING REAR DOOR SEAL. WAS NOT NOTIFIED OEM ROOF RACK NEGATED WARRANTY. CPV SHOULDN'T LEAK. *NM
MOTOR MOUNT BRACKET BROKE ON 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA 4X4 EXTRA CAB. PURCHASED VEHICLE USED FROM ROYAL TOYOTA IN BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA ON JAN. 25, 2006, ALONG WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY (36,000/36 MONTH). HAVE DRIVEN IT LESS THAN 3,000 MILES - MOSTLY HIGHWAY. DISCOVERED OIL LEAK UNDER THE FRONT. FORTUNATELY, TOOK IT TO A PERFORMANCE TO…
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MOTOR MOUNT BRACKET BROKE ON 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA 4X4 EXTRA CAB. PURCHASED VEHICLE USED FROM ROYAL TOYOTA IN BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA ON JAN. 25, 2006, ALONG WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY (36,000/36 MONTH). HAVE DRIVEN IT LESS THAN 3,000 MILES - MOSTLY HIGHWAY. DISCOVERED OIL LEAK UNDER THE FRONT. FORTUNATELY, TOOK IT TO A PERFORMANCE TOYOTA IN FAIRFIELD, OHIO BEFORE THE MOTOR FELL OUT. THE BRACKET IS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AS A CERTIFIED INSPECTED USED TOYOTA VEHICLE. THE BRACKET BROKE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *NM
MY 2002 TACOMA VIBRATES AT HIGH SPEEDS AND WHEN STOPPING. I'VE HAD THE BRAKES FIXED 5 TIMES NOW AND IT'S STILL NOT RIGHT. MY TRANSMISSION CLUNKS WHEN I STOP AND START, SHUTTERS WHEN COMING TO A STOP, AND SHIFTS HARD. SOMETIMES THE TRANSMISSION CLUNKS AFTER I'VE ALREADY STARTED MOVING. THE PROBLEMS STARTED ABOUT A YEAR AGO. I'VE…
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MY 2002 TACOMA VIBRATES AT HIGH SPEEDS AND WHEN STOPPING. I'VE HAD THE BRAKES FIXED 5 TIMES NOW AND IT'S STILL NOT RIGHT. MY TRANSMISSION CLUNKS WHEN I STOP AND START, SHUTTERS WHEN COMING TO A STOP, AND SHIFTS HARD. SOMETIMES THE TRANSMISSION CLUNKS AFTER I'VE ALREADY STARTED MOVING. THE PROBLEMS STARTED ABOUT A YEAR AGO. I'VE RECENTLY BEEN TO TWO DEALERSHIPS BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND NOTHING WAS DONE. ONE TOYOTA TECHNICIAN SAID IT WAS MY BRAKES, YEAH RIGHT, THE OTHER WOULDN'T EVEN TAKE IT FOR A TEST DRIVE. I THINK THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY MY TRANSMISSION SLIDING BACK AND FORTH, WHICH I DON'T THINK IT'S SUPPOSED TO DO. WHENEVER I STOMP ON THE GAS TO PASS SOMEONE IT SHIFTS INTO THE WRONG GEAR AND THE ENGINE RED LINES. MY DASH SQUEAKS, SO I HAVE TO WEDGE MY WALLET IN BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND DASH TO STOP IT. MY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR DOESN'T SHUT FLUSH WITH THE BODY. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I HAD TO REPLACE MY OXYGEN SENSOR. I WOULD LIKE TO SELL MY TRUCK, BUT CAN'T WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS. THIS WAS MY FIRST TOYOTA AND WILL PROBABLY BE MY LAST.
TRUCK DASH HAS RATTLED SINCE SHORTLY AFTER WE BOUGHT THE TRUCK. NEVER HAS BEEN FIXED CORRECTLY. ALSO, THE CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T KEEP YOU AT CONSISTENT SPEED AT ALL ON MOUNTAINS/HILLS. IF YOU WANT TO GO 55, IT WILL PUT YOU UP OVER 60 VERY QUICKLY AND THEN GRADUALLY DROP YOU DOWN TO AROUND 55. *AK
FOR THE LAST YEAR I HAVE BROUGHT TRUCK BACK TO SF TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS , SUSPENSION PROBLEMS RATTLING DASH BOARD, SQUEAKING SOUNDS FROM SEAT AND FRONT BUSHINGS. ALL THESE PROBLEMS STILL HAVE NOT BEEN FIXED. AFTER 15 VISITS TO DEALERSHIP, SF TOYOTA LEFT SCRATCHES ON BODY AND LOST MUD FLAP. BODY NOW TILTE…
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FOR THE LAST YEAR I HAVE BROUGHT TRUCK BACK TO SF TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS , SUSPENSION PROBLEMS RATTLING DASH BOARD, SQUEAKING SOUNDS FROM SEAT AND FRONT BUSHINGS. ALL THESE PROBLEMS STILL HAVE NOT BEEN FIXED. AFTER 15 VISITS TO DEALERSHIP, SF TOYOTA LEFT SCRATCHES ON BODY AND LOST MUD FLAP. BODY NOW TILTED AFTER SERVICE. *NLM
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
WATER IS ENTERING THE VEHICLE AROUND THE SUPPORT HANDLE ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ONE YEAR AGO. PROBLEM BECAME EVIDENT THIS PAST FALL AND WHEN BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP THIS FEBRUARY THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR UNDER THE CORROSION WARRANTY. VEHICLE IS OVER THE STANDARD WARRANTY MILEAGE.
Official recalls
312V542000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.