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
What owners actually said
333 reports
Mileage unknown · Dec 11, 2014
Tires
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V542000 (TIRES). HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V542000 (TIRES). HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10663593
154,000 miles · Nov 3, 2014
Structure
AT THE YEARLY REQUIRED STATE INSPECTION THE VEHICLE FAILED DUE TO THE FRAME BEING RUSTED OUT WITH HOLES. IT APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10652144
100,000 miles · Oct 17, 2014
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILE WAS 100,000.
NHTSA ODI #10648454
123,000 miles · Oct 10, 2014
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING ROUTINE SERVICE, THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT A REAR SECTION OF THE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED AND CORRODED. IN ADDITION, TWO BRACKETS THAT SECURED THE BODY TO THE SUBFRAME DETACHED DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING ROUTINE SERVICE, THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT A REAR SECTION OF THE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED AND CORRODED. IN ADDITION, TWO BRACKETS THAT SECURED THE BODY TO THE SUBFRAME DETACHED DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.
NHTSA ODI #10643815
148,000 miles · Sep 30, 2014
Structure
DRIVING AT 35 MPH WENT OVER BUMP LEAF SPRING WENT UP THROUGH FRAME CAUSING VEHICLE TO BECOME OUT OF CONTROL. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AT VALENTI TOYOTA IN WESTERLY RI AND VEHICLES FRAME IS ROTTED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10640242
Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 2014
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED, THE TECHNICIAN NOTIFIED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE HAD EXTENSIVE RUST AND CORROSION ON THE FRAME CAUSING IT TO WARPED AND CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INDICATED THAT …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED, THE TECHNICIAN NOTIFIED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE HAD EXTENSIVE RUST AND CORROSION ON THE FRAME CAUSING IT TO WARPED AND CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INDICATED THAT THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A THE LIMITED MANUFACTURER SERVICE CAMPAIGN. THE DEALER WOULD NOT APPLY THE CORROSION TREATMENT, BECAUSE THEY CLAIMED THE VEHICLE HAD A SALVAGED TITLE. THE CONSUMER DISPUTED THE DEALERS CLAIM AND PROVIDED PROOF. UPDATED 10/01/14.
NHTSA ODI #10636987
168,000 miles · Sep 4, 2014
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED, THE TECHNICIAN MADE HIM AWARE THAT THE FRAME HAD COMPLETED RUSTED AND CRACKED. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE M…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED, THE TECHNICIAN MADE HIM AWARE THAT THE FRAME HAD COMPLETED RUSTED AND CRACKED. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000.
NHTSA ODI #10630770
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.
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.
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.
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.
2002 Toyota Tacoma Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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