NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
333 reportsMileage unknown · Jul 6, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I HAVE A TACOMA 2002 AND THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. ALTHOUGH I HAVE CALLED AND EXPLAINED THE SOMETIMES THEY SLIP, TOYOTA REFUSES TO REALLY LOOK AT THEM. I WANTED TO FILE THIS IN CASE THEY DO GIVE WHILE I AM DRIVING, THERE WILL BE A RECORD OF THIS PROBLEM, SINCE I HAVE MENTIONED IT SEVERAL TIMES TO TOYOTA BUT TH…
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I HAVE A TACOMA 2002 AND THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. ALTHOUGH I HAVE CALLED AND EXPLAINED THE SOMETIMES THEY SLIP, TOYOTA REFUSES TO REALLY LOOK AT THEM. I WANTED TO FILE THIS IN CASE THEY DO GIVE WHILE I AM DRIVING, THERE WILL BE A RECORD OF THIS PROBLEM, SINCE I HAVE MENTIONED IT SEVERAL TIMES TO TOYOTA BUT THEY NEVER WRITE IT DOWN, ACCORDING TO THE NEWEST CUSTOMER SERVICE? PERSON I SPOKE TO. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE CLUNKING NOISES, THE 5 MONTH BRAKE CHANGES AND THE SLIPPING OF THE BRAKES IS NATURAL. THIS CANNOT BE RIGHT. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10080482
Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 2004
Suspension
WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND NOTICED THAT PASSENGER'S FRONT TIRE FELL OFF. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10079675
Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 2004
Power Train
TRANSMISSION/DRIVESHAFT EXPERIENCES LOUD CLUNK NOISE WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEN RELEASED. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO TOYOTA HOWEVER THEY OFFER NO RESOLUTION. RESEARCH HAS INDICATED ADDING LEAF SPRINGS TO STIFFEN REAR SUSPENSION RESLOVES THIS ISSUE TOYOTA WILL NOT DO THIS MODIFICATION. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10074744
36,005 miles · Mar 31, 2004
Tires
TWO FIRESTONE TIRES ON MY TRUCK BLEW OUT ON THE FREEWAY WITHIN 10 DAYS OF EACHOTHER, WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING. THIS PUT HER IN EXTREME DANGER AND A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10064278
44,000 miles · Feb 24, 2004
Wheels
REAR WHEEL CAN'T BE REMOVED FROM HUB. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. DEALER STATED WE BEAT THE WHEEL OFF WITH A SLUDGE HAMMER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10059700
15,000 miles · Feb 16, 2004
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
THE CRUISE CONTROL ON THE 2002 TACOMA PRE-RUNNER THAT I OWN DID NOT DIS-ENGAGE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE HIT AFTER GOING INTO A SKID DUE TO BLACK ICE. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASH. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10058224
11,000 miles · Oct 29, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
FRONT WHEELS WOBBLE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. ALSO, THERE'S AN UNKNOWN SQUEAKING NOISE. THIS IS CAUSED BY PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR, PER DEALERSHIP.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10044949
Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 2003
Air BagsCrashInjury
I APPROACHED AN INTERSECTION WHEN A ON COMING CAR MADE A LEFT TURN IN TO MY CAR. WE COLLIDED HEAD ON IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. NEITHER ONE OF THE AIR BAGS WORKED. I'M WORKING FOR AN AUTO SUPPLY SHOP AND THIS IS MY DELIVERY TRUCK SO I CAN'T ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE VEHICLE. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10041763
20,000 miles · Sep 29, 2003
Power TrainService Brakes, AirStructure
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.
NHTSA ODI #10040876
Mileage unknown · Sep 2, 2003
Unknown Or Other
CONSUMER STATED WATER LEAKED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED THE FLOOR TO BE WET. THERE WAS A MILDEW SMELL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH
NHTSA ODI #10032431
Official recalls
3Nov 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.
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.
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 ↗
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