IllustrationTRUCK 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
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
What owners actually said
333 reportsBRAKING PROBLEMS WITH A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA 4X4. SHAKING OF TRUCK WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. FRONT BRAKES WERE RESURFACED AND ADJUSTED ON 8/6/03. PROBLEM CONTINUED AND I WAS CHARGED TO REPLACE REAR DRUMS & SHOES ON A TRUCK WITH LESS THAN 30000 MILES ON 8/15/03. *AK
DEALERSHIP DOESN'T HAVE THE EQUIPMENT TO PERFORM FUEL LEAKAGE RECALL 03 V 189 000 REPAIRS WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, AND SHORTLY AFTER VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. *AK THE CONSUMER HEARD THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. *SCC *JB
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
TOPIC:" DRIVERS-SIDE AIRBAG FAILURE.NFORTUNATELY, I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, WHICH I WAS CITED. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. I IMPACTED THE REAR OF A STATTIONARY CAR AT APPROX. 50MPH AND MY AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. I THANK THE LORD NOBODY WAS HURT. BUT, WHAT IF SOMEONE WAS INJURED, THE MANUFACTURER WOULD CLEARLY B…
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TOPIC:" DRIVERS-SIDE AIRBAG FAILURE.NFORTUNATELY, I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, WHICH I WAS CITED. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. I IMPACTED THE REAR OF A STATTIONARY CAR AT APPROX. 50MPH AND MY AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. I THANK THE LORD NOBODY WAS HURT. BUT, WHAT IF SOMEONE WAS INJURED, THE MANUFACTURER WOULD CLEARLY BE LIABLE. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE INCIDENT. THIER REPRESENTATIVE REPORTED THE SENSORS WERE NOT TRIGGERED, THEREFORE, THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I FEEL THIS IS AN INSUFFICIENT EXPLAINATION AND I NEED FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
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
THE BRAKES ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY TOYOTA TACOMA PICKUP ARE DRAGGING MAKING IS DIFFICULT TO STEER. WHEN TOYOTA DEALERSHIP PULLED THE WHEELS OFF THE TRUCK AND CHECKED THE BRAKES THERE WAS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE WEAR ON THE FRONT RIGHT BREAK PADS THEN THE LEFT SIDE. I HAD THE BREAKS REPLACED AND KEPT THE WORN OUT BRAKES FOR YOUR INS…
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THE BRAKES ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY TOYOTA TACOMA PICKUP ARE DRAGGING MAKING IS DIFFICULT TO STEER. WHEN TOYOTA DEALERSHIP PULLED THE WHEELS OFF THE TRUCK AND CHECKED THE BRAKES THERE WAS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE WEAR ON THE FRONT RIGHT BREAK PADS THEN THE LEFT SIDE. I HAD THE BREAKS REPLACED AND KEPT THE WORN OUT BRAKES FOR YOUR INSPECTION. IT APPEARS THE RIGHT-SIDE CALIPER FAILED MAKING IT HARD TO STEER AND CAUSING THE BRAKES ON THE RIGHT SIDE TO WEAR OUT IN LESS THAN 15,000 MILES. TOYOTA SAYS THIS IS NORMAL EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. *NLM
SEVERAL REPAIRS TO WHEELS AND TIRES. RE:STEVE & KATHY MITTMAN *MR THE CONSUMER HAD BEEN TO THREE TOYOTA DEALERS IN PERFORMING REPAIRS TO THE WHEELS AND TIRES. BEAVER TOYOTA PERFORMED TWO COMPLETE ALIGNMENTS AND REPLACED THREE WHEELS THAT WERE OUT OF SPECIFICATIONS. AMERICAN TOYOTA HAS PERFORMED A COMPLETE ALIGNMENT, MOUNTED…
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SEVERAL REPAIRS TO WHEELS AND TIRES. RE:STEVE & KATHY MITTMAN *MR THE CONSUMER HAD BEEN TO THREE TOYOTA DEALERS IN PERFORMING REPAIRS TO THE WHEELS AND TIRES. BEAVER TOYOTA PERFORMED TWO COMPLETE ALIGNMENTS AND REPLACED THREE WHEELS THAT WERE OUT OF SPECIFICATIONS. AMERICAN TOYOTA HAS PERFORMED A COMPLETE ALIGNMENT, MOUNTED AND BALANCED ALL THE TIRES ON THE WHEELS, PRIOR TO REPLACEMENT BY BEAVER TOYOTA. KARL MALONE HAD REPLACED TWO TIRES THAT WERE FOUND TO HAVE EXCESSIVE RUN OUT, AS WELL AS MOUNT AND BALANCED ALL FOUR TIRES ON THE NEW WHEELS. THE MANUFACTURER AGREED THAT THIS WAS A DEFECT BUT DECLINED TO REPLACE ALL FIVE TIRES AND THE RIMS DUE TO SOURCES WHO STATED THE TIRES WERE WITHIN SPECIFICATION. *SCC *JB
THE BRAKES VIBRATE UPON DECREASING SPEED FROM 60 MPH OR MORE. THE LONGER DRIVEN, THE NECESSARY SPEED FOR VIBRATION DECREASES TO LOWER SPEEDS. THE PROBLEM INTENSIFIES THE HIGHER THE GRADE IS ON ANY DOWNHILL. I HAVE REPLACED PADS TWICE AND ROTORS ONCE. AS I BEGIN TO REPLACE THE CALIPERS, I FIND THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THOSE…
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THE BRAKES VIBRATE UPON DECREASING SPEED FROM 60 MPH OR MORE. THE LONGER DRIVEN, THE NECESSARY SPEED FOR VIBRATION DECREASES TO LOWER SPEEDS. THE PROBLEM INTENSIFIES THE HIGHER THE GRADE IS ON ANY DOWNHILL. I HAVE REPLACED PADS TWICE AND ROTORS ONCE. AS I BEGIN TO REPLACE THE CALIPERS, I FIND THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THOSE ON THE TUNDRA AND A LIST OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT TACOMA'S BRAKES. *NLM
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.