IllustrationTRANSMISSION JUMPS FROM FIRST TO SECOND AND SECOND TO THIRD TRANSMISSION SLIPS BACKWARD ON HILL IN DRIVE
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 reportsCONSUMER STATES THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL AND GAS PEDAL ARE LOCATED TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR,AND IF YOUR FOOT IS NOT IN THE MIDDLE OF PEDAL IT CAN HIT THE GAS PEDAL. MRJLG
WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH AT NIGHT, THE DRIVER DIDN'T JUDGE THE DISTANCE OF TRAFFIC DUE TO IMPROPER SIGN ILLUSTRATIONS BY ROAD COMPANY. DRIVER HAD IMPACT OF LEFT FRONT WHICH NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN TOTALED FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY DUE TO THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE. THE DRIVER RECEIVED FACIAL, HAND, NECK AND BACK…
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WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH AT NIGHT, THE DRIVER DIDN'T JUDGE THE DISTANCE OF TRAFFIC DUE TO IMPROPER SIGN ILLUSTRATIONS BY ROAD COMPANY. DRIVER HAD IMPACT OF LEFT FRONT WHICH NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN TOTALED FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY DUE TO THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE. THE DRIVER RECEIVED FACIAL, HAND, NECK AND BACK INJURYS. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS
TRANSMISSION "CLUNKS" ON STOPS AND SURGES AFTER BRAKE IS RELEASED FROM STOP. DEALER SAID THIS IS NORMAL. I CONTACTED TOYOTA HQ AND THEY REFUSED TO COMMENT ON PROBLEM. SAID DEALER IS THE EXPERT. I GUESS THE EXPERTISE OF THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE IS LEFT UP TO THE DEALERS NOT TOYOTA.*AK
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HAS TO BEND TOO FAR DOWN TO OPEN WINDOWS . CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
I WAS INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT ON THE FREEWAY, I WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC WHEN I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND AND FORCED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, THERE WAS ALOT OF DAMAGE DONE TO MY VEHICLE AND THE OTHER VEHICLES INVOLVED. I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT MY AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING. I WAS HIT IN THE ARE MAKED IN MY OWNERS MANUAL THAT INFORMS YOU…
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I WAS INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT ON THE FREEWAY, I WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC WHEN I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND AND FORCED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, THERE WAS ALOT OF DAMAGE DONE TO MY VEHICLE AND THE OTHER VEHICLES INVOLVED. I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT MY AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING. I WAS HIT IN THE ARE MAKED IN MY OWNERS MANUAL THAT INFORMS YOU AS TO WHERE THE AREA WOULD HAVE TO BE HIT FOR THEM TO DEPLOY, I WAS ALSO TRVELING AT A SPEED THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN SUFFICENT FOR THEM TO DEPLOY . I RECIEVED MINOR INJURIES, JUST A LOT OF BRUSIES AND MUSCLE STRAINS, BUT NONE THE LESS IF IT HAD BEEN A MORE SEVIRE ACCIDENT IT WOULD BE NICE TO KNOW THAT THE AIR BAGS ARE FUNCITIONAL.*AK
AFTER ABOUT 1100 MILES WE STARTED TO GET A BAD SHUDDER WHEN SETTING OF, TOYOTA SAID THIS NORMAL, THE TRUCK AS NOW STARTED TO SHUDDER GOING FROM 1ST TO 2ND, TOYOTA SAID THIS IS NORMAL, THEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO VIBRATE THROUGH THE CAB AT 3000 MILES,TOYOTA SAID THIS IS NORMAL, THE TRANSMISSION THEN STARTED HARD SHIFTING,CHANGING …
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AFTER ABOUT 1100 MILES WE STARTED TO GET A BAD SHUDDER WHEN SETTING OF, TOYOTA SAID THIS NORMAL, THE TRUCK AS NOW STARTED TO SHUDDER GOING FROM 1ST TO 2ND, TOYOTA SAID THIS IS NORMAL, THEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO VIBRATE THROUGH THE CAB AT 3000 MILES,TOYOTA SAID THIS IS NORMAL, THE TRANSMISSION THEN STARTED HARD SHIFTING,CHANGING UP,THE LATER CHANGING DOWN, NOW WHEN PULLING GRADES AND THE TRANSMISSION GOES INTO 4TH GEAR THERE IS A VIBRATION ALL THROUGH THE DRIVE LINE AND CAB, WHEN IN CRUISE THE TRANSMISSION HUNTS UP AND FOR NO REASON, TOYOTA SAYS ALL THIS IS PERFECTLY NORMAL ALTHOUGH 2 TOYOTA TECHS AGREED THERE IS A PROBLEM 2 INDEPENDANT GARAGES SAID THERE IS A PROBLEM, EVERY TIME WE TAKE IT FOR REPAIR TO THE DEALERSHIP TOYOTA TELLS US THERE IS NOTHING WRONG EVEN THOUGH THE DEALERSHIP AS SAID THERE IS A PROBLEM TOYOTA REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
WHEN USING THE JACK HANDLE TO LOWER THE SPARE TIRE, IT GET LODGED IN THE SLOTS. THE HOOKED SHAPE RENDERS IT IMPOSIBLE TO REMOVE EASILY MAKING TIRE CHANGING VERY DANGEROUS. THE SIMPLE FIX IS TO PROVIDE A SECOND INCERT TO BE USED TO LOWER THE TIRE. THIS WOULD NOT HAVE A HOOKED END THUS AVOIDING GETTING HUNG UP ON THE SHIELD ARO…
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WHEN USING THE JACK HANDLE TO LOWER THE SPARE TIRE, IT GET LODGED IN THE SLOTS. THE HOOKED SHAPE RENDERS IT IMPOSIBLE TO REMOVE EASILY MAKING TIRE CHANGING VERY DANGEROUS. THE SIMPLE FIX IS TO PROVIDE A SECOND INCERT TO BE USED TO LOWER THE TIRE. THIS WOULD NOT HAVE A HOOKED END THUS AVOIDING GETTING HUNG UP ON THE SHIELD AROUND THE LOWERING SLOT NUT.
VEHICLE PURCHASED W/ CMPR SHELL - NO BOOT INSTALLED - ALLOWS RAIN WTR TO OBSTRUCT REAR VIEW, GREATLY REDUCING VISIBILITY, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT.
THE TRUCK HAS ALWAYS WALKED ALL OVER THE ROAD WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP .. THIS TIME IT WAS RAINING OUR SON HIT A BUMP AND LOST CONTROL ON THE WET ROAD BECAUSE OF THE TRUCKS... GOIN ALL OVER ROAD WHEN HIT A BUMP HE COULDNT HOLD IT ON THE ROAD WHEN IT WAS WET GOIN 65 MILES HR.. WE THINK THE SHOCKS ARE THE FRONT END THERE A DEF…
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THE TRUCK HAS ALWAYS WALKED ALL OVER THE ROAD WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP .. THIS TIME IT WAS RAINING OUR SON HIT A BUMP AND LOST CONTROL ON THE WET ROAD BECAUSE OF THE TRUCKS... GOIN ALL OVER ROAD WHEN HIT A BUMP HE COULDNT HOLD IT ON THE ROAD WHEN IT WAS WET GOIN 65 MILES HR.. WE THINK THE SHOCKS ARE THE FRONT END THERE A DEFECT IN. *AK
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.