2002 Toyota Tacoma
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Structure is the leading concern among 360 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 9th highest complaint count among 26 Tacoma model years with reports.
Of the 2002 reports, 30 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 23 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Tires, temporary/emergency spare tireNov 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 12V542000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lightingJul 17, 2006
CERTAIN AJ MOTORSPORT COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
AJ MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AJ MOTORSPORT AT 626-618-2026.
Campaign 06E065000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lightingMar 23, 2006
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
Campaign 06E026000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, front, control arm, lower ball jointMay 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.
THE LOWER BALL JOINT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
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.
Campaign 05V225000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsMay 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.
THIS DAMAGE COULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE IF IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE.
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.
Campaign 03V189000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: structure
181 reports, newest first. Show all
Structure, Mar 10, 2006
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
Service brakes, Air, Power train, Structure, Sep 29, 2003
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.
Structure, Vehicle speed control, Aug 29, 2003
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
Suspension, Power train, Structure, Aug 10, 2003
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
Visibility, Structure, Jul 11, 2003, crash
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
Structure, Feb 14, 2003
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.