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
360 reports, newest first.
Power train, May 21, 2002
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
Visibility, May 14, 2002
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HAS TO BEND TOO FAR DOWN TO OPEN WINDOWS . CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
Air bags, Apr 6, 2002, crash
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
Power train, Mar 21, 2002
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
Equipment, Feb 21, 2002
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.
Visibility, Feb 6, 2002
VEHICLE PURCHASED W/ CMPR SHELL - NO BOOT INSTALLED - ALLOWS RAIN WTR TO OBSTRUCT REAR VIEW, GREATLY REDUCING VISIBILITY, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT.
Suspension, Jan 23, 2002, crash
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
Power train, Jan 15, 2002
TRANSMISSION LINE BLEW OFF, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STOP ACCELERATING. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. MECHANIC REPLACED HOSES AND ADDED A CLAMP.*AK
Tires, Dec 9, 2001
TREAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2UL AWN TIRESIZE: P205/75R15)
Electrical system, Nov 1, 2001, fire
CONSUMER HAD JUST BOUGHT VEHICLE AND DROVE HOME,PARKED VEHICLE AND CUT ENGINE OFF . VEHICLE BUSTED INTO FLAMES. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT WHEN CONSUMER GETS FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT TO CALL BACK. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK