2002 Toyota Tacoma problems
The 2002 Toyota Tacoma has 443 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (41%) concerns body & structure. After that come suspension (20%) and air bags (4%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 443 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Body & structure 41% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 41 and 8
- Injuries and deaths
- 32 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 120,000 miles 325 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 20 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 20 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 28 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 38 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 32 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 21 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 43 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 36 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 40 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 13 |
| 200k+ miles | 34 |
What the data shows
Among the 325 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 120,000 miles. For body & structure specifically, the median reported mileage is about 120,000 miles (145 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 41 complaints mention a crash; 8 complaints mention a fire; 32 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2002 ranks 23rd most-complained-about out of 31 model years of the Toyota Tacoma with enough data (96 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 3 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota tacoma. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed the accelerated pedal became stuck, the brake pedal was applied but travelled to the floor, as the vehicle crashed into a metal mail box. Additionally, while applying the brake pedal the instrument panel went dim when the brake pedal was depressed. The contact stated that he replaced all the bulbs. The air bags deployed. The contact stated that when the air bags deployed he saw a glowing light as a fire was ignited.
The left rear tire (dunlop grandtrek p265) of 2002 toyota tacoma blew out on ca 215 freeway (with speed of 60-70 MPH). I lost control of the vehicle, it spun and collided with another vehicle which resulted to minor physical injury to the other vehicle's driver. Original tires came from the dealership, carson toyota (california). Contacted toyota and the dealership--they gave us the run-around.
I purchased the tacoma 10/9/2013, I noticed some of the recall repairs had not been made by the previous owner, I took it to the dealer, 10/29/2013 for the necessary repairs. I was informed by the service guy, using a hammer, that my frame was crumbling and I would be needing a new frame as well. I called toyota customer service numerous times and all I ever got was, I'm sorry, and how they were well aware of the corrosion problem with the frame on the 2002.