Complaints
261
Crashes
15
Fires
2
Injuries
18
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 2002 Toyota 4Runner Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#174 complaints
Body Structure
Avg mileage:163,175 mi
Crash-related:2
#235 complaints
Suspension Failures
Avg mileage:161,972 mi
Crash-related:1
#324 complaints
Transmission / Drivetrain
Avg mileage:129,548 mi
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 Toyota 4Runner.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body Structure | 74 | 2 | — | 163,175 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 35 | 1 | — | 161,972 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 24 | — | — | 129,548 mi | |
| Brakes | 10 | — | — | 196,612 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 9 | 1 | — | 153,147 mi | |
| Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields | 8 | — | — | 118,041 mi | |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | 7 | 2 | — | 109,666 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 7 | 2 | — | 110,335 mi | |
| Airbags | 5 | 4 | — | 101,000 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 5 | — | — | 84,209 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 5 | — | 1 | 93,277 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 5 | — | — | 127,675 mi | |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 5 | — | — | 107,250 mi | |
| Structural Problems | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Driveline | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Rear | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 1 | 1 | — | — |
Body Structure
74
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
163,175
Suspension Failures
35
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
161,972
Transmission / Drivetrain
24
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
129,548
Brakes
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
196,612
Steering Defects
9
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
153,147
Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
118,041
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint
7
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
109,666
Unintended Acceleration
7
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
110,335
Airbags
5
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
101,000
Engine Problems
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
84,209
Engine & Cooling
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
93,277
Hydraulic Brakes
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
127,675
Structure:Frame And Members
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
107,250
Structural Problems
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electronic Stability Control
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Driveline
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Rear
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wheel Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belt Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 Toyota 4Runner. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Toyota 4Runner Years
2002 Toyota 4Runner — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2002 Toyota 4Runner reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 2002 Toyota 4Runner has 261 NHTSA complaints, 15 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Body Structure with 74 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2002 Toyota 4Runner?
Top reported problems: Body Structure (74 complaints, avg 163,175 mi); Suspension Failures (35 complaints, avg 161,972 mi); Transmission / Drivetrain (24 complaints, avg 129,548 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2002 Toyota 4Runner?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 146,980 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2002 Toyota 4Runner?
NHTSA complaints for the 2002 Toyota 4Runner include 15 crash-related reports, 2 fire reports, 18 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2002 Toyota 4Runner have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2002 Toyota 4Runner as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 2002 Toyota 4Runner?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Toyota 4Runner reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2002 Toyota 4Runner
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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