Worst 2002 Toyota Tacoma Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Body Structure
Suspension Failures
Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 Toyota Tacoma.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body Structure | 105 | 2 | — | 142,219 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 60 | 5 | — | 159,968 mi | |
| Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields | 30 | — | — | 131,580 mi | |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 29 | — | — | 102,097 mi | |
| Structural Problems | 14 | — | — | 78,404 mi | |
| Wheel Issues | 14 | 4 | — | 126,934 mi | |
| Airbags | 13 | 9 | 1 | 157,512 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 11 | — | — | 15,573 mi | |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | 10 | 1 | — | 97,849 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 8 | 1 | — | 76,681 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 6 | 4 | — | 130,500 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 6 | 2 | — | 176,833 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 5 | — | — | 53,419 mi | |
| Suspension:Front | 5 | 2 | — | 104,806 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 5 | 2 | — | 85,950 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 4 | 1 | 2 | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front:Shock Absorber | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Tires:Temporary/Emergency Spare Tire | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Other Equipment | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 3 | — | 1 | — | |
| Wheels:Rim | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Parking-Brake Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Manual Transmission | 2 | — | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 Toyota Tacoma. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2002 Toyota Tacoma
1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~150,000 vehicles.
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.
Other Toyota Tacoma Years
2002 Toyota Tacoma — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2002 Toyota Tacoma reliable?
What are common problems with the 2002 Toyota Tacoma?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2002 Toyota Tacoma?
How safe is the 2002 Toyota Tacoma?
Does the 2002 Toyota Tacoma have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2002 Toyota Tacoma?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Toyota Tacoma reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2002 Toyota Tacoma
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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