2002 Toyota 4 RUNNER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
32 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
36,900 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 19 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 32 complaints (9.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 13 | 40.6% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 12.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 3.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 3.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 3.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 3 |
| Suspension | 3 |
| Suspension:Front | 3 |
| Tires | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Fuel System, Other:Fuel Injection System | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 3; Suspension: 3; Suspension:Front: 3; Tires: 3; Air Bags: 2; Fuel System, Other:Fuel Injection System: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 13 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 11 |
| 2006 | 2 |
2002: 7; 2003: 6; 2004: 6; 2005: 11; 2006: 2
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10003054 · 2003-01-20 (January 20, 2003)
IN OCTOBER '02 I WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS TURNING FROM SOUTH TO WEST AS I WAS TRAVELLING NORTH. MY VEHICLE ENDED UP COLLIDING WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE AT ITS PASSENGER FRONT AXLE AND MY DRIVER SIDE FRONT END. AS CONTACT OCCURRED, I HAD MY WHEELS TURNED HARD TO THE RIGHT THUSLY CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO GRADUALLY WHIP THE BACK END AROUND CAUSING A SIDE IMPACT AS WELL. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS PUSHED NORTHWARD APPROX. 15-25 FEET BEFORE THE COLLISION CAME TO AN END. BOTH VEHICLES WERE DISABLED IN THIS OCCURRENCE…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,553 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003054 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10024915 · 2003-06-25 (June 25, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, RESULTING IN A CRASH. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 14,619 miles reported. Look up ODI 10024915 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10119837 · 2005-05-04 (May 4, 2005)
APRIL 28, 2005, NO INJURIES. CONTACT STATES HE WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT. IT WAS RAINY. AND WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND VEERED TO THE RIGHT. TRIED TO STEER LEFT, BUT STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT GO LEFT. APPLIED BRAKES, AND THEY FAILED. THEN, HIT SEMI TRAILER TRUCK ON LEFT SIDE. CONTACT HAS REGULAR MAINTENANCE HAS SERVICE RECORDS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10119837 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10123967 · 2005-06-02 (June 2, 2005)
SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING MY 4 RUNNER, I NOTICED A DISTINCT SHAKING AND SHUDDERING OF THE FRNT END AND ESPECIALLY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. IT REALLY BECAME IMPOSSIBLE T TAKE HE VEHICLE OVER 65 MPH. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS ALWAYS TOLD THE SAME THING. THERE IS NO PROBLEM . I HAVE HAD NEW TIRES PUT ON THE CAR, NEW BRAKES AND YET THE CAR CONTINUES TO VIBRATE TO THE POINT THAT I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE STERING IS ABSOLUTELY MADDENING AND I FEAR A FATAL CRASH. TOYOTA FOLSOM LAKE REFUSES TO ADMIT THERE IS A PROB…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10123967 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10142135 · 2005-11-02 (November 2, 2005)
2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER FRONT END MAKES LOUD NOISES, WHEN GOING OVER HIGH BUMPS AND SOME STIFFNESS IN STEERING. *TS THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACE DUE TO LITTLE OR NO FLUIDS, NOISES WERE COMING FROM THE FRONT END, THE SHOCK WERE LEAKING, AND TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A REPLACEMENT OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION/LOWER BALL JOINTS AND THE LEAKING SHOCKS AT NO COST. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 17,557 miles reported. Look up ODI 10142135 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10141669 · 2005-11-03 (November 3, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. THIS SITUATION COULD BE FATAL, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. LUCKILY, NOBODY WAS INJURED. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED A FAULTY RHEOSTAT IN THE THROTTLE BODY OF THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE RHEOSTATE FAILURE CAUSES THE BUTTERFLY VALVE TO CLOSE, THUS NOT LETTING ENOUGH AIR INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. DUE TO THE LACK OF AIR, THE ENGINE "STALLS OUT", CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE VERY QUICKLY. REPLACEMENT OF THE THROTTLE BODY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM, WITH NO FURTHER INCICENTS OCCURING.
Owner-reported narrative. 41,153 miles reported. Look up ODI 10141669 at NHTSA ↗