2002 Toyota TACOMA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
333 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
120,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 245 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Body is the most frequently named component, appearing in 105 of 333 complaints (31.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 32 | 9.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 15 | 4.5% |
| Steering behavior | 13 | 3.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 10 | 3.0% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 0.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 0.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Structure:Body | 105 |
| Suspension | 60 |
| Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields | 30 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 29 |
| Unknown Or Other | 27 |
| Structure | 14 |
| Wheels | 14 |
| Air Bags | 13 |
Structure:Body: 105; Suspension: 60; Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields: 30; Structure:Frame And Members: 29; Unknown Or Other: 27; Structure: 14; Wheels: 14; Air Bags: 13
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 15 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 21 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 32 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 31 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 65 |
| 150,000 and above | 81 |
Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 21; 50,000 to 74,999: 32; 75,000 to 99,999: 31; 100,000 to 149,999: 65; 150,000 and above: 81
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (81). 88 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 12 |
| 2003 | 23 |
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 12 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2008 | 13 |
| 2009 | 11 |
| 2010 | 15 |
| 2011 | 8 |
| 2012 | 10 |
| 2013 | 21 |
| 2014 | 42 |
| 2015 | 28 |
| 2016 | 24 |
| 2017 | 23 |
| 2018 | 21 |
| 2019 | 13 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2001: 2; 2002: 12; 2003: 23; 2004: 11; 2005: 6; 2006: 12; 2007: 9; 2008: 13; 2009: 11; 2010: 15; 2011: 8; 2012: 10; 2013: 21; 2014: 42; 2015: 28; 2016: 24; 2017: 23; 2018: 21; 2019: 13; 2020: 8; 2021: 7; 2022: 3; 2023: 3; 2024: 7; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Structure:Body leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 32 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 15 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 13 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 10018328 · 2003-05-07 (May 7, 2003)
2002 TOYOTA DOUBLE CAB 4X4 DURING MOUNTAIN DRIVING, MY FRONT BRAKES WILL MAKE THE TRUCK SHAKE. I WOULD DESCRIBE THE FEELING LIKE BAD ABS, HOWEVER, I DO NOT HAVE ABS. THIS PROBLEM ONLY SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN I AM GOING DOWNHILL (LIKE LOVELAND PASS). THE SHUTTERING DOES NOT DEPEND ON THE SPEED OF DECELERATION. ONCE IT STARTS IT SEEM TO BE THERE UNTIL THE BRAKES HAVE PLENTY OF COOLING TIME. I HAD IT INTO THE DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT OR GET IT TO DO IT. HOWEVER LAST TIME I WAS IN FOR OTHER REPAIRS, THE SERVICE MANAGE…
Owner-reported narrative. 23,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018328 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018659 · 2003-05-13 (May 13, 2003)
TRANSMISSION "CLUNKS" ON STOPS AND SURGES AFTER BRAKE IS RELEASED FROM STOP. FEELS LIKE YOU'VE BEEN REAR ENDED. DEALER SAID THIS IS NORMAL, "THEY ALL DO IT". I CONTACTED TOYOTA HQ AND THEY REFUSED TO COMMENT ON PROBLEM. VEHICLE VALUE IS GREATLY DIMINISHED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018659 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000153 · 2002-12-17 (December 17, 2002)
TRANSMISSION JUMPS FROM FIRST TO SECOND AND SECOND TO THIRD TRANSMISSION SLIPS BACKWARD ON HILL IN DRIVE
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000153 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000200 · 2002-12-18 (December 18, 2002)
BROUGHT TRUCK TO TOYOTA SERVICE FOR 5000 MILE SERVICE REPORTED AUTO TRANS JUMP IN GEAR SHIFT FROM 1ST TO SECOND (MECHANIC SAID NEEDED NEW TRANSMISSION, AFTER LEAVING SERVICE STATION NOTICED TRUCK WASN'T DRIVING PROPERLY BROUGHT TRUCK BACK MECHANIC SAID NEEDS NEW FRONT SHOCK AND REAR SHOCK. NOW IT DID NOT NEED NEW TRANSMISSION EVEN THOUGH IT STILL JUMPS FROM GEAR TO GEAR.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,009 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000200 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10094909 · 2004-10-01 (October 1, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING STEERING POWER ASSIT PUMP FAILED. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10094909 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121369 · 2005-05-18 (May 18, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. HE STATES THAT ON MARCH 20, 2005 HE HIT A TELEPHONE POLE HEAD ON WHEN HIS STEERING LOCKED UP AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10121369 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10198577 · 2007-08-06 (August 6, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE CANNOT PUT FUEL IN THE GAS TANK OF HIS VEHICLE WITHOUT THE PUMP SHUTTING OFF EVERY TENTH OF A GALLON. HE STATED THAT HE HAS TO PULL THE LEVER 141 TIMES TO FILL UP HIS GAS TANK. THE FAILURE OCCURS EVERY TIMES HE ATTEMPTS TO GET GAS AND AT ANY FUEL STATION. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 33,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 02-04-08. *KB
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10198577 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10241297 · 2008-09-08 (September 8, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS EXAMINING HIS VEHICLE, HE NOTICED RUST HOLES IN THE BOTTOM OF THE FRAME AND ON THE GAS TANK SHIELD. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES BEFOREHAND. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. UPDATED 10/03/08 *BF UPDATED 10/06/08.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10241297 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10310469 · 2010-02-15 (February 15, 2010)
MY EXPERIENCE WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION ON MY CURRENT AND PREVIOUS TOYOTA PICK-UP TRUCKS WAS NOT VERY GOOD. FIRST MY PREVIOUS, EARLIER MODEL 98 TOYOTA TACOMA 2WD MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AT ABOUT 55,000 MILES JUST PRIOR TO THE 60,000 MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY LIMIT. THE FAILURE HAPPENED AT THE SYNCHRONIZER FROM 4TH TO 5TH GEAR WHEN SHIFTING FROM NEUTRAL ACCORDING TO TOYOTA TECHNICIAN AT THE TIME. THE SAFETY ISSUE ON THIS IS THAT WHILE DRIVING AND ONE NEEDS TO SHIFT TO 5TH GEAR FROM NEUTRAL, ONE MAY HAVE DIFFICULTY SHIFTING AND THE TRANSMISS…
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10310469 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10574591 · 2014-03-24 (March 24, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BECOME UNCONTROLLABLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT DURING THE INCIDENT THE STEERING RACK HAD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE CONTACT. IN A SECOND INCIDENT THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT 2 PISTONS HAD COME THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK. …
Owner-reported narrative. 129,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10574591 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10161803 · 2006-07-07 (July 7, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S WIRING, AND FUSES ARE DEFECTIVE. THE FUSES WERE WIRED IN A RANDOM FORMAT THAT MADE THEM INOPERABLE. THIS DEFECT CREATED AN ATMOSPHERE WHICH SEVERELY LIMITED ONE'S ABILITY TO PERFORM MAINTENANCE TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. WIRING DIAGRAMS WERE REQUESTED FROM BOTH THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER HOWEVER THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE THEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10161803 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11230717 · 2019-07-10 (July 10, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR AN ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY CHANGE, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK COVER OFTEN POPPED OPEN WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V542000 (TIRES). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BILL WALSH TOYOTA [phone removed], LOCATED AT 4000 N COLUMBUS STREET, OTTAWA, IL 61350) WHERE THE FRAME …
Owner-reported narrative. 124,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11230717 at NHTSA ↗