2002 Toyota TUNDRA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
482 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
91,100 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 370 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Body is the most frequently named component, appearing in 76 of 482 complaints (15.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 142 | 29.5% |
| Steering behavior | 49 | 10.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 30 | 6.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 27 | 5.6% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 0.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 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 | 76 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 54 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 45 |
| Suspension | 43 |
| Steering | 34 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | 32 |
| Unknown Or Other | 30 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 27 |
Structure:Body: 76; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 54; Structure:Frame And Members: 45; Suspension: 43; Steering: 34; Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint: 32; Unknown Or Other: 30; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 27
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 53 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 44 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 53 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 54 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 87 |
| 150,000 and above | 79 |
Under 25,000: 53; 25,000 to 49,999: 44; 50,000 to 74,999: 53; 75,000 to 99,999: 54; 100,000 to 149,999: 87; 150,000 and above: 79
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (87). 112 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 | 15 |
| 2003 | 19 |
| 2004 | 32 |
| 2005 | 40 |
| 2006 | 14 |
| 2007 | 21 |
| 2008 | 18 |
| 2009 | 40 |
| 2010 | 51 |
| 2011 | 17 |
| 2012 | 18 |
| 2013 | 15 |
| 2014 | 20 |
| 2015 | 22 |
| 2016 | 24 |
| 2017 | 24 |
| 2018 | 18 |
| 2019 | 26 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2021 | 13 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2002: 15; 2003: 19; 2004: 32; 2005: 40; 2006: 14; 2007: 21; 2008: 18; 2009: 40; 2010: 51; 2011: 17; 2012: 18; 2013: 15; 2014: 20; 2015: 22; 2016: 24; 2017: 24; 2018: 18; 2019: 26; 2020: 9; 2021: 13; 2022: 5; 2023: 3; 2024: 8; 2025: 7; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Structure:Body leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 142 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 49 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 30 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 10003118 · 2003-01-21 (January 21, 2003)
BRAKE PEDAL FADES TO FLOOR WHEN SITTING IN STOP POSITION
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003118 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007164 · 2003-07-28 (July 28, 2003)
THE BRAKES ON MY 2002 TUNDRA STARTED VIBRATING WHEN PRESSURE APPLIED AFTER ABOUT 400 MILES. DEALER REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. NOW THE BRAKES ARE VIBRATING AGAIN. WILL HAVE TO RETURN TO THE DEALER. *JB *SCC ****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*****764848
Owner-reported narrative. 4,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007164 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030705 · 2003-08-03 (August 3, 2003)
IMPROPER FRONT BRAKE CALIPER SIZE, WHICH CAUSES WARPING OF THE FRONT BRAKE DISC ,AND SUBSEQUENT SERIOUS STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION OF MY 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. TOYOTA IS DECLINING TO ISSUE AN OFFICIAL RECALL OF THE DEFECTIVE BRAKE COMPONENTS, AND DEALERS HAVE BEEN UNCOOPERATIVE IN FIXING THIS PROBLEM. I HOPE NO ONE HAS TO BE INJURED FOR TOYOTA TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 16,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030705 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037952 · 2003-08-29 (August 29, 2003)
WHEN DRIVING AT 20 MPH BOTH FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BALL JOINTS SNAPPED, CAUSING FRONT RIGHT WHEEL TO COME OFF. THERE WAS NO SHIMMY OR SQUEAKING PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, ONLY THE STEERING FELT A LITTLE STIFF. THE TRUCK WAS NOT ABUSED. PE04040_CAT
Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037952 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10237734 · 2008-08-11 (August 11, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE REAR LICENSE PLATE LAMP CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT THE CONTACT'S KNOWLEDGE. OTHER DRIVERS WAVED DOWN THE CONTACT AND RAN HIM OFF THE ROAD DUE TO THE FIRE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT IN LESS THAN TWO MINUTES, THE FIRE WOULD HAVE REACHED THE GAS TANK AND RESULTED IN THE COMBUSTION OF THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. TOYOTA STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS AND THE CONTACT WOULD BE LIABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000 AN…
Owner-reported narrative. 102,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10237734 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10286774 · 2009-10-08 (October 8, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. WHILE RECEIVING AN OIL CHANGE A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS CORRODED. THERE WAS ALSO A FUEL LEAK ON THE SEAM OF THE FUEL TANK. THE SERVICE AND PARKING BRAKES WERE REPLACED. THE OXYGEN SENSOR FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. THE TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NON-REPAIRABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10286774 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025635 · 2003-07-08 (July 8, 2003)
AT 20,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SHIFT VERY HARD AND THE CEL CAME ON. DEALER SAID THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION AND THE ERROR CODE FROM THE OBD II STATED "MIS SHIFT". IT TOOK 7 WEEKS TO GET THE PART.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 20,507 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025635 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10068416 · 2004-05-06 (May 6, 2004)
VIBRATION NEAR FRONT OF 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA ACCESS CAB, MOST NOTICEABLE AT 25-40MPH WITHOUT AND WITH BRAKES APPLIED. THE VIBRATION DURATION OSCILLATES IN DIRECT PROPORTION TO THE VEHICLE SPEED. AND LASTS FROM ONCE PER TWO SECONDS TO TWICE PER SECOND. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER (DON JACOBS, WI) 4 OR 5 TIMES WITHOUT SATISFACTION. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE, AND RECOMMENDED NEW TIRES TO CIRCUMVENT THE WISCONSIN LEMON LAW, WHICH ALLOWS CONSUMERS TO RETURN A VEHICLE IF THE PROBLEM CANNOT BE ALLEVIATED AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO BE CORRE…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10068416 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10112850 · 2005-03-30 (March 30, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. *AK THE DRIVER HEARD AND FELT A LOUD BUMP IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE GAS PEDAL. THERE WAS REAR END GREASE LEAKING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE REAR SHOWING ON THE WHEEL AND TIRE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS NO CONNECTION BETWEEN THE REAR BRAKE, REAR END LEAKING GREASE, THE DRIVE SHAFT AND THE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE BRAKES WERE A MAJOR P…
Owner-reported narrative. 111,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10112850 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10350428 · 2010-08-18 (August 18, 2010)
I OWN A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA AND I HAVE HAD APPROXIMATELY FIVE OCCASIONS WHERE I HEARD A CLUNK WHILE DRIVING THE TOYOTA TUNDRA AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING DURING THE MONTH OF JULY 2010. ON AUGUST 13, 2010, I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH WHEN I HAD DRIVEN THE TUNDRA APPROXIMATELY 200 MILES, I PULLED OFF OF THE HIGHWAY TO REFILL WITH GASOLINE AND AS I SLOWED DOWN TO THE PUMP, THE TUNDRA BEGAN TO EXCESSIVELY SHAKE AND STALLED. I THEN STARTED THE VEHICLE UP WHICH STARTED WELL AND I CUT IT OFF TO REFILL WITH GASOLINE. ONCE I BEGAN TO T…
Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10350428 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10145016 · 2005-12-12 (December 12, 2005)
DT: CONTACT STATES WATER ENTERS THE WATER TIGHT JOINTS IN THE WIRING HARNESS. THIS CAUSES THE PINS TO CORRODE AND SHORTS OUT THE REAR TAIL LIGHT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALERSHIP, BUT THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS MADE. *AK UPDATED 1/11/2006. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10145016 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10335788 · 2010-06-11 (June 11, 2010)
MY 2002 TUNDRA AND MY SISTERS 2001 TUNDRA HAVE BEEN RECALLED TWICE FOR RUST ISSUES, THE FIRST WAS FOR GAS TANK AND STRAPS, THE SECOND FOR FRAME RUST. WE BROUGHT OUR TRUCKS TO HERB CHAMBERS IN AUBURN MA. FOR THE SECOND TIME WE WERE TOLD THEY WERE FINE. EXCEPTION WAS THEY WANTED ME TO BRING MY 2002 BACK BECAUSE THEY WERE "REPLACING GAS TANK STRAPS IN ALL RECALLS AS A PRECAUTION." THE PROBLEM WITH THIS IS THAT THEY TOLD MY SISTER NO SUCH THING. OUR VEHICLES ARE ONLY 8 YEARS OLD, BOTH GAS FILL DOORS RUSTED SHUT AND WE HAD TO BREAK THEM OPEN TO GE…
Owner-reported narrative. 175,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10335788 at NHTSA ↗