2002 Toyota 4 RUNNER: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
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 10008877 · 2003-02-10 (February 10, 2003)
AIR BAG. THE CONSUMER HAD 2 PREVIOUS TOYOTAS IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS FAILED, THE CONSUMER IS NOW CONCERNED ABOUT HIS NEW VEHICLE AND WANTS THE AIR BAG SYSTEM CHECKED OUT, HOWEVER THE DEALER STATED HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008877 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022525 · 2003-06-20 (June 20, 2003)
VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY BURST INTO FLAMES WHILE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. *MR THE FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED IN THE AREA AROUND THE CENTER CONSOLE AND FLAMED UP TO THE CEILING AND MELTED THE COMPONENTS AROUND THE SUN ROOF, ETC. DUE TO THE WINDOWS BEING SHUT THE FIRE PUT ITSELF OUT. THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR CONCLUDED THAT THE FIRE STEMMED FROM THE CELL PHONE CHARGER. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022525 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 10038313 · 2003-09-05 (September 5, 2003)
WHEN DRIVING UPHILL WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED VEHICLE WENT INTO SECOND GEAR AND BEGAN TO SWERVE. DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS HOW THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10038313 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10048260 · 2003-11-19 (November 19, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AND NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10048260 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062146 · 2004-03-14 (March 14, 2004)
THE CAR'S RESTING IDLE WILL SUDDENLY SURGE CAUSING MORE BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE TO BE APPLIED. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE AIR CONDITIONING KICKING ON, BUT THE AC IS NOT ON. THE SURGE IN IDEL SPEED IS SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO MOVE THE VEHICLE FORWARD, MAKING FOR MANY CLOSE CALLS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10062146 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10064040 · 2004-03-28 (March 28, 2004)
COMPLAINT: DEFECTIVE VEHICLE SEVERELY ROLLS BACKWARDS WHEN IN 'FORWARD DRIVE' ON A HILL. TOYOTA STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ROAD TESTED AND FOUND VEHICLE OPERATING TO SPECIFICATIONS. *JB MY OBSERVATION IS THAT THE TOYOTA 2002 4RUNNER IS AN UNSAFE AND DEFECTIVE VEHICLE THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY. TOYOTA IS UNWILLING TO ADMIT THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM, BUT I INTEND TO PROVE BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT THAT THE TOYOTA 2002 4RUNNER IS DEFECTIVE AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE PROBLEM PRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHI…
Owner-reported narrative. 16 miles reported. Look up ODI 10064040 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.