2002 Toyota 4RUNNER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
192 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
133,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 146 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Body is the most frequently named component, appearing in 74 of 192 complaints (38.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 24 | 12.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 4.2% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 3.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 2.6% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 1.0% |
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 | 74 |
| Suspension | 35 |
| Unknown Or Other | 30 |
| Power Train | 24 |
| Service Brakes | 10 |
| Steering | 9 |
| Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields | 8 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | 7 |
Structure:Body: 74; Suspension: 35; Unknown Or Other: 30; Power Train: 24; Service Brakes: 10; Steering: 9; Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields: 8; Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 15 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 13 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 57 |
| 150,000 and above | 54 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 15; 75,000 to 99,999: 13; 100,000 to 149,999: 57; 150,000 and above: 54
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (57). 46 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 12 |
| 2011 | 8 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 12 |
| 2014 | 17 |
| 2015 | 17 |
| 2016 | 20 |
| 2017 | 16 |
| 2018 | 24 |
| 2019 | 14 |
| 2020 | 11 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2006: 6; 2007: 3; 2008: 6; 2009: 3; 2010: 12; 2011: 8; 2012: 5; 2013: 12; 2014: 17; 2015: 17; 2016: 20; 2017: 16; 2018: 24; 2019: 14; 2020: 11; 2021: 9; 2022: 5; 2023: 3; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Structure:Body leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 24 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 8 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 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 10153041 · 2006-03-10 (March 10, 2006)
2002 4RUNNER WAS UNSTABLE AFTER PURCHASE, CONSUMER HAD TIRES REPLACED AND AN ALIGNMENT. FRONT AND REAR TIRES BLEW OUT. CONSUMER RECEIVED LETTER OF FRONT SUSPENSION BALL JOINTS AFTER ACCIDENT OCCURRED. *TS *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10153041 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10160221 · 2006-06-20 (June 20, 2006)
ON APRIL 17TH AT 5:45 AM WHILE DRIVING ON I-465, I FELT A LOSS OF STEERING IN THE WHEEL. I DID NOTHING TO THE WHEEL, AS ONE WOULD NORMALLY DO WHEN DRIVING ON ICE. I WAS DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE LANE, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE HIGHWAY DIVIDER AND THEN CAREENED OFF THE ROAD. A CARMEL POLICE OFFICER CAME TO THE SCENE AND AN ACCIDENT REPORT WAS ENTERED. FRONT BALL JOINT(S) FAILED AND FRONT WHEEL FOLDED UNDER VEHICLE; THIS RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF STEERING AND CRASH ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE HIT THE CONCRETE HIGHWAY DIVIDER AND THEN BOUNCED…
Owner-reported narrative. 51,665 miles reported. Look up ODI 10160221 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10165753 · 2006-08-17 (August 17, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE RECALL WORK FOR NHTSA RECALL # 05V225000, PERTAINING TO THE LOWER BALL JOINT, WAS UNABLE TO BE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE WITHIN THE NOTED 24 HOURS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE REPAIR WOULD TAKE 2 DAYS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER REFUSED TO PROVIDE A LOANER VEHICLE DURING THAT TIME. THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS CONSULTED, WHO WAS UNABLE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONSULTED, WHO OFFERED TO SEND OUT PAPERWORK FOR AN INVESTIGATION.
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10165753 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10169572 · 2006-09-29 (September 29, 2006)
2002 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. BRAKE ROTORS ARE WEARING UNEVENLY, CAUSING SHAKING WHEN SLOWING DOWN. DEALER SAID THE BRAKE PADS HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN USED 50%. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10169572 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10172326 · 2006-11-01 (November 1, 2006)
I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FROM TOYOTA CONCERNING A DEFECT WITH THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT IN 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNERS (REF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 05V225000). I CONTACTED TOYOTA ON 9 MAY 2006 TO BEGIN THE PROCESS TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. MY SITUATION IS UNIQUE. I'M IN THE MILITARY AND CURRENTLY STATIONED IN SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA. THERE ARE NO TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS IN SOUTH KOREA, HOWEVER, LEXUS (OWNED BY THE SAME PARENT COMPANY) IS LOCATED IN SEOUL. IT TOOK THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE FOLKS TIL AUG TO NOTIFY ME THAT M…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10172326 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10172387 · 2006-11-01 (November 1, 2006)
2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL COLLISION THAT BENT THE FRAME & TOTALED THE VEHICLE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10172387 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10182507 · 2007-02-13 (February 13, 2007)
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA FOUR RUNNER AND THE SEAL AROUND ALL FOUR WINDOWS PEELED OFF. TOOK VEHICLEC TO THE CAR DEALERSHIP,AND THEY REPLACED AND REGLUED THE SEALS BACK TOGETHER MORE THAN ONCE, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THEWINDOWS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED ON FIVE OCCASIONS. THIS HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO, AND THE WINDOWS WERE STILL COMING UNGLUED. EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR MAINTENANCE TO THE DEALER THE CONTACT WOULD ASK THEM TO REGLU…
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10182507 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10193169 · 2007-05-30 (May 30, 2007)
2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER RECALL- LOWER BALL JOINT CUSTOMER WANTS TO KNOW IF TECHS ARE REQUIRED TO BE CERTIFIED MECHANICS AND HAVE CERTIFICATION FROM TOYOTA ON THE DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR OF TOYOTA VEHICLES**CC *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10193169 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
05V225000 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint
Reported: 2005-05-17 (May 17, 2005)
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, DUE TO A MANUFACTURING ISSUE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE SURFACE OF THE BALL OF THE JOINT MAY HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED. THE BALL JOINT MAY EVENTUALLY EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE WEAR AND LOOSENESS, RESULTING IN INCREASED STEERING EFFORT.
Consequence: THE LOWER BALL JOINT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 5, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
NHTSA campaign record ↗