2002 Toyota TACOMA: complaints, problems and recalls

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 ↗

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 ↗

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS TOO SOON, MAKING THE ENGINE STRUGGLE AND VIBRATE AT LOW RPMS. WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID ALL THE NEW 4 CYLINDER TRUCKS WERE LIKE THIS. AT 12000 MILES, THE VALVES ARE TAPPING AT IDLE, AND THE HOOD VIBRATES. SEEING THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS FORUM, I NOW REMEMBER HOW SQUIRLY THE TRUCK GETS AFTER GOING OVER BUMPS. THAT WOULD EXPLAIN THE BAD FRONT SHOCKS. I HOPE I DON'T GET INTO A BAD ACCIDENT KNOWING THE AIR BAGS ARE NOT GOING TO WORK.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000708 at NHTSA ↗

WATER IS ENTERING THE VEHICLE AROUND THE SUPPORT HANDLE ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ONE YEAR AGO. PROBLEM BECAME EVIDENT THIS PAST FALL AND WHEN BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP THIS FEBRUARY THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR UNDER THE CORROSION WARRANTY. VEHICLE IS OVER THE STANDARD WARRANTY MILEAGE.

Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005837 at NHTSA ↗

ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS OVER A WEEKS TIME SPAN WHILE DRIVING MY TRUCK IT HAS ACCELERATED BY ITSELF. WHEN I HAVE TAKEN MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL THE TRUCK CONTINUED TO GO FASTER AND WAS HARD TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP. I BROUGHT THE TRUCK TO A TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS TOLD IF THEY COULD GET THE VEHICLE TO DO THIS THEY COULD FIX IT. THEY KEPT THE TRUCK FOR A DAY AND DROVE IT BUT THE TRUCK RAN NORMAL. THEY SAID IT RAN FINE AND TOLD ME TO COME AND PICK IT UP. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 6,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010194 at NHTSA ↗

THE MASTER CYLINDER IS LEAKED. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012037 at NHTSA ↗

DUNLOP GRAND TREK TIRE P256 /70/ R16 THE REAR RIGHT BLOWOUT @ 72 MPH ON I-75 IN MIAMI, FLA. PARTIALLY LOSE CONTROL. 90% OF THE ENTIRE TIRE SEPARATED BELT/THREAD/STEEL. IT WAS THE ORIGINAL TIRE ON A 2002 TACOMA WITH 27053 MILES. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 27,053 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016543 at NHTSA ↗

FRONT AND REAR SHOCKS. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 7,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016802 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2003-05-19 (May 19, 2003)

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, DURING SIDE IMPACT NCAP TEST (I.E. LINCAP TEST), A FLANGE AT THE REAR END OF THE DOUBLE CAB BODY DEFORMED AND INTERFERED WITH THE FUEL INLET HOSE THAT CONNECTS THE FUEL FILLER PIPE AND FUEL TANK, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE FUEL INLET HOSE.

Consequence: THIS DAMAGE COULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE IF IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUEL HOSE PROTECTOR ON THE BODY FLANGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 3, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

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.

Reported: 2012-11-23 (November 23, 2012)

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2004 Tacoma light trucks manufactured from August 28, 2000, through August 27, 2004, and originally sold, or currently registered, in the following cold climate states with high road salt usage: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. The spare tire in the subject vehicles is located underneath the rear of the vehicle and held by a spare tire carrier. A lift plate on the carrier is used to help raise, lower and retain the tire. During its manufacture, the lift plate may not have been sufficiently coated with anti-corrosion materials. If the plate is insufficiently coated and the vehicle is operated in cold climate regions where road salts are frequently used, road spray can reach the carrier assembly and corrode the lift plate.

Consequence: Corrosion of the plate could cause it to break, which could result in detachment of the spare tire from the vehicle. Detachment of the spare tire could result in a road hazard which may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace the spare tire carrier lift plate as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in February 2013. Owners may contact their Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.