no report yet
Tires: temporary/emergency spare tire
Risk. Corrosion of the plate could cause it to break, which could result in detachment of the spare tire from the vehicle.
2002 Toyota TacomaProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 333 owner complaints about the 2002 Toyota Tacoma, most often about the structure. It is covered by 3 safety recalls.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through May 14, 2025. Updated daily. Photo: Cutlass, CC0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2002 Toyota Tacoma has problems
333 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
180Structure3 crash/fire/injury
82Suspension8 crash/fire/injury
21Power train
19Air bags
18Wheels
14Tires
11Service brakes, hydraulic
9Steering
8Vehicle speed control
4014 other systems8 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 180 | 3 |
| Suspension | 82 | 8 |
| Power train | 21 | 0 |
| Air bags | 19 | 13 |
| Wheels | 18 | 4 |
| Tires | 14 | 1 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 11 | 0 |
| Steering | 9 | 3 |
| Vehicle speed control | 8 | 4 |
| 14 other systems | 40 | 8 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2002 Toyota Tacoma recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
no report yet
Control arm: lower ball joint
Risk. THE LOWER BALL JOINT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
no report yet
Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Risk. THIS DAMAGE COULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE IF IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Toyota.
Mileage at failure
When do structure problems start?
121kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 142 structure complaints. 36% were reported before 100,000 miles.
3under 30k miles51under 100k miles91100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2002 vs. every other Tacoma year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Tacoma median. How we score
'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2002 Toyota Tacoma safety ratings
2002 Toyota Tacoma 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
- Rollover: 2 stars (0.0% risk)
- Stability control: No
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What Tacoma owners report
Recent structure complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The contact's daughter owns a 2002 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that several independent mechanics and an auto body repair shop had informed her that there was a hole in the subframe, and the subframe was significantly corroded. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who informed the contact that…
I went to get my 02 tacoma tires balanced and was called and told that where the frame was cracked. Upon inspecting it myself the crack is where the manufacturer welded the frame together. I'm the 3rd owner of this vehicle and there original owner didn't get frame warranty recall done. Which led to…
The truck frame has completely rusted out and has snapped in half. Leaving my truck undriveable. Toyota had an extended warranty but only if you followed exact criteria. This is a big safter issue that should be recalled
Own a 2002 Tacoma?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.