no report yet
Frame and members: underbody shields
Risk. SEPARATION OF THE SPARE TIRE AND DIMINISHED BRAKE CAPACITY COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
2002 Toyota TundraProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 482 owner complaints about the 2002 Toyota Tundra, most often about the structure. It is covered by 3 safety recalls.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through July 12, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2002 Toyota Tundra has problems
482 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
154Structure1 crash/fire/injury
97Service brakes, hydraulic3 crash/fire/injury
81Suspension12 crash/fire/injury
51Power train3 crash/fire/injury
38Steering4 crash/fire/injury
21Air bags
16Fuel system, gasoline
14Vehicle speed control
13Tires
8616 other systems10 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 154 | 1 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 97 | 3 |
| Suspension | 81 | 12 |
| Power train | 51 | 3 |
| Steering | 38 | 4 |
| Air bags | 21 | 7 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 16 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 14 | 3 |
| Tires | 13 | 0 |
| 16 other systems | 86 | 10 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2002 Toyota Tundra 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
Wheels
Risk. DIFFERENT OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS CAN BE EXPERIENCED WHEN THE SPARE TIRE IS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE.
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?
120kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 127 structure complaints. 40% were reported before 100,000 miles.
3under 30k miles51under 100k miles76100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Service brakes, hydraulic
9 owners mentioned a cost$2,000median
Middle half: $1,100 – $2,000
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2002 vs. every other Tundra 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 Tundra median. How we score
'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 Tundra safety ratings
2002 Toyota Tundra Extended Cab in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Stability control: No
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
3 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2002 Toyota Tundra, and the recalls they led to.
- BALL JOINT SEPARATIONLed to recall 05V-225
- FRONT SUSPENSION BALL JOINT BREAKAGENo recall
- FRAME CORROSIONLed to recall 09V-444
In owners' words
What Tundra owners report
Recent structure complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The contact owns a 2002 Toyota Tundra. The contact, who is an independent mechanic, stated that the fuel tank had detached. The contact stated that the subframe was extremely rusted. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number:…
The contact owns a 2002 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that the frame and the front bumper were severely rusted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for…
The contact owns a 2002 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that after taking the vehicle to be checked for corrosion to the subframe, the contact was advised that there was significant corrosion on the subframe and the supports underneath the truck bed. The contact was informed that the vehicle was…
Own a 2002 Tundra?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.