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2002 Toyota Tacoma

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Toyota Tacoma do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 228.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

245 reports with mileage · 88 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Structure. Review the 180 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 82 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

26 crash reports3 fire reports16 injury reports

Unknown Or Other complaints

27 reports
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120,000 miles · Dec 29, 2018
Unknown Or Other

TAKATA RECALL THE CHASSIS OF THE TRUCK IS COMPLETELY RUSTED. DOES NOT LOOK SAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ODI #11163937

140,000 miles · Aug 14, 2018
SuspensionUnknown Or Other

THE FRAME AT REAR SPRING HANGERS HAS RUSTED THROUGH REAR AXLE SEPARATED FROM FRAME DUE TO RUST

NHTSA ODI #11119791

112,000 miles · May 3, 2018
Unknown Or Other

I RECEIVED A INTERIM NOTICE LETTER FROM TOYOTA IN 2011, STATING THAT THE FRAME HAD A COATING DEFECT. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL OXMOOR TOYOTA DEALER IN 2011 AND THEY PUT A WAX COATING ON THE FRAME TO STOP THE FRAME FROM RUSTING MORE. I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER ON THE SPARE TIRE ASSEMBLY AND I HAD OXMOOR TOYOTA FIX THAT AS WELL. THE A…

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I RECEIVED A INTERIM NOTICE LETTER FROM TOYOTA IN 2011, STATING THAT THE FRAME HAD A COATING DEFECT. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL OXMOOR TOYOTA DEALER IN 2011 AND THEY PUT A WAX COATING ON THE FRAME TO STOP THE FRAME FROM RUSTING MORE. I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER ON THE SPARE TIRE ASSEMBLY AND I HAD OXMOOR TOYOTA FIX THAT AS WELL. THE ASSEMBLY WAS RUSTING AWAY. THIS WEEK I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD (HWY 480) AND THE TRUCK BECAME VERY LOOSE IN HANDLING. TOOK THE TRUCK HOME INSPECTED IT AND FOUND THE FRAME SNAPPED IN HALF ON THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL.

NHTSA ODI #11091643

171,000 miles · Jan 30, 2018
Unknown Or Other

AS A NEW PRE OWNER OF THE 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA THAT I HAD PURCHASED IN AUGUST 2017. THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAVE COMPLETED ALL RECALL PER TOYOTA CUSTOMER CARE SERVICES AND MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. WHAT THEY TOLD ME WAS DURING THE INSPECTION, THEY SPRAY RUST PROOF ON THE FRAME TO PROTECT FROM CORROSION. IF WAS LUCKY THAT I HAVE BRO…

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AS A NEW PRE OWNER OF THE 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA THAT I HAD PURCHASED IN AUGUST 2017. THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAVE COMPLETED ALL RECALL PER TOYOTA CUSTOMER CARE SERVICES AND MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. WHAT THEY TOLD ME WAS DURING THE INSPECTION, THEY SPRAY RUST PROOF ON THE FRAME TO PROTECT FROM CORROSION. IF WAS LUCKY THAT I HAVE BROUGHT MY TRUCK FOR SERVICES FOR NEW TIRES ON 1/30/18. WHILE THE MECHANIC TRY TO LEFT THE TRUCK FOR SERVICES, THEY NOTICE THAT THE FRAME WHERE RUSTED AND WOULD OF FALL APART IF THE LEFT THE CAR UP. THEY CALLED ME INTO THE WORK AREA AND POINTED OUT HOW DANGEROUS IT WAS. IT WAS BARELY HOLDING THE ENTIRE BACK OF THE TRUCK TOGETHER. IT RUSTED MORE THAN HALF WAY OF THE FRAME THAT SUPPORTED THE ENTIRE BACK OF THE BED TRUCK. THE MECHANIC RECOMMENDATION TO CONTACT TOYOTA. AND I DID BUT GOT NO WHERE. THEY ARE REFUSING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. Q

NHTSA ODI #11065979

200,000 miles · Sep 30, 2017
Unknown Or Other

I PURCHASED THE TACOMA 10/9/2013, I NOTICED SOME OF THE RECALL REPAIRS HAD NOT BEEN MADE BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, 10/29/2013 FOR THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE GUY, USING A HAMMER, THAT MY FRAME WAS CRUMBLING AND I WOULD BE NEEDING A NEW FRAME AS WELL. I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE…

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I PURCHASED THE TACOMA 10/9/2013, I NOTICED SOME OF THE RECALL REPAIRS HAD NOT BEEN MADE BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, 10/29/2013 FOR THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE GUY, USING A HAMMER, THAT MY FRAME WAS CRUMBLING AND I WOULD BE NEEDING A NEW FRAME AS WELL. I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMEROUS TIMES AND ALL I EVER GOT WAS, I'M SORRY, AND HOW THEY WERE WELL AWARE OF THE CORROSION PROBLEM WITH THE FRAME ON THE 2002. THE RUST PROBLEM ON MY TACOMA IS SO SEVERE, THE TRUCK IS STARTING TO BUCKLE, NO SPACE BETWEEN THE CAB AND THE BED AT THE TOP. IT IS IN SUCH BAD SHAPE NO ONE WILL PUT IT ON A LIFT! IT WILL BE THE COMPLETE AND SINGLE CAUSE FOR THE DEMISE OF MY TRUCK, AND QUITE POSSIBLY MYSELF. I HAD JUST BOUGHT THE TRUCK. I WILL BE DRIVING THE TACOMA WHEN THE FRAME BREAKS APART AND I WILL PROBABLY DIE. 9/11/17 I WROTE JAMES LETZ, CEO OF TOYOTA, AND MANAGER OF TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING AND MANUFACTURING, I STATED, "I FOLLOWED THE CORROSION PREVENTION IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE QUALITY OF THE FRAME ON THE 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA IS INFERIOR DUE TO INADEQUATE RUST PROTECTION AT THE FACTORY." 9/28/17 I RECEIVED A RESPONSE BY PHONE FROM GRAND PRAIRIE, TX. HE TOLD ME THERE WAS A RECALL LETTER SENT OUT TO THE OWNERS OF 2002 TACOMAS, INFORMING THE OWNERS TO CHECK FOR RUSTING AND CORROSION ON THE FRAME, AND THEY COULD BRING THE TRUCK IN FOR A RUST PREVENTION SPRAY; HOWEVER, IT EXPIRED 2011. THEY OBVIOUSLY KNOW HOW SEVERE THE PROBLEM IS. I TOLD HIM I WAS SCARED, AND HE ANSWERED, "I UNDERSTAND I WOULD BE TOO." HE LED ME TO THINK NOTHING WAS GOING TO BE DONE, BUT IT WAS UP TO THE ENGINEERING AND MANUFACTURING DEPARTMENT, ODDLY ENOUGH, THAT IS MR. LETZ!

NHTSA ODI #11030676

Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 2017
Unknown Or Other

TODAY I SAW THE TRUCK FOR SALE ON CRAIGSLIST AND WHEN I CALLED THE OWNER HE SAID IT HAS 132000 MILES BUT WHEN I GOT CARFAX THE CAR HAVE OVER 250000. THE IS CURRENTLY LISTED ON CRAIGS LIST HTTPS://SFBAY.CRAIGSLIST.ORG/SBY/CTO/6184326088.HTML

NHTSA ODI #11000120

106,000 miles · Nov 20, 2016
Unknown Or Other

FRAME RUSTED, UNSAFE TO DRIVE. CALLED TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD RECALL HAD EXPIRED, NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALL INFORMATION. TRUCK WAS PURCHASED SECOND HAND FROM TOYOTA DEALER.

NHTSA ODI #10927091

170,620 miles · Aug 17, 2016
Unknown Or Other

TOYOTA DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO FIX SAFETY RECALLS BECAUSE OF FRAME RUST DAMAGE. I NEVER RECEIVED THEIR SHORT TERM RECALL NOTICE ON THE FRAME RUST AND DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO REPLACE SAFETY RECALL PARTS !

NHTSA ODI #10896694

131,000 miles · Jun 13, 2016
StructureSuspensionUnknown Or Other

FRAME ROT FROM INSIDE OUT. SUSPENSION MOUNTING TO FRAME ROTTED OUT. TOTOYA REFUSES TO DEAL WITH THIS AND CLAIMS THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPIRED. HOW CAN A RECALL BE EXPIRED. CASE #1606101548 . TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE VERY RUDE AND DEMEANING.

NHTSA ODI #10874003

Mileage unknown · Jun 10, 2016
StructureSuspensionUnknown Or Other

EXCESSIVE UNSAFE FRAME ROT FROM INSIDE OUT. TOYOTA SAFETY 'RECALL' OFFER TO FIX 'EXPIRED'.

NHTSA ODI #10873590

Official recalls

3

12V542000 · Tires:temporary/emergency Spare Tire

Nov 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 & remedy

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.

05V225000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint

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 & remedy

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.

03V189000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

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 & remedy

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.