TroubleCAR
60
Trouble

2002 Toyota Tacoma

Complaints: 333Avg mileage: 120,899 miSince: Nov 2001
CrashFire21 injured

Problem Areas

Structure:Body
105
Suspension
60
Frame and Members: Underbody Shields
30
Structure:Frame and Members
29
Unknown or Other
27
Structure
14
Wheels
14
Air Bags
13
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
11
Control Arm: Lower Ball Joint
10

Complaints Over Time

Recent Complaints

AIR BAGS
140,000 miOct 23, 2020COTTONDALE, AL
CrashFire1 injured

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED THE ACCELERATED PEDAL BECAME STUCK, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED BUT TRAVELLED TO THE FLOOR, AS THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A METAL MAIL BOX. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT DIM WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE REPLACED ALL THE BULBS. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED HE SAW A GLOWING LIGHT AS A FIRE WAS IGNITED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES FROM THE FUMES AND FIRE EXERTED FROM THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS THAT BURNT HIS NOSTRILS AND FOREHEAD. THE CONTACT DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT LOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

STRUCTURE:BODY
169,650 miApr 27, 2017BAKERSFIELD, CA
Crash1 injured

I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 55 MPH. THE RIGHT LOWER CONTROL BALL JOINT BROKE SO THE ENTIRE WHEEL BROKE OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE TRIED TO RUN/JUMP OVER THE WHEEL AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLAMMED DOWN ON THE ASPHALT. THE TRUCK DRAGGED ON THE ASPHALT FOR ABOUT 100 TO 150 YDS UNTIL I MANAGED TO CONTROL AND STOP IT.

AIR BAGS
135,000 miApr 4, 2017BROWNSVILLE, TN
Crash2 injured

AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING FRONTAL IMPACT WITH EMBANKMENT AT SPEED IN ACCESS OF 40 MPH. VEHICLE LEFT THE ROADWAY, TRAVELING STRAIGHT, UNDER HARD BREAKING CONDITIONS AND STRUCK AN EMBANKMENT. UPON HITTING THE EMBANKMENT, THE TRUCK BECAME AIRBORNE AND MADE IMPACT WITH A TELEPHONE POLE, BEFORE LANDING ON ITS WHEELS.

STRUCTURE:BODY
185,000 miSep 16, 2015ELK GROVE, CA
Crash1 injured

THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE FROM A COLLISION. THE RADIATOR WAS PUSHED AGAINST THE ENGINE. MOST OF THE DRIVER SIDE FENDER AS WELL AS THE INNER CORE SUPPORT WAS CRUSHED. BOTH AIRBAGS DIDN'T NOT DEPLOY.

STEERING
Mar 19, 2012ZEPHYRHILLS, FL
Crash2 injured

2002 TOYOTOA TRUCK, LOST CONTROL AND HIT MY FORD S/W, TRUCK WAS ON RECALL FOR BALL/JOINTS , BOTH ME AND WIFE WAS HURT BY THIS UN INSURED DRIVER, DRIVER WAS CITED FOR WRONG TURN INTO MY LANE, I LOST BOTH MY CAR AND MY HEALTH, WHAT CAN I DO TO RECOVER DAMAGES FROM A UNINSURED TRUCK AND DRIVER? *JS

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Oct 29, 2010ELSMERE, DE
Crash1 injured

2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM RE TOYOTA PROBLEM *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT AND IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THAT SERIOUS, HAD HE BEEN ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL WHICH CAUSED HIM TO JUMP THE CURB AND CRASH INTO A BRIDGE. *JB

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Sep 24, 2009COCHRAN, GA
Crash1 injured

MY MOTHER WAS RECENTLY INVOLVED IN A CAR WRECK WHERE SHE WAS HIT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. SHE WAS DRIVING A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA AND THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. SHE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED IN THE WRECK. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THIS. *TR

AIR BAGS
122,000 miJan 10, 2009COPPELL, TX
Crash2 injured

I LOST CONTROL OF MY TRUCK WHEN THE DRIVER FRONT TIRE DEFLATED. THIS OCCURRED AS I WAS TAKING AN OFF RAMP ON TO ANOTHER FREEWAY. THIS CAUSED ME TO BOUNCE OFF THE HOLLOW TUBES IN FRONT OF THE CONCERT DIVIDER. MY 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA WILL REQUIRE OVER $8K TO REPAIR. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED IN MY SINGLE CAB TRUCK. THE DAMAGE TAKEN WAS ON THE FRONT DRIVER FENDER/BUMPER (I HAVE PICTURES) CLEARLY THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED BUT FAILED. THIS CAUSED ME TO SLAM INTO THE STEERING WHEEL UPON IMPACT. *TR

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
58,000 miSep 6, 2005NORTH BEACH HAVEN, NJ
Crash1 injured

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH ON MAY 20, 2005. THE DRIVER HEARD NOISES IN THE FRONT END, LIKE A CLICKING SOUND. THE CONSUMER WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED UPON ITS SIDE. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED SOME MINOR INJURIES. THE CONSUMER LATER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 05V225000 CONCERNING LOWER BALL JOINTS. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY SAID THEY WILL MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE PARTS TO BE REPLACED FROM THE RECALL, AND THEY WOULD DO THEIR OWN INSPECTION. TOYOTA CALLED THE CONSUMER TODAY WITH THE REPORT. THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE FRONT END OR THE BALL JOINTS. THE CONSUMER WAS UPSET THAT HE COULD NOT SEE THE JOINT BALLS THAT WERE REPLACED. HE THOUGHT THAT HE WAS CHEATED IN THE FACT THAT HE COULD NOT SEE THE JOINTS BEFORE TOYOTA TOOK THEM. THE CONSUMER WANTED TO DO HIS OWN INSPECTION ON THE PARTS. HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING, AND HE THOUGHT THAT THE POWERING STEERING WAS UNDER STRESS. A POLICE AND INSURANCE REPORTS WERE TAKEN. . THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS OF NOW. THE SPEED WAS BETWEEN 25-35 MPH WHEN THE CRASH OCCURRED.*AK

SUSPENSION:FRONT
36,000 miNov 15, 2004FRANKLINTON, LA
Crash1 injured

NO KNOWN EVENTS LEADING TO THE FAILURE. PROGRESSIVE, SUCCESSIVE FAILURE OF BOLTS HOLDING LEFT FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND SUSPENSION ARM TO THE TRUCK. THIS CAUSED SEPARATION OF MENTIONED MEMBER FROM THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL AND OVERTURNING OF SAID VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS AS A RESULT OF THE INCIDENT.*AK

WHEELS
40,200 miAug 27, 2004CARSON, CA
Crash1 injured

THE LEFT REAR TIRE (DUNLOP GRANDTREK P265) OF 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA BLEW OUT ON CA 215 FREEWAY (WITH SPEED OF 60-70 MPH). I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, IT SPUN AND COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH RESULTED TO MINOR PHYSICAL INJURY TO THE OTHER VEHICLE'S DRIVER. ORIGINAL TIRES CAME FROM THE DEALERSHIP, CARSON TOYOTA (CALIFORNIA). CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THE DEALERSHIP--THEY GAVE US THE RUN-AROUND. THE DEALERSHIP WAS VERY UNRESPONSIVE STATING THAT THEY ARE NOT AT FAULT, DID NOT KNOW THAT THE TIRE WOULD BLOW UP ON THE VEHICLE THAT DURING THE SALE--NEVERTHELESS, TO CUT COST ON A $2OK VALUE TRUCK, PUT SUBSTANDARD, DEFECTIVE TIRES, LEAST EXPENSIVE IN THE MARKET. I WILL END UP PUTTING UP THE COSTS FOR REPLACING ALL TIRES WITH MORE RELIABLE TIRES (MICHELIN). I HOPE THAT THERE WOULD BE BETTER LAW/LEGISLATION PROTECTING CONSUMERS AND NO ONE WOULD EXPERIENCE THE SAME INCIDENT THAT OCCURED TO ME.*AK

AIR BAGS
Oct 14, 2003COCOA, FL
Crash2 injured

I APPROACHED AN INTERSECTION WHEN A ON COMING CAR MADE A LEFT TURN IN TO MY CAR. WE COLLIDED HEAD ON IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. NEITHER ONE OF THE AIR BAGS WORKED. I'M WORKING FOR AN AUTO SUPPLY SHOP AND THIS IS MY DELIVERY TRUCK SO I CAN'T ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE VEHICLE. *LA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Jul 30, 2003ELIZABETHTOWN, PA
Crash2 injured

TOPIC:" DRIVERS-SIDE AIRBAG FAILURE.NFORTUNATELY, I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, WHICH I WAS CITED. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. I IMPACTED THE REAR OF A STATTIONARY CAR AT APPROX. 50MPH AND MY AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. I THANK THE LORD NOBODY WAS HURT. BUT, WHAT IF SOMEONE WAS INJURED, THE MANUFACTURER WOULD CLEARLY BE LIABLE. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE INCIDENT. THIER REPRESENTATIVE REPORTED THE SENSORS WERE NOT TRIGGERED, THEREFORE, THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I FEEL THIS IS AN INSUFFICIENT EXPLAINATION AND I NEED FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Sep 23, 2002GREENWOOD, CA
Crash1 injured

WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH AT NIGHT, THE DRIVER DIDN'T JUDGE THE DISTANCE OF TRAFFIC DUE TO IMPROPER SIGN ILLUSTRATIONS BY ROAD COMPANY. DRIVER HAD IMPACT OF LEFT FRONT WHICH NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN TOTALED FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY DUE TO THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE. THE DRIVER RECEIVED FACIAL, HAND, NECK AND BACK INJURYS. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Apr 6, 2002MARICOPA, AZ
Crash1 injured

I WAS INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT ON THE FREEWAY, I WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC WHEN I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND AND FORCED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, THERE WAS ALOT OF DAMAGE DONE TO MY VEHICLE AND THE OTHER VEHICLES INVOLVED. I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT MY AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING. I WAS HIT IN THE ARE MAKED IN MY OWNERS MANUAL THAT INFORMS YOU AS TO WHERE THE AREA WOULD HAVE TO BE HIT FOR THEM TO DEPLOY, I WAS ALSO TRVELING AT A SPEED THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN SUFFICENT FOR THEM TO DEPLOY . I RECIEVED MINOR INJURIES, JUST A LOT OF BRUSIES AND MUSCLE STRAINS, BUT NONE THE LESS IF IT HAD BEEN A MORE SEVIRE ACCIDENT IT WOULD BE NICE TO KNOW THAT THE AIR BAGS ARE FUNCITIONAL.*AK

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER
Jan 23, 2002HULL, TX
Crash1 injured

THE TRUCK HAS ALWAYS WALKED ALL OVER THE ROAD WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP .. THIS TIME IT WAS RAINING OUR SON HIT A BUMP AND LOST CONTROL ON THE WET ROAD BECAUSE OF THE TRUCKS... GOIN ALL OVER ROAD WHEN HIT A BUMP HE COULDNT HOLD IT ON THE ROAD WHEN IT WAS WET GOIN 65 MILES HR.. WE THINK THE SHOCKS ARE THE FRONT END THERE A DEFECT IN. *AK

SUSPENSION
May 14, 2025Adairsville, GA
Crash

Rackandpinon replacement was also the upper and lower ball joints my steering is still giving me problems and I feel like it’s asafty concern because if I’m going down the highway I could loose control I have some receipts for what my mechanic replaced I called Toyota and they told me that it was to late to fix anything and that I would have to deal with it I never received a notice in the mail or anywhere else I feel like Toyota owes me Also what has happened is my spare tire feel off from the hanger going up my driveway I got to looking and the cable rusted away along with my rear parking brake cable up under the truck thanks for your time

AIR BAGS
336,000 miAug 28, 2017TORRANCE, CA
Crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THEN LEFT THE ROAD AND COLLIDED WITH A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED DESTROYED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 336,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

AIR BAGS
205,000 miAug 22, 2016GRANVILLE, OH
Crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 205,000.

SUSPENSION
178,000 miOct 17, 2012FORT WAYNE, IN
Crash

THE LOWER BALL JOINT FELL OFF THE TRUCK...THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN 11 MONTHS...ONCE ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND TWICE ON THE LEFT...THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THE VERY ISSUE THAT HAS HAPPENED...AND I BOUGHT IT UNDER WARRANTY SEPTEMBER 2005 FROM TOYOTA, EVANS TOYOTA FORT WAYNE INDIANA...I HAVE SUBMITTED A CLAIM FOR REPAIRS AND DAMAGES TO TOYOTA BUT THEY REFUSED TO HONOR IT...THE TRUCK WAS UNDER RECALL WHEN I BOUGHT IT AND THEY NEVER TOLD ME...I HAVE ALL MY CLAIM AND REPAIR DOCUMENTATION...IT IS A WONDER NO ONE WAS KILLED THE WHEEL JUST COMES OFF WHILE DRIVING...I AM AFRAID THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND I OR SOMEONE ELSE WILL BE KILLED...THE WHEELS ARE NOT SUPPOSE TO COME OFF THIS TRUCK.... *TR

Other Tacoma Years

Other Toyota Models