VehicleVerdict

2002 Toyota Tundra problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 645 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 3.0 times the median Tundra year — the 2002 model ranks #4 of 28 Tundra years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Reports tied to this model year include 5 deaths and 27 injuries, per the complaint records themselves.

Body & Structure leads the complaint categories with 162 reports (25% of the total).

645

NHTSA complaints

6

Recalls

3

Investigations

39

Crash-involved

2

Fires reported

27

Injuries

5

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2002 compare to other Tundra years?

See all Tundra years to avoid →

What are the most common 2002 Toyota Tundra problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Body & Structure16225%
Brakes14022%
Suspension9515%
Transmission538%
Steering386%
Other335%
Tires & Wheels244%
Fuel System213%
Airbags213%
Speed Control142%
Engine112%
Electrical System102%
Lighting81%
Seat Belts71%
Visibility & Wipers41%
Latches & Locks30%
Seats10%

Does the 2002 Toyota Tundra have recalls?

6 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

09V444000Body & StructureNovember 18, 2009 · 110,000 units

Defect

TOYOTA IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2000-2003 TUNDRA VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: 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. EXCESSIVE CORROSION OF THE REAR CROSS MEMBER MAY CAUSE THE SEPARATION OF THE SPARE TIRE STOWED UNDER THE TRUCK BED WHICH WOULD PRESENT A ROAD HAZARD THAT COULD CAUSE A CRASH. ALSO, CORROSION OF THE REAR CROSS MEMBER COULD AFFECT THE REAR BRAKE LINES AND THE PROPORTIONING VALVE RESULTING IN DIMINISHED BRAKING CAPABILITY.

Consequence

SEPARATION OF THE SPARE TIRE AND DIMINISHED BRAKE CAPACITY COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

TOYOTA IS ASKING OWNERS OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES TO REMOVE THE SPARE TIRE FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE UNTIL A REMEDY CAN BE OBTAINED. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR CROSS MEMBER AND RELATED COMPONENTS, INCLUDING THE BRAKE LINES, AND REPLACE THEM IF NECESSARY. IF THE CROSS MEMBER DOES NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED, IT WILL BE SPRAYED WITH A CORROSION PROTECTION COMPOUND. THESE SERVICES WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE, HOWEVER MULTIPLE VISITS TO THE DEALER MAY BE REQUIRED. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT APRIL 30, 2010. OWNER MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

09E025000LightingMay 11, 2009 · 42,540 units

Defect

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Consequence

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

06E065000LightingJuly 17, 2006 · 3,593 units

Defect

CERTAIN AJ MOTORSPORT COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Consequence

LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

AJ MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AJ MOTORSPORT AT 626-618-2026.

06E026000LightingMarch 23, 2006 · 61,944 units

Defect

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Consequence

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy

PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

05V225000SuspensionMay 17, 2005 · 768,379 units

Defect

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.

02V129000Tires & WheelsMay 1, 2002 · 3,041 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN 4X2 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN ALLOY WHEEL TIRE UPGRADE (OPTIONS WM4, WM8, ZL1-ZL4, DH4, OR DH5) INSTALLED BY THE PROCESSING CENTERS IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA OR COMMERCE, GEORGIA, A LABEL IDENTIFYING THE SPARE TIRE AS A TEMPORARY USE SPARE TIRE WAS NOT INSTALLED. THE UPGRADE INCLUDES 4 LARGER SIZE TIRES WITH ALLOY WHEELS. THE ORIGINAL SPARE TIRE/STEEL WHEEL IS NOT PART OF THE UPGRADE AND WAS NOT CHANGED.

Consequence

DIFFERENT OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS CAN BE EXPERIENCED WHEN THE SPARE TIRE IS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE.

Remedy

OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A CAUTION LABEL AND AN INSERT FOR THEIR OWNER'S MANUAL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 15, 2002. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

CAB SEPARATED FROM CHASSIS. CAB IS ATTACHED TO CHASSIS AT 4 FLANGES WELDED TO FRAME. 2 EACH 10 MM BOLTS CONNECT CAB TO EACH FLANGE. A 71 MM HOLE EXISTS IN FLANGE BETWEEN THE 2 EACH 13 MM HOLES FOR THE 10 MM BOLTS. ONLY 6 MM OF FLANGE STEEL EXISTS BETWEEN 13 MM HOLES AND 71 MM HOLE. CAB SEPARATED BY…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Body & Structure · October 31, 2002 · crash

2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA FRONT BRAKE SEVERE FRONT END SHIMMY WHEN BRAKING,CAUSED ME TO RUN OFF ROAD INTO GUARD RAIL. TOYOTA REFUSED TO ADMIT TO FRONT BRAKE PROBLEM WHEN IN WARRANTY AND NOW OUT. WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEMS WITH THESE CALIPERS NOT ENOUGH DEATHS OBVIOUSLY TO WARRANT RECALL. *TR

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · December 16, 2008 · crash

2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA FRONT DRIVERS SIDE BALL JOINT AND SPINDLE FAILED. *TS AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE LANDED IN A CULVERT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO EXPLAINED THAT A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURES…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Suspension · November 10, 2005 · crash

THE FRONT END STEERING RACK LET GO, THEN THE BALL JOINTS LET GO AND THE WHOLE FRONT END FELL OUT CAUSING 4,500.00 IN DAMAGE AS WELL AS INJURY TO MY BACK. *JB

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · April 14, 2005 · crash

I WAS DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE 5 ON MY WAY TO WORK AT 70MPH AND AS I WAS ON THE CAUSEWAY THE LOWER BALL JOINT CAME OFF CAUSING MY FRONT TIRE TO COME OFF AND IT RESULTED IN A CRASH THAT TOTALLED MY TRUCK AND DAMAGE TO ME AS WELL .

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Steering · June 29, 2017 · crash

2002 Toyota Tundra — common questions

Is the 2002 Toyota Tundra reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 645 complaints put the 2002 model at #4 of 28 Tundra years. It is one of the Tundra years to avoid.

What are the most common 2002 Tundra problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are body & structure (162 complaints), brakes (140 complaints), suspension (95 complaints).

Does the 2002 Toyota Tundra have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns affecting the 2002 Toyota Tundra. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2002 Toyota Tundra under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened 3 investigations into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Toyota Tundra years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Tundra years to avoid are 2000, 2006, 2004, 2002, 2022, 2023, 2001, 2007, 2003, 2005, 2024, 2008. The cleanest record among Tundra years belongs to 1999.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.