Known Recalls

Model year record

2002 Toyota Tacoma

3 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 446 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 12V542000

Tires: temporary/emergency spare tire

Component
Tires: temporary/emergency spare tire
Manufacturer
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Vehicles affected
150,000
Reported to NHTSA
2012-11-23
Owners notified
2013-02-15

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 05V225000

Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint

Component
Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint
Manufacturer
TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected
768,379
Reported to NHTSA
2005-05-17
Owners notified
2005-07-05

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

THE LOWER BALL JOINT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 03V189000

Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Component
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Manufacturer
TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected
123,360
Reported to NHTSA
2003-05-19
Owners notified
2003-06-03

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

THIS DAMAGE COULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE IF IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE.

Manufacturer 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.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Structure: body105135,000 mi
Suspension61154,887 mi
Structure: frame and members: underbody shields30124,884 mi
Structure: frame and members2995,000 mi
Unknown or other27131,000 mi
Structure1466,000 mi
Wheels14124,250 mi
Air bags13135,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission115,000 mi
Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint1099,000 mi
Tires840,200 mi
Steering7157,500 mi
Air bags: frontal656,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic530,000 mi
Suspension: front5100,000 mi
Vehicle speed control529,000 mi
Electrical system4100,000 mi
Power train465,000 mi
Suspension: front: shock absorber45,009 mi
Tires: temporary/emergency spare tire480,000 mi
Engine3129,000 mi
Equipment33,000 mi
Seat belts350,000 mi
Wheels: rim38,200 mi
Engine and engine cooling2100,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine219,000 mi
Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking2—
Fuel system, gasoline242,000 mi
Parking brake242,000 mi
Power train: driveline: driveshaft230,000 mi
Power train: manual transmission255,000 mi
Service brakes2140,000 mi
Suspension: rear242,000 mi
Suspension: rear: shock absorber25,009 mi
Suspension: rear: springs: leaf spring assembly261,923 mi
Tires: tread/belt227,053 mi
Vehicle speed control: cruise control215,000 mi
Visibility: windshield2—
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer268,260 mi
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel1221,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood1—
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers160,000 mi
Equipment: mechanical: accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift1—
Exterior lighting1149,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery130,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings199,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly1—
Fuel/propulsion system194,107 mi
Latches/locks/linkages150,000 mi
Parking brake: conventional: mechanical: linkage and cable128,000 mi
Power train: axle assembly1—
Power train: driveline161,923 mi
Power train: driveline: differential unit1—
Seat belts: front: retractor1—
Service brakes, air: disc: rotor120,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components1—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc111,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper113,773 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum149,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum: drum1—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum: shoes/linings1—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder1—
Steering: column locking: anti-theft device1—
Steering: hydraulic power assist: pump1—
Steering: rack and pinion119,714 mi
Structure: body: bumpers160,000 mi
Structure: body: door165,098 mi
Structure: body: door: hinge and attachments120,000 mi
Structure: body: hood1—
Structure: body: tailgate: hinge and attachments150,000 mi
Suspension: front: control arm: upper ball joint1—
Suspension: front: wheel bearing1147,000 mi
Suspension: rear: springs161,923 mi
Suspension: rear: springs: leaf spring assembly: leaf161,923 mi
Tires: bead1—
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal1140,000 mi
Wheels: hub144,000 mi

The 2001 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. The 2003 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.