Page 7 of 7 · complaints 301–333 of 333

2002 Toyota Tacoma complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2002 record →

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Drum › Shoes/Linings
Filed Aug 29, 2003CA

BRAKING PROBLEMS WITH A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA 4X4. SHAKING OF TRUCK WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. FRONT BRAKES WERE RESURFACED AND ADJUSTED ON 8/6/03. PROBLEM CONTINUED AND I WAS CHARGED TO REPLACE REAR DRUMS & SHOES ON A TRUCK WITH LESS THAN 30000 MILES ON 8/15/03. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise Control
Filed Aug 29, 2003AZ

TRUCK DASH HAS RATTLED SINCE SHORTLY AFTER WE BOUGHT THE TRUCK. NEVER HAS BEEN FIXED CORRECTLY. ALSO, THE CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T KEEP YOU AT CONSISTENT SPEED AT ALL ON MOUNTAINS/HILLS. IF YOU WANT TO GO 55, IT WILL PUT YOU UP OVER 60 VERY QUICKLY AND THEN GRADUALLY DROP YOU DOWN TO AROUND 55. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Aug 22, 200319,000 milesCA

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, AND SHORTLY AFTER VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. *AK THE CONSUMER HEARD THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. *SCC *JB

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly
Filed Aug 22, 2003TX

DEALERSHIP DOESN'T HAVE THE EQUIPMENT TO PERFORM FUEL LEAKAGE RECALL 03 V 189 000 REPAIRS WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME.*AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Aug 10, 20035,000 milesCA

FOR THE LAST YEAR I HAVE BROUGHT TRUCK BACK TO SF TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS , SUSPENSION PROBLEMS RATTLING DASH BOARD, SQUEAKING SOUNDS FROM SEAT AND FRONT BUSHINGS. ALL THESE PROBLEMS STILL HAVE NOT BEEN FIXED. AFTER 15 VISITS TO DEALERSHIP, SF TOYOTA LEFT SCRATCHES ON BODY AND LOST MUD FLAP. BODY NOW TILTED AFTER SERVICE. *NLM

Air Bags › FrontalCrash2 injured
Filed Jul 30, 2003PA

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

Structure › Body › HoodCrash
Filed Jul 11, 2003SC

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH HOOD FLEW OPEN AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. DUE TO NO VISIBILITY THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. VEHICLE HIT THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED ON 7/10/2003. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Caliper
Filed Jun 13, 200313,773 milesOR

THE BRAKES ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY TOYOTA TACOMA PICKUP ARE DRAGGING MAKING IS DIFFICULT TO STEER. WHEN TOYOTA DEALERSHIP PULLED THE WHEELS OFF THE TRUCK AND CHECKED THE BRAKES THERE WAS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE WEAR ON THE FRONT RIGHT BREAK PADS THEN THE LEFT SIDE. I HAD THE BREAKS REPLACED AND KEPT THE WORN OUT BRAKES FOR YOUR INSPECTION. IT APPEARS THE RIGHT-SIDE CALIPER FAILED MAKING IT HARD TO STEER AND CAUSING THE BRAKES ON THE RIGHT SIDE TO WEAR OUT IN LESS THAN 15,000 MILES. TOYOTA SAYS THIS IS NORMAL EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. *NLM

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Jun 4, 200330,000 milesGA

THE BRAKES VIBRATE UPON DECREASING SPEED FROM 60 MPH OR MORE. THE LONGER DRIVEN, THE NECESSARY SPEED FOR VIBRATION DECREASES TO LOWER SPEEDS. THE PROBLEM INTENSIFIES THE HIGHER THE GRADE IS ON ANY DOWNHILL. I HAVE REPLACED PADS TWICE AND ROTORS ONCE. AS I BEGIN TO REPLACE THE CALIPERS, I FIND THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THOSE ON THE TUNDRA AND A LIST OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT TACOMA'S BRAKES. *NLM

Wheels › Rim
Filed Jun 4, 2003NM

SEVERAL REPAIRS TO WHEELS AND TIRES. RE:STEVE & KATHY MITTMAN *MR THE CONSUMER HAD BEEN TO THREE TOYOTA DEALERS IN PERFORMING REPAIRS TO THE WHEELS AND TIRES. BEAVER TOYOTA PERFORMED TWO COMPLETE ALIGNMENTS AND REPLACED THREE WHEELS THAT WERE OUT OF SPECIFICATIONS. AMERICAN TOYOTA HAS PERFORMED A COMPLETE ALIGNMENT, MOUNTED AND BALANCED ALL THE TIRES ON THE WHEELS, PRIOR TO REPLACEMENT BY BEAVER TOYOTA. KARL MALONE HAD REPLACED TWO TIRES THAT WERE FOUND TO HAVE EXCESSIVE RUN OUT, AS WELL AS MOUNT AND BALANCED ALL FOUR TIRES ON THE NEW WHEELS. THE MANUFACTURER AGREED THAT THIS WAS A DEFECT BUT DECLINED TO REPLACE ALL FIVE TIRES AND THE RIMS DUE TO SOURCES WHO STATED THE TIRES WERE WITHIN SPECIFICATION. *SCC *JB

Wheels › Rim
Filed May 20, 20038,200 milesNM

DEFECTIVE RIMS AND TIRES.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed May 13, 20033,000 milesTN

TRANSMISSION "CLUNKS" ON STOPS AND SURGES AFTER BRAKE IS RELEASED FROM STOP. FEELS LIKE YOU'VE BEEN REAR ENDED. DEALER SAID THIS IS NORMAL, "THEY ALL DO IT". I CONTACTED TOYOTA HQ AND THEY REFUSED TO COMMENT ON PROBLEM. VEHICLE VALUE IS GREATLY DIMINISHED. *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed May 7, 200323,500 milesCO

2002 TOYOTA DOUBLE CAB 4X4 DURING MOUNTAIN DRIVING, MY FRONT BRAKES WILL MAKE THE TRUCK SHAKE. I WOULD DESCRIBE THE FEELING LIKE BAD ABS, HOWEVER, I DO NOT HAVE ABS. THIS PROBLEM ONLY SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN I AM GOING DOWNHILL (LIKE LOVELAND PASS). THE SHUTTERING DOES NOT DEPEND ON THE SPEED OF DECELERATION. ONCE IT STARTS IT SEEM TO BE THERE UNTIL THE BRAKES HAVE PLENTY OF COOLING TIME. I HAD IT INTO THE DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT OR GET IT TO DO IT. HOWEVER LAST TIME I WAS IN FOR OTHER REPAIRS, THE SERVICE MANAGER MENTIONED THAT 2000-2003 TUNDRA'S HAD A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM BUT THERE WAS NOT ONE FOR THE TACOMA. I TRIED TO LOOK UP INFORMATION TO SEE IF THE BRAKING SYSTEMS CONSISTED OF THE SAME COMPONENTS, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. *JB

Suspension › Front › Shock Absorber
Filed Apr 30, 20037,500 milesWA

FRONT AND REAR SHOCKS. *JB

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Apr 26, 200327,053 milesFL

DUNLOP GRAND TREK TIRE P256 /70/ R16 THE REAR RIGHT BLOWOUT @ 72 MPH ON I-75 IN MIAMI, FLA. PARTIALLY LOSE CONTROL. 90% OF THE ENTIRE TIRE SEPARATED BELT/THREAD/STEEL. IT WAS THE ORIGINAL TIRE ON A 2002 TACOMA WITH 27053 MILES. *NLM

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder
Filed Mar 18, 2003CA

THE MASTER CYLINDER IS LEAKED. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *NLM

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Mar 9, 20036,800 milesNY

ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS OVER A WEEKS TIME SPAN WHILE DRIVING MY TRUCK IT HAS ACCELERATED BY ITSELF. WHEN I HAVE TAKEN MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL THE TRUCK CONTINUED TO GO FASTER AND WAS HARD TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP. I BROUGHT THE TRUCK TO A TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS TOLD IF THEY COULD GET THE VEHICLE TO DO THIS THEY COULD FIX IT. THEY KEPT THE TRUCK FOR A DAY AND DROVE IT BUT THE TRUCK RAN NORMAL. THEY SAID IT RAN FINE AND TOLD ME TO COME AND PICK IT UP. *NLM

Structure
Filed Feb 14, 200335,000 milesME

WATER IS ENTERING THE VEHICLE AROUND THE SUPPORT HANDLE ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ONE YEAR AGO. PROBLEM BECAME EVIDENT THIS PAST FALL AND WHEN BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP THIS FEBRUARY THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR UNDER THE CORROSION WARRANTY. VEHICLE IS OVER THE STANDARD WARRANTY MILEAGE.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jan 3, 2003AZ

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS TOO SOON, MAKING THE ENGINE STRUGGLE AND VIBRATE AT LOW RPMS. WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID ALL THE NEW 4 CYLINDER TRUCKS WERE LIKE THIS. AT 12000 MILES, THE VALVES ARE TAPPING AT IDLE, AND THE HOOD VIBRATES. SEEING THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS FORUM, I NOW REMEMBER HOW SQUIRLY THE TRUCK GETS AFTER GOING OVER BUMPS. THAT WOULD EXPLAIN THE BAD FRONT SHOCKS. I HOPE I DON'T GET INTO A BAD ACCIDENT KNOWING THE AIR BAGS ARE NOT GOING TO WORK.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Dec 18, 20025,009 milesCA

BROUGHT TRUCK TO TOYOTA SERVICE FOR 5000 MILE SERVICE REPORTED AUTO TRANS JUMP IN GEAR SHIFT FROM 1ST TO SECOND (MECHANIC SAID NEEDED NEW TRANSMISSION, AFTER LEAVING SERVICE STATION NOTICED TRUCK WASN'T DRIVING PROPERLY BROUGHT TRUCK BACK MECHANIC SAID NEEDS NEW FRONT SHOCK AND REAR SHOCK. NOW IT DID NOT NEED NEW TRANSMISSION EVEN THOUGH IT STILL JUMPS FROM GEAR TO GEAR.

Suspension › Front › Shock Absorber
Filed Dec 17, 20023,000 milesCA

TRANSMISSION JUMPS FROM FIRST TO SECOND AND SECOND TO THIRD TRANSMISSION SLIPS BACKWARD ON HILL IN DRIVE

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
Filed Oct 15, 2002NC

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL AND GAS PEDAL ARE LOCATED TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR,AND IF YOUR FOOT IS NOT IN THE MIDDLE OF PEDAL IT CAN HIT THE GAS PEDAL. MRJLG

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Sep 23, 2002CA

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

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed May 21, 2002OK

TRANSMISSION "CLUNKS" ON STOPS AND SURGES AFTER BRAKE IS RELEASED FROM STOP. DEALER SAID THIS IS NORMAL. I CONTACTED TOYOTA HQ AND THEY REFUSED TO COMMENT ON PROBLEM. SAID DEALER IS THE EXPERT. I GUESS THE EXPERTISE OF THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE IS LEFT UP TO THE DEALERS NOT TOYOTA.*AK

Visibility › Windshield
Filed May 14, 2002NY

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HAS TO BEND TOO FAR DOWN TO OPEN WINDOWS . CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Apr 6, 2002AZ

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

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Mar 21, 2002CA

AFTER ABOUT 1100 MILES WE STARTED TO GET A BAD SHUDDER WHEN SETTING OF, TOYOTA SAID THIS NORMAL, THE TRUCK AS NOW STARTED TO SHUDDER GOING FROM 1ST TO 2ND, TOYOTA SAID THIS IS NORMAL, THEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO VIBRATE THROUGH THE CAB AT 3000 MILES,TOYOTA SAID THIS IS NORMAL, THE TRANSMISSION THEN STARTED HARD SHIFTING,CHANGING UP,THE LATER CHANGING DOWN, NOW WHEN PULLING GRADES AND THE TRANSMISSION GOES INTO 4TH GEAR THERE IS A VIBRATION ALL THROUGH THE DRIVE LINE AND CAB, WHEN IN CRUISE THE TRANSMISSION HUNTS UP AND FOR NO REASON, TOYOTA SAYS ALL THIS IS PERFECTLY NORMAL ALTHOUGH 2 TOYOTA TECHS AGREED THERE IS A PROBLEM 2 INDEPENDANT GARAGES SAID THERE IS A PROBLEM, EVERY TIME WE TAKE IT FOR REPAIR TO THE DEALERSHIP TOYOTA TELLS US THERE IS NOTHING WRONG EVEN THOUGH THE DEALERSHIP AS SAID THERE IS A PROBLEM TOYOTA REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

Equipment
Filed Feb 21, 2002RI

WHEN USING THE JACK HANDLE TO LOWER THE SPARE TIRE, IT GET LODGED IN THE SLOTS. THE HOOKED SHAPE RENDERS IT IMPOSIBLE TO REMOVE EASILY MAKING TIRE CHANGING VERY DANGEROUS. THE SIMPLE FIX IS TO PROVIDE A SECOND INCERT TO BE USED TO LOWER THE TIRE. THIS WOULD NOT HAVE A HOOKED END THUS AVOIDING GETTING HUNG UP ON THE SHIELD AROUND THE LOWERING SLOT NUT.

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Feb 6, 2002CA

VEHICLE PURCHASED W/ CMPR SHELL - NO BOOT INSTALLED - ALLOWS RAIN WTR TO OBSTRUCT REAR VIEW, GREATLY REDUCING VISIBILITY, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT.

Suspension › Front › Shock AbsorberCrash1 injured
Filed Jan 23, 2002TX

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

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jan 15, 2002NC

TRANSMISSION LINE BLEW OFF, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STOP ACCELERATING. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. MECHANIC REPLACED HOSES AND ADDED A CLAMP.*AK

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Dec 9, 2001CA

TREAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2UL AWN TIRESIZE: P205/75R15)

Electrical System › Wiring › Front UnderhoodFire
Filed Nov 1, 2001CA

CONSUMER HAD JUST BOUGHT VEHICLE AND DROVE HOME,PARKED VEHICLE AND CUT ENGINE OFF . VEHICLE BUSTED INTO FLAMES. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT WHEN CONSUMER GETS FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT TO CALL BACK. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

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