this model yearOf 251 owner complaints for this model year, around 10% describe 22 injuries and 3 fires. These are unverified owner accounts, but the pattern is worth reading before buying.
this model year3 further recall campaigns cover this model year. Ask a dealer which remain outstanding on this car.
Almost all of this describes the model year, not the individual car. Nothing here can tell you about this vehicle’s mileage, accidents or ownership — no identifier encodes those.
Recalls for this model year
3 recalls on record
06E049000
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE 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.
Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
06E026000
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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.
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.
05V225000
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
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.
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.
Published by model year, not by VIN — may not apply to this vehicle, or may already have been done. Confirm with a dealer.
Owner complaints for this model year
251Complaints
22Involved a crash
3Involved a fire
22Injuries
Most reported components
structure89
suspension52
power train36
unknown or other31
service brakes26
hydraulic15
Read 15 of the most serious reports
suspension,structure4 injuriescrash
NHTSA #10978709
TAKATA RECALL. I HAVE A RUSTY FRAME THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED FOR SAFETY REASONS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH FRAME CRACKED AND I ALMOST DIED BECAUSE OF IT TOYOTAS HAVE POOR FRAME THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED
air bags,seat belts,tires3 injuriescrash
NHTSA #10003054
IN OCTOBER '02 I WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS TURNING FROM SOUTH TO WEST AS I WAS TRAVELLING NORTH. MY VEHICLE ENDED UP COLLIDING WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE AT ITS PASSENGER FRONT AXLE AND MY DRIVER SIDE FRONT END. AS CONTACT OCCURRED, I HAD MY WHEELS TURNED HARD TO THE RIGHT THUSLY CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO GRADUALLY WHIP THE BACK END AROUND CAUSING A SIDE IMPACT AS WELL. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS PUSHED NORTHWARD APPROX. 15-25 FEET BEFORE THE COLLISION CAME TO AN END. BOTH VEHICLES WERE DISABLED IN THIS OCCURRENCE WITH DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE AND FRONT ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE OPPOSING VEHICLE. AND, DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END, BOTH SIDES, LEFT REAR WHEEL, AND FRONT ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF MY VEHICLE. THE OPPOSING VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED OUT AND MY VEHICLE HAS INITIAL ESTIMATES IN THE $16,000-$17,000 PRICE RANGE. TO MY COMPLAINT, THREE THINGS HAPPENED THAT BROUGHT ME GREAT CONCERN. FIRST, AS I WAS TRYING TO AVOID THE COLLISION WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE BY APPLYING MY BRAKES AND TURNING MY WHEELS, THE LEFT REAR TIRE SLIPPED OFF OF THE FRAME OF THE WHEEL INSTANTLY DEFLATING LEAVING ME WITH ONLY ONE GOOD TIRE TO BRAKE ON. SECOND, UPON CONTACT WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE, MY SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK OUT CAUSING ME TO BE JETTISONED UP OUT OF MY SEAT AND FORWARD INTO THE FRAMEWORK WHERE THE ROOF, FRONT WINDSHIELD, AND DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW COME TOGETHER. HEAD, NECK, AND HIGH SPINAL INJURIES OCCURRED. THIRDLY, THE AIR BAGS AT NO TIME DEPLOYED. SPEED ESTIMATES UPON IMPACT WERE APPROX. 30MPH. UPON DOING RESEARCH, I HAVE COME TO FIND THAT MOST AIR BAGS ARE SET TO DEPLOY IN ACCIDENTS WHERE MORE THAN 50% OF THE FRONT END HAS DAMAGE AND THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 12-18MPH. I THOUGHT GOING INTO THE PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE I WAS MAKING A WISE DECISION BOTH IN TERMS OF VALUE AND SAFETY PERFORMANCE. I THOUGHT WRONG!
seat belts2 injuriescrash
NHTSA #11043443
I WAS AT A FULL STOP, BEHIND A LINE OF CARS, AT A RED LIGHT, ON A CITY STREET. A JEEP LIBERTY SUV REAR-ENDED ME AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, PUSHING ME INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, AND TOTALING MY VEHICLE. MY SHOULDER BELT DID NOT LOCK IN PLACE, CAUSING ME TO HIT, AND CRACK, THE WINDSHIELD, WITH THE LEFT FRONTAL ASPECT OF MY SKULL, RESULTING IN A CONCUSSION. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE THAT RAN INTO ME, WAS TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. WHILE MY CAR WAS AT THE COLLISION REPAIR CENTER, BEFORE IT WAS TAKEN TO SALVAGE, I WENT TO GATHER MY BELONGINGS THAT WERE INSIDE MY 4RUNNER. AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE MANAGER, I REPEATEDLY TESTED BOTH THE DRIVER, AND FRONT PASSENGER SHOULDER BELTS, BY ABRUPTLY AND RAPIDLY PULLING ON THEM. THE DRIVER SIDE BELT ONLY LOCKED IN PLACE ONCE, DURING APPROXIMATELY 10 TRIALS. THE PASSENGER SHOULDER BELT LOCKED IN PLACE EVERY TIME.
air bags2 injuriescrash
NHTSA #10120728
HAD AN SIDE IMPACT ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WAS HIT BY A TRUCK TRAVELING BETWEEN 45-50 MPH. STRUCK RIGHT IN FRONT OF DRIVERS DOOR. DRIVERS HEAD WENT THROUGH DRIVERS WINDOW. VEHICLE WAS EQUIPED WITH SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED ENOUGH TO BE CONSIDERED TOTALED. (ESTIMATE WAS OVER $23,000) TO FIX. WANT TO KNOW WHAT WENT WRONG? PAID EXTRA FOR AIRBAGS THAT DIDN'T WORK. WHO'S RESPONSIBLE?
wheels2 injuriescrash
NHTSA #767038
WHILE DRIVING ON A 2 LANE, SMOOTH, DRY, SUNNY ROAD, FRONT WHEEL ASSEBLY FOLDED UNDER THE CAR , CAUSING A COLLISION WITH A RETAINING WALL, AFTER WHICH THE TIRE BROKE AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE WHICH SLID TO A STOP.*AK
air bags1 injurycrash
NHTSA #11110848
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED UPPER AND LOWER BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR BODY REPAIR, BUT THE AIR BAG FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
air bags1 injurycrash
NHTSA #11055734
AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN TOTAL LOSS ACCIDENT. SENSOR WAS DAMAGED, YET DID NOT DEPLOY THE AIRBAG TOYOTA COMPANY WOULD NOT GIVE THE MAKE AND NAME OF THE AIRBAG
air bags1 injurycrash
NHTSA #11000680
AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND TOYOTA WOULD NOT GIVE THE NAME AND TYPE AND BRAND AND THE MAKER NAMES OF THE AIRBAG. TOYOTA IS ASKING ME TO GO TO COURT TO HAVE THE COURT ORDER THEM TO RELEASE THE AIRBAG SPECIFICATIONS AND THE TYPE AND BRAND AND THE MAKER. CAN YOU MAKE TOYOTA GIVE ME THIS INFORMATION?
air bags1 injurycrash
NHTSA #10610807
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, SHE CRASHED INTO A LIGHT POLE AND THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER THREE TIMES. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY, A BROKEN ARM, AND SUSTAINED CUTS ON HER LEGS FROM THE BROKEN GLASS THAT WERE STITCHED. THE CONTACT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DECLARED TOTALED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
structure,vehicle speed control1 injurycrash
NHTSA #10490505
I HAVE ALREADY FILED A SAFETY COMPLAINT REGARDING MY SUDDEN ACCELERATION ACCIDENT APPROXIMATELY 4 YEARS AGO. I NOTICED THAT TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR TOYOTA 4RUNNERS GOING BACK TO 2003. MY VEHICLE IS A 2002. BASICALLY, I'M WRITING TO URGE NHTSA TO ASKTOYOTA WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT THE GAS PEDAL ASSEMBLY FROM 2003 TO 2002 BECAUSE THERE IS NO DOUBT THERE WAS A MAJOR MALFUNCTION WITH MY CAR AND IF THE ASSEMBLE & PARTS MANUFACTURES IS THE SAME FROM 03 TO 02 THEN THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED. ALSO, THE OTHER MAIN REASON I'M WRITING YOU IS SO THAT THERE IS A RECORD OF ME REQUESTING MY VEHICLE BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL SO THAT WAY IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME AGAIN WE WILL HAVE A RECORD OF IT. *TR
vehicle speed control1 injurycrash
NHTSA #10318528
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 5 MPH ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A NEARBY VEHICLE AND THEN INTO A BUILDING. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED FOR THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED, THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS AT 160000, THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 185000. UPDATED 05/07/2010. *LJ THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS INJURED. UPDATED 09/13/10
air bags1 injurycrash
NHTSA #10172387
2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL COLLISION THAT BENT THE FRAME & TOTALED THE VEHICLE. *NM
DT: ITHE CONTACT HAD 2002 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER SERVICED AT DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF BRAKE PROBLEMS AND THE ABS LIGHT WAS ON. HAD BRAKE PROBLEMS SEVERAL TIMES ,AND HAD VEHICLE SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT TOLD DEALERSHIP WHEELS KEPT LOCKING , AND SHE DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVINGTHE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP LEFT PARTS OFF THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT FOUND THE PARTS IN TRUNK. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO SAID IT HAPPEND BECAUSE BRAKE FLUID LEAK. ALSO, A TAIL LIGHT WAS OUT. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT TWO WEEKS AGO, DID NOT HIT ANYONE. WAS GOING SOUTH AND ENDED UP GOING WEST. THE WHEELS LOCKED, AND VEHICLE WENT COMPLETELY TO THE RIGHT, HIT THE SHOULDER, AND FLIPPED OVER. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE CONTACT WORE SEAT BELTS, AND WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH. THE ROADS WERE CLEAR AND DRY. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
suspension1 injurycrash
NHTSA #10121339
FRONT END FAILED VEHICLE GOT OUT OF CONTROL AND HIT THE WALL TOYOTA 4 RUNNER YR 2002
engine and engine coolingfire
NHTSA #10354507
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH SHE HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SHE PULLED OVER AND SHE OBSERVED SMOKE AND OIL COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT ONE OF THE PISTONS PIERCED AND ENGINE BLOCK NEAR THE OIL FILTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 76,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Filed by owners of this model year and unverified by NHTSA — one person’s account, not an established fact.