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exact model and see every recall for it.
Recalls are issued for a make, model and model year. Whether the repair has already been done on one specific car is known only to its manufacturer and dealers. Check your vehicle's official status at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a dealer.
US recalls (1)
Suspension: front, control arm
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk: 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.
Canadian recalls (1)
Show 1 Canadian recall
Suspension
2005-05-18 · campaign 2005-151
On certain vehicles, a manufacturing issue with the front lower ball joint could result in premature wear. If the vehicle is operated for an extended period of time in this condition, the ball joint may eventually experience excessive wear and looseness, resulting in increased steering effort, reduced vehicle self-centering and noise in the front suspension. In extreme cases, when the driver continues to operate the vehicle in this condition, the lower ball joint may separate from the knuckle causing a loss of vehicle steering control. Correction: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the front lower ball joints.
Owner complaints (225)
Owners filed 225 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Toyota 4Runner (19 crashes, 3 fires, 20 injuries reported). Among 43 model years of this model, it ranks #9 for the most complaints (median 65).
| Most-reported problem | Complaints | |
|---|
| Structure | 88 | |
| Suspension | 49 | |
| Power train | 33 | |
| Unknown or other | 30 | |
| Steering | 12 | |
| Engine and engine cooling | 12 | |
| Vehicle speed control | 11 | |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 11 | |
Crash test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2002 Toyota 4Runner.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|
| 2002 Toyota 4Runner 4-DR. | – | – | – | 2★ |
Fuel economy
EPA ratings for each 2002 Toyota 4Runner version.
| Version | City MPG | Highway MPG | Combined | Yearly fuel cost |
|---|
| 4Runner 2WD 3.4 L Automatic 4-spd | 15 | 18 | 16 | $4,200 |
| 4Runner 4WD 3.4 L Automatic 4-spd | 15 | 18 | 16 | $4,200 |
Need this data in your app?
Recalls, complaints, crash ratings and fuel economy as a JSON API. Decode up to 50 VINs per call and get a daily feed of new recalls.
Explore the API →Sources: NHTSA recalls, complaints and 5-Star Safety Ratings, US EPA fuel economy and Transport
Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database (contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada).
Recalls updated 2026-10-30.