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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 (3)
Tires: temporary/emergency spare tire
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.
Risk and remedy
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.
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.
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.
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk: THIS DAMAGE COULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE IF IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE.
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.
Canadian recalls (3)
Show 3 Canadian recalls
Accessories
2012-11-21 · campaign 2012-390
On certain vehicles, excessive corrosion of the spare tire carrier lift plate may cause the separation of the spare tire stowed under the vehicle. The spare tire falling on the road surface creates a safety hazard that may result in a crash causing personal injury and/or property damage. Correction: To be announced.
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.
Fuel system
2003-05-15 · campaign 2003-130
On certain Double Cab vehicles submitted to government crash testing, a flange at the rear end of the Double Cab body could deform, and may interfere with the fuel filler inlet hose which connects the fuel filler pipe and fuel tank. This interference could result in damage to the fuel inlet hose, and in the worst case, if the vehicle rolls over after the crash, fuel could leak from the damaged fuel inlet hose, which may result in a fire if in the presence of an ignition source. Correction: Dealer will install a fuel hose protector on the body flange.
Owner complaints (333)
Owners filed 333 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Toyota Tacoma (26 crashes, 3 fires, 21 injuries reported). Among 32 model years of this model, it ranks #9 for the most complaints (median 243).
| Most-reported problem | Complaints | |
|---|
| Structure | 180 | |
| Suspension | 82 | |
| Unknown or other | 27 | |
| Power train | 21 | |
| Air bags | 19 | |
| Wheels | 18 | |
| Tires | 14 | |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 11 | |
Crash test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2002 Toyota Tacoma.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|
| 2002 Toyota Tacoma Extended Cab | – | – | – | – |
| 2002 Toyota Tacoma 4-DR. | – | – | – | 2★ |
Fuel economy
EPA ratings for each 2002 Toyota Tacoma version.
| Version | City MPG | Highway MPG | Combined | Yearly fuel cost |
|---|
| Tacoma 2WD 2.4 L Automatic 4-spd | 19 | 23 | 21 | $3,200 |
| Tacoma 2WD 2.4 L Manual 5-spd | 19 | 25 | 22 | $3,050 |
| Tacoma 2WD 2.7 L Automatic 4-spd | 17 | 20 | 18 | $3,700 |
| Tacoma 2WD 3.4 L Automatic 4-spd | 15 | 18 | 16 | $4,200 |
| Tacoma 2WD 3.4 L Manual 5-spd | 16 | 21 | 18 | $3,700 |
| Tacoma 4WD 2.7 L Automatic 4-spd | 16 | 19 | 18 | $3,700 |
| Tacoma 4WD 2.7 L Manual 5-spd | 16 | 20 | 17 | $3,950 |
| Tacoma 4WD 3.4 L Automatic 4-spd | 15 | 17 | 16 | $4,200 |
| Tacoma 4WD 3.4 L Manual 5-spd | 15 | 18 | 16 | $4,200 |
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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.