The Used Car Index

2002 Toyota Tundra problems

NHTSA lists 482 complaints for the 2002 Toyota Tundra, 30 of them mention a crash and 1 mention a fire. 16 complaints mention an injury, with 20 injuries and 3 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-09.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as TOYOTA TUNDRA.

At a glance

Complaints
482
With crash
30
With fire
1
With injury (complaints)
16
Injuries
20
Deaths
3
Recalls
3
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
768,379
Investigations
3
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
126

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. The required sales year is missing.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
STRUCTURE15432.0%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC9720.1%
SUSPENSION8116.8%
POWER TRAIN5110.6%
STEERING387.9%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER306.2%
AIR BAGS214.4%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE163.3%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL142.9%
SERVICE BRAKES132.7%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
STRUCTUREBODY76
STRUCTUREFRAME AND MEMBERS64
SUSPENSIONFRONT43
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICFOUNDATION COMPONENTS40
POWER TRAINAUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION16
POWER TRAINDRIVELINE7
POWER TRAINAXLE ASSEMBLY5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP4
AIR BAGSFRONTAL3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGEXHAUST SYSTEM3

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

3 recalls.

09V444000

Date: 2009-11-18. Systems: STRUCTURE.

Defect: TOYOTA IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2000-2003 TUNDRA VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: 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. EXCESSIVE CORROSION OF T (excerpt)

Consequence: SEPARATION OF THE SPARE TIRE AND DIMINISHED BRAKE CAPACITY COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. (excerpt)

Remedy: TOYOTA IS ASKING OWNERS OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES TO REMOVE THE SPARE TIRE FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE UNTIL A REMEDY CAN BE OBTAINED. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR CROSS MEMBER AND RELATED COMPONENTS, INCLUDING THE BRAKE LINES, AND REPLACE THEM IF NECESSARY. IF THE CROSS MEMBER DOES NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED, IT WILL BE SPRAYED WITH A CORROSION PROTECTION COMPOUND. THESE SERVICES WILL BE PERFORMED FRE (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

05V225000

Date: 2005-05-17. Systems: SUSPENSION.

Defect: 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.

Consequence: 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.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

02V129000

Date: 2002-05-01. Systems: WHEELS.

Defect: ON CERTAIN 4X2 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN ALLOY WHEEL TIRE UPGRADE (OPTIONS WM4, WM8, ZL1-ZL4, DH4, OR DH5) INSTALLED BY THE PROCESSING CENTERS IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA OR COMMERCE, GEORGIA, A LABEL IDENTIFYING THE SPARE TIRE AS A TEMPORARY USE SPARE TIRE WAS NOT INSTALLED. THE UPGRADE INCLUDES 4 LARGER SIZE TIRES WITH ALLOY WHEELS. THE ORIGINAL SPARE TIRE/STEEL WHEEL IS NOT PART OF THE UPGRADE A (excerpt)

Consequence: DIFFERENT OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS CAN BE EXPERIENCED WHEN THE SPARE TIRE IS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE. (excerpt)

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A CAUTION LABEL AND AN INSERT FOR THEIR OWNER'S MANUAL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 15, 2002. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

3 investigations; 0 open.

PE09049

Opened: 2009-10-06. Closed: 2010-01-26.

FRAME CORROSION

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED BASED ON 20 REPORTS OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 2000 AND 2001 VEHICLES EXPERIENCING SEVERE CORROSION OF THE FRAME, RESULTING IN EITHER UNDER-BODY MOUNTED SPARE TIRE SEPARATION OR REAR BRAKE FAILURE.THE FAILURE REPORT COUNTS SHOWN ABOVE ARE FOR MY 2000 AND 2001 VEHICLES ONLY.BY LETTER OF NOVEMBER 16, 2009 TOYOTA HAS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (09V-

Systems: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, STRUCTURE, TIRES.

Linked campaign numbers: 09V444000.

EA04024

Opened: 2004-08-20. Closed: 2005-07-08.

BALL JOINT SEPARATION

ODI RECEIVED 3 CONSUMER REPORTS OF ALLEGED BALL JOINT SEPARATION ON MY 2002 TUNDRA VEHICLES.THE COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT A FRONT SUSPENSION BALL JOINT SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING, WHICH CAUSED THE SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE AND RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.BASED ON THESE COMPLAINTS, ODI OPENED PE02-040 AND LATER UPGRADED TO EA04-024 FOR MY 2002 TUNDRA VEHICLES.DURING EA04-024, ADDITIONAL FAILURE DA

Systems: SUSPENSION.

Linked campaign numbers: 05V225000.

PE04040

Opened: 2004-04-13. Closed: 2004-08-20.

FRONT SUSPENSION BALL JOINT BREAKAGE

ODI OPENED PE04-040 BASED ON THREE CONSUMER REPORTS OF ALLEGED BALL JOINT FAILURE.THE COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT A FRONT SUSPENSION BALL JOINT SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING, WHICH CAUSED THE SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE AND RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.ALL OF THESE COMPLAINTS INVOLVED THE FAILURE OF A LOWER BALL JOINT.DURING THE INVESTIGATION, TOYOTA IDENTIFIED A TOTAL OF 15 COMPLAINTS OF LOWER BALL JOIN

Systems: SUSPENSION.

Linked campaign numbers: None listed.

Manufacturer communications

126 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
EQUIPMENT39
STRUCTURE28
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM17
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING11
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC9
AIR BAGS7
ENGINE7
POWER TRAIN7

11012742

Date: 2024-12-06. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.

Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfa

11012743

Date: 2024-12-06. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.

To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer.

11012744

Date: 2024-12-06. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.

The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof,

11012735

Date: 2024-12-05. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.

Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. Follow the Removal Procedure in this bulletin to remove the RapgardTM protective film wi

11012727

Date: 2024-12-03. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.

Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. This type of contamination can be identified by the presence of small, red or brown particles on the paint surfa

11006150

Date: 2024-07-12. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.

To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer.

11006151

Date: 2024-07-12. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.

The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof,

11007443

Date: 2024-07-12. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.

Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfa

11007444

Date: 2024-07-12. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.

To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer.

11007445

Date: 2024-07-12. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.

The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof,

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
TUNDRA482

Same model, other years

All model years | All Toyota models

Other Toyota models, 2002

Sources

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