2002 Toyota Tundra Reliability
The 2002 Toyota Tundra has 511 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about body structure and service brakes. Compared with nearby Tundra model years (2000–2004), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Tundra's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
511
NHTSA owner complaints
6
Recall campaigns
33
Complaints citing a crash
1
Complaints citing a fire
2002 Toyota Tundra complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2002 model year, filed between 2002 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Body structure | 155 | 30% |
| Service brakes | 121 | 24% |
| Suspension | 85 | 17% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 55 | 11% |
| Steering | 39 | 8% |
| Unknown or other | 31 | 6% |
| Air bags | 23 | 5% |
| Fuel system | 17 | 3% |
2002 Toyota Tundra recalls
6 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2002 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02V129000 | May 1, 2002 | Wheels | 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… |
| 05V225000 | May 17, 2005 | 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… |
| 06E026000 | Mar 23, 2006 | 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… |
| 06E065000 | Jul 17, 2006 | Exterior lighting | Certain aj motorsport combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above listed passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108,… |
| 09E025000 | May 11, 2009 | Exterior lighting — headlights | Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety… |
| 09V444000 | Nov 18, 2009 | Body structure — frame and members / underbody shields | 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,… |
How the 2002 compares with nearby Tundra years
Verdicts compare these Tundra model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1,026 | 7 | Body structure | Avoid |
| 2001 | 421 | 5 | Body structure | Avoid |
| 2002 (this page) | 511 | 6 | Body structure | Avoid |
| 2003 | 411 | 10 | Body structure | Caution |
| 2004 | 466 | 13 | Body structure | Caution |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2002 Toyota Tundra
- Body: look under the car for rust or damaged subframe and rocker areas, and check panel gaps for signs of repair.
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Suspension: listen for clunks over bumps, look for leaking struts and uneven tire wear.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 6 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2002 Toyota Tundra can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2002 Toyota Tundra reliability FAQ
Is the 2002 Toyota Tundra reliable?
The 2002 Toyota Tundra has 511 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about body structure and service brakes. Compared with nearby Tundra model years (2000–2004), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Tundra's typical year.
What are the most common 2002 Toyota Tundra problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2002 Toyota Tundra are body structure (155), service brakes (121), suspension (85), powertrain / transmission (55). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2002 Toyota Tundra have recalls?
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2002 Toyota Tundra, including 02V129000 (wheels) and 05V225000 (suspension — front / control arm / lower ball joint). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2002 Toyota Tundra compare with the 2001 and 2003 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2001 has 421 complaints and 5 recalls (avoid); the 2003 has 411 complaints and 10 recalls (caution). The 2002 has 511 complaints and 6 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2002 Toyota Tundra?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Toyota Tundra research
Other Toyota Tundra model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2002 Tundra, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.