The Lemon Index2002 Toyota Tacoma.
The 2002 Toyota Tacoma is one of the most reliable years by owner complaints: 54 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 34, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about suspension, it has 5 recalls, and it gets 16 to 22 mpg combined. The best Toyota Tacoma year is 2022.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 333 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every Toyota Tacoma year. 2002 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 66K to 162K miles on the car (244 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- body structure complaints mostly came at 80K–165K miles
- suspension complaints mostly came at 87K–169K miles
Recalls 5
- tires 2012
The spare tire in the subject vehicles is located underneath the rear of the vehicle and held by a sp.
- lights 2006
CERTAIN AJ MOTORSPORT COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES.
- lights 2006
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE.
Show all 5 recalls
- suspension 2005
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.
- fuel system, gasoline 2003
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, DURING SIDE IMPACT NCAP TEST (I.E.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Toyota told dealers about
Toyota sent dealers 134 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide information regarding the installation of…
- The purpose of this bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic
- The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★☆☆ · side ★★★☆☆ · rollover ★★☆☆☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $2900–4000 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.4L 4-cyl, 2.7L 4-cyl, 3.4L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
Consumer complaint regarding safety issue with ball joints.
2002 Toyota Tacoma owner · NHTSA complaint 10142155
More owner reports
Transmission jumps from first to second and second to third transmission slips backward on hill in drive
NHTSA complaint 10000153
Transmission line blew off, causing vehicle to stop accelerating. Dealer was notified. Mechanic replaced hoses and added a clamp.
NHTSA complaint 8002197
Quick answers
Is the 2002 Toyota Tacoma reliable?
Yes, it is one of the most reliable by government complaints. It drew 2.9× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 34; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Toyota Tacoma year by this measure is 2022.
What are the most common 2002 Toyota Tacoma problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are suspension (24%), transmission & drivetrain (20%) and brakes (17%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2002 Toyota Tacoma have?
5 safety recalls (latest: tires). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2002 Toyota Tacoma get?
16 to 22 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2002 Toyota Tacoma problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 66,500 and 162,000 miles. The middle report was at 120,000 miles, from 244 complaints.
Does the 2002 Toyota Tacoma have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 20% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2002 Toyota Tacoma cost in fuel a year?
About $2900 to $4000 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2002 Toyota Tacoma have?
2.4L 4-cyl, 2.7L 4-cyl, 3.4L 6-cyl.
What Toyota Tacoma year is better than the 2002?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2022, 2014 and 2021.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works