2002 Toyota Prerunner problems
The Toyota Tacoma is a pickup truck manufactured by Japanese automobile manufacturer Toyota since 1995. The first-generation Tacoma (model years 1995 through 2004) was classified as a compact pickup. The second generation (model years 2005 through 2015) and third generation (in production since 2015) models are classified as mid-sized pickups. The Tacoma was Motor Trend's Truck of the Year for 2005.
As of 2015, the Tacoma was sold in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Bolivia, Bermuda, and the French overseas collectivity of New Caledonia. Most markets across the world receive the Toyota Hilux in lieu of the Tacoma.
The name "Tacoma" was derived from the Coast Salish peoples' name for Mount Rainier in the U.S. state of Washington.
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Common 2002 Toyota Prerunner problems
The Toyota Prerunner, a version of the Toyota Tacoma, is known for its reliability and durability. However, there are some common problems that owners have reported with the 2002 model.
- Valve Cover Oil Leaks: The valve cover gaskets on the 1st gen Tacoma, including the 2002 Prerunner, can crack and deteriorate over time, leading to oil leaks. This issue is not a major concern for reliability but can be fixed by replacing the valve cover gaskets with new ones.
- Dim/Hazy Headlights: The headlights on the 2002 Toyota Prerunner can become dim or hazy over time due to oxidation. This can be fixed by purchasing a headlight restoration kit and spending some time polishing the headlights.
- Driver Seat Deterioration: The driver seat on the 2002 Toyota Prerunner can deteriorate over time, especially if the vehicle is used frequently. This is a cosmetic issue and can be fixed by replacing the seat or reupholstering it.
It's important to note that while these issues can be frustrating for owners, they are relatively minor compared to the major problems that can occur with other vehicles. The 2002 Toyota Prerunner is still a reliable and durable vehicle, and with proper maintenance and care, these issues can be avoided or fixed easily.
How many miles does a 2002 Toyota Tacoma last?
The Toyota Tacoma is a mid-size, light-duty pickup truck.
While other midsize pickup truck models taper off at 200,000 miles, you can expect the Toyota Tacoma to last up to 300,000. By prioritizing routine maintenance and vehicle care, you can expect the Toyota Tacoma to last a very long time.
What is the most common problem with the Toyota Tacoma?
Most Commonly Reported Toyota Tacoma Problems
Toyota Tacoma Transmission Problems: Over the years, some Tacoma drivers have reported experiencing a faulty automatic transmission once the car was over a certain high-mileage point.
Is a 2002 Toyota Tacoma a good truck?
Edmunds says
The 2002 Toyota Tacoma is a capable compact pickup with a variety of body styles to suit most buyers. Has a reputation for reliability, but value in question due to high asking prices.
What is the fuel mileage of a 2002 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner?
Find and Compare Cars
| 2002 Toyota Tacoma 4WD | |
|---|---|
| EPA MPG | Regular Gasoline 16 combined city/highway MPG 15 city 17 highway 6.2 gals/100 miles |
| Unofficial MPG Estimates Shared by Vehicle Owners | View Estimates How can I share my MPG? |
| Vehicle Specification Data | |
| EPA Size Class | Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD |
What is the fuel mileage of a 2002 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner?
Find and Compare Cars
| 2002 Toyota Tacoma 4WD | |
|---|---|
| EPA MPG | Regular Gasoline 16 combined city/highway MPG 15 city 17 highway 6.2 gals/100 miles |
| Unofficial MPG Estimates Shared by Vehicle Owners | View Estimates How can I share my MPG? |
| Vehicle Specification Data | |
| EPA Size Class | Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD |
What is a common problem with Toyota Tacoma?
Premature Ball Joint Wear: Another highly reported Toyota Tacoma issue is the premature wear on the lower ball joints. This issue most commonly happens in the front suspension, making it more difficult to steer and reducing the cars ability to self-center.
Is a 2002 Toyota Tacoma a good truck?
Edmunds says
The 2002 Toyota Tacoma is a capable compact pickup with a variety of body styles to suit most buyers. Has a reputation for reliability, but value in question due to high asking prices.
How many miles does a 2002 Toyota Tacoma last?
The Toyota Tacoma is a mid-size, light-duty pickup truck.
While other midsize pickup truck models taper off at 200,000 miles, you can expect the Toyota Tacoma to last up to 300,000. By prioritizing routine maintenance and vehicle care, you can expect the Toyota Tacoma to last a very long time.
2002 Toyota Prerunner car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Toyota Prerunner problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Power train problems
- Structure problems
- Seat belts problems
- Suspension problems
- Air bags problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2002 Toyota Prerunner vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2002 Toyota Prerunner complaints
The NHTSA has received 6 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2002 Toyota Prerunner.
STRUCTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2013-09-30
- VIN: 5TESM92N22Z
- Components: STRUCTURE
- Summary: I HAD MY VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE ON 30 SEPTEMBER 2013 AT WHICH TIME THE VEHICLE FRAME WAS INSPECTED AND DETERMINED TO HAVE PERFORATIONS DUE TO RUST. TOYOTA INFORMED ME THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR/REPLACE THE FRAME BECAUSE I HAD NOT HAD RUST PROOFING APPLIED DURING A CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM THAT BEGAN IN LATE 2008 AND ENDED SEPTEMBER 2011. THE PURPOSE OF THE CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM WAS TO INSPECT THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK AND REPLACE IT IF RUST CAUSED PERFORATIONS OR TO APPLY RUST COATING IF IT PASSED INSPECTION. I NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE OF THE CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM. HOWEVER, BY CHANCE, I DID HAVE THE FRAME INSPECTED BY TOYOTA ON NOVEMBER 25, 2009 AT WHICH TIME THE FRAME PASSED INSPECTION, BUT TOYOTA FAILED TO APPLY THE REQUIRED RUST PROOF COATING OR TO INFORM ME OF THE ONGOING CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM. HAD I KNOWN ABOUT THE CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM, I WOULD HAVE DEMANDED TOYOTA APPLY THE COATING. SUBSEQUENTLY, I HAD MY TRUCK IN FOR MAINTENANCE AT TOYOTA ON APRIL 7, 2010 AND MAY 24, 2010 AT WHICH TIME THEY ONCE AGAIN DID NOT INFORM ME OF THE CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM. TOYOTA HAD THREE CHANCES TO INFORM ME OF THE CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM WHILE I HAD MY VEHICLE IN FOR MAINTENANCE AND THEY DID NOT DO SO. NOW I HAVE A TRUCK THAT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND THAT I CAN'T GET REPAIRED BECAUSE TOYOTA BLAMES ME FOR NOT ADHERING TO THE CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM RULES OF WHICH I NEVER HAD ANY KNOWLEDGE. TOYOTA HAD MY CURRENT ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER DURING THE ENTIRE PERIOD OF THE CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM AND NEVER BOTHERED TO NOTIFY ME. IN MY OPINION, THEY DID NOT DO THEIR DUE DILIGENCE IN INFORMING CUSTOMERS OF THE PROGRAM AND SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO REPLACE THE FRAME ON THE TRUCKS. I DID FILE A CUSTOMER COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA BUT THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE IN REPAIRING MY TRUCK. *TR
SUSPENSION,SEAT BELTS,STRUCTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2013-09-02
- VIN: 5TESN92N32Z
- Components: SUSPENSION,SEAT BELTS,STRUCTURE
- Summary: I RECEIVED NOTICE FROM TOYOTA OF POSSIBLE EXCESSIVE FRAME RUST YEARS AGO . (ABOUT 2007) I DID THE INSPECTION MYSELF AND THOUGHT FRAME WAS GOOD. DID NOT TAKE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION . IN SEPTEMBER OF 2013 I FIND OUT THAT TOYOTA IS NOT RESPONSIBLE AND I MISSED THE DEADLINE. I THINK I UNDERSTAND THAT SINCE IT WAS NOT A NHTSA ISSUED RECALL, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO PUT A EXPIRATION DATE ON THE RECALL . THE BOTTOM LINE IS I GOOFED UP . BUT THERE STILL EXISTED THOUSANDS OF TACOMAS AND TUNDRAS ON THE ROADS TODAY THAT ARE A HAZARD TO THE DRIVER AND ALL OTHERS AROUND THEM . WHY DIDN'T THE NHTSA ISSUE A MANDATORY RECALL ? *TR
AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2003-12-03
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- Crash: 1
- VIN: 5TEGNY2N572
- Components: AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS
- Summary: CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND HIT A TREE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. ALSO DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DIDN'T RETRACT. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER'S HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD. CONSUMER RECEIVED 17 STITCHES. *AK
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2003-06-24
- VIN: 5TEGN92N82Z
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: VEHICLE SURGES AS IF AUTO TRANSMISSION IS DOWN SHIFTING ABRUPTLY WHEN COASTING TO A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION AND WHILE CREEPING IN TRAFFIC (AFTER REMOVING FOOT FROM BRAKE PEDAL ALLOWING VEHICLE TO ROLL AFTER COMING TO COMPLETE STOP). PROBLEM ALSO OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY WHEN PROCEEDING FROM A STOP AT INTERSECTIONS. PROBLEM OCCURS W/IN THE 1 TO 5 MPH RANGE. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS SMOOTHLY UP THROUGH ALL GEARS AS VEHICLE ACCELERATES WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. MULTIPLE DEALERSHIPS STATED THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THAT NO TROUBLE WAS FOUND. PROBLEM OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY NOW. CONCERNED ABOUT POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *JB
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2000-12-17
- VIN: 5TESN92N52Z
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: 500 MILE SERVICE REPORTED TRANSMISSION JUMPING FROM FIRST TO SECOND. FIRST MACHANIC SAID NEEDS NEW TRANSMISSION. GOT TRUCK BACK TRUCK WAS JUMPING ALL OVER THE ROAD ON BUMPS, MECHANIS SAID NEEDS TWO SHOCKS ONE FRON AND ONE BACK., AND NOW IT DOESN'T NEED TRANSMISSION, TRUCK STILL JUMPS FROM FIRST TO SECOND.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: CONSUMER NOTICE WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP SHIFTING UNDER VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND SERVICE BUT CANT FIX PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2002 Toyota Prerunner problems:
2000-2002 tacomas...issues and info please.... | Tacoma World
Nov 30, 2008 ... There's an infamous dash rattle that's a bear to beat. The rear springs are weak and develop "axle wrap". And if you get the V6 engine check and ...
2002 Toyota Tacoma Problems and Complaints - 12 Issues
Problem with your 2002 Toyota Tacoma? Our list of 12 known complaints reported by owners can help you fix your 2002 Toyota Tacoma.
Common Tacoma problems I should be aware of? | Tacoma World
Oct 19, 2008 ... Exhaust tends to have minor issues. Mostly gaskets and o2s going bad and cat converters get tired. Rear drum brakes have a problem with the pot ...
Seeking advice on a 2002 Toyota Tacoma I'm wanting to buy ...
Oct 18, 2021 ... Any insight into the required maintenance would be appreciated. Any other issues I need to be aware of? I know it's due a timing belt if it hasn ...
2002 Toyota Tacoma: Brakes..trucks (up to 2004 model)..jumped ...
Jun 11, 2012 ... I had issues approx 15 years ago with aftermarket rotors on a previous vehicle. Combination of poor steel manufacturing (common on imported ...
Other years of Toyota Prerunner
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