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2002 Toyota 4 Runner

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Toyota 4 Runner are lower than the model-year median of 96.5.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 19 of 32 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Suspension. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports

Steering complaints

2 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 28, 2002
SteeringTires

THE CONSUMER NOTICED FROM THE WHEN THEY FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE THAT IT VIBRATES (AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS) AND PULLED TO THE LEFT. THEY CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY PERFORMED A 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND BALANCED THE FOUR TIRES AND THAT DIDN'T HELP. (THE STEERING WHEEL(S) WERE NOT STRAIGHT AND PULLING FROM SIDE TO SIDE) THE CONSUMER…

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THE CONSUMER NOTICED FROM THE WHEN THEY FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE THAT IT VIBRATES (AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS) AND PULLED TO THE LEFT. THEY CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY PERFORMED A 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND BALANCED THE FOUR TIRES AND THAT DIDN'T HELP. (THE STEERING WHEEL(S) WERE NOT STRAIGHT AND PULLING FROM SIDE TO SIDE) THE CONSUMER HAD BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, AND ON ONE OCCASION WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG, AND ON THE SECOND THE REP NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS OFF CENTERED. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR A LAST TIME (AFTER HAVING LEGAL ASSISTANCE) AND WAS TOLD THAT A STEERING CONCERN EXISTS, AND PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT AND AFTER SEVERAL DAYS THE PROBLEM REOCCURED-WHICH WAS THE LAST STRAW. AT THIS POOINT THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING A NEW VEHICLE OR THEIR MONEY BACK. *SCC *TS

NHTSA ODI #567796

Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 2002
Steering

WE TAUGHT THAT WE BOUGHT THE SAFEST CAR. FROM THE VERY BEGINNING WE NOTICED THAT THE CAR VIBRATES WHILE DRIIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AND THAT IT IS PULLING SIDE TO SIDE. WE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE PROBLEM ON MAY 20, 2002, JUNE01 AND 08, 2002, JULY 01, 2002, AND LAST TIME ON AUGUST 13, 2002. UNFORTUNATELY, THE CAR IS STILL HAVING TH…

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WE TAUGHT THAT WE BOUGHT THE SAFEST CAR. FROM THE VERY BEGINNING WE NOTICED THAT THE CAR VIBRATES WHILE DRIIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AND THAT IT IS PULLING SIDE TO SIDE. WE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE PROBLEM ON MAY 20, 2002, JUNE01 AND 08, 2002, JULY 01, 2002, AND LAST TIME ON AUGUST 13, 2002. UNFORTUNATELY, THE CAR IS STILL HAVING THE SAME SAFETY PROBLEM. WE WANT TO HAVE IT RETURNED OR GET OUR MONEY BACK DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO FIX IT AFTER VISITING THE SERVICE FIVE TIMES. WE HAVE ALL WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION THAT CAN VERIFY EVERY FACT WE STATED. IF YOU NEED IT WE WILL SEND IT TO YOU. SINCERELY, [XXX] & [XXX] MR PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI #767955

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.