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2002 Toyota 4RUNNER

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most 4RUNNER years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Toyota 4RUNNER are substantially higher than the model-year median of 58.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

146 reports with mileage · 46 unknown

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.

  • Structure. Review the 88 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

12 crash reports2 fire reports9 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

7 reports
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107,000 miles · Feb 13, 2013
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE VEHICLE LOST ALL BRAKING POWER. THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT GO DOWN AND AT THAT MOMENT THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON BUT THAT WAS AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD ALREADY LOST IT'S BRAKES. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO HEADQUATER TOYOTA AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE "HYDRAULIC BRAKES POWER BOOSTER ASSEMBLY" HAD FAILED. IT WAS REPL…

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WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE VEHICLE LOST ALL BRAKING POWER. THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT GO DOWN AND AT THAT MOMENT THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON BUT THAT WAS AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD ALREADY LOST IT'S BRAKES. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO HEADQUATER TOYOTA AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE "HYDRAULIC BRAKES POWER BOOSTER ASSEMBLY" HAD FAILED. IT WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $3127.00.

NHTSA ODI #10498781

94,000 miles · Aug 13, 2011
Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

I OWN A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WITH APPROXIMATELY 94,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE PRIMARY USE IS DRIVING LESS THAN 10 MILES A DAY OFF HIGHWAY. THE FOLLOWING ALARM LIGHTS CAME ON: BRAKE LIGHT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, VSC LIGHT, TRAC LIGHT, ABS LIGHT, AND THE SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MIKE CALVERT TOYOTA IN HOUSTON…

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I OWN A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WITH APPROXIMATELY 94,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE PRIMARY USE IS DRIVING LESS THAN 10 MILES A DAY OFF HIGHWAY. THE FOLLOWING ALARM LIGHTS CAME ON: BRAKE LIGHT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, VSC LIGHT, TRAC LIGHT, ABS LIGHT, AND THE SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MIKE CALVERT TOYOTA IN HOUSTON, TX TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THEIR SCANNER WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY A CODE FOR THE PROBLEM. THE CONCLUSION WAS THAT THE ADS CONTROL MODULE (SKID CONTROL SENSOR) WAS AT FAULT AND THUS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGER, GRANT MILES ADVISED ME NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE ADS CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED. THE COST FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR WAS QUOTED AS $2377.01. IT WOULD TAKE 3 TO 5 BUSINESS DAYS FOR THE PART TO BE ORDERED AND REPLACED. I HAD TO RENT A CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND BECAUSE OF THE LENGTHY REPAIR TIME. THE COST OF THE RENTAL CAR IS APPROXIMATELY $289.00. BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUES WITH THE ADS CONTROL MODULE (SKID CONTROL SENSOR-PART # 8954035270), I AM REGISTERING THIS NOTIFICATION WITH THE NHTSA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10419300

258,000 miles · Oct 12, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ALL THE SERVICE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY MORE PRESSURE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE VEHIC…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ALL THE SERVICE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY MORE PRESSURE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ABS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 258,000.

NHTSA ODI #10360119

51,700 miles · Sep 6, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

VIBRATION FROM BRAKING CAUSING VERY DECREASED VEHICLE CONTROL POSING VERY INCREASED ACCIDENT RISK. TOYOTA FOUR RUNNER 02 LIMITED, RECURRENCE OF PULSING BRAKE PEDAL AND VERY HIGH VEHICLE VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING. THIS OCCURS AFTER LONG MOUNTAIN DESCENTS AT NORMAL / POSTED HIGHWAY SPEEDS UNDER NORMAL PASSENGER LOADS (NOT HAULIN…

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VIBRATION FROM BRAKING CAUSING VERY DECREASED VEHICLE CONTROL POSING VERY INCREASED ACCIDENT RISK. TOYOTA FOUR RUNNER 02 LIMITED, RECURRENCE OF PULSING BRAKE PEDAL AND VERY HIGH VEHICLE VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING. THIS OCCURS AFTER LONG MOUNTAIN DESCENTS AT NORMAL / POSTED HIGHWAY SPEEDS UNDER NORMAL PASSENGER LOADS (NOT HAULING), CLEAR DRY CONDITIONS. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCE THIS ISSUE. FIRST TIME, THE FRONT ROTORS WERE REPLACED AT THE DEALER AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE UNDER 40K MILES. THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AT MOST 5K MILES A YEAR. THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED AND POSES A SERIOUS HAZARD TO OCCUPANTS AND OTHER HIGHWAY TRAVELERS. SEARCHING THE WEB, THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF WARPED ROTORS WHICH TOYOTA DEALERS ARE SAYING ITS DRIVER ERROR / NORMAL USE. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THIS VEHICLE MUCH AND NOT HARD. MY USE WOULD EASILY QUALIFY AS NORMAL HIGHWAY TRAVEL. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 65K MILES ON IT NOW. CERTAINLY THE EXPENSE OF AGAIN REPLACING ROTORS IS CONCERNING, BUT REALLY, THE AMOUNT OF VIBRATION AND DECREASED CONTROL CAUSES ME TO BE VERY CONCERNED FOR MY, AND OTHERS, SAFETY. EVEN IF THE ROTORS ARE REPLACED, IT SEEMS VERY LIKELY THAT THE VIBRATION AND LOSS OF CONTROL WILL RETURN IN A FEW THOUSAND MILES OF NORMAL USE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10354032

Mileage unknown · Feb 4, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

READING ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEMS OF THE TOYOTA PRIUS, I LEARNED THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM MIGHT NOT WORK WHEN THE VEHICLE HITS A POTHOLE, UNEVEN PAVEMENT, OR BUMP. I'VE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM IN MY '02 4RUNNER. IF THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE HITS A BUMP, THE BRAKES FEEL AS IF THEY ARE NOT WORKING, (BRAKE…

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READING ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEMS OF THE TOYOTA PRIUS, I LEARNED THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM MIGHT NOT WORK WHEN THE VEHICLE HITS A POTHOLE, UNEVEN PAVEMENT, OR BUMP. I'VE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM IN MY '02 4RUNNER. IF THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE HITS A BUMP, THE BRAKES FEEL AS IF THEY ARE NOT WORKING, (BRAKE PEDAL GOES STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR W/NO PRESSURE). THIS ISSUE GOES AWAY IF YOU RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL AND REAPPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE, (PUMP). I ALWAYS THOUGHT THIS WAS "NORMAL" UNTIL I READ ABOUT THE PRIUS ISSUES WITH IT'S BRAKING SYSTEM. THE ISSUES WITH THE PRIUS SOUND TOO SIMILAR TO DISMISS THE ISSUE AS JUST A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR'S ELECTRIC ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10305211

60,000 miles · Mar 31, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN TURNING TO EITHER SIDE THE VSC LIGHT COMES ON AND THE ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES. TIS IS IN DRY ROAD ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10222967

Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 2006
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

2002 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. BRAKE ROTORS ARE WEARING UNEVENLY, CAUSING SHAKING WHEN SLOWING DOWN. DEALER SAID THE BRAKE PADS HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN USED 50%. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10169572

Official recalls

1

05V225000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint

May 17, 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. THE BALL JOINT MAY EVENTUALLY EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE WEAR AND LOOSENESS, RESULTING IN INCREASED STEERING EFFORT.

Consequence & remedy

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.

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

1

DP18002 · Frame Corrosion

Opened Aug 17, 2018 · Closed Mar 18, 2022

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure:frame And Members

On August 7, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a defect petition from Mr. Gary Weinreich alleging premature frame corrosion failure in model year (MY) 2002 - 2006 Toyota 4Runner vehicles. The petitioner based his request upon a corrosion-related front suspension failure he experienced in his MY 2005 Toyota 4Runner, a class action lawsuit settlement involving other Toyota products, and other complaints of underbody corrosion in Toyota 4Runner vehicles that he found in NHTSA?s online complaint database. The petitioner submitted a complaint to NHTSA documenting his experience (NHTSA ID 11098055). On August 17, 2018, ODI opened DP18-002 to evaluate the petitioner?s request. ODI?s evaluation included information provided by the petitioner regarding his vehicle, facts related to the class action lawsuit cited by the petitioner, and consumer complaint data received by NHTSA regarding underbody corrosion in third and fourth-generation Toyota 4Runner vehicles.The undercarriage of the petitioner?s vehicle exhibited severe corrosion damage indicative of seawater immersion. The vehicle?s service history shows that concerns with underbody corrosion were first noted by a Toyota dealer in a multi-point vehicle inspection performed on April 28, 2011. The invoice for that inspection noted ?severe and excessive amount of rust on the undercarriage and on the drive shaft transmission.? Two years later, on October 21, 2013, another multi-point inspection by a Toyota dealer observed further progression of underbody corrosion damage, noting: ?rust on shocks/struts and other components,? ?rust on exhaust system,? ?both splash shields severely rusted,? and ?undercarriage very rusty.? On July 17, 2017, approximately 10 months prior to experiencing the suspension failure incident, an independent repair facility performing routine oil change and brake maintenance informed the Petitioner of a concern with ?excessive frame corrosion? on his vehicle. The service history, severe general corrosion damage, failure age, and environment do not support the petitioner?s allegation of premature corrosion failure.ODI?s analysis of NHTSA complaint data identified fifteen incidents of front lower control arm failure in fourth-generation Toyota 4Runner sport utility vehicles. Two of the failures, including the petitioner?s vehicle, involve vehicles operated in ocean front communities with continuous exposure to aerosolized marine salts and potential exposure to seawater immersion. The remaining thirteen failures all involved vehicles owned or previously registered in states with the greatest use of deicing salts to treat road surfaces in winter months (?Salt states?). On average, the front lower control arm failures occurred after 13.1 years in service in highly corrosive environments. The failure ages and environments do not support the petitioner?s allegation of premature corrosion failure. NHTSA is authorized to issue an order requiring notification and remedy of a defect if the Agency?s investigation shows a defect in design, construction, or performance of a motor vehicle that presents an unreasonable risk to safety. 49 U.S.C. ?? 30102(a)(9), 30118. Since the information before the Agency is not indicative of a vehicle-based defect, it is unlikely that any investigation opened because of granting this petition would result in an order concerning the notification and remedy of a safety-related defect. Therefore, upon full consideration of the information presented in the petition and the potential risks to safety, the petition is denied. The denial of this petition does not foreclose the Agency from taking further action if warranted or the p