IllustrationWHEN TAKEN TO THE LOCAL AUTOMOTIVE SHOP THEY FOUND THE FRAME HAS ROTTED OUT IN MANY PARTS OF THE FRAME. CAB FRAME MOUNTS ARE ALSO ROTTED. IT WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. THE FRAME IS READY TO SNAP OFFF. THANK THE LORD THE SHOP FOUND THIS BEING THREE OF MY FOUR KIDS RIDE IN IT EVERYDAY TO SCHOOL.
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 4RUNNER years →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
40–25K
325–50K
1550–75K
1375–100K
57100–150K
54150K+
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
Structure complaints
88 reportsFRAME RUST. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE "FRAME IS ROTTED-SAFETY ISSUE-WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION". THIS 4RUNNER HAS ONLY BEEN EXPOSED TO AREAS OF MILD SOUTH EAST PENNSYLVANIA WINTERS AND THE UNDERCARRIAGE WAS WASHED REGULARLY AFTER EVERY SNOW AND ROAD-SALTING EVENT. 4RUNNER IS TRASH AFTER ONLY 12 WINTERS. 4RUNNER WAS IN STO…
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FRAME RUST. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE "FRAME IS ROTTED-SAFETY ISSUE-WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION". THIS 4RUNNER HAS ONLY BEEN EXPOSED TO AREAS OF MILD SOUTH EAST PENNSYLVANIA WINTERS AND THE UNDERCARRIAGE WAS WASHED REGULARLY AFTER EVERY SNOW AND ROAD-SALTING EVENT. 4RUNNER IS TRASH AFTER ONLY 12 WINTERS. 4RUNNER WAS IN STORAGE FOR 04/05 WINTER AND THERE WAS NO SNOW IN 15/16.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED, THE TECHNICIAN FOUND SEVERE CORROSION ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.
HELLO. I PURCHASED A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER LIMITED EDITION LAST FALL IN PENNSYLVANIA. THE CAR HAD PASSED THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE INSPECTION WITH PASSED VALIDATED INSPECTION TAGS IN THE FRONT WINDOW. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC, WELDER AND BEECHMONT TOYOTA (CINCINNATI OH) AND THE CONSENSUS IS THE CAR NEEDS THE CAR FRAME REPLACE…
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HELLO. I PURCHASED A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER LIMITED EDITION LAST FALL IN PENNSYLVANIA. THE CAR HAD PASSED THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE INSPECTION WITH PASSED VALIDATED INSPECTION TAGS IN THE FRONT WINDOW. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC, WELDER AND BEECHMONT TOYOTA (CINCINNATI OH) AND THE CONSENSUS IS THE CAR NEEDS THE CAR FRAME REPLACED. THE CAR FRAME HAS RUST HOLES AND IS RUSTED ALONG WITH A RUSTED UNDERCARRIAGE. THE INTEGRITY OF THE CAR IS COMPROMISED, BECAUSE THE CAR FRAME HAS RUSTED HOLES IN IT, CRITERIA THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE PASSED PA STATE INSPECTION. IT DOES NOT HAVE A SAFE CAR FRAME. I WAS SOLD A VEHICLE THAT PASSED PA STATE INSPECTION AND THE CAR HAD HOLES IN THE RUSTED CAR FRAME.THE SALES GUY WHO SOLD ME THE CAR, SAID THAT THE CAR HAD PASSED STATE INSPECTION IN WHICH THE STICKER IN THE WINDSHIELD SHOWS. I RESEARCHED THE STATE INSPECTION CRITERIA AND I THINK IT IS 5A AND 5III THAT REFERENCE CHECKING THE CAR FRAME. PENDOT DID NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FAILURE OF APPROVING THE STATE INSPECTION. I ASKED FOR MY MONEY BACK ($6,200) FROM THE CAR SALESMAN PLUS I HAD TO PAY ABOUT $500 OHIO TAX AND WAS TOLD THAT IT HAD PASSED PENNSYLVANIA STATE INSPECTION AND THEY WOULD NOT REFUND MY MONEY. THIS CAR HAS A RUSTED DAMAGED FRAME WITH HOLES AND NEEDS TO BE OFF THE ROAD AS IT'S DANGEROUS. I AM ASKING FOR MY MONEY BACK, AND I'LL RETURN THE VEHICLE AS IT SHOULD NOT HAVE PASSED PENNSYLVANIA STATE INSPECTION. THANK YOU. *TR
MY 2002 4RUNNER'S FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH IN MANY PLACES. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE AND TOYOTA SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM. THEY HAVE YET TO RECALL THE 4RUNNERS BUT, HAVE RECALLED THE TACOMA AND SEQUOIA. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO DO THIS REPAIR. I AM BURIED IN DEBT FROM A HEART TRANSPLANT AND THIS IS JUST UNACCEPTABLE. I THINK PEOPLE WIL…
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MY 2002 4RUNNER'S FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH IN MANY PLACES. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE AND TOYOTA SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM. THEY HAVE YET TO RECALL THE 4RUNNERS BUT, HAVE RECALLED THE TACOMA AND SEQUOIA. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO DO THIS REPAIR. I AM BURIED IN DEBT FROM A HEART TRANSPLANT AND THIS IS JUST UNACCEPTABLE. I THINK PEOPLE WILL DIE FROM THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE RESPOND SO I HAVE SOME INFORMATION PLEASE. THANKS, [XXX] COLUMBUS, OHIO INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
FRAME IS BADLY RUSTED OUT. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 80,000 MILES
FRAME CRACKED/RUSTED DEALERSHIP REPORTED THAT THE FRAME (RIGHT REAR) WAS CRACKED.... CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
MY 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER HAS A COUPLE QUARTER SIZED RUST HOLE ON THE REAR RIGHT SIDE OF THE FRAME. LOCATED ON THE INSIDE NEXT TO THE EXHAUST MUFFLER. THE ENTIRE REST OF THE FRAME IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION, IT'S WEIRD TO ME THAT JUST THIS PARTICULAR SPOT IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH, THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD AND I KNOW TOYOTA S…
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MY 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER HAS A COUPLE QUARTER SIZED RUST HOLE ON THE REAR RIGHT SIDE OF THE FRAME. LOCATED ON THE INSIDE NEXT TO THE EXHAUST MUFFLER. THE ENTIRE REST OF THE FRAME IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION, IT'S WEIRD TO ME THAT JUST THIS PARTICULAR SPOT IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH, THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD AND I KNOW TOYOTA SHOULD STEP UP AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. I READ ONLINE MOST PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM IN THE SAME EXACT SPOT. SEEMS LIKE A DEFECT IN THE FRAME. I'M HOPING TO HAVE TOYOTA COVER THIS INCIDENT. THANKS FOR READING. BRANDON
FAME DETERIORATING PREMATURELY,SKID PLATE THAT PROTECTS FUEL TANK SHOWED SIGNS OF RUST. AFTER INSPECTING FOUND ROTTING FROM INSIDE OUT.WHEN REPLACING IN MAY OF 2014,FOUND THAT STRAP THAT HOLDS FUEL TANK RUSTED COMPLETELY AWAY,TWO BOLTS FROM THE RUSTED SKID PLATE ONLY THING HOLDING FUEL TANK IN PLACE.SAME CONDITIONS EXIST OVER E…
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FAME DETERIORATING PREMATURELY,SKID PLATE THAT PROTECTS FUEL TANK SHOWED SIGNS OF RUST. AFTER INSPECTING FOUND ROTTING FROM INSIDE OUT.WHEN REPLACING IN MAY OF 2014,FOUND THAT STRAP THAT HOLDS FUEL TANK RUSTED COMPLETELY AWAY,TWO BOLTS FROM THE RUSTED SKID PLATE ONLY THING HOLDING FUEL TANK IN PLACE.SAME CONDITIONS EXIST OVER ENTIRE FRAME,RUST FALLS OFF IN SHEETS WHEN FRAME IS TAPPED ON WITH HAMMER.BROUGHT MY CONCERNS TO DEALERSHIP IN JAN.OF 2015 OF RUST ISSUE, THEY INFORMED ME NOTHING WOULD BE DONE.
THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE IS ROTTING OUT WITH RUST. THE 4RUNNER HAS NEVER BEEN IN SNOW AND HAS BEEN TAKEN WELL CARE OF AND THE FRAME IS STILL ERODING AWAY WITH RUST AT AN UNNATURAL RATE. THIS ISSUE MUST BE ADDRESSED FOR THE SAKE OF SO MANY UNAWARE OWNERS!
Official recalls
105V225000 · 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
1DP18002 · 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