Problems · NHTSA complaints

2002 Toyota Tundra problems

Owners filed 511 complaints about the 2002 Toyota Tundra with NHTSA between Jan 2002 and Jul 2026. The most-cited component is structure (155).

Complaints
511
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
33
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
22
People reported injured
Deaths
3
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Structure155
  2. Service brakes, hydraulic102
  3. Suspension85
  4. Power train55
  5. Steering39
  6. Air bags23
  7. Fuel system, gasoline17
  8. Tires15
  9. Vehicle speed control14
  10. Service brakes13
  11. Wheels11
  12. Electrical system10
  13. Exterior lighting8
  14. Engine and engine cooling8

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200218
200325
200437
200549
200614
200726
200818
200940
201052
201117
201218
201315
201420
201522
201624
201724
201818
201926
20209
202113
20225
20233
20248
20257
20263

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Structure

155 reports1 crash1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2002 Toyota Tundra. The contact, who is an independent mechanic, stated that the fuel tank had detached. The contact stated that the subframe was extremely rusted. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V444000 (Structure). The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 5, 2025Fuel system, gasoline, StructureODI 11640935

Service brakes, hydraulic

102 reports3 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR FRAMING MEMBER HAD ROTTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,300.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 17, 2014Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10598907

Suspension

85 reports11 crashes1 related recall
“The dealership and Toyota Engagement Center refused to service the 2 recalls that was critical for the truck since October 2025. It was supposed to be including frame replacement and other parts but Toyota Engagement decided to active buy back option and took advantage of low offer to solve the matter which I don't accept.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 12, 2026Suspension, Service brakes, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11749814

Power train

55 reports2 crashes
“My original owner 2002 Toyota Tundra Truck was being backed up in reverse with a utility trailer attached up a very, very moderate incline on a driveway pushing the trailer onto a gravel pad ALONGSIDE (parallel) the driveway. As it started to spin gravel the truck was put into a 4 wheel Drive LOW RANGE. This is in keeping with the TOYOTA owners manual publication 0M34417U Part Number 01999-34417 Print date 02-0109-01. We followed the manual instruction on 4 WD operation. Within a few feet the truck stopped as if the wheels had hit a curb and there was no further movement no matter the accelerator pedal position and the engine speed was unchanged as if it was in a stall. All of a sudden there was a loud bang underneath the truck and the truck raced rearward 8-10 feet jackknifing the trailer into a tree and upending the truck and trailer. We contacted Toyota on the incident and they had a third party look at the truck for brake condition, floor mat placement and throttle freedom at the body shop & Toyota closed the complaint file. Toyota IGNORED the circumstances and description of the incident in closing the complaint. We have been a very long time TOYOTA truck…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 2, 2024Power train, EngineCrash reportedODI 11628419

Steering

39 reports4 crashes
“The contact called on behalf of a friend who owns a 2002 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated in 2012 there was an unknown under coding and a plug was repaired on the vehicle. The driver experienced shaking and vibration from the rack and pinion steering while driving at approximately 35 MPH. The driver found power steering fluid leakage and there was a crack in the front passenger side of the engine frame. The contact was unaware of any failure warning lights. The contact stated the transmission functionality was great. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 30, 2022SteeringODI 11471856

Air bags

23 reports8 crashes
“The Toyota Tundra 2002 truck did NOT deploy driver's side and passenger's side airbags in a collision consisting of frontal and left-sided collision with immobile objects, with frontal/top profound impact from standing tree. The car was up to date on its inspections and maintenance. The breaks, though appropriately checked and tested, would take longer than normal to break the vehicle. The seatbelt, if pulled hard enough, would easily dislodge from buckle, coming undone. The driver of this vehicle collided as described above and due to the failure(s) of the safety mechanisms in place, resulted in the death of the driver. The driver was restrained with seatbelt, however dislodged from buckle upon impact and NO airbags deployed. The issue(s) have been confirmed by the police report, the county police documented. The vehicle has been inspected by police officers, and possibly others, including the employees of the towing company. There was NO indication thats the airbag deployment was either "off" if possible, and or indications of airbag defect. No messages or lights were indicated for the failure of the deployment of the airbags. No messages or lights were…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 12, 2021Air bags, Seat belts, Service brakesCrash reportedODI 11440252
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.