Problems · by component
2002 Toyota Tundra steering problems
39 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Toyota Tundra cite steering, 8% of all 511 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
39
8% of all complaints
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
Reported by owners
What owners say about the steering
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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”
“on June 9th at about 2pm while driving through my neighborhood, my upper an lower ball joints on my 2002 Toyota Tundra separated from my vehicle causing a catastrophic loss of control of truck and tore my hub with tire from vehicle ripping the brake fuel line and shoving entire components up under my Tundra while losing control with no brakes or steering capability. It also destroyed the drivers side front tire. Needless to say if I was say...going 55 to 60 miles per hour on highway...I would not be writing this. Had truck towed to Checkered Flag Toyota and they quoted me a price of over1300$ in repairs... they are fighting me on fixing my truck damages even though said damages were caused by the ball joint recall on the 2002 tundra...recall I D#05v”
“LOUD KNOCK TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT, RACK AND PINION LEAKAGE, INNER OUTER TIE RODS CAN SNAP CAUSE AN INJURY OR DEATH. HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY DIM EVEN THE BRIGHT LIGHTS ARE DIM. AN ONCOMING CAR IS NOT EVEN PHASED WHEN I HAVE MY BRIGHT LIGHTS ON. IT'S DIFFICULT TO SEE VERY WELL WITH THOSE [XXX] LIGHTS THEY'RE ALMOST IN AMBER COLOR TRIED TO USE LENS RENEW DID NOT WORK. *TR”
“I HAD MY LOWER BALL JOINT SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE. LUCKILY I WAS IN A PARKING LOT. I SEE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE LOWER BALL JOINT FOR 02 TUNDRA. SO I DO I GO ABOUT GETTING A REFUND FOR WHAT I HAD TO SPEND. *TR”
“I WAS DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE 5 ON MY WAY TO WORK AT 70MPH AND AS I WAS ON THE CAUSEWAY THE LOWER BALL JOINT CAME OFF CAUSING MY FRONT TIRE TO COME OFF AND IT RESULTED IN A CRASH THAT TOTALLED MY TRUCK AND DAMAGE TO ME AS WELL .”
“FRIST TIME COMEING DOWN MY ROAD GOING 30 MILES PER HR L RIGHT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT BROKE TIRE WENT UNDER THE TRUCK. SECOND TIME THE LEFT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT BROKE TURNING A CORNER. THIRD TIME IT HAPPEN I JUST GOT OFF OF THE HWY AND THE LOWER BALL JOINT BROKE. I AM AFIED TO DRIVE IT .”
Showing 6 of 39 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.