Your vehicle report
2002 Toyota Tundra
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 482
- Received Jan 2002 to Jul 2026
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Frame rusts and corrodes through144 complaints · 30% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Front brake rotors warp and wear early42 complaints · 8.7% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Ball joints wear out and fail23 complaints · 4.8% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #09V444000Toyota is recalling model year 2000-2003 tundra vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the following states: connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, virginia, west virginia, wisconsin and the district of columbia. Excessive corrosion of the rear cross member may cause the separation of the spare tire stowed under the truck bed which would present a road hazard that could cause a crash. Also, corrosion of the rear cross member could affect the rear brake lines and the proportioning valve resulting in diminished braking capability.
- Recall #05V225000On 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.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
- Frame rusts and corrodes throughFirst signal: Apr 2009
Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 30 crashes, 1 fire, 20 people injured, 3 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 20 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
- Front brake rotors warp and wear early
- Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines
- Brakes make grinding or squealing noise
1 more problem
Electrical & lights
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 15 |
| 2003 | 19 |
| 2004 | 32 |
| 2005 | 40 |
| 2006 | 14 |
| 2007 | 21 |
| 2008 | 18 |
| 2009 | 40 |
| 2010 | 51 |
| 2011 | 17 |
| 2012 | 18 |
| 2013 | 15 |
| 2014 | 20 |
| 2015 | 22 |
| 2016 | 24 |
| 2017 | 24 |
| 2018 | 18 |
| 2019 | 26 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2021 | 13 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 3 |
| Total | 482 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frame rusts and corrodes through | 144 | 30% | 60.3× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Apr 2009 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 0.4% |
| Front brake rotors warp and wear early | 42 | 8.7% | – | |
| Ball joints wear out and fail | 23 | 4.8% | – | NHTSA recall #05V225000 |
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 15 | 3.1% | – | |
| Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines | 15 | 3.1% | – | NHTSA recall #09V444000 |
| Power steering rack leaks fluid | 13 | 2.7% | – | |
| Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline | 12 | 2.5% | – | |
| Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speed | 12 | 2.5% | – | |
| Brakes make grinding or squealing noise | 12 | 2.5% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 11 | 2.3% | – | |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 11 | 2.3% | – | |
| Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly | 9 | 1.9% | – | |
| Gear shifter fails to register Park | 8 | 1.7% | – | |
| Transmission fails or loses power while driving | 8 | 1.7% | – | |
| Brakes fail intermittently or repeatedly | 7 | 1.5% | – | |
| Airbag warning light stays on | 6 | 1.2% | – | |
| Axle breaks while driving, wheel detaches | 6 | 1.2% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 4 | 0.8% | – | |
| Check engine light comes on repeatedly | 4 | 0.8% | – | |
| Alloy wheel rims crack and lose air | 3 | 0.6% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #09V444000November 18, 2009110,000 vehicles affected
structure: frame and members: underbody shields
Toyota is recalling model year 2000-2003 Tundra vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the following states: connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, virginia, west virginia, wisconsin and the district of columbia. Excessive corrosion of the rear cross member may cause the separation of the spare tire stowed under the truck bed which would present a road hazard that could cause a crash. Also, corrosion of the rear cross member could affect the rear brake lines and the proportioning valve resulting in diminished braking capability.
Separation of the spare tire and diminished brake capacity could increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Toyota is asking owners of the affected vehicles to remove the spare tire from under the vehicle until a remedy Can be obtained. Dealers will inspect the rear cross member and related components, including the brake lines, and replace them if necessary. If the cross member does not need to be replaced, it will be sprayed with a corrosion protection compound. These services will be performed free of charge, however multiple visits to the dealer may be required. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about april 30, 2010. Owner may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
NHTSA recall #05V225000May 17, 2005768,379 vehicles affected
suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint
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.
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.
NHTSA recall #02V129000May 1, 20023,041 vehicles affected
wheels
On certain 4X2 vehicles equipped with an alloy wheel tire upgrade (options WM4, WM8, ZL1-ZL4, DH4, or DH5) installed by the processing centers in jacksonville, florida or commerce, georgia, a label identifying the spare tire as a temporary use spare tire was not installed. The upgrade includes 4 larger size tires with alloy wheels. The original spare tire/steel wheel is not part of the upgrade and was not changed.
Different operating characteristics Can be experienced when the spare tire is installed on the vehicle.
Remedy
Owners will be provided with a caution label and an insert for their owner's manual. Owner notification began july 15, 2002. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2002 Toyota Tundra.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN