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#BS-2002-TOY4RU-3361

2002 Toyota 4RunnerProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 309 owners and 3 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·NHTSA complaints through October 19, 2026

Complaints
309
Crashes
27
Fires
3
Recalls
3
TSBs
107
🟡

Preliminary Verdict

Think Twice

Based on 309 complaints, 27 crashes, 3 fires, and 3 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

frame is rusting out

7 complaints • Severity 9.4/10

$X,XXX
2

excessive rust

3 complaints • Severity 8.7/10

$X,XXX
3

power antenna doesnt work

2 complaints • Severity 3/10

$X,XXX
4

seats keep breaking

1 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX
5

bumpers rusting off

1 complaints • Severity 4/10

$X,XXX

Preview: What's in your full report

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the Structure:bodyHIGH

74 owners reported structure:body issues — failures commonly reported around 127K miles.

!Inspect the SuspensionMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

22
0–30K
14
30–60K
25
60–90K
42
90–120K
50
120–150K
77
150K+

Peak failure range: 150K+ miles (77 reports) • Median: 127K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Structure:body (74 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Structure:body74 (24%)
Suspension38 (12%)
Other31 (10%)
Drivetrain26 (8%)
Brakes15 (5%)
Engine11 (4%)
Steering9 (3%)
Speed Control9 (3%)

2002 Toyota 4Runner: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Structure:body Issues

Structure:body complaints account for 24% of all reports filed for the 2002 Toyota 4Runner, with 74 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 127,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 127K-mile mark.

Suspension Issues

Suspension complaints account for 12% of all reports filed for the 2002 Toyota 4Runner, with 38 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to suspension-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Drivetrain Issues

Drivetrain complaints account for 8% of all reports filed for the 2002 Toyota 4Runner, with 26 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to drivetrain-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Brakes Issues

Brakes complaints account for 5% of all reports filed for the 2002 Toyota 4Runner, with 15 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to brakes-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

8
02
8
03
6
04
21
05
8
06
3
07
6
08
3
09
13
10
10
11
6
12
21
13
27
14
26
15
23
16
19
17
30
18
24
19
16
20
16
21
6
22
5
23
1
24
3
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2002 Toyota 4Runner. Recent trend: increasing.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (3 recalls)

05V225000Jul 2005

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.

06E026000Apr 2006

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

06E049000Jul 2006

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

Unlock

NHTSA Defect Investigations (1)

All closed. Investigations are how NHTSA decides whether a defect needs a recall.

DP18002ClosedOpened Aug 2018 · closed Mar 2022

Frame corrosion

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

The worst model year for the Toyota 4Runner is the 2005 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is body / paint.

2002 Toyota 4Runner vs. Class Average (Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD)

This vehicle

309

Class avg

432

Complaint volume is roughly in line with other sport utility vehicle - 2wd vehicles from 2002.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 309 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 3 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated . NHTSA complaints received through October 19, 2026.

Other Toyota 4Runner Model Years

20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998199719961995199419931992199119901989198819871986
View all Toyota 4Runner years →

2002 Toyota 4Runner: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2002 Toyota 4Runner?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2002 Toyota 4Runner is related to the structure:body, with 74 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2002 Toyota 4Runner reliable?
The 2002 Toyota 4Runner has 309 complaints, 27 crash reports, and 3 fire reports filed with NHTSA. The full report analyzes whether these numbers indicate real risk or are proportional to the vehicle’s popularity.
How much does it cost to fix 2002 Toyota 4Runner problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2002 Toyota 4Runner have any recalls?
Yes, the 2002 Toyota 4Runner has 3 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Toyota 4Runner problems start?
Based on 230 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 127,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 150K+ mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2002 Toyota 4Runner data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 21, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 19, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 309 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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