2002 Toyota Tacoma Complaint Log

THE BRAKES VIBRATE UPON DECREASING SPEED FROM 60 MPH OR MORE. THE LONGER DRIVEN, THE NECESSARY SPEED FOR VIBRATION DECREASES TO LOWER SPEEDS. THE PROBLEM INTENSIFIES THE HIGHER THE GRADE IS ON ANY DOWNHILL. I HAVE REPLACED PADS TWICE AND ROTORS ONCE. AS I BEGIN TO REPLACE THE CALIPERS, I FIND THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THOSE ON THE TUNDRA AND A LIST OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT TACOMA'S BRAKES. *NLM

THE BRAKES ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY TOYOTA TACOMA PICKUP ARE DRAGGING MAKING IS DIFFICULT TO STEER. WHEN TOYOTA DEALERSHIP PULLED THE WHEELS OFF THE TRUCK AND CHECKED THE BRAKES THERE WAS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE WEAR ON THE FRONT RIGHT BREAK PADS THEN THE LEFT SIDE. I HAD THE BREAKS REPLACED AND KEPT THE WORN OUT BRAKES FOR YOUR INSPECTION. IT APPEARS THE RIGHT-SIDE CALIPER FAILED MAKING IT HARD TO STEER AND CAUSING THE BRAKES ON THE RIGHT SIDE TO WEAR OUT IN LESS THAN 15,000 MILES. TOYOTA SAYS THIS IS NORMAL EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. *NLM

FRONT AND REAR SHOCKS. *JB

DUNLOP GRAND TREK TIRE P256 /70/ R16 THE REAR RIGHT BLOWOUT @ 72 MPH ON I-75 IN MIAMI, FLA. PARTIALLY LOSE CONTROL. 90% OF THE ENTIRE TIRE SEPARATED BELT/THREAD/STEEL. IT WAS THE ORIGINAL TIRE ON A 2002 TACOMA WITH 27053 MILES. *NLM

THE MASTER CYLINDER IS LEAKED. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *NLM

TRANSMISSION "CLUNKS" ON STOPS AND SURGES AFTER BRAKE IS RELEASED FROM STOP. FEELS LIKE YOU'VE BEEN REAR ENDED. DEALER SAID THIS IS NORMAL, "THEY ALL DO IT". I CONTACTED TOYOTA HQ AND THEY REFUSED TO COMMENT ON PROBLEM. VEHICLE VALUE IS GREATLY DIMINISHED. *JB

ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS OVER A WEEKS TIME SPAN WHILE DRIVING MY TRUCK IT HAS ACCELERATED BY ITSELF. WHEN I HAVE TAKEN MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL THE TRUCK CONTINUED TO GO FASTER AND WAS HARD TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP. I BROUGHT THE TRUCK TO A TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS TOLD IF THEY COULD GET THE VEHICLE TO DO THIS THEY COULD FIX IT. THEY KEPT THE TRUCK FOR A DAY AND DROVE IT BUT THE TRUCK RAN NORMAL. THEY SAID IT RAN FINE AND TOLD ME TO COME AND PICK IT UP. *NLM

2002 TOYOTA DOUBLE CAB 4X4 DURING MOUNTAIN DRIVING, MY FRONT BRAKES WILL MAKE THE TRUCK SHAKE. I WOULD DESCRIBE THE FEELING LIKE BAD ABS, HOWEVER, I DO NOT HAVE ABS. THIS PROBLEM ONLY SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN I AM GOING DOWNHILL (LIKE LOVELAND PASS). THE SHUTTERING DOES NOT DEPEND ON THE SPEED OF DECELERATION. ONCE IT STARTS IT SEEM TO BE THERE UNTIL THE BRAKES HAVE PLENTY OF COOLING TIME. I HAD IT INTO THE DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT OR GET IT TO DO IT. HOWEVER LAST TIME I WAS IN FOR OTHER REPAIRS, THE SERVICE MANAGER MENTIONED THAT 2000-2003 TUNDRA'S HAD A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM BUT THERE WAS NOT ONE FOR THE TACOMA. I TRIED TO LOOK UP INFORMATION TO SEE IF THE BRAKING SYSTEMS CONSISTED OF THE SAME COMPONENTS, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. *JB

WATER IS ENTERING THE VEHICLE AROUND THE SUPPORT HANDLE ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ONE YEAR AGO. PROBLEM BECAME EVIDENT THIS PAST FALL AND WHEN BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP THIS FEBRUARY THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR UNDER THE CORROSION WARRANTY. VEHICLE IS OVER THE STANDARD WARRANTY MILEAGE.

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS TOO SOON, MAKING THE ENGINE STRUGGLE AND VIBRATE AT LOW RPMS. WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID ALL THE NEW 4 CYLINDER TRUCKS WERE LIKE THIS. AT 12000 MILES, THE VALVES ARE TAPPING AT IDLE, AND THE HOOD VIBRATES. SEEING THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS FORUM, I NOW REMEMBER HOW SQUIRLY THE TRUCK GETS AFTER GOING OVER BUMPS. THAT WOULD EXPLAIN THE BAD FRONT SHOCKS. I HOPE I DON'T GET INTO A BAD ACCIDENT KNOWING THE AIR BAGS ARE NOT GOING TO WORK.

FOR THE LAST YEAR I HAVE BROUGHT TRUCK BACK TO SF TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS , SUSPENSION PROBLEMS RATTLING DASH BOARD, SQUEAKING SOUNDS FROM SEAT AND FRONT BUSHINGS. ALL THESE PROBLEMS STILL HAVE NOT BEEN FIXED. AFTER 15 VISITS TO DEALERSHIP, SF TOYOTA LEFT SCRATCHES ON BODY AND LOST MUD FLAP. BODY NOW TILTED AFTER SERVICE. *NLM

BROUGHT TRUCK TO TOYOTA SERVICE FOR 5000 MILE SERVICE REPORTED AUTO TRANS JUMP IN GEAR SHIFT FROM 1ST TO SECOND (MECHANIC SAID NEEDED NEW TRANSMISSION, AFTER LEAVING SERVICE STATION NOTICED TRUCK WASN'T DRIVING PROPERLY BROUGHT TRUCK BACK MECHANIC SAID NEEDS NEW FRONT SHOCK AND REAR SHOCK. NOW IT DID NOT NEED NEW TRANSMISSION EVEN THOUGH IT STILL JUMPS FROM GEAR TO GEAR.

TRANSMISSION JUMPS FROM FIRST TO SECOND AND SECOND TO THIRD TRANSMISSION SLIPS BACKWARD ON HILL IN DRIVE

THE VEHICLE DOWN SHIFTED 2 GEARS THEN SPUN OUT OF CONTROL. THE VEHICLE THEN CROSSED A HIGHWAY AND ROLLED OVER ONTO IT'S RIGHT SIDE. *JB *NLM

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL AND GAS PEDAL ARE LOCATED TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR,AND IF YOUR FOOT IS NOT IN THE MIDDLE OF PEDAL IT CAN HIT THE GAS PEDAL. MRJLG

WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH AT NIGHT, THE DRIVER DIDN'T JUDGE THE DISTANCE OF TRAFFIC DUE TO IMPROPER SIGN ILLUSTRATIONS BY ROAD COMPANY. DRIVER HAD IMPACT OF LEFT FRONT WHICH NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN TOTALED FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY DUE TO THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE. THE DRIVER RECEIVED FACIAL, HAND, NECK AND BACK INJURYS. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS

I WAS INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT ON THE FREEWAY, I WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC WHEN I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND AND FORCED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, THERE WAS ALOT OF DAMAGE DONE TO MY VEHICLE AND THE OTHER VEHICLES INVOLVED. I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT MY AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING. I WAS HIT IN THE ARE MAKED IN MY OWNERS MANUAL THAT INFORMS YOU AS TO WHERE THE AREA WOULD HAVE TO BE HIT FOR THEM TO DEPLOY, I WAS ALSO TRVELING AT A SPEED THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN SUFFICENT FOR THEM TO DEPLOY . I RECIEVED MINOR INJURIES, JUST A LOT OF BRUSIES AND MUSCLE STRAINS, BUT NONE THE LESS IF IT HAD BEEN A MORE SEVIRE ACCIDENT IT WOULD BE NICE TO KNOW THAT THE AIR BAGS ARE FUNCITIONAL.*AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HAS TO BEND TOO FAR DOWN TO OPEN WINDOWS . CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

I HAVE A TACOMA 2002 AND THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. ALTHOUGH I HAVE CALLED AND EXPLAINED THE SOMETIMES THEY SLIP, TOYOTA REFUSES TO REALLY LOOK AT THEM. I WANTED TO FILE THIS IN CASE THEY DO GIVE WHILE I AM DRIVING, THERE WILL BE A RECORD OF THIS PROBLEM, SINCE I HAVE MENTIONED IT SEVERAL TIMES TO TOYOTA BUT THEY NEVER WRITE IT DOWN, ACCORDING TO THE NEWEST CUSTOMER SERVICE? PERSON I SPOKE TO. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE CLUNKING NOISES, THE 5 MONTH BRAKE CHANGES AND THE SLIPPING OF THE BRAKES IS NATURAL. THIS CANNOT BE RIGHT. *JB

THE TRUCK HAS ALWAYS WALKED ALL OVER THE ROAD WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP .. THIS TIME IT WAS RAINING OUR SON HIT A BUMP AND LOST CONTROL ON THE WET ROAD BECAUSE OF THE TRUCKS... GOIN ALL OVER ROAD WHEN HIT A BUMP HE COULDNT HOLD IT ON THE ROAD WHEN IT WAS WET GOIN 65 MILES HR.. WE THINK THE SHOCKS ARE THE FRONT END THERE A DEFECT IN. *AK

TREAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2UL AWN TIRESIZE: P205/75R15)

VEHICLE PURCHASED W/ CMPR SHELL - NO BOOT INSTALLED - ALLOWS RAIN WTR TO OBSTRUCT REAR VIEW, GREATLY REDUCING VISIBILITY, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT.

TRANSMISSION LINE BLEW OFF, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STOP ACCELERATING. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. MECHANIC REPLACED HOSES AND ADDED A CLAMP.*AK

CONSUMER HAD JUST BOUGHT VEHICLE AND DROVE HOME,PARKED VEHICLE AND CUT ENGINE OFF . VEHICLE BUSTED INTO FLAMES. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT WHEN CONSUMER GETS FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT TO CALL BACK. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

INFO COPY LTR FWD TO TOYOTA REGARDING FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT RECALL, CUSTOMER DISSATISFIED W/QUALITY OF CURRENT TOYOTA VEHICLES. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED STEERING PROBLEMS AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS LOOSE. THE CONSUMER TRADED THE VEHICLE ON JUNE 4, 2005 AND 4 MONTHS SHE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN THE MAIL. *JB

WHEN USING THE JACK HANDLE TO LOWER THE SPARE TIRE, IT GET LODGED IN THE SLOTS. THE HOOKED SHAPE RENDERS IT IMPOSIBLE TO REMOVE EASILY MAKING TIRE CHANGING VERY DANGEROUS. THE SIMPLE FIX IS TO PROVIDE A SECOND INCERT TO BE USED TO LOWER THE TIRE. THIS WOULD NOT HAVE A HOOKED END THUS AVOIDING GETTING HUNG UP ON THE SHIELD AROUND THE LOWERING SLOT NUT.

AFTER ABOUT 1100 MILES WE STARTED TO GET A BAD SHUDDER WHEN SETTING OF, TOYOTA SAID THIS NORMAL, THE TRUCK AS NOW STARTED TO SHUDDER GOING FROM 1ST TO 2ND, TOYOTA SAID THIS IS NORMAL, THEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO VIBRATE THROUGH THE CAB AT 3000 MILES,TOYOTA SAID THIS IS NORMAL, THE TRANSMISSION THEN STARTED HARD SHIFTING,CHANGING UP,THE LATER CHANGING DOWN, NOW WHEN PULLING GRADES AND THE TRANSMISSION GOES INTO 4TH GEAR THERE IS A VIBRATION ALL THROUGH THE DRIVE LINE AND CAB, WHEN IN CRUISE THE TRANSMISSION HUNTS UP AND FOR NO REASON, TOYOTA SAYS ALL THIS IS PERFECTLY NORMAL ALTHOUGH 2 TOYOTA TECHS AGREED THERE IS A PROBLEM 2 INDEPENDANT GARAGES SAID THERE IS A PROBLEM, EVERY TIME WE TAKE IT FOR REPAIR TO THE DEALERSHIP TOYOTA TELLS US THERE IS NOTHING WRONG EVEN THOUGH THE DEALERSHIP AS SAID THERE IS A PROBLEM TOYOTA REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

TRANSMISSION "CLUNKS" ON STOPS AND SURGES AFTER BRAKE IS RELEASED FROM STOP. DEALER SAID THIS IS NORMAL. I CONTACTED TOYOTA HQ AND THEY REFUSED TO COMMENT ON PROBLEM. SAID DEALER IS THE EXPERT. I GUESS THE EXPERTISE OF THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE IS LEFT UP TO THE DEALERS NOT TOYOTA.*AK

DEFECTIVE RIMS AND TIRES.

SEVERAL REPAIRS TO WHEELS AND TIRES. RE:STEVE & KATHY MITTMAN *MR THE CONSUMER HAD BEEN TO THREE TOYOTA DEALERS IN PERFORMING REPAIRS TO THE WHEELS AND TIRES. BEAVER TOYOTA PERFORMED TWO COMPLETE ALIGNMENTS AND REPLACED THREE WHEELS THAT WERE OUT OF SPECIFICATIONS. AMERICAN TOYOTA HAS PERFORMED A COMPLETE ALIGNMENT, MOUNTED AND BALANCED ALL THE TIRES ON THE WHEELS, PRIOR TO REPLACEMENT BY BEAVER TOYOTA. KARL MALONE HAD REPLACED TWO TIRES THAT WERE FOUND TO HAVE EXCESSIVE RUN OUT, AS WELL AS MOUNT AND BALANCED ALL FOUR TIRES ON THE NEW WHEELS. THE MANUFACTURER AGREED THAT THIS WAS A DEFECT BUT DECLINED TO REPLACE ALL FIVE TIRES AND THE RIMS DUE TO SOURCES WHO STATED THE TIRES WERE WITHIN SPECIFICATION. *SCC *JB

DEALERSHIP DOESN'T HAVE THE EQUIPMENT TO PERFORM FUEL LEAKAGE RECALL 03 V 189 000 REPAIRS WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME.*AK

CONSUMER STATED WATER LEAKED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED THE FLOOR TO BE WET. THERE WAS A MILDEW SMELL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH

FRONT WHEELS WOBBLE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. ALSO, THERE'S AN UNKNOWN SQUEAKING NOISE. THIS IS CAUSED BY PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR, PER DEALERSHIP.*AK

REAR WHEEL CAN'T BE REMOVED FROM HUB. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. DEALER STATED WE BEAT THE WHEEL OFF WITH A SLUDGE HAMMER. *AK