Exterior Lighting:headlights
NHTSA campaign 09E025000 · 2009 · reported 05/11/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
2002 Toyota Tundra Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Structure:body — runs 5.0× the fleet median for that category across the 1175 model-years tracked on this site.
482Complaints
6Recalls
30Crashes
1Fires
20Injured
3Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Structure:body (15.8% of complaints) — is covered by 1 NHTSA recall campaign.
Structure:body complaints here are 5.0× the median for that category across the 1175 model-years tracked on this site.
4 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 2 rest on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structure:body | 76 · 15.8% | Recalled | Recall 09V444000 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 54 · 11.2% | Investigation closed | PE09049 → recall 09V444000 |
| Structure:frame And Members | 45 · 9.3% | Recalled | Recall 09V444000 |
| Suspension | 43 · 8.9% | Recalled | Recall 05V225000 |
| Steering | 34 · 7.1% | No official action | — |
| Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint | 32 · 6.6% | Recalled | Recall 05V225000 |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 482 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls — 6 campaigns
Structure:frame And Members:underbody Shields
NHTSA campaign 09V444000 · 2009 · reported 11/18/2009
SEPARATION OF THE SPARE TIRE AND DIMINISHED BRAKE CAPACITY COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 06E065000 · 2006 · reported 07/17/2006
LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 06E026000 · 2006 · reported 03/23/2006
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint
NHTSA campaign 05V225000 · 2005 · reported 05/17/2005
THE LOWER BALL JOINT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Wheels
NHTSA campaign 02V129000 · 2002 · reported 05/01/2002
DIFFERENT OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS CAN BE EXPERIENCED WHEN THE SPARE TIRE IS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. BRAKES ARE NOT BIG ENOUGH FOR TRUCK. TRUCK VIBRATES BADLY WHEN STOPPING. THIS WILL BE MY FOURTH SET OF BRAKES IN LESS…”NHTSA complaint 10171944 — filed 10/26/2006 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
“SHIFTING LEVER BROKE OFF INSIDE COLUMN WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO PARK. I WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO SHIFT TRANSMISSIONS.”NHTSA complaint 10170285 — filed 10/09/2006 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
“THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO TELL US OF YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE TRANSMISSION ON YOUR HUSBAND'S 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. I READ YOUR E-MAIL…”NHTSA complaint 10165121 — filed 08/10/2006 · POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Toyota Tundra?
Structure:body issues are the most-reported category, cited in 76 of 482 NHTSA complaints (15.8%), followed by service brakes, hydraulic (54), structure:frame and members (45), suspension (43). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 2002 Toyota Tundra have?
482 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 30 involved a crash, 1 involved a fire, and 20 reported injuries. 3 deaths were reported.
Does the 2002 Toyota Tundra have any recalls?
Yes — 6 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 09E025000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 2002 Toyota Tundra's reported problems?
4 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.
