2002 Toyota Tacoma Suspension Problems
- Complaints
- 82about this part
- Share
- 25%of 333 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 130,500miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 82 complaints about the suspension of the 2002 Toyota Tacoma, 25% of the 333 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 130,500 miles. 8 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My frame is just rusted out in the back end it's never been flooded always taken care of very well and I heard about the frame recalls but my VIN comes back with no recalls I just need to see if this can be investigated I know people who did qualify and there frames were perfectly fine but mine is just falling apart”
NHTSA complaint #11082372, filed 2018-04, 177,000 miles“I was driving on a highway at about 55 MPH. The right lower control ball joint broke so the entire wheel broke off the vehicle. The vehicle tried to run/jump over the wheel and caused the vehicle to slammed down on the asphalt. The truck dragged on the asphalt for about 100 to 150 yds until I managed to control and stop it.”
NHTSA complaint #10981109, filed 2017-04, 169,650 miles“The ball joints and suspension on my 2002 toy Tacoma fell apart while making a routine turn onto my street! The balljoints separated and the front axle dug into the street, the only thing holding the wheel to the vehicle was the brake line! Had this happened 5 minutes earlier it would have been on the freeway doing 65 MPH instead of in a residential tract doing 20 MPH!”
NHTSA complaint #10372336, filed 2010-12, 154,887 miles“While driving home from picking up my daughter from school. I hit a pot hole my truck became very loose and hard to handle. I got home and inspected the truck. I found that the rear leaf spring mounts on both sides pulled/ ripped the frame! My back axel also slid back about 2 ! I'm glad we didn't get hurt, but I can't believe that this is acceptable. I only wonder what would have happened if the axel would have came totally disconnected from the truck.”
NHTSA complaint #10586710, filed 2014-05, 125,000 miles“While driving away from my house at 5mph, at night in the rain, approximately 200 feet from my driveway and just after a speed bump, I heard and felt a loud noise, like driving over a concrete block. I stopped the truck and using a flashlight saw that the wheel was bent at an angle and the lower ball joint was completely sheared off. Had to call a tow truck to get it out of the road and back to our driveway.”
NHTSA complaint #10436603, filed 2011-11, 188,000 milesRelated recalls
- 05V225000May 17, 2005On 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…Covers: Toyota Tacoma 2001–2004, Tundra 2002–2004, Sequoia 2002–2004 +1 more
Related service bulletins
- 10177782Jun 23, 2020TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE June 23, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0063-20.
- 10015504Jun 27, 2005Special service campaign 50j - phase I - front suspension lower ball joint may experience excessive wear and looseness causing increased steering, effort, reduced vehicle…
Suspension: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9 | 8% |
| 2024 | 5 | 3% |
| 2023 | 2 | 4% |
| 2021 | 3 | 4% |
| 2020 | 1 | 1% |
| 2019 | 4 | 2% |
| 2018 | 6 | 3% |
| 2017 | 6 | 2% |
| 2016 | 14 | 4% |
| 2015 | 4 | 4% |
| 2014 | 8 | 9% |
| 2013 | 14 | 11% |
| 2012 | 21 | 7% |
| 2011 | 60 | 32% |
| 2010 | 95 | 32% |
| 2009 | 119 | 23% |
| 2008 | 125 | 28% |
| 2007 | 118 | 22% |
| 2006 | 154 | 20% |
| 2005 | 137 | 19% |
| 2004 | 85 | 20% |
| 2003 | 66 | 18% |
| 2002 | 82 | 25% |
| 2001 | 81 | 20% |
| 2000 | 52 | 25% |
| 1999 | 35 | 14% |
| 1998 | 28 | 9% |
| 1997 | 24 | 18% |
| 1996 | 87 | 34% |
| 1995 | 90 | 51% |
Other parts of the 2002 Toyota Tacoma
180 complaintsOther or unknown
27 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
21 complaintsAir bags
19 complaintsWheels
18 complaintsBrakes
17 complaintsTires
14 complaintsSteering
9 complaintsVehicle speed control
8 complaintsElectrical system
7 complaintsFuel system
6 complaintsEngine cooling
4 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Toyota Tacoma
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology