2002 Toyota 4Runner
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Body, Seats & Latches
Body, Seats & Latches leads by volume: 90 of 224 complaints (40%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more crash reports (8) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 185 in 2001 to 224 in 2002.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | vs. 2002 Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,300–3,900 | 3,650–3,900 | 3,900 | 3,450–4,150 | 3,450–4,150 | |
| Combined MPG | 16–19 | 16–17 | 16 | 15–18 | 15–18 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 15–17 / 18–22 | 15–16 / 18–19 | 15 / 18 | 14–16 / 17–20 | 14–16 / 17–20 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 468–555 | 523–555 | 555 | 494–592 | 494–592 | |
| Complaints filed | 483 | 185 | 224 | 695 | 678 | |
| Recalls issued | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 30 | 10 | 19 | 18 | 28 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| Injuries reported | 31 | 12 | 20 | 27 | 20 | |
| Deaths reported | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2002 Toyota 4Runner have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2002 Toyota 4Runner?
Body, Seats & Latches: 90 of 224 NHTSA complaints (40%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2002 Toyota 4Runner get?
EPA rates it 16 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2002 Toyota 4Runner?
EPA estimates $3,900 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (2)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 4-spd | 6 | 3.4L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 15 mpg | 18 mpg | 16 mpg | $3,900 | 555 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic 4-spd | 6 | 3.4L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 15 mpg | 18 mpg | 16 mpg | $3,900 | 555 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 17 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 24 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 60 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 10 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 11 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 90 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Other | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (3)
EXTERIOR LIGHTING · Campaign 06E049000 · Jun 5, 2006
Defect: 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.
Consequence: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING · Campaign 06E026000 · Mar 23, 2006
Defect: 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.
Consequence: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT · Campaign 05V225000 · May 17, 2005
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.