Print this page

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
94,573 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2002 Toyota 4Runner engine problems

engine problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2002 Toyota 4Runner:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2002 Toyota 4Runner Owner Comments

problem #7

Dec 172014

4Runner 6-cyl

  • 175,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Vsc, trac off, ABS and brake lights came on while driving. High pitched buzzer/alarm started and remained constant. Brakes became very hard to depress and I lost most braking power.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #6

May 012013

4Runner

  • 120,000 miles
My 2002 Toyota 4runner has a faulty throttle position sensor (part # 89452-35030) that causes loss of power while driving (at all speeds). This loss of power is very dangerous as the car will be driving along at a stable speed and then suddenly just start slowing down even though my foot stays on the gas pedal. This loss of speed puts me at serious risk to be rear-ended by a car behind me or potentially get hit from the side as I am crossing an intersection. My mechanics and I have diagnosed the tps as the issue. This is a very common problem (there are multiple forums on the web about this). Here are some of them below: www.yotatech.com/F2/throttle-body-sensor-89452-35030-A-239929/ www.ttora.com/forum/showthread.php"T=16753 www.ttora.com/forum/showthread.php"T=13283 www.Toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-T4rs/118506-throttle-position-sensor.html please get Toyota to issue a recall for this part. It is something that needs to get dealt with before there are more serious incidents. Thanks.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #5

Dec 102002

4Runner 6-cyl

  • 10 miles
Complete loss of power on acceleration if tires spin...more than one close call! happening since vehicle was new.

- New Gloucester, ME, USA

problem #4

Mar 132008

4Runner 6-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have already filed a safety complaint regarding my sudden acceleration accident approximately 4 years ago. I noticed that Toyota has issued a recall for this problem for Toyota 4runners going back to 2003. My vehicle is a 2002. Basically, I'm writing to urge NHTSA to asktoyota what is different about the gas pedal assembly from 2003 to 2002 because there is no doubt there was a major malfunction with my car and if the assemble & parts manufactures is the same from 03 to 02 then the recall should be extended. Also, the other main reason I'm writing you is so that there is a record of me requesting my vehicle be included in the recall so that way if something happens to me again we will have a record of it.

- Laguna Beach, CA, USA

problem #3

Aug 112011

4Runner 6-cyl

  • 94,000 miles
I own a 2002 Toyota 4runner with approximately 94,000 miles. The vehicle primary use is driving less than 10 miles a day off highway. The following alarm lights came on: Brake light, check engine light, vsc light, trac light, ABS light, and the speedometer quit working. The vehicle was taken to mike calvert Toyota in houston, tx to diagnose the problem. Their scanner was unable to identify a code for the problem. The conclusion was that the ads control module (skid control sensor) was at fault and thus had to be replaced. The assistant service manager, grant miles advised me not to drive the vehicle until the ads control module was replaced. The cost for the parts and labor was quoted as $2377.01. It would take 3 to 5 business days for the part to be ordered and replaced. I had to rent a car from the dealership because of the vehicle was deemed unsafe to drive and because of the lengthy repair time. The cost of the rental car is approximately $289. Because of the possible safety issues with the ads control module (skid control sensor-part # 8954035270), I am registering this notification with the NHTSA.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #2

Mar 132008

4Runner 6-cyl

  • 160,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Toyota 4runner. While traveling at a speed of 5 mph attempting to park, the vehicle suddenly accelerated, causing the contact to crash into a nearby vehicle and then into a building. A police report was filed for the incident. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic where it was repaired for the failure. The manufacturer had not been contacted, the failure mileage was at 160000, the current mileage was 185000. Updated 05/07/2010. The driver of the other vehicle was injured. Updated 09/13/10

- Laguna Beach, CA, USA

problem #1

Oct 232009

4Runner

  • 113,000 miles
I own a Toyota 4 runner. While driving across country last fall I noticed that the truck would accelerate rapidly when I had cruise control on. The cruise control would kick in as it should have but it would accelerate very rapidly and felt out of control. Once it began the acceleration, it would never stop and level out to the appropriate speed as it should have. It would continue to accelerate. Braking worked in slowing the vehicle down, but it frightened me while I was driving. I do not use the cruise control now as a result of this. I was driving R/T from ca to denver, co and it happened several times during this trip.

- Huntington Beach, CA, USA

Not what you are looking for?