6.7

fairly significant
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
9,910 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 Tacoma transmission problems

transmission problem

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2002 Toyota Tacoma Owner Comments

problem #11

Oct 152004

Tacoma 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 76,000 miles

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

Transmission-power train.while driving in low speed situations the vehicle's transmission shifts from 1st to 2nd.....back and forth from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 1st. I took the vehicle to the dealer and they advised that they couldn't find anything wrong with it. It has 76K miles on it. I was just wondering if anyone else was having this problem.

- Hazlehurst, MS, USA

problem #10

Jul 012004

Tacoma 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 0 miles
Power train - just bought my truck about 3 months ago. During the test drive, I was extremely impressed by the ride of my Tacoma. A few weeks after I had it, I started to experience the clunking sound coming from underneath. I have to the dealership 3 times now, and everytime I have been told was normal. I was told all automatic transmissions do this. This is the second Toyota truck I have owned, and I could tell you this, they don't come up with a resolution, it will be my last. I also drive a Celica (great car), but if I lose the truck, then I losing the Celica, and will want nothing to do with Toyota's again!!!

- Salt Lake City, UT, USA

problem #9

Jun 032004

Tacoma 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission/driveshaft experiences loud clunk noise when brakes are applied then released. This is a known problem to Toyota however they offer no resolution. Research has indicated adding leaf springs to stiffen rear suspension resloves this issue Toyota will not do this modification.

- Ellicott City, MD, USA

problem #8

Aug 052003

Tacoma 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 20,000 miles

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

My 2002 Tacoma vibrates at high speeds and when stopping. I've had the brakes fixed 5 times now and it's still not right. My transmission clunks when I stop and start, shutters when coming to a stop, and shifts hard. Sometimes the transmission clunks after I've already started moving. The problems started about a year ago. I've recently been to two dealerships before the warranty expired and nothing was done. One Toyota technician said it was my brakes, yeah right, the other wouldn't even take it for a test drive. I think the problem is caused by my transmission sliding back and forth, which I don't think it's supposed to do. Whenever I stomp on the gas to pass someone it shifts into the wrong gear and the engine red lines. My dash squeaks, so I have to wedge my wallet in between the windshield and dash to stop it. My driver's side door doesn't shut flush with the body. Last but not least, I had to replace my oxygen sensor. I would like to sell my truck, but can't with all the problems. This was my first Toyota and will probably be my last.

- Decatur, GA, USA

problem #7

Dec 182002

Tacoma 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 5,000 miles
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.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

problem #6

Mar 152003

Tacoma 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 3,000 miles
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.

- Bartlett, TN, USA

problem #5

Dec 302002

Tacoma 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 0 miles

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

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.

- Mesa, AZ, USA

problem #4

Dec 172002

Tacoma 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 5,009 miles
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.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

problem #3

May 212002

(reported on)

Tacoma

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
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.

- Midwest City, OK, USA

problem #2

Mar 212002

(reported on)

Tacoma 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
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.

- Joshua Tree, CA, USA

problem #1

Nov 012001

Tacoma 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission line blew off, causing vehicle to stop accelerating. Dealer was notified. Mechanic replaced hoses and added a clamp.

- Lenox, NC, USA

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