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Toyota 4Runner 2002

The 2002 Toyota 4Runner has a 3.4 L engine. It gets 16 MPG combined (15 city, 18 highway), per the EPA. 3 recall campaigns and 40 owner complaints are on record.

Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD AWD
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Toyota 4Runner
Representative photo of the 4Runner. It may show a different year or version. Photo: RL GNZLZ · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Specs

Engine
3,400 cc
6
Cylinders6
TransmissionAutomatic · 4 speeds
DrivetrainAWD
Dimensions (L × W × H)4,540 × 1,730 × 1,760 mm (178.7 × 68.1 × 69.3 in)
Wheelbase2,680 mm (105.5 in)
Curb weight1,846 kg (4,070 lb)
Body styleSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD

Dimensions and weight: median of the 3 versions in Canada's official specifications (NHTSA vPIC). Each version differs slightly.

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Safety

Crash-test results across markets. They can vary by version and equipment.

NHTSA NCAP
Results · 2002 Toyota 4Runner 4-DR.
🇺🇸 Local data
Rollover★★★★★

Fuel economy (MPG)

🇺🇸 Local data
City
15 MPG
Highway
18 MPG
Combined
16 MPG
Emissions
345 g/km
COâ‚‚

By version

EngineTransmissionDrivetrainCityHighwayCombined
3.4 L 6-cylinder Automatic · 4 speeds AWD 15 MPG 18 MPG 16 MPG
3.4 L 6-cylinder Automatic · 4 speeds Rear-wheel (RWD) 15 MPG 18 MPG 16 MPG

EPA figures for each version sold in the U.S.

Recalls

3 campaigns🇺🇸 Local dataNHTSA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 06E049000 · 2006-05-24 · NHTSA
Consequence · Remedy

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

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 06E026000 · 2006-03-23 · NHTSA
Consequence · Remedy

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

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 05V225000 · 2005-05-17 · NHTSA
Consequence · Remedy

THE LOWER BALL JOINT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

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.

1 campaign🇨🇦 CA dataTransport Canada

It may not apply to vehicles sold in your country. Check with your VIN at the source.

Suspension 2005151 · 2005-05-18 · Transport Canada
Details

On certain vehicles, a manufacturing issue with the front lower ball joint could result in premature wear. If the vehicle is operated for an extended period of time in this condition, the ball joint may eventually experience excessive wear and looseness, resulting in increased steering effort, reduced vehicle self-centering and noise in the front suspension. In extreme cases, when the driver continues to operate the vehicle in this condition, the lower ball joint may separate from the knuckle causing a loss of vehicle steering control. Correction: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the front lower ball joints.

Common problems

40 reports🇺🇸 Local data

Reported by owners to the source below. It is not a verdict on this car: it is what people wrote.

TIRES 2024-06-17 · NHTSA

THIS IS FOR TIRE SIZE P265 75 16. To start, I've seen multiple other complaints describing the same scenario and type of incident. Driving along the highway at appropriate speeds, I hear a whoosh/deep pitch rumble, then my vehicle began to vibrate violently. I was luckily able to pull over but had to swerve to regain …

STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2023-07-13 · NHTSA

Frame rot

STRUCTURE 2023-05-19 · NHTSA

The contact owns a 2002 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that while inspecting underneath the vehicle, he noticed that there was a hole in the subframe and that the subframe and sway bar were corroded. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware…

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 2023-03-09 · NHTSA

The contact owns a 2002 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated while pulling the door handle to unlock the doors, the auto unlock function failed to unlock the doors. The contact had to press the unlock button to unlock the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed and the dealer stated that a failure w…

STRUCTURE 2022-09-01 · NHTSA

Frame is excessively rusted. The recall that already exists for this issue only covers certain frames from Japan made with this steel. However, the same frames were imported to America and a large percentage of 4Runners were made with the same steel and didn’t receive a recall. Mine is one of them.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2022-05-28 · NHTSA

frame rust saftey hazardous? midas mechanic pointed out to me while work being done on exhaust march 2022

SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE 2022-04-18 · NHTSA

The contact owns a 2002 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH through a slight right curve, the vehicle independently shifted from side to side without warning nearly causing the vehicle to flip. The contact had an independent mechanic inspect the vehicle and the mechanic discovered severe corro…

UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2022-02-22 · NHTSA

Frame rusted through from the inside out. There isnt even any surface rust where the hole started. Its just a hole in the middle of clean metal. The rest of the frame rail is solid. Rear suspension arm mount is also rusted out and starting to come off. The entire structural integrity of the frame is in question, even …

STRUCTURE 2022-02-09 · NHTSA

Premature rusted frame throughout, vehicle is garaged and well maintained 117,000 miles on my 2002 Toyota 4Runner. Auto body specialist estimates $3k-$4k to restore, at least.

SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE 2021-12-15 · NHTSA

Frame and rear passenger control arm bracket, rotted out .only there, 2 nd time this has happened, same spot but on my previous 2001 4runner

SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2021-10-28 · NHTSA

Had vehicle inspected on Oct. 1 ,2021 for road trip to North Carolina from Washington, DC. Was informed that my vehicle is unsafe by the automotive shop (name withheld) due to [rusting] frame front suspension components' threads rusted off on bolts that hold suspension, control arms, and shocks on both front and rear…

STRUCTURE 2021-08-30 · NHTSA

The contact owns a 2002 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that while receiving routine maintenance repair on the vehicle, the independent mechanic informed the contact that the subframe was rusted. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approx…

All 40 reports, grouped by component

Questions

What engine does the 2002 Toyota 4Runner have?
The 2002 Toyota 4Runner has a 3.4 L engine.
What is the fuel economy of the 2002 Toyota 4Runner?
It gets 16 MPG combined (15 city, 18 highway), per the EPA.
Does the 2002 Toyota 4Runner have recalls?
3 recall campaigns are on record. The latest concerns Exterior Lighting (2006-05-24).
What are the common problems of the 2002 Toyota 4Runner?
40 owners have filed complaints, most often about Structure.

Other years

Which Toyota 4Runner year to buy? Recalls and complaints by year

Other models by Toyota

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