MyCarTSB

2002 Toyota Tacoma Brakes Problems

21 owner-reported brakes complaints from NHTSA data

21
Complaints
2
Crashes
Jan 2010Dec 2004
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (21)

mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Filed: Feb 2011

ABS LIGHT CAME ON WENT OFF THEN CAME BACK ON AND STAYED ON. TOYOTA TOOK THREE HOURS TO FIGURE IT OUT. ABS CONTROL MODUAL ( ABS CPU )

NHTSA #: 10383835
mediumPARKING BRAKE
Filed: Jan 2010

EMERGENCY CABLE IS BROKEN. *TR

NHTSA #: 10298349
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Filed: Apr 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE FRONT BRAKES DETACHED FROM THE PADS AND BECAME JAMMED BETWEEN THE ROTOR AND THE CALIPER. A PORTION OF THE BRAKES STRUCK THE FRONT FENDER LIKE A BULLET. THE CONTACT CALLED TOYOTA, BUT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST. HE REPAIRED THE VEHICLE HIMSELF AND STATED THAT HE WAS TAKING HIS VEHICLE OUT OF SERVICE FOR SAFETY REASONS. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

NHTSA #: 10226285
mediumPARKING BRAKE
Filed: Dec 2007

PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM CONTINUALLY FREEZES UP DUE TO POOR CABLE AND SPRING ROUTING. PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE WELL KNOWN TO AREA MECHANICS. *TR

NHTSA #: 10210842
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: Nov 2007

I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA WITH 62,000 MI. I HAVE BEEN TO TWO TOYOTA DEALERS TO FIGURE OUT MY PROBLEM. THE VSC TRAC, VSC OFF, ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ARE COMING ON. FINALLY AFTER @$700 OF MY MONEY, THEY FIGURED OUT THE PROBLEM TO BE THE ECU. THIS WILL NOW COST ME @1800 FOR PARTS, AND WHO KNOWS YET FOR LABOR. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT MANY OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE SITUATION, UNLESS YOU HAVE THE EXT. WARRANTY. I FEEL THAT TOYOTA NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, MAYBE RECALL THIS AND FIX THESE CARS BEFORE THERE IS AN ACCIDENT. I LIVE IN NEW YORK WHERE THERE IS ALOT OF SNOW. MY VSC WILL NOT WORK UNTIL I GET THIS FIXED. I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND HAVE TO RELAY ON STANDARD BRAKES IN THE SNOW UNTIL THIS IS FIXED. TOYOTA SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR REPUTABLE NAME AND FIX THESE PROBLEMS ASAP..... *TR

NHTSA #: 10209150
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Filed: Mar 2007

THE PARKING BRAKE INTERMEDIATE LEVER RUSTED ,RESULTING IN THE PARKING BRAKE NOT DISENGAGING. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE TRUCK WAS VIBRATING SO BADLY THAT IT FELT LIKE A WHEEL WAS FALLING OFF. AFTER RETURNING HOME AT 35 MPH THE LEFT REAR WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY HOT WHICH RESULTED IN WARPING THE DRUMS. IT WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE OVER 40 MPH. THE PARTS NEED TO BE ORDERED AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED AS OF THIS TIME. THE LEVER IN QUESTION IS THE ONE THAT LINKED THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE INTO THE REAR BRAKE DRUM ASSEMBLY. ITWAS COVERED BY A RUBBER BOOT THAT OBVIOUSLY DID NOT KEEP OUT MOISTURE, THUS RUSTING. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS JACKED UP THE LEFT REAR TIRE WOULD NOT EVEN TURN DUE TO THE BRAKES NOT BEING ABLE TO DISENGAGE.*AK

NHTSA #: 10186218
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, AIR
Filed: May 2005

I AM DEALING WITH UNDERSIZED BRAKE CALIPER AND ASSOCIATED ROTOR AND BRAKE PAD QUALITY PROBLEMS. THE CARS SHAKES VIOLENTLY QWHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. THEY ARE CAUSING THE ROTORS TO OVERHEAT CAUSING THE ROTORS TO WARP AND EXCESS WEAR. WHILE TOYOTA RECOGNIZED THAT THE CALIPERS ARE TOO SMALL FOR THE 2002 SEQUOIA, THEY WOULD ONLY REPLACE THEM UNDER WARRANTY. NOT SURE WHY THEY ARE ONLY TOO SMALL UNDER WARRANTY. DO THEY GROW AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRES? THIS IS BAD POLICY. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED I SPEND THE $2000 TO FIX THE PROBLEM, WHICH TOYOTA SAYS IS NOT A PROBLEM AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRES. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE LOCAL DEALER,BOULDER TOYOTA, HE STATED IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, ONLY A QUALITY QUESTION. I SEEM TO GET TWO DIFFERENT STORIES FROM THE DEALER AND TOYOTA "CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE". I HAVE RESEARCHED A NUMBER OF SITES INCLUDING NHTS AND AUTOBYTEL. APPARTENTLY I AM NOT UNIQUE AND MANY OTHERS ARE CLAIMING PROBLEMS WITH TOYOTA SEQUOIA BRAKES. THIS IS NOT THE QUALITY I EXPECTED FROM A TOYOTA.

NHTSA #: 10121251
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Filed: May 2005

STRONG VIBRATIONS FROM FRONT BRAKES

NHTSA #: 10120968
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Filed: Jan 2005

I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA LIMITED. THE BRAKES NEEDED REPLACING AT 21000 MILES.THIS IS CONCIDERED NORMAL , FOR THIS HEAVY CAR. THE DEALER REQUESTED $330.00 TO REPLACE PADS I SHOPPED AROUND GOT THE JOB DONE FOR $250.00. BUT THE BRAKES STARTED VIBRATING WHENEVER I APPLIED THEM. TOOK IT BACK TO REPAIR CENTER THEY RE-DID THE ENTIRE BRAKE JOB WITH DIFFERENT FACTORY PADS (26000 MI) , SAME RESULT. I THEN TOOK IT TO THE DEALER I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM (33000 MI) , THEY CHECKED IT OUT, PROBLEM NOT OCCURING AT THIS TIME. NO REPAIR DONE. I TOOK IT TO THE TIRE CENTER I ALWAYS USE FOR TIRES, THEY REPLACED REAR ROTORS, PROBLEM NOT FIXED. I THEN REPLACED THE FRONT ROTORS & PADS MYSELF. VIBRATION STILL OCCURING. I HAVE SPENT $800.00 TO FIX THE VIBRATION. TALKED TO TOYOTA ABOUT IT THERE IS A SERVICE BULITTEN ABOUT THIS COMPLANT, IT SHOULD BE FIXED FREE OF CHARGE. BUT THE CAR IS AT 41000 MI NOW. THE WARRANTY IS 36000 MILES.TOYOTA REFUSED TO MAKE NECESSARY REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH COMPLAINT WAS ORIGINALLY PLACED DURING WARRANTY PERIOD. REPAIR COST APPROX $2000.00 PER SERVICE WRITER. I WILL NEVER DEAL WITH TOYOTA AGAIN! *AK

NHTSA #: 10107970
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Filed: Dec 2004

2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA BRAKES VIBRATE SEVERELY. VSC SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT FREQUENTLY COMES ON. PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE CAR HAD 10,000 MILES, NOW HAS 36,000 AND DEALER AND TOYOTA CLAIM IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. TOYOTA CLAIMS THAT CAR HAS NO BRAKE PROBLEMS, NO SAFETY PROBLEMS AT ALL, AND THAT ORIGINAL BRAKES ARE NOT DEFECTIVE IN DESIGN. I AM INFORMED THAT TOYOTA ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, ALTHOUGH TOYOTA DENIED THIS THE DEALER ADMITTED THAT IT EXISTED, BUT I HAD TO SPECIFICALLY COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SPECIFIC BRAKE PROBLEM, OR THEY WOULD NOT AND DID NOT ADVISE ME OF THE REMEDY. THESE BRAKE ISSUES ARE A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA #: 10104251
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Filed: Jul 2004

I HAVE A TACOMA 2002 AND THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. ALTHOUGH I HAVE CALLED AND EXPLAINED THE SOMETIMES THEY SLIP, TOYOTA REFUSES TO REALLY LOOK AT THEM. I WANTED TO FILE THIS IN CASE THEY DO GIVE WHILE I AM DRIVING, THERE WILL BE A RECORD OF THIS PROBLEM, SINCE I HAVE MENTIONED IT SEVERAL TIMES TO TOYOTA BUT THEY NEVER WRITE IT DOWN, ACCORDING TO THE NEWEST CUSTOMER SERVICE? PERSON I SPOKE TO. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE CLUNKING NOISES, THE 5 MONTH BRAKE CHANGES AND THE SLIPPING OF THE BRAKES IS NATURAL. THIS CANNOT BE RIGHT. *JB

NHTSA #: 10080482
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Filed: Oct 2003

FRONT WHEELS WOBBLE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. ALSO, THERE'S AN UNKNOWN SQUEAKING NOISE. THIS IS CAUSED BY PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR, PER DEALERSHIP.*AK

NHTSA #: 10044949
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, AIR,POWER TRAIN,STRUCTURE
Filed: Sep 2003

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.

NHTSA #: 10040876
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Filed: Aug 2003

BRAKING PROBLEMS WITH A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA 4X4. SHAKING OF TRUCK WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. FRONT BRAKES WERE RESURFACED AND ADJUSTED ON 8/6/03. PROBLEM CONTINUED AND I WAS CHARGED TO REPLACE REAR DRUMS & SHOES ON A TRUCK WITH LESS THAN 30000 MILES ON 8/15/03. *AK

NHTSA #: 10036857
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Filed: Jun 2003

THE BRAKES ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY TOYOTA TACOMA PICKUP ARE DRAGGING MAKING IS DIFFICULT TO STEER. WHEN TOYOTA DEALERSHIP PULLED THE WHEELS OFF THE TRUCK AND CHECKED THE BRAKES THERE WAS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE WEAR ON THE FRONT RIGHT BREAK PADS THEN THE LEFT SIDE. I HAD THE BREAKS REPLACED AND KEPT THE WORN OUT BRAKES FOR YOUR INSPECTION. IT APPEARS THE RIGHT-SIDE CALIPER FAILED MAKING IT HARD TO STEER AND CAUSING THE BRAKES ON THE RIGHT SIDE TO WEAR OUT IN LESS THAN 15,000 MILES. TOYOTA SAYS THIS IS NORMAL EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. *NLM

NHTSA #: 10022996
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Filed: Jun 2003

THE BRAKES VIBRATE UPON DECREASING SPEED FROM 60 MPH OR MORE. THE LONGER DRIVEN, THE NECESSARY SPEED FOR VIBRATION DECREASES TO LOWER SPEEDS. THE PROBLEM INTENSIFIES THE HIGHER THE GRADE IS ON ANY DOWNHILL. I HAVE REPLACED PADS TWICE AND ROTORS ONCE. AS I BEGIN TO REPLACE THE CALIPERS, I FIND THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THOSE ON THE TUNDRA AND A LIST OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT TACOMA'S BRAKES. *NLM

NHTSA #: 10021044
mediumPARKING BRAKE
CrashFiled: May 2003

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY FORTY FIVE MINUTES AND WITHOUT WARNING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE RELEASED AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. (MODEL/MR2 SPYDER) SCC *JB

NHTSA #: 10019448
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Filed: May 2003

2002 TOYOTA DOUBLE CAB 4X4 DURING MOUNTAIN DRIVING, MY FRONT BRAKES WILL MAKE THE TRUCK SHAKE. I WOULD DESCRIBE THE FEELING LIKE BAD ABS, HOWEVER, I DO NOT HAVE ABS. THIS PROBLEM ONLY SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN I AM GOING DOWNHILL (LIKE LOVELAND PASS). THE SHUTTERING DOES NOT DEPEND ON THE SPEED OF DECELERATION. ONCE IT STARTS IT SEEM TO BE THERE UNTIL THE BRAKES HAVE PLENTY OF COOLING TIME. I HAD IT INTO THE DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT OR GET IT TO DO IT. HOWEVER LAST TIME I WAS IN FOR OTHER REPAIRS, THE SERVICE MANAGER MENTIONED THAT 2000-2003 TUNDRA'S HAD A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM BUT THERE WAS NOT ONE FOR THE TACOMA. I TRIED TO LOOK UP INFORMATION TO SEE IF THE BRAKING SYSTEMS CONSISTED OF THE SAME COMPONENTS, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. *JB

NHTSA #: 10018328
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Filed: Mar 2003

THE MASTER CYLINDER IS LEAKED. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *NLM

NHTSA #: 10012037
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Filed: Oct 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL AND GAS PEDAL ARE LOCATED TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR,AND IF YOUR FOOT IS NOT IN THE MIDDLE OF PEDAL IT CAN HIT THE GAS PEDAL. MRJLG

NHTSA #: 8020783
mediumPARKING BRAKE
CrashFiled: Oct 2002

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN AN INCLINED SPOT. PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED. PARKING BRAKE FAILED AND CAR ROLLED OVER A CURB INTO A METAL POLE ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES AFTER THE CAR WAS PARKED. *PH (2002 TOYOTA MR2) *JB **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**768022

NHTSA #: 10007439

Other 2002 Toyota Tacoma Issues