2002 Toyota Tundra Engine Problems

My original owner 2002 Toyota Tundra Truck was being backed up in reverse with a utility trailer attached up a very, very moderate incline on a driveway pushing the trailer onto a gravel pad ALONGSIDE (parallel) the driveway. As it started to spin gravel the truck was put into a 4 wheel Drive LOW RANGE. This is in keeping with the TOYOTA owners manual publication 0M34417U Part Number 01999-34417 Print date 02-0109-01. We followed the manual instruction on 4 WD operation. Within a few feet the truck stopped as if the wheels had hit a curb and there was no further movement no matter the accelerator pedal position and the engine speed was unchanged as if it was in a stall. All of a sudden there was a loud bang underneath the truck and the truck raced rearward 8-10 feet jackknifing the trailer into a tree and upending the truck and trailer. We contacted Toyota on the incident and they had a third party look at the truck for brake condition, floor mat placement and throttle freedom at the body shop & Toyota closed the complaint file. Toyota IGNORED the circumstances and description of the incident in closing the complaint. We have been a very long time TOYOTA truck family and have owned SIX Toyota 4 wheel drives plus a Lexus all-wheel drive. In doing our own evaluation and investigation we have found that the truck went into a 4-wheel drive "wind-up" or "bind" and found information related on it from ASE Certification sites. NO MENTION of this potential issue is provided in the owners manual! We found that the torque from this can be over 4,000 ft/lb. and possible magnified even more by low range. When this bind suddenly is released the movement can be violent as happened here. Why is this not talked about in the owner manual? Why does Toyota ignore this reality? Indeed, the Toyota Rep. Mr. Ronald Inton said "he never heard of anyone backing up in 4 Wheel Drive"! WHAT?? We have the vehicle, photos, Toyota denial all available for review,.

NHTSA ID

11628419

Incident

Sep 29, 2024

DIFFICULT TO START AND ENGINE DIES WHEN DRIVING

NHTSA ID

11316437

Incident

May 22, 2016

Mileage

80,000 mi

HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 OXYGEN SENSORS. THE FRONT TWO WERE FAULTY BEFORE 50000 MILES AND LESS THAN 7 YEARS OLD. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL COVER IS ROTTING AND LEAKING FLUID. THE ONLY WAY TO REPAIR IT IS TO WELD OVER THE HOLE.

NHTSA ID

10940416

Incident

Nov 23, 2016

I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA THAT I BOUGHT FROM DEL TOYOTA IN THORNDALE PA. I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK NEW FROM THIS DEALER. TOYOTA SENT ME A LETTER FOR THE RECALL OF THE FRAME. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO DEL TOYOTA TO HAVE THE FRAME LOOKED AT IN 2012 AND THEY SAID THE FRAME JUST NEEDED SPRAYED. I WAS FINE WITH THAT. THE PROBLEM IS NOW MY FRAME HAS 4 INCH HOLES IN IT UP BY THE ENGINE ON BOTH SIDES. THERE IS NOT WHEY MY FRAME WOULD HAVE RUSTED OUT THAT FAST SINCE THE DEALER LOOKED AT IT IN 2012. SO I TOOK MY TUNDRA BACK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THEM INSPECT THE HOLES AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD CALL TOYOTA TO GET A NEW FRAME ON IT BECAUSE I HAD THE TRUCK IN DURING THE RECALL PERIOD THE FIRST TIME. LITTLE DID I KNOW TOYOTA SAID THEY WILL NOT REPLACE MY FRAME BECAUSE THE RECALL PERIOD IS OVER. THEN DEL TOYOTA TOLD ME TO CALL TOYOTA CORP AND TALK TO A CASE MANAGER. SO I CALLED TOYOTA CORP AND TALKED TO [XXX] (THE CASE MANAGER) AND SHE TOLD ME TOYOTA WOULD NOT REPLACE THE FRAME BECAUSE THE RECALL PERIOD IS OVER. I TOLD HER MY TRUCK WAS IN FOR THE RECALL AND THEY SPRAYED IT WHEN THE FRAME SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED. SHE TOLD ME AGAIN TOYOTA WILL NOT REPLACE MY FRAME. SO NOW I AM STUCK WITH A UNSAFE VEHICLE THAT I FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING AND WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION ANYMORE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10661355

Incident

Nov 1, 2012

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. WHILE STOPPED WITH THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO PARK, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV LOUDLY MOMENTARILY BEFORE STOPPING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 20 TIMES WHILE SHIFTED INTO PARK OR STOPPED WITH A FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,000. UPDATED 3/22/11 *CN UPDATED 05/05/11

NHTSA ID

10381244

Incident

Feb 9, 2010

Mileage

15,000 mi

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER CHECKED THE FAULT CODES AND TOLD ME BOTH OXYGEN CENSORS HAD FAILED, AND THAT THEY HAD TO BE REPLACED TO PASS NY STATE INSPECTION. COST OVER $600.00. *TR

NHTSA ID

10329450

Incident

Sep 1, 2009

Mileage

60,000 mi

MY 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA HAD THE FRONT BRAKES REPLACED 7,000 MILES AGO. WHEN BRAKING THE TRUCK SHUDDERS AND SHAKES. I WAS TOLD THAT THE ROTOR IS WARPED. THE TOYOTA DEALER SAYS THIS IS A PROBLEM DUE TO ME DRIVING HARD ON THE BRAKES. THIS IS FALSE. I AM VERY EASY ON THE TRUCK. NOW SIMULTANEOUSLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. THE TOYOTA DEALER SAYS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE COST OF THE PART ALONE IS $1,000.00 ALL THIS AFTER I DEALT WITH A PROBLEM WITH THIS TRUCK IN 2005. BACK THEN, AT 58,000 MILES, THE ENGINE THREW A ROD AND THE ENTIRE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. IS THIS TRUCK A LEMON OR WHAT? I AM NOT HARD ON MY VEHICLES. I OWN A 1994 HONDA ACCORD THAT HAS 250,000 MILES. I EXPECTED THE SAME FROM TOYOTA. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE TOYOTA TUNDRA. WHY I AM HAVING TO PAY FOR NEW BRAKES 7,000 MILES AFTER REPLACING THE FRONT BRAKES? WHY IS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILING? SOMEONE NEEDS TO HOLD TOYOTA ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE PROBLEMS. INSTEAD TOYOTA WANTS TO BLAME THE CONSUMER AND SAY THE CONSUMER IS AT FAULT DUE THE WAY THE CONSUMER IS DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10225655

Incident

Apr 24, 2008

Mileage

87,457 mi

CO2 SENSOR. RANDOMLY BREAKS. THERE WAS A RECALL ON CO2 SENSORS SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND BOTH MINE WERE REPLACED AT SEPARATE TIMES (WHEN THEY BOTH WENT OUT). NOW A THIRD CO2 SENSOR (RIGHT REAR) IS BAD AND ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, NOT UNDER A RECALL. FAILURE RESULTS IN "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT." COST $282. *TR

NHTSA ID

10189765

Incident

Apr 10, 2007

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. IN 2004 THE CONTACT REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSORS, AND THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOR THE SAME REPAIR. THE FAILURE OCCURRED LESS THAN 20,000 MILES APART FROM ONE ANOTHER. HE DISCOVERED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WITH ITEM # 10007090 ( CONCERNING ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS HAD THE SAME FAILURE, AND FELT THAT THE MANUFACTURER PLACED A DEFECTIVE COMPONENT ON THE VEHICLES. THE CONTACT AND THE OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS SHOULD NOT BE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 53,000, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.*AK

NHTSA ID

10188752

Incident

Sep 2, 2004

I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH MY 2002 TUNDRA TRD 4WD. I HAVE HAD IT IN MORE THAN 4 TIMES FOR THE BRAKES VIBRATING/PULSATING AND LOOKS LIKE I WILL BE TAKING IT IN AGAIN AS THEY ARE STARTING TO VIBRATE AGAIN!! RENO TOYOTA HAS ALWAYS DONE ALL THE MAINTENANCE ON IT AND KEEP TRYING TO SAY IT IS MY FAULT THE BRAKES ARE BAD AND THE ROTORS ARE WARPING. THEY REPLACED THE REAR AXLES A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO BUT I HAD TO PAY THE $50 DEDUCTIBLE. THEY ALSO HAD TO INSTALL A GASKET ON THE CROSSOVER FOR THE ENGINE COOLANT AS THE FACTORY NEVER INSTALLED IT. THE AC DOESN'T GET COOL ENOUGH TO COOL THE INTERIOR. WHISTLING NOISE BUT DON'T KNOW WHERE IT IS COMING FROM...SOUNDS LIKE COMING FROM SIDE MIRRORS??? I REPLACE THE WHEELS RECENTLY BECAUSE OF VIBRATION BECAUSE THE WHEELS WERE WARPED. ALWAYS HAVE EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST ON FRONT WHEELS. TRANSMISSION FEELS AND SOUNDS LIKE IT IS SLIPPING ALL THE TIME. ROUGH IDLE AFTER WARM UP. I BOUGHT IT NEW IN JULY 2002 AND NOW HAVE 69400 MILES ON IT. MOST OF WHICH ARE HIGHWAY MILES WITH NO TOWING EVER...NO HEAVY HAULING EVER. AM TOO AFRAID TO DRIVE IT OFF-ROAD BECAUSE OF ALL THE BRAKE PROBLEMS...NEVADA=MOUNTAINS=CLIFFS=DEATH...I AM NOT READY TO RISK MY LIFE OR MY GRANDCHILDREN SO WILL NOT EVEN LET ME RIDE WITH ME ANYWHERE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10136893

Incident

Jul 1, 2002

Mileage

6,000 mi

I OWN A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA, WITH A I-FORCE V-8 ENGINE. AT EXACTLY 60,000 MILES, THE ENGINE GELED AND TOYOTA REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I ENDED UP REPLACING THE ENGINE MYSELF AT A COST OF $4800.00.*AK

NHTSA ID

10090489

Incident

Jul 6, 2004

Mileage

60,000 mi