2002 Toyota Land Cruiser: common problems

Owners of the 2002 Toyota Land Cruiser filed 12 complaints with NHTSA, most often about vehicle speed control and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 12
involving a crash: 1

What fails most often

1 Vehicle speed control 25% of all complaints
2 Engine and cooling 17% of all complaints
3 Latches, locks, linkages 17% of all complaints
4 Seat belts 17% of all complaints
5 Structure 17% of all complaints
6 Electrical system 8% of all complaints
7 Electronic stability control 8% of all complaints
8 Service brakes 8% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Vehicle speed control: 3 complaints (25% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (17% of all).
Latches, locks, linkages: 2 complaints (17% of all).
Seat belts: 2 complaints (17% of all).
Structure: 2 complaints (17% of all).

Engines and transmissions

US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.

4.7 L · petrol · 8 cyl
automatic, 4-speed

Drive: AWD

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 12 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

seat belts2 · 17%
A/C or heater1 · 8%
door locks, latches, handles1 · 8%
engine failure or replacement1 · 8%
smoke, burning smell, fire1 · 8%
vibration1 · 8%
warning lights, check engine1 · 8%
windows, sunroof1 · 8%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Vehicle speed control	3	1
Engine and cooling	2	0
Latches, locks, linkages	2	0
Seat belts	2	0
Structure	2	0
Electrical system	1	0
Electronic stability control	1	0
Service brakes	1	0
Steering	1	0
Visibility	1	0
Other	1	0

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

Tl contact owns a 2002 toyota land cruiser. While driving approximately 10 mph, the vehicle accelerated to 40 mph crashing into her spouse who sustained a broken leg. The vehicle was not insured when the crash occurred. The vin was unknown. The failure mileage was unknown.
Vehicle speed control · crash · 2010-02-24 · NHTSA complaint #10313883
I took it to Toyota june 8th 2023 to get an oil change, and mechanic said my rear stable bar is missing due to excessive rot and the entire frame is rotted out and is not safe to drive, I am spending $1800.00 to get the AC recharged and rear brakes done.
Structure · 2023-07-09 · NHTSA complaint #11531221
During normal local driving, trying to stop my 2002 toyota land cruiser requires an impossible amount of pressure on the brake pedal. On the phone the local toyota dealer said electric brake booster has failed, and the cost to fix it is about $4500--a huge amount for a 18-year-old car that is worth only $7,000 or…
Service brakes · 2020-05-04 · NHTSA complaint #11323157
A few times while traveling at fwy speeds, as we start to go uphill the car violently shakes back and forth (steering wheel hard to hold on to). Vsc, trac and the liitle car with the skid marks behind it flash on the dash along with an alarm that lasts from 3-5 seconds.
Electronic stability control · 2017-09-28 · NHTSA complaint #11030394
First, middle seat belt at the back were the firs one that got stuck, meant the person had fasten seat belt and when he tried to unfasten the lock got stuck won't open and so we had to pull him out on the side to get out from the seat belt. And now almost all the seat belts aren't working properly.
Seat belts · 2015-09-01 · NHTSA complaint #10760775
I then restarted the car...the engine light came on, but he car was responsive and I drove it to the dealership. They said it was the throttle housing that needed a cleaning. The issue seems similar to the recent lexus recall . We had the opportunity to pull over but it was frightening nonetheless.
Vehicle speed control · 2010-07-07 · NHTSA complaint #10341741
Have been back with driver door window problem over six times. At this time the window seal is loose and the window will not close. It is sad to pay 56k and still can't get things fixed...security is a safety problem and I have it.
Structure · 2007-10-19 · NHTSA complaint #10206350
Serious safety issue dear sirs, this monday of this week (13 august 2007) when I was putting my 3-year old daughter's carseat in my toyota, the passenger seatbelt jammed in the fully extended position.
Seat belts · 2007-08-17 · NHTSA complaint #10199891

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

20031
20042
20051
20072
20102
20151
20171
20201
20231

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 10,160 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 28% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Land Cruiser has 7 complaints (43 years in the data). This year has 12, above average.

What to check before buying

Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Latches, locks, linkages. Door, hood and tailgate latches, especially near the impact.
Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.

Other years of this model

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 2002 Toyota Land Cruiser?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: vehicle speed control, engine and cooling, latches, locks, linkages. Total complaints: 12. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (17%), A/C or heater (8%), door locks, latches, handles (8%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2002 Toyota Land Cruiser?

NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.

Should I buy a 2002 Toyota Land Cruiser from a US auction?

Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.

Other 2002 models

Read also

Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.