Toyota4runner2002Overview/toyota/4runner/2002/base/

2002 Toyota 4runner

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2002 4runner.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2002 Toyota 4Runner is an SUV featuring a 4-speed automatic transmission and an EPA-rated fuel economy of 15/18/16 mpg. This model year recorded three recalls and 251 owner complaints, with the primary complaint area identified as the structure. Within the model's 1990-2026 history, the 2002 version remains below the 2003 high of 707 complaints.

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Lug nut torque83 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy15/18/16 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 24F · 585 CCA battery, OE oil filter 90915YZZD1. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 24F · 585 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnHEADOEM · verified
Tire sizeP225-75R15OEM · verified
Wheel / rimN/A inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter90915YZZD1
Engine air filter1780107020
Fuel filter2330062030
Spark plug9091901192
Front wiper blades8522235091 alt 8521204012
Serpentine belt9936481070 alt 993642087078
Thermostat9091603075 alt 1632562010

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length178.7 in
Overall width68.1 in
Overall height69.3 in
Wheelbase105.5 in
Curb weight4070 lb
Track (front / rear)59.4 / 59.1 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)54/46

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined15 / 18 / 16 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the 4runner of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

9.1–10.0 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.10 sec — 1997 SR5
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1997SR5 3.4L V69.10 sec16.90 sec183 hp4x4
1996SR5 3.4L V69.50 sec17.30 sec183 hp4x4
1996Limited 3.4L V69.60 sec17.30 sec183 hp4x4
1996SR5 3.4L V610.00 sec17.80 sec183 hp4x4

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine 75W-90 · GL-5 in the differential. Torque lug nuts to 83 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Differential Gear Oil75W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2.5 Pints

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts184 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts83 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug27.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug27.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub159 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub159 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub174 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerDenso
Spark Plug Gap0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque13 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing8-12, Not adjustable degrees
Ignition Timing Reference RPMIdle rpm

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.43 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil TypeND 8 oil
Oil Capacity7.61 oz
Standard BCI Group Number24F
Standard BCI Cranking Performance585 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test17 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief11-15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature176-183 °F
Injector Primary Resistance13.4-14.2 na ohms
Engine Compression145-174 psi

Brakes

Torque to Knuckle90 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.039; Rear: 0.039 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.0028 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.866 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.866 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.787 in
Drum Nominal Diameter11.614 in

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap O-Ring (inspect)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash)
Every 90,000 miTiming Belt (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2002 Toyota 4Runner sits at the end of its generation with 251 complaints, 3 recalls, 1 investigation, and 113 TSBs. That complaint count is up from 2001's 190 but below the 2000 peak of 494 within the same generation, and it is far lower than the 707 complaints recorded for the redesigned 2003 model. Across the 1990–2002 run, complaints trended upward overall while TSBs climbed from 29 to roughly 113–115 by the final two years; recalls remained relatively steady in the 2–5 range. For 2002 specifically, the leading complaint areas were Structure (55), Power Train (23), Suspension (22), and Unknown or Other (16), with 22 crash-related complaints and 3 fire-related complaints, though the data does not specify root causes. Because 2002 avoids the first-year redesign spike seen in 2003 and carries lower complaint volume than the peak years of its own generation, it represents a comparatively stable choice for a used 4Runner from this era.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
113
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
251
Owner complaints
22 involved a crash · 3 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 251 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Structure55
Power Train23
Suspension22
Unknown Or Other16
Engine & Engine Cooling11
Suspension,Structure10
Service Brakes, Hydraulic10
Air Bags9

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

05V225000Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball JointReported 17/05/2005

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, DUE TO A MANUFACTURING ISSUE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE SURFACE OF THE BALL OF THE JOINT MAY HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED. THE BALL JOINT MAY… Remedy: 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.

06E049000Exterior LightingReported 24/05/2006

CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH… Remedy: 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.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 113 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
T-SB-0035-24 Rev22024-12-06StructureAcid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to…
T-SB-0038-24 Rev22024-12-06StructureTo prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film…
T-SB-0039-24 Rev22024-12-06StructureThe condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the…
T-SB-0061-23 Rev22024-12-05StructureToyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to…
T-SB-0062-23 Rev22024-12-03StructureVehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific 4runner. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2002 4runner have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 4runner get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 18 highway / 16 combined mpg.