Three problems related to driveshaft have been reported for the 2002 Toyota Tacoma. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2002 Toyota Tacoma based on all problems reported for the 2002 Tacoma.
The Toyota Tacoma had a rear axle wrap up, this was where the two piece driveshaft becomes loose at the spleen and caused a clung or looseness in the drive line, which caused undue stress on the engine and the transmission, which could cause the driveshaft to break at the yoke and fall to ground, causing an accident. This was getting progressively worse on the truck. I have taken the car under warranty to the dealer. They dismissed it as normal. This was not normal. It was a flaw in the springs they used on the truck.
My Toyota Tacoma has what Toyota refers to as rear axle wrap up, where the two piece drive shaft becomes loose at the spline and causes a clunk or looseness in the driveline which cause undue stress on the engine and the transmission, which could cause the drive shaft to break at the yoke and fall to ground causing accident.
Transmission/driveshaft experiences loud clunk noise when brakes are applied then released. This is a known problem to Toyota however they offer no resolution. Research has indicated adding leaf springs to stiffen rear suspension resloves this issue Toyota will not do this modification.