Toyota Tacoma Complaints (1997)

131 consumer complaints on file.

#10476947September 24, 2012
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
MY HUSBAND HAS A 1997 TOYOTA TACOMA. HE BOUGHT IT USED FROM A DEALERSHIP IN 2004. RECENTLY HE SAW THAT THE FRAME UNDERNEATH WAS RUSTED AND ROTTING OUT. SOMEONE TOLD HIM THAT TOYOTA WAS TAKING CARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THEIR CUSTOMERS BECAUSE IT TURNS OUT THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT IN THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. WELL, THEY TOLD US TAT WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE IN BY FEBRUARY TO RECEIVE THE 15 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY. WE WERE NEVER CONTACTED BY TOYOTA, THEY DO NOT HAVE US AS THE CURRENT OWNER AND MY HUSBAND COULD HAVE HAD ANOTHER 5 OR SO YEARS WITH THIS VEHICLE. 15 YEARS SHOULD BE UP IN DECEMBER, BUT THEY SAY THAT THEY ARE GOING BY THE DATE IT WAS SOLD OR SOMETHING. THIS VEHICLE IS PRACTICALLY UNDRIVABLE AND TOYOTA BASICALLY SAID OH, WELL, YOU WERE TOO LATE. I FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB CONTACTING THEIR CUSTOMERS AND I HAVE FOUND EVIDENCE OF MANY OTHER DISSATISFIED CUSTOMERS ON THE INTERNET WHO ALSO WERE NOT NOTIFIED AND WHO ALSO MISSED THE DEADLINE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS NOT RIGHT, AND IF IT IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT IT SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF REGARDLESS OF WEATHER WE BROUGHT IT IN 9 MONTHS AGO OR TODAY. THE TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT THERE WAS NO LEEWAY IN THIS AND THAT THERE WAS NO ELSE I COULD TAKE THIS ISSUE UP WITH. I AM ASKING FOR YOUR HELP IN THIS MATTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10462583June 21, 2012
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE BALL JOINT WAS REPAIRED TWICE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING WAS REPLACED ONCE. EACH TIME THE BALL JOINTS FAILED, IT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FALL TO THE GROUND AND WOULD NEED A SPECIAL TRUCK TO TOWING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE, BUT HAD NEVER GIVEN A CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN SEVEN MONTHS APART. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 144,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456429April 25, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED SEVERE CORROSION ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND THERE WERE HOLES IN THE CROSS MEMBER. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRAME WOULD HAVE TO BE REBUILT. THERE WAS A VOLUNTARY RECALL ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED TWO MONTHS PRIOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 212,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10444534January 19, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
FOUND OUT I HAVE A WHOLE IN THE BODY FRAME. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10340863June 30, 2010
STEERING, SUSPENSION:FRONT
1. DRIVING NORMALLY, MY 1997 TOYOTA TACOMA'S FRONT PASSENGER TIRE FELL OFF AT AN INTERSECTION. THE BALL JOINT FAILED. IT WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE PLACE TODAY. HAD I BEEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, MYSELF AND PASSENGERS COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED. 2. HAS NOT HAPPENED BEFORE. THE VEHICLE IS WELL MAINTAINED. 3. WAITING ON REPAIR PARTS AND ESTIMATE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10320045March 15, 2010
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
I AM THE OWNER OF A 1997 TOYOTA TACOMA 4X4. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT TOYOTA HAS AN INSPECTION AND REPAIR PROGRAM FOR 1995 TO 2000 TACOMAS. I HAVE REQUESTED AN INSPECTION OF MY VEHICLE. THEY HAVE NOT GIVEN ME ANY ANSWER TO MY REQUEST. THEIR ATTITUDE IS THAT RUST IS NOT AN ISSUE IN CALIFORNIA. THEY THINK THAT RUST STOPS AT THE BORDER. ALL THAT I ASKED FOR WAS A SIMPLE INSPECTION SO THAT RUST THRU WARRANTY CAN BE APPLIED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10313373February 23, 2010
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THIS CONCERNS THE TOYOTA RUSTY FRAME PROBLEM IN TACOMAS. MY 1997 TACOMA IS BECOMING DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF THE FRAME BUT TOYOTA REFUSES ANY HELP BECAUSE OF A RECONSTRUCTED TITLE WHICH HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RUSTY FRAME PROBLEM. AS A TAXPAYER I WOULD LIKE TO SEE TOYOTA ADDRESS THIS AT THE CURRENT CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS. TOYOTA IS BASICALLY USING A LEGAL LOOPHOLE TO LEAVE DANGEROUS VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310042February 12, 2010
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
FRAME RUST HOLES EXCESSIVE SWISS CHEESE LOOK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269840May 25, 2009
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
I OWN A 1997 TOYOTA TACOMA THAT SHOULD FALL INTO THEIR RUSTY FRAME RECALL BUT WAS TOLD IT DIDN'T QUALIFY BECAUSE OF A REBUILT TITLE. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR APPROXIMATELY 6 YEARS SINCE THE REBUILD. THE FRAME IS VERY RUSTY AND I'VE HAD TO HAVE IT WELDED. IT SEEMS TO ME THE FRAME RUST HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT THE TRUCK WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE RECALL SHOULD BE IN EFFECT, PROBABLY WITH A LOWER REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO THE SALVAGE TITLE. IF THE POINT IS TO GET UNSAFE VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD, A RUSTY FRAME IS A RUSTY FRAME WHETHER THE TRUCK HAS BEEN REBUILT OR NOT. IT'S ACTUALLY A VERY NICE TRUCK EXCEPT FOR THE FRAME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252879December 26, 2008
STRUCTURE
I HAVE A 97 TACOMA EXTENDED CAB. AT ABOUT 30K MILES, THE TRUCK'S BLACK PAINT STARTED TO CRACK UNDER THE CLEARCOAT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A TOYOTA APPROVED BODYSHOP THAT IS WAS CALLED "CROW'S FEET". THE BODYSHOP SAID THAT IT WAS NOTHING THAT I COULD HAVE DONE, THAT IT WAS A DEFECT FROM THE FACTORY. I THEN TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER WHERE I GOT IT FROM, AND THEY PROLONGED DEALING WITH THE ISSUE UNTIL THE TRUCK RAN OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAVE ABOUT 134K NOW ON THE TRUCK, AND IT ALSO HAS A BAD VALVE TICK THAT FROM WHAT I READ ON THE INTERNET SEEMS NOT UNCOMMON FOR THIS ENGINE. I KNOW THAT SOME TIME HAS PAST, BUT I JUST FOUND THIS SITE. I THINK THAT SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THE WAY THIS COMPANY TREATS THEIR CUSTOMERS. THIS TRUCK WAS NOT CHEAP, EVEN FOR THE WINTER OF 1998. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249529November 21, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THIS COMPLAINT IS REGARDING PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH MY 1997 TOYOTA TACOMA AND WITH TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS LIVING UP TO THEIR RECALL OF 1995-2000 TACOMA'S WITH FRAME RUST/FAILURE. ON APRIL 25, 2008 I PURCHASED A USED 1997 TOYOTA TACOMA FROM A USED CAR DEALER FOR $3200. ON OR ABOUT OCTOBER 15TH, 2008 I EXPERIENCED A TOTAL FAILURE OF THE PASSENGERS SIDE BALL JOINT CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND RUNNING OFF ONTO THE MEDIAN. WHEN GETTING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED, THE SERVICE MAN TOLD THAT MY FRAME LOOKED BAD AND THAT I SHOULD TAKE IT TO A TOYOTA DEALER TO GET IT CHECKED FOR FRAME RUST. HE TOLD ME THAT TOYOTA WAS EITHER FIXING OR BUYING BACK THE TRUCKS WITH BAD FRAMES. ON OR ABOUT OCTOBER 22, 2008 I TOOK MY 1997 TACOMA TO BRAD HUGHES TOYOTA IN PRESTONSBURG KY FOR AN EVALUATION OF THE FRAME. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT MY TRUCK DID INDEED HAVE A BAD FRAME AND THAT TOYOTA WOULD CONTACT ME. THEY SAID THAT I COULD EXPECT TO RECEIVE 150% OF KELLEY BLUE BOOK VALUE AND THAT I WOULD BE CONTACTED WITHIN 2 WEEKS WITH AN OFFER ON MY TRUCK. ON NOVEMBER 20, 2008 I RECEIVED A CALL FROM CHARLES ZACHARY OF TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS, PHONE NUMBER 1-800-331-4331. MR ZACHARY OFFERED ME $1500 (KBB BLUE BOOK TRADE IN VALUE), NOT 150% AS PROMISED IN THE LETTER THAT TOYOTA PROMISED IN THE RECALL LETTER. ALTHOUGH I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE BAD FRAME, I HAD TO DECLINE THE OFFER. I CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE $2700 ON A TRUCK I PURCHASED EARLIER THIS YEAR. MR ZACHARY'S REASON FOR OFFERING SO LITTLE WAS THAT I BOUGHT THE TRUCK AFTER MARCH, WHEN THE LETTERS WENT OUT. AND THAT THE DEALER THAT I BOUGHT THE TRUCK WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR SELLING ME A TRUCK WITH A BAD FRAME. TOYOTA IS PUTTING LIVES IN DANGER BY REFUSING TO LIVE UP TO THEIR PROMISE OF BUYING BACK THE VEHICLES THAT HAVE BAD FRAMES. THE SERVICE DEPT AT THE TOYOTA DEALER WHERE I TOOK MY TRUCK FOR INSPECTION SAID THAT I WAS GETTING A RAW DEAL FROM TOYOTA. THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236912August 4, 2008
TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
DRIVING VEHICLE AND THE TIRE SEPARATED CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227963May 15, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
I PURCHASED MY 1997 TOYOTA TACOMA IN 2003. ALTHOUGH THIS TRUCK WAS IN AN ACCIDENT IT WAS COMPLETELY RESTORED, INSPECTED AND ISSUED A PENNSYLVANIA RECONSTRUCTED TITLE. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE FRAME WAS NOT DAMAGED IN THE ACCIDENT. IN LATE, MARCH OF 2008 I HEARD ABOUT THE FRAME PROBLEM AND TOOK THIS TRUCK TO ALLEGHENY TOYOTA, THE LOCAL DEALER, FOR AN INSPECTION OF THE FRAME. THE FRAME WAS CHECKED FOR CORROSION AND I WAS NOT PERMITTED TO TAKE IT OFF THE LOT AS IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. ON APRIL 9TH, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE TOYOTA COMPANY TELLING ME THAT THE CAR DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR THE CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM BECAUSE OF THE RECONSTRUCTED TITLE. KNOWING THE FRAME WAS UNSAFE I WAS TOLD TO PICK UP THE TRUCK AND UNTIL THE FRAME IS REPAIRED IT IS NOT ROAD WORTHY. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT TOYOTA HAS FULL KNOWLEDGE THAT THE FRAME IS FAULTY DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST CORROSION BUT REFUSES TO COVER THE VEHICLE SOLELY BECAUSE OF THE RECONSTRUCTED TITLE. IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE RUSTED FRAME THIS TRUCK WOULD STILL BE IN SERVICE. AT THIS POINT I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT AND DON'T BELIEVE I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A REPAIR TO A PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA ADMITS TO KNOWING BUT ARE SELECTIVELY TRYING TO AVOID FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE RECONSTRUCTED TITLE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE EXCESSIVE RUST CORROSION OF THE FRAME AND I WOULD EXPECT THEM TO COVER THIS VEHICLE UNDER THE CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225906April 28, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
1997 TOYOTA TACOMA PICK UP TRUCK WAS ON A LIFT FOR SERVICE. THE FRAME RAILS WERE ROTTED DUE TO RUST PROBLEMS ACKNOWLEDGED BY TOYOTA. THE FRAME BROKE IN HALF AND THE BED OF THE TRUCK REACHED THE FLOOR WHILE THE TRUCK WAS SUSPENDED ON THE LIFT. THE TRUCK WAS UNSAFE AND HAD TO BE TAKEN OUT OF SERVICE AT THAT TIME. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA AND AM AWAITING THEIR RESPONSE. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT RECOURSE I HAVE AS I WOULD STILL HAVE THE TRUCK ON THE ROAD IF IT WAS NOT FOR THE RUST PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10224626April 15, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE A 1997 TOYOTA TACOMA 4X4 THAT BLEW A HEAD GASKET. AFTER TALKING WITH MY BROTHER HE ADVISED THAT THE TRUCK HAD A RECALL ON THE FAULTY HEAD GASKET. I LOOKED ON TOYOTA'S WEBSITE AND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR MY VIN# FOR A FAULTY HEAD GASKET. I CALLED TOYOTA THIS MORNING AND THEY SAID THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED IN 2005 AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THEY SAID THEY HAD SENT RECALL NOTICES TO ALL OWNERS. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THIS TRUCK FOR A HEAD GASKET. THE TRUCK HAS ALWAYS BEEN MAINTAINED AND HAS HAD PROPER SERVICE. I FEEL THAT THE HEAD GASKET IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND SHOULD BE FIXED UNDER THIS RECALL. IF I WOULD HAVE RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE THEY WOULD HAVE HAD TO FIX THE VEHICLE THEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220483March 9, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
1997 TOYOTA TACOMA EXTENDED CAB V6 4WD I HAD MY TRUCK IN MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR NEW PLUGS AND WIRES AND A FAULTY INJECTOR. THE SERVICE MANAGER CALLED AND SAID THAT WHEN THEY HOISTED THE TRUCK UP ON THE LIFT THEY DISCOVERED SEVERE RUSTING ON THE FRAME. THE WORST WAS JUST FORWARD OF THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS. THEY SAID IT WAS SO BAD THAT THEY WONDERED IF I WANTED TO PROCEED WITH THE SERVICING. I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT! I THOUGHT, THE TRUCK IS ONLY 10YEARS OLD, HOW BAD CAN IT BE. I WENT UP AND TOOK A LOOK AND THE RUST HAD ACTUALLY EATEN THROUGH THE STEEL. I COULD PUSH MY FINGER THROUGH IT. UNBELIEVABLE! THE BODY OF THE TRUCK IS IN GREAT CONDITION AND UP UNTIL NOW IT HAS BEEN VERY GOOD MECHANICALLY. IT IS VERY UNNERVING. I'M AFRAID IT WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION AND I'LL HAVE TO CLAIM A TOTAL LOSS. WHAT RECOURSE DO I HAVE? THANKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218831February 22, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
THE FRAME OF MY 1997 TOYOTA TACOMA PICK UP IS ROTTED THROUGH IN SEVERAL PLACES MAKING IT POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212557December 22, 2007
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
RECENTLY NOTICED A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF MY TRUCK. UPON INSPECTION, I NOTICED THAT THE FRAME, JUST BEFORE THE LEAF SPRINGS, HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND CRACKED. I HAVE YET TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. I FEAR THE TRUCK IS NOW UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10205909October 16, 2007
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
I HAVE A 1997 TOYOTA TACOMA, I DISCOVERED FRAME ROT IN FRONT OF THE REAR SPRING SHACKLES. THERE WAS STILL UNDERBODY PAINT ON THE FRAME IN THAT AREA WHICH WHEN REMOVED REVEALED THE SERIOUS CORROSION OF THE FRAME RAIL. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION I FOUND SEVERE CORROSION THROUGHOUT THE FRAME. THE BUMPER BRACKETS ARE BARELY HOLDING UP THE BUMPER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10205140October 6, 2007
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
HI, I HAVE A 1997 TACOMA. WITHIN THE PAST YEAR THE FRAME HAS RUSTED TO THE POINT THAT I CAN PUT A SCREWDRIVER THRU IT AND IT CANT BE REPAIRED. I FEAR I'LL HAVE TO JUNK THE VEHICLE. WHAT TYPE OF METAL DID THEY USE? TOYOTA OR CONSUMER AFFAIRS SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS. THE REST OF THE TRUCK IS FINE. IF ANYONE KNOW WHO CAN HELP PLEASE LET ME KNOW. BUMMED! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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