Toyota Tacoma Complaints (1997)
131 consumer complaints on file.
- #11697175November 3, 2025ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, SUSPENSION
When’s he start and you get gas it won turn off but don’t do it , and whend I hit a jump and I tuning he shake it wild
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11423372July 3, 2021UNKNOWN OR OTHER
It appears to be the clear coat of the paint job has been coming off for a very long time. Really does not look good at all now. I reside in the state of Oregon. Although it rains a fair amount here, that should not cause this rate of decay of the paint job. It was not painted very well!!
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11359783September 18, 2020STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND THE SUBFRAME FRACTURED HALF. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SMITHTOWN TOYOTA DEALER LOCATED AT 360 JERICHO TURNPIKE, SMITHTOWN, NY 11787. WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TECHNICIAN HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 172,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11344330August 10, 2020STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS EXTREMELY RUSTED, MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A FRIEND TOLD HIM THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,774.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11338966July 13, 2020SUSPENSION
MY LEE SPRINGS ARE RUSTED FRAME IS TO LEE'S SPRINGS ARE BROKEN
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11277282October 31, 2019STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRAME AREA WAS CORRODED AND HAD HOLES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER PERFORMED A REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY FOR THE FRAME UNDERCOATING FOR 1995 TO 2005 TACOMA VEHICLES, WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE CORROSION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.*PM CONSUMER STATED FRAME WAS ONCE COATED IN 2011, NOW PEELING AND CORRODED.*JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11130221September 18, 2018STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO HAVE THE MUFFLER REPLACED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED DUE TO RUST ON THE FRAME. THE DEALER (TOYOTA OF LOUISVILLE, 6514 DIXIE HWY, LOUISVILLE, KY 40258) STATED THAT THE CONTACT NEEDED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE FRAME EXPIRED ON JULY 31, 2014. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11120883August 19, 2018UNKNOWN OR OTHER
RECENTLY PURCHASED 97 TOYOTA TACOMA FROM PRIVATE OWNER WHO CLAIMS HE NEVER RECEIVED THE NOTIFICATIONS REGARDING THE FRAME WARRANTY EXTENSION FROM TOYOTA AND SUBSEQUENTLY HE NEVER HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. NOW THE FRAME ON THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE AND I NOTIFIED TOYOTA WHO CLAIMS THE EXTENSION EXPIRED AND THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING TO HELP ME, HOPEFULLY SOMETHING CAN BE DONE BY SOMEONE BECAUSE THEY ARE ALLOWING UNSAFE VEHICLES TO STAY ON THE ROAD BECAUSE THEY DO NOT WANT TO PAY ANYMORE $ THEN THEY HAVE TO. MEANWHILE THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE FRAME ISSUE WAS CLEARLY THEIR FAULT. PLEASE HELP
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11089723April 23, 2018STRUCTURE:BODY
TOOK VEHICLE TO CURRY HONDA TO HAVE PART INSTALLED AND THEY PERFORMED MULTI POINT INSPECTION. UPON INSPECTION FOUND FRAME IS RUSTED OUT AND VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. HAVE NOT DRIVEN IT SINCE,AND AM WITHOUT A VEHICLE. CAN PROVIDE PHOTOS AND DOCUMENTATION.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11074706February 25, 2018STEERING
THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN MAKING NOISES 7 MONTHS AFTER IT WAS PURCHASED NEW. DEALER TOOK THE DASH OUT, REPLACED SOMETHING AND PUT IT BACK TOGETHER AGAIN. 7 MONTHS LATER THE SOUND BEGAN AGAIN. THREE LETTERS TO TOYOTA COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WERE TOTALLY IGNORED. I VISITED THE DEALER IN TUCSON, AZ ABOUT THIS AND I WANTED THE PROBLEM SOLVED AT TOYOTA EXPENSE. AGAIN I WAS PUT OFF AND THE RATTLE HAS PERSISTED TO THIS DAY. I AM TIRED OF LISTENING TO THIS RATTLE EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE TRUCK. IF THERE IS ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP ME GET THE TOYOTA FOLKS TO REPAIR, REPLACE OR PUT A GREASE FITTING ON THE DEFECTIVE PARTS IN THE COLUMN, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THANK YOU.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11047712November 21, 2017STRUCTURE:BODY
I BOUGHT THIS PICK UP FROM WILSON TOYOTA,(AMES,IA), ON JAN.17,2009.IN THE WALK AROUND/INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, WHILE TALKING WITH THE SALESMAN I LAYED ON THE GROUND,AND CRAWLED UNDER THE PICK UP LOOKING FOR ANY SIGNS OF TROUBLE. NOTING THE FRAME PROBLEMS I'D HAD WITH ANOTHER TOYOTA(1984) ASKED IF TOYOTA HAD "CLEANED" UP THEIR ACT AND MADE THE UNDER CARRIAGE ANY BETTER? WAS ASSURED "THAT THOSE PROBLEMS WERE ALL BEHIND THEM".FAST FORWARD ^ YEARS I'M PAYING A LOCAL BODY SHOP TO REPLACE THE REAR 60% OF THE FRAME @ A COST OF $1800.00.NOW I FIND I'M HAVING TO FIX/REPLACE PARTS OF THE FRONT END FRAME.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10966537March 17, 2017STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR AN ALIGNMENT. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT A PART OF THE FRAME WAS MISSING DUE TO EXTREME RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V013000 (SUSPENSION) BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 240,000. UPDATED 06/02/17*LJ *AS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10956129February 21, 2017STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STRUCTURE WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10934477December 10, 2016STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION
THE TRUCK HAD BEEN RIDING ROUGHER ON THE ROADS WHEN FAMILY FOLLOWING ONE DAY NOTICED THE TRUCK LEANING LEFT. IT WAS BROUGHT TO THE REPAIR SHOP THINKING IT WAS A SUSPENSION PROBLEM. IT ENDED UP BEING MAJOR RUST AND CORROSION TO THE FRAME THAT WAS SO BAD THERE WAS NO STRUCTURAL SUPPORT OF THE STRUTS AND SPRINGS. OWNER OF THE AUTO SHOP AS WELL AS A BODY REPAIR SHOP IT WAS TAKEN TO SAID I WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY THERE WAS NO WRECK OR INJURY. THE PROBLEMS ARE SO EXTENSIVE THAT IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. NOW I AM STUCK WITH A TOYOTA TRUCK THAT SHOULD HAVE LASTED EASILY ANOTHER 100,000 MILES. THE FRAME WAS EXPECTED TO LAST LONGER THEN THE TRUCK WHEN PURCHASED AS TOYOTA USED TO BE A GOOD COMPANY AND PRODUCT. MY FIRST TRUCK WAS A TOYOTA BACK IN 1976. THERE WAS A RECALL THAT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. THE PERSONAL AND FINANCIAL IMPACT THIS HAS CAUSED IS SIGNIFICANT. TOYOTA NEEDS TO MAKE RESTITUTION AS EVIDENCE INDICATES IT HAS BEEN A LONG STANDING PROBLEM WITH CHEAPER/INFERIOR FRAMES USED BY TOYOTA GOING BACK SEVERAL YEARS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 188,000, BUT THE PROBLEMS HAS EXISTED FOR AWHILE BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10916691October 17, 2016SUSPENSION
I HAVE RUSTY HOLES IN MY FRAME AND TOYOTA WONT FIX SOMETHING THAT IS SO DANGEROUS AND NOW MY TACOMA IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, WHAT AM I SUPPOSE TO DO NOW?!
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10904665September 8, 2016STRUCTURE:BODY, SEAT BELTS
1997 TACOMA FRAME RUST AT LEADING EDGE OF REAR AXLE LEAF SPRINGS ALLOWED THE LEAF SPRINGS TO BECOME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE SHOULDER LAP SEAT BELTS DO NOT RECOIL.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10899267August 29, 2016SUSPENSION
RECENTLY PURCHASE 1997 TACOMA TOOK IT TO REPLACE REAR TIRES SHOP INFORMED ME THE FRAME HAD MAJOR ROT AND IS NOT SAFE FOR HIGHWAY. CONTACTED LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER THEY PREFORMED A FREE INSPECTION ON 08-29-16 UPON COMPLETION OF THIS INSPECTION DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME BOTH IN WRITING AND VERBALLY THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE FOR HIGHWAY USE. MULTIPLE RUST PERFORATIONS THROUGH OUT FRAME OF THIS TRUCK. DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THE RECALL ON THE FRAME HAD EXPIRED HOWEVER THEY STATED THAT IF WE FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA THROUGH YOUR ORGANIZATION THAT WE COULD POSSIBLILY GET A CASH SETTLEMENT FOR THIS TACOMA.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10898772August 26, 2016SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE SUB FRAME, THE LEFT REAR WHEEL, THE LEAF SPRINGS AND THE CHASSIS WERE SEVERELY CORRODED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO BE DRIVEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THAT THE CORROSION BUY BACK PROGRAM WAS NO LONGER VALID. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 189,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10870401May 23, 2016STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED, WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10820450January 15, 2016SUSPENSION
FRAME RUST. NOT MADE AWARE OF RECALL OR EXTENDED WARRANTY. FRAME IS SEVERELY CORRODED AND HAS A HOLE WHERE THE SHOCK ABSORBER USE TO MOUNT. IT LITERALLY FELL OFF DUE TO RUST. SEVERAL OTHER AREAS SHOWING SIGNS OF CORROSION AS WELL. SEEMS THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM. NOT SURE IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SAYS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0