1998 Toyota Tacoma complaints

WHEN CHECKING TO SEE IF MY SHOCKS NEED TO BE REPLACED I FIND I HAVE A RUSTED FRAME ABOVE RIGHT REAR WHEEL AND IN FRONT OF LEFT FRONT WHEEL. THIS WAS THE FIRST I HAD ANY KNOWLEDGE OF IT. A FRIEND ADVISED ME THERE WAS A RECALL SO I CALLED TOYOTA. I WAS ADVISED THEY STILL HAD THE PREVIOUS OWNERS INFORMATION EVEN THOUGH I PURCHASED IT FROM A DEALER ON 2/11/2005. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AND NEVER HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO FIX IT. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP. THE TRUCK IS STILL A GOOD 4WD TRUCK. *TR

THIS TRUCK BELONGS TO MY SON WHO IS IN THE NAVY. HE WAS ON DEPLOYMENT AND I TOOK THE TRUCK TO GET IT INSPECTED AND IT FAILED DUE TO A RUSTED FRAME. NEITHER MYSELF NOR MY SON WERE AWARE OF THE FRAME RECALL DONE BY TOYOTA. I CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY ARE REFUSING TO HELP US WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE THE RECALL HAS EXPIRED. WE HAVE OWNED 3 TOYOTA TACOMA'S AND NEVER HAVE HAD AN EXPERIENCE SUCH AS THIS. THEY TOLD ME TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH YOUR COMPANY IF I WASN'T HAPPY WITH THE END RESULT AND I OF COURSE AM VERY DISAPPOINTED. MY SON SERVES THIS COUNTRY AND NOW HE IS OUT A VEHICLE AND CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE IT. PLEASE ADVISE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WHEN TRUCK WAS ON LIFT AT MEINEKE, THEY DISCOVERED THE FRAME NEAR THE BACK WHEELS WAS RUSTED THROUGH SO THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IT. IMMEDIATELY, I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE FOR THE SAME REASON. THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON TOYOTA BODY FRAMES WHEN I HAD TAKEN IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TWO DIFFERENT TIMES IN TWO DIFFERENT YEARS AND WAS TOLD THE BODY WAS FINE. ONE YEAR AND 2 OR 3 MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL WAS OVER, I AM TOLD THAT MY TRUCK'S FRAME RUST MAKES IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I ONLY HAVE 123,595 MILES ON IT AND EXPECTED TO DRIVE IT FOR AT LEAST 2-400,000 MORE. EVERY AUTO SERVICE PERSONNEL THAT HAS EVER LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD HAS TOLD ME I HAVE KEPT IT IN VERY GOOD SHAPE. SHOULDN'T TOYOTA EXTEND THE RECALL IN MY PARTICULAR CASE? I HAVE ALL THE SERVICE RECORDS FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT IT IN 2006 WHEN IT HAD 64004 MILES. *TR

DRIVING DOWN A BUSY BOULEVARD, MY WHEEL FELL OFF AND MY VEHICLE SLAMMED ON THE GROUND. I AM LUCKY TO NOT HAVE KILLED ANYONE, AND AM STILL AFRAID TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE. FAULTY BALL JOINTS + RUSTED FRAMES MAKE THIS VEHICLE POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS. TOYOTA INITIATED A PROGRAM TO BUY TACOMAS BACK DIRECTLY FROM CONSUMERS, BUT I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROGRAM. NOW I AM STUCK WITH A POTENTIALLY INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS TRUCK. *TR

RUSTED FRAME DUE TO CORROSION PERFORATION. *TR

I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK IN MARCH 2014 AND I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVER SEAT BELT SHREDDING OR FRAYING AND BECAUSE OF THAT I CANT PULL THE SEAT BELT THROUGH TO HOOK IT. I ALSO NOTICE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT IS ALSO STARTING TO COME APART TO. I CALLED TOYOTA MAIN OFFICE AND THEY SAID THEY CANT DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. I WANT TOYOTA TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS . I HAVE SEEN A FEW COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE DRIVER SEAT BELT ON THIS WEB SITE.. I HAVE HAD ONLY TOYOTA CARS AND TRUCKS FOREVER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SERVICING THE VEHICLE, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000. UPDATED 8/28/14*CN UPDATED 11/10/2014 *JS

1998 TOYOTA TACOMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FRAME RUST RECALL. *SMD

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE BRACKET TO THE FRAME HAD RUSTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THIS FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 299,000. UPDATED 8/27/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER ADVISED THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ISSUED 3 YEARS PRIOR THAT THE CONSUMER WAS NEVER MADE AWARE OF. UPDATED 08/29/2014 *JS

1998 TOYOTA TACOMA WITH SIGNIFICANT FRAME RUST. VEHICLE FALLS WITHIN THE "FRAME RUST CORROSION PERFORATION WARRANTY EXTENSION" PROGRAM OFFERED BY TOYOTA. THE PROGRAM OFFERS TO BUY BACK TOYOTA TACOMAS THAT FAIL THEIR "INSPECTION" DEALER ACTUALLY DENTED THE FRAME DURING INSPECTION DUE TO WEAK FRAME SECONDARY TO RUST. THEY DID NOT PUT A HOLE IN IT THEREFORE RETURNING IT TO ME, SAYING THE VEHICLE IS SAFE. CONTACTED CORPORATE TOYOTA AND BASICALLY GOT BLOWN OFF AS THEY STATED THE DEALER DID NOT PUT A HOLE IN IT DURING INSPECTION. PERSONALLY, ANY VEHICLE WHICH YOU CAN DENT THE FRAME IN CRITICAL AREAS WITH A 12 OZ HAMMER WITH "LIGHT TO MODERATE" SWINGS IS UNSAFE. AT THIS POINT I CAN ONLY HOPE I DO NOT GET INTO A CRASH WITH THIS VEHICLE. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT AS I BELIEVE THEY ARE OVERLOOKING A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THIS VEHICLE. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY UNSTABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED NEAR THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SPRING SHACKLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 287,000.

1998 TOYOTA TACOMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE RUSTED FRAME RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF A RECALL. WHEN HE CALLED TOYOTA, TO INQUIRE ABOUT GETTING HIS VEHICLE FIXED, HE WAS INFORMED, HE WAS A MONTH TOO LATE.

HELLO, MY VEHICLE IS A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA. IT HAS APPROX. 152,000 MILES ON IT. THE ISSUE I AM HAVING WITH THE VEHICLE IS PRIMARILY FRAME RUST, THE FRAME IS BEGINNING TO LOOK LIKE "SWISS CHEESE." THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE IS IN TERRIBLE SHAPE, THE SPARE TIRE EVEN FELL OUT DUE TO RUST. I CALLED TOYOTA TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE FRAME RUST AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NO WARRANTY TO COVER THIS. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND IT SAYS THAT 1995-2000 TOYOTA TACOMA'S WERE UNDER RECALL FOR FRAME RUST BECAUSE THE RUST WOULD MAKE THE VEHICLES UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLE WOULD BE COMPROMISED. SO I SEARCHED AROUND AND FOUND THAT MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY 15 YEARS, 4 MONTHS OLD AND THAT TOYOTA WOULD NOT COVER THE VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THAT RUST IS AN ONGOING ISSUE AND TAKES SEVERAL MONTHS/YEARS TO DEVELOP, IT IS NOT SOMETHING WHICH OCCURS OVERNIGHT. THE RUST LOOKS MAINLY TO BE SURFACE RUST ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT IN REALITY THE RUST HAS DEVELOPED FROM THE INSIDE-OUT AND ROTTED THE FRAME OUT, THEREFORE IT WAS NOT CAUGHT EARLIER. I HOPE THIS RECALL IS EXTENDED, THERE ARE MANY RUSTED TOYOTA TACOMAS LISTED FOR SALE FROM THE 1995-2000 MODEL YEAR, WHICH ALSO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THE ISSUE WAS CAUSED BY TOYOTA'S 3RD PARTY SUPPLIER NOT PROPERLY RUST PROOFING THE FRAMES, THEREFORE MAKING THEM HIGHLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO RUST. I HOPE THAT TOYOTA DOES SOMETHING TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. *TR

UPON PURCHASE OF A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA FROM LITHIA TOYOTA OF MISSOULA, MONTANA I WAS PRESENTED WITH AN ODOMETER DISCLOSURE STATEMENT STATING THE VEHICLE HAD 168,143 MILES. WHILE TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE EARLIER ON PAVED HIGHWAY I NOTICED THE ODOMETER READ 168,000 AND SOMETHING MILES, SO SIGNED THE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT IN GOOD FAITH OF THE DEALER. I ALSO HAD REQUESTED A VEHICLE HISTORY REPORT. AFTER THE TEST DRIVE, THE SALESMAN HANDED ME AN AUTOCHECK VEHICLE HISTORY REPORT. HE DID NOT EXPLAIN DETAILS OF THE REPORT TO ME, ALTHOUGH IT SEEMED FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD. HEADING THE ODOMETERCHECK SECTION, IN BOLD LETTERS IT STATED "YOUR VEHICLE CHECKS OUT!" IT CONTINUED BY STATING "AUTOCHECK EXAMINED THE REPORTED ODOMETER READINGS REPORTED TO AUTOCHECK FOR THIS 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA SR5(VIN#) AND NO INDICATION OF AN ODOMETER ROLLBACK OR TAMPERING WAS FOUND." BECAUSE I HAD BEEN WARNED ABOUT USED VEHICLES AND ACCIDENTS I FOCUSED ON THE ACCIDENTCHECK AND TITLE AND PROBLEMCHECK IN THE REPORT. IT WASN'T UNTIL THE ODOMETER WENT OUT DRIVING ON GRAVEL A WEEK LATER THAT I REALIZED THE ODOMETER WAS FLAWED. AND IT DOESN'T RECORD THE MILEAGE WHEN IT IS OUT. ON CLOSER INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE HISTORY REPORT, THERE ARE SIX REPORTS UNDERNEATH THE ODOMETERCHECK SECTION. THE SUSPECT MILEAGE IS BETWEEN THE 2ND AND 3RD MILEAGE REPORTS. THE 2ND MILEAGE REPORTS 15,000 MILES 10/09/98 WITH A NOTATION STATING: "NOT INCLUDED IN ROLLBACK CALCULATION." THE 3RD MILEAGE REPORTS 10,038 12/10/1998. THAT IS A DIFFERENC

FRAME HAS RUSTED OUT AT AN UNUSUALLY YOUNG AGE AND MILEAGE FOR THIS VEHICLE. HOLES ARE NOW VISIBLE THROUGH THE VEHICLE'S FRAME AND STATE INSPECTION REJECTED. *TR

MY SEAT BELT ARE DEFECTIVE. I AM SO USED TO WEARING THEM. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED AND HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE SEATBELT. I WOULD LIKE THEM REPLACED FOR SAFETY REASONS IF POSSIBLE . THANKS *TR

I STARTED MY TRUCK AND WAS SLOWLY DRIVING DOWN A DRIVEWAY, AS I CHANGED FROM 2ND GEAR TO 3RD GEAR MY VEHICLE ACCELERATION WENT FROM 15MPH TO 67MPH WITHIN JUST A FEW SECONDS AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT I COULD DO BUT SWERVE TO MISS THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THE ENGINE ROARED OUT OF CONTROL. AS A SWERVED TO MISS THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, I WAS FORCED INTO A DITCH AND THE TRUCK ROLLED OVER. *TR

NOT LONG AFTER MY BASIC WARRANTY EXPIRED, I HAD FRAYING IN MY SEAT BELT THAT WAS TO THE POINT IT DIDN'T PASS INSPECTION. I TOOK IT TO A TOYOTA DEALER IN WACO, TEXAS, AND THEY AGREED TO REPLACE THE BELT FREE DESPITE THE MILEAGE. ALMOST A YEAR LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. I WENT BACK TO THAT DEALER AND THEY REPLACED IT FREE EVEN THOUGH THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE OBLIGATION. ABOUT TWO YEARS LATER, THE SAME OCCURRED. I HAVE MANAGED TO GET THE TRUCK INSPECTED BUT I NEED BADLY TO REPAIR THE BELT, BUT I CANNOT AFFORD IT. ALTHOUGH THE WEAR IS NEAR THE WAIST, WHERE ONE FIGURES ANY FRAYING MIGHT TAKE PLACE, BELT AFTER BELT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. ALSO, MY FLOOR MAT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE CAME LOOSE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND IT OCCASIONALLY WILL BUNCH UP AND HIT MY ACCELERATOR AND WILL ON OTHER TIMES BUNCH UP UNDER MY CLUTCH AND I AM UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT INSIDE THE VEHICLE WOULD BOUNCE UP AND DOWN WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE FRAME HAD RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

MY TRUCK WAS TRAVELING IN MIDDLE LANE OF INTERSTATE WHEN TRAFFIC ON THE RIGHT WAS SLOWING DOWN TO EXIT AND ANOTHER TRUCK IN THE LANE NEXT TO ME ON THE RIGHT DID NOT SLOW DOWN AND SWERVED INTO THE MIDDLE LANE FAILING TO YIELD CAUSING MY TRUCK TO STRIKE HIS TRUCK CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND TOTALING MY TRUCK. DURING THIS ACCIDENT THAT CRUSHED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS ARE ABNORMALLY FRAYED, BELOW THE BUCKLE. PASSENGER SIDE ARE SLIGHTLY FRAYED AS WELL, BUT NOT AS SEVERELY. DEALER INSPECTED AND SAID THERE ARE NO RECALLS. SIMILAR VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED THAT ARE OLDER AND HAVE MANY MORE MILES HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM, THEREFORE I AM SURE THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND IS LIKELY UNSAFE IF AN ACCIDENT SHOULD OCCUR. *TR

MY TRUCK HAD BEEN VIBRATING REALLY BAD I WAS DRIVING WEST BOUND ON I20 WHEN I HEARD A POP THEN IT SOUNDED LIKE MY TIRE BLOW OUT SO I PULLED OVER TO DISCOVER THAT MY TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM MY TIRE AND HAD TORN UP MY PASSAGE SIDE OF MY TRUCK. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR PACEMARK (N/A) TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A BLISTER ON THE SIDEWALL OF THE FRONT DRIVER'S TIRE. THE CONTACT EXAMINED EACH TIRE AND NOTICED THAT BLISTERS WERE PRESENT ON ALL OF THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HE MAY BE DRIVING OVER TOO MANY BUMPS ON THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BLISTERS WERE PRESENT ON THE INNER AND OUTER SIDEWALLS OF ALL TIRES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ALSO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE ON THE TIRES WAS 9,869. UPDATED 6/4/12 *CN THE CONSUMER HAD TO PURCHASE NEW TIRE EIGHT MONTHS LATER. UPDATED 06/11/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR FRAME WAS CORRODED AND THE REAR AXLE HAD DETACHED FROM THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,000. UPDATED 05/16/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED TOYOTA PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BACK FROM HIM. UPDATED 05/22/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS SHREDDING AND TEARING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE SEAT BELT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE SEAT BELT WAS REPLACED AND AFTER THE REPAIR, THE SEAT BELT BEGAN TO SHRED AND TEAR AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

MY WIFE STOPPED AT THE EDGE OF OUR DRIVEWAY TO LET A PEDESTRIAN PASS AND THEN PROCEED TO ENTER THE DRIVEWAY BY MAKING A RIGHT TURN. AS SHE ACCELERATED TO ENTERED THE DRIVEWAY, THE TACOMA TOOK OFF WITH THE ENGINE SCREAMING AT A VERY HIGH RPM AND, DESPITE HER EFFORTS TO STOP THE TRUCK BY PRESSING HARD ON THE BRAKE, SHE CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE AND EAST WALL OF THE HOUSE. DESPITE THE ENORMOUS DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE, IT IS A TOTAL, I THINK, THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED.OBVIOUSLY THE TACOMA SUFFERED FROM THE SAME ACCELERATOR PROBLEM THAT HAS PLAGUED TOYOTA UNITS. MY WIFE, THE DRIVER, SUFFERED BRUISED RIBS AND A HEADACHE. FIRE AND POLICE RESPONDED TO EMERGENCY CALL. *TR

POWER STEERING METAL TUBING RUSTED OUT CAUSING FLUID LEAK AND ULTIMATELY STEERING FAILURE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG FUEL SMELL COMING IN THROUGH THE VENTS. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE YET THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE CONTACT STATED SHE HAD SUFFERED VARIOUS RESPIRATORY COMPLICATIONS SINCE THE FAILURE BEGAN AND BELIEVED IT WAS CAUSED BY THE FUEL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

LETTER FROM SENATOR CASEY ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE HIS 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED PRIOR TO PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DAMAGED ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND HAS A RECONSTRUCTED TITLE. TOYOTA RECALLED THE VEHICLE DUE TO A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT FOR FRAME RUST. TOYOTA DENIED THE RECOMMENDATION OF INCLUDING THE VEHICLE IN THE BUY BACK PROGRAM, DUE TO THE RECONSTRUCTED TITLE, EVEN THOUGH THE FRAME WAS CAUSED BY TOYOTA THREE YEARS PRIOR DURING THE MANUFACTURING OF THE VEHICLE. *JB

WHEN WEATHER TEMPERATURE DROPS TO 30 OR BELOW THE BRAKES START TO ACT UP. THERE ARE NO BRAKES UNTIL THE TRUCK IS WARMED UP. THE BRAKES SEEM TO GRAB ON FLAT ROADS BUT GOING DOWN EVEN THE SLIGHTEST HILL AND THE BRAKES LOCK. BEING A GIRL, I THOUGH I NEEDED NEW BRAKES. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER AND HAD A BRAKE JOB DONE. THE NEXT YEAR THE TEMPS DID NOT DROP TO 30 DEGREES . THE WINTER WAS MILD. THIS YEAR IT IS COLD AGAIN AND THE BRAKES ARE ACTING UP AGAIN. WITH ALL THE TOYOTA PROBLEMS, I THOUGH I SHOULD REPORT IT. ESPECIALLY AS BEING A GIRL, THE DEALER DOES NOT TAKE ME SERIOUSLY. I SEE ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS CONTINUED PROBLEM WITH MANY TOYOTA OWNERS. YOUR SYSTEM WILL NOT EXCEPT THE VN NUMBER, SO HERE IT IS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MAIN FRAME AND REAR BUMPER EXHIBITED SEVERE RUST. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT AND REAR SHOCKS WERE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST AND WITHIN A ONE YEAR PERIOD, BOTH NEW SHOCKS REQUIRED A SECOND REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXAMINED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 182,000. UPDATED 02/07/11 *BF UPDATED 04/21/11

I HAVE A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA PICKUP. TODAY OCTOBER 14, 2010 I WAS DRIVING ON A SURFACE STREET AND MY GAS PEDAL DROPPED TO THE FLOOR AS I WAS DRIVING. THE ENGINE REVVED UP TO EXTREMELY HIGH RPM'S. I TRIED TO STOP, BUT MY NEW BRAKES WERE BARELY ABLE TO SLOW ME DOWN. I HAD TO PUT THE ENGINE INTO NEUTRAL AND PARK THE TRUCK. A FRIEND AND I LOOKED THE ENGINE OVER AND WE FOUND THAT THERE WAS ABOUT TWO INCHES OF PLAY IN THE ACCELERATOR CABLE WERE THE CABLE MEETS THE ENGINE. WHICH WOULD EXPLAIN WHY I WAS HAVING SUCH POOR PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE. IS THIS COVERED BY ANY RECALLS? THANK YOU *TR

MY SON WAS IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT. AN SUV RAN A RED LIGHT WHEN HE HAD A GREEN LIGHT. HIS TRUCK WAS SMASHED IN THE FRONT AND WAS TOTALED. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA PRE-RUNNER. I'VE HEARD THAT THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY AT 35 MPH. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS TRUE. *TR

1998 TOYOTA TACOMA. CONSUMER WRITES REGARDING FRAME RUST *TGW THE MECHANIC FROM THE INSPECTION STATION NOTICED LARGE AMOUNTS OF RUST AND SCALE ON THE RIGHT AND LEFT FRAME RAILS BETWEEN THE CAB AND BED. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION, THE RIGHT AND LEFT FRAME RAILS WERE ALMOST RUSTED THROUGH. *JB

I OWN A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA THAT SHOULD FALL INTO THEIR RUSTY FRAME BUYBACK BUT WAS TOLD IT DIDN'T QUALIFY BECAUSE OF A MASSACHUSETTS RECONSTRUCTED TITLE. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS SINCE THE REBUILD. THE FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH IN SOME PLACES AND THE PASSENGER SIDE BODY MOUNT HAS RUSTED AWAY FROM THE FRAME . 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. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM THE TENSIONER. THE DRIVER WOULD BE UNABLE TO WEAR THE SEAT BELT DURING TRAVEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,669 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,700.

1998 TOYOTA TACOMA. LETTER SENT REGARDING COMPLAINT AGAINST LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP *TGW TOYOTA DID NOT COVER THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE TRUCK HAD A SALVAGED TITLE. *JB

I OWN A TOYOTA TACOMA, 1998 MODEL. ONE OF THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS BROKE. PART OF IT SHIFTED SIDEWAYS IN ITS LOCATION AND BEGAN TO PUNCTURE THE FUEL TANK. UPON SEARCHING FOR A REPLACEMENT ON THE USED MARKET, I LEARNED THAT NUMBER ONE, ALL OF THESE TACOMAS DEVELOP BROKEN LEAF SPRINGS, AND NUMBER TWO, ALL USED SPRINGS HAVE BEEN ABSORBED TO REPAIR BROKEN ONES ON TRUCKS STILL IN USE. NUMBER THREE, TOYOTA CHANGED THE CONFIGURATION OF THE REAR SPRING ASSEMBLY FROM A THREE LEAF TO A FOUR LEAF ASSEMBLY TO TRY TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM, BUT MADE THE RETROFIT A COST BORNE BY THE CONSUMER. EVEN A PARTS EMPLOYEE OF A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AGREED THAT TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE HAD A RECALL OF THE TACOMA FOR DEFECTIVE LEAF SPRING DESIGN/ENGINEERING. THE BREAKAGE CREATES AN UNSTABLE SUSPENSION SUBJECT TO LOSS OF CONTROL AND IF THE SPRING SHIFTS SIDEWAYS DOES PUNCTURE THE FUEL TANK. *TR

MY 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA EXPERIENCE UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION IN 2004. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED (WORTH ABOUT $12K AT THE TIME) DUE TO THE BENT FRAME CAUSED BY HITTING A CONCRETE WALL, THEN ANOTHER CAR IN A PARKING LOT. MY WIFE, A TOYOTA EMPLOYEE, WHO WAS DRIVING THE TRUCK, SUFFERED BUMPS AND BRUISES DUE TO THE FACT THE TRUCK ONLY WENT ABOUT 30 FEET BEFORE IMPACT. THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE, AND POSTULATED MY WIFE HAD HER FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. SHE GUARANTEED HER FOOT HAD BEEN ON THE BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS SHRINK WRAPPED UNTIL A TOYOTA REP COULD READ THE ELECTRONICS. HIS RESPONSE WAS THE SAME. SO WAS HERS. GUESS WHAT MODEL YEAR TOYOTA BEGAN USING THEIR ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM (ETCS)? 1998 - WHAT A SURPRISE. MY WIFE HAS BEEN VINDICATED. TOYOTA'S PROBLEM IS NOT WITH FLOOR MATS OR GAS PEDALS THAT STICK. IT IS WITH THE ETCS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED IT WOULD ACCELERATE TO OVER A 200RPM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE SENSOR BECAUSE OF THE THRODDLE FAILURE. THE REPAIR COST WERE OVER $600. THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THEY WILL CALL HIM BACK BUT NO ONE CALLED UP UNTIL THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT . THE FAILURE WAS 200,000.

TOYOTA TACOMA TRUCK 1998, MY SON DIED IN THE ACCIDENT 2 YEARS AGO, ACCORDING POLICE REPORT SAID HE FELL ASLEEP IN THE WHEEL BUT THE CAR NEVER WAS AN ISSUE BUT NOW THAT WE HAVE RECALL MAYBE IT WAS THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT TOOK HIS VEHICLE IN TO BE SERVICED AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRAME WAS ROTTING UNDER THE VEHICLE. HE DID NOT HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT THE SERVICE CENTER. HE IS WAITING TO CALL THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE REPAIR WORK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

I HAVE A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA TRUCK AND HAVE NO COMPLAINTS EXCEPT THE SEAT BELT CAME OUT AND WILL NOT GO BACK IN AND I FASTEN THE SEAT BELT BUT I KNOW THAT IT NEEDS TO HAVE A NEW ONE ON IT. TRIED TO FIND ONE BUT HAVE NOT FOUND ONE . WHERE COULD I GET ONE TO PUT ON IT THAT WOULD NOT COST SO MUCH. I'M ON A FIXED INCOME SINCE MY HUSBAND DIED RECENTLY. *TR

1998 TOYOTA TACOMA WITH SIGNIFICANT FRAME RUST. VEHICLE FALLS WITHIN THE "FRAME RUST CORROSION PERFORATION WARRANTY EXTENSION" PROGRAM OFFERED BY TOYOTA. THE PROGRAM OFFERS TO BUY BACK TOYOTA TACOMAS THAT FAIL THEIR "INSPECTION" DEALER ACTUALLY DENTED THE FRAME DURING INSPECTION DUE TO WEAK FRAME SECONDARY TO RUST. THEY DID NOT PUT A HOLE IN IT THEREFORE RETURNING IT TO ME, SAYING THE VEHICLE IS SAFE. CONTACTED CORPORATE TOYOTA AND BASICALLY GOT BLOWN OFF AS THEY STATED THE DEALER DID NOT PUT A HOLE IN IT DURING INSPECTION. PERSONALLY, ANY VEHICLE WHICH YOU CAN DENT THE FRAME IN CRITICAL AREAS WITH A 12 OZ HAMMER WITH "LIGHT TO MODERATE" SWINGS IS UNSAFE. AT THIS POINT I CAN ONLY HOPE I DO NOT GET INTO A CRASH WITH THIS VEHICLE. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT AS I BELIEVE THEY ARE OVERLOOKING A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS CORRODING ON HER VEHICLE. HER HUSBAND NOTICED THAT SEVERAL TACOMA OWNERS WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE AND DECIDED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY THE DEALER. THE DEALER PERFORMED A FRAME INSPECTION AND STATED THAT IT WAS OKAY AT THAT TIME. THE WEST INSPECTION STATION INFORMED THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND THAT HIS FRAME WAS IN BAD SHAPE FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WAS SKEPTICAL ABOUT THE DEALER'S DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONSULTED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,467 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 111,400. UPDATED 09/23/08 *BF THE ALSO STATED THE WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL UP. UPDATED 10/01/08. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME ON THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTING, WHICH HE OBSERVED WHILE PERFORMING MAINTENANCE. SOME OF THE RUSTY METAL AND PIECES OF THE FRAME FELL OFF THE VEHICLE. HE CONSULTED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT THEY WERE "NONCHALANT AND UNCONCERNED". INITIALLY, THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. MOST RECENTLY, THE CONTACT WAS SENT A LETTER REQUESTING THAT HE TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. AFTER THE INSPECTION, HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRAME FAILED INSPECTION AND THE RECOURSE WAS STILL BEING NEGOTIATED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 145,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S FRAME WAS DAMAGED TOO SEVERELY TO BE REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THEY OFFERED HER APPROXIMATELY $7,000 TOWARDS A TRADE-IN. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 53,000.

TL*- THE CONTACT HAS ASKED FOR THE EXACT VERBIAGE OF HIS EMAIL ENTERED AS HIS COMPLAINT: TOYOTA HAS INSTITUTED A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM FOR 1995-2000 TOYOTA TACOMAS FOR FRAME RUST. TOYOTA IS BUYING BACK THE TRUCKS BECAUSE OF SAFETY PROBLEMS. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS RESULTING FROM COLLAPSING FRAMES THAT HAVE RUSTED OUT. THEY ARE DOING THIS TO AVOID A NHTSA RECALL. MY TRUCK HAS A TITLE THAT LISTS PRIOR DAMAGE, AND THEY WILL NOT TAKE MY TRUCK BACK. THEY CLAIM THAT THE TRUCK HAS BEEN ALTERED. THE TRUCK WAS REPAIRED USING TOYOTA TACOMA FACTORY PARTS, AND NOT AFTERMARKET PARTS. THE TRUCK WAS REPAIRED IN YEAR 2002, BUT THE INSURANCE COMPANY CHOSE NOT TO SPEND THE MONEY ON REPAIRS. IF MY TRUCK WAS NEWER, THE INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD HAVE SPENT THE MONEY ON REPAIRS, THE REPAIR WOULD NOT APPEAR ON THE TITLE, AND TOYOTA WOULD QUALIFY THIS TRUCK FOR BUY BACK. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MY TRUCK AND A NEWER TRUCK RECEIVING THE SAME REPAIR IS THAT ONE IS OLDER THAN THE OTHER, AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY CHOSE TO REPAIR THE NEWER VEHICLE. MY 1998 TACOMA WAS PROFESSIONALLY REPAIRED AND INSPECTED BY THE MASSACHUSETTS POLICE. THE TRUCK LOOKS BRAND NEW EXCEPT FOR THE FRAME RUST. I BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA IS TRYING TO AVOID A NHTSA RECALL BY THIS WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM. STILL, THERE ARE MANY VEHICLES LIKE MINE ON THE ROADS WITH FRAME RUST WAITING FOR AN ACCIDENT THAT TOYOTA CHOOSES TO IGNORE. UPDATED 07/15/08 *BF UPDATED 07/15/08

FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED WHILE IN OPERATION. RESULTING IN SEPARATION FROM THE KNUCKLE, CAUSING A COLLAPSE IN THE SUSPENSION AND LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WHILE DRIVING. THE COLLAPSE HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC AND CAUSED OTHER DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE INCLUDING DRIVE SHAFT AND TIRE DAMAGE. *TR

DRIVER'S SIDE REAR LEAF SPRING BROKE LAST YEAR. I HAD IT REPAIRED/REPLACED AT A LOCAL SPRING SHOP. NOW THE SAME SPRING ON PASSENGER SIDE HAS BROKE AT THE SAME PLACE. THIS AFFECTS HANDLING OF VEHICLE AND LEAVES THE SPRING HANGING BY A FACTORY CLAMP WHICH IF IT BREAKS THE REST OF THE WAY COULD CAUSE ACCIDENT. *TR