Owners filed 396 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the structure › body. It has been recalled 6 times.
When it fails
144000144,000 milesMedian miles at failure
295 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 150,000–200,000 miles.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Structure › Body
92
1
0
1
Structure › Frame and Members
78
0
0
0
Suspension
39
2
0
0
Unknown or Other
28
1
1
2
Structure › Frame and Members › Underbody Shields
26
0
0
0
Structure
14
0
0
0
Steering
11
3
0
1
Air Bags
11
11
0
8
Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Ball Joint
10
1
0
3
Vehicle Speed Control
8
5
0
11
6 safety recalls
Part 573 reports
Tires › Temporary/Emergency Spare Tire12V542000
Filed Nov 23, 2012150,000 vehiclesToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Defect. Toyota is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2004 Tacoma light trucks manufactured from August 28, 2000, through August 27, 2004, and originally sold, or currently registered, in the following cold climate states with high road salt usage: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. The spare tire in the subject vehicles is located underneath the rear of the vehicle and held by a spare tire carrier. A lift plate on the carrier is used to help raise, lower and retain the tire. During its manufacture, the lift plate may not have been sufficiently coated with anti-corrosion materials. If the plate is insufficiently coated and the vehicle is operated in cold climate regions where road salts are frequently used, road spray can reach the carrier assembly and corrode the lift plate.
Risk. Corrosion of the plate could cause it to break, which could result in detachment of the spare tire from the vehicle. Detachment of the spare tire could result in a road hazard which may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy. Toyota will notify owners, dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace the spare tire carrier lift plate as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in February 2013. Owners may contact their Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.
Exterior Lighting06E065000
Filed Jul 17, 20063,593 vehiclesAj Motorsport
Defect. CERTAIN AJ MOTORSPORT COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Risk. LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy. AJ MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AJ MOTORSPORT AT 626-618-2026.
Exterior Lighting06E026000
Filed Mar 23, 200661,944 vehiclesPro-A Motors, Inc.
Defect. CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy. PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Ball Joint05V225000
Filed May 17, 2005768,379 vehiclesToyota Motor North America, Inc.
Defect. 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 EVENTUALLY EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE WEAR AND LOOSENESS, RESULTING IN INCREASED STEERING EFFORT.
Risk. THE LOWER BALL JOINT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
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.
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings03V189000
Filed May 19, 2003123,360 vehiclesToyota Motor North America, Inc.
Defect. ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, DURING SIDE IMPACT NCAP TEST (I.E. LINCAP TEST), A FLANGE AT THE REAR END OF THE DOUBLE CAB BODY DEFORMED AND INTERFERED WITH THE FUEL INLET HOSE THAT CONNECTS THE FUEL FILLER PIPE AND FUEL TANK, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE FUEL INLET HOSE.
Risk. THIS DAMAGE COULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE IF IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUEL HOSE PROTECTOR ON THE BODY FLANGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 3, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Tires › Sidewall01V186000
Filed Jun 7, 200143 vehiclesSoutheast Toyota Distributors
Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 4X2 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TU4 WHITE LETTER TIRE UPGRADE OPTION AND DISTRIBUTED BY SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. TIRE DAMAGE MAY HAVE OCCURRED DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLATION, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE TIRE TO DEFLATE OR A BULGE APPEARING IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE.
Risk. AN IMPROPERLY INFLATED TIRE COULD RESULT IN VEHICLE HANDLING PROBLEMS OR A BLOW OUT OF AN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED TIRE.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL CHECK ALL FOUR TIRES, REBALANCE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE ANY DAMAGED TIRE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 3, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.
What owners reported
Newest filings
WheelsCrash
Filed Sep 21, 2025FL
Lower ball joint separated from knuckle and it says 0 recalls repaired i want it replaced because there oem they were never replaced when recalled
Structure › Body
Filed Sep 27, 2024NE
We purchased a 2001 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner from a used car lot in Omaha NE. We have had it for 3 months and recently had a mechanic look over the vehicle for repairs. The mechanic indicated the frame is rusted through and the truck is unsafe to drive. The mechanic indicated that there was a recall on the frames possibly, so we followed up with Toyota. Toyota told me that there is no frame recall, but instead they did a "Customer Support Program" in relation to the frame, but it had expired. Toyota told us there is nothing they can do for us. My concern is that Toyota has a known issue, a safety issue, concerning their vehicles but will not rectify it. I would like Toyota to be held liable for their substandard product, no matter how long it has been. A quick Google search about Toyota and recalls is that they are not good at reporting them to you, or their service centers are not good at making sure all recalls are taken care of, and I feel that this is something that needs to be investigated - and in my case, rectified.
Unknown or Other
Filed May 16, 2024OH
My Toyota truck frame is rusted with big holes and could break in two at any time.
Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Sep 7, 2023100,000 milesOH
The contact owns a 2001 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously serviced under recall for corrosion underneath the vehicle. The contact became aware that there was corrosion underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and rust protection was sprayed on the corrosion but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was 100,000. The vehicle was taken back to Toyota for service, which was outside the extended warranty and the tech was shown the gaping holes in the frame that had rusted through and at that point the contact was told the extended warranty had expired so they couldn't do anything. The frame has now rusted so bad that Toyota has deemed it unsafe as of 2 months ago when the tech looked at it so the contact reached out to Toyota corporate recall department but they refused to do anything about it as well.
Suspension
Filed Jul 24, 2023100,000 milesCA
The contact owns a 2001 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the contact swerved to the left to avoid another vehicle and the steering had stiff. The contact stated that the front driver’s side wheel then collapsed inside the wheel well. The contact lost control of the vehicle and the vehicle skidded off the highway and onto the right shoulder. The contact stated that the seat belt warning light then illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 05V225000 (Suspension). The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Apr 3, 2023NH
Front part of fuel tank dropped apparently due to corrosion. Electrical and fluid connections to fuel tank were disconnected when the tank dropped. Negligible fuel spill. Vehicle was towed from the scene. Driving on dirt road at the time.
Suspension
Filed Jul 29, 2022MD
The complete chassis frame under the vehicle, contains a lot of rust and holes due to corrosion. Some years ago, a Toyota dealership asked me to bring the vehicle in to one of their dealerships, where an undercoating was painted on the frame surface. However, the coating is worn away and the rust is visible again and this time there are even more deterioration.
Unknown or Other
Filed Mar 28, 2022VA
- 2001 Toyota Tacoma New Replacement Frame Rusted, it is available for inspection. - The frame is rusted to the point you can push your finger through it, failure concern while driving. -The local Toyota dealership and corporate office, states the vehicle is not covered in any way. - At this time the vehicle has not been inspected due to dealership stating there are no recalls on the second frame that was installed in the 2001 Toyota Tacoma for the original rusting problem. This vehicle likely will not pass state inspection. - There are no warning devices for this problem. The rust/corrosion was located during an oil change.
Unknown or Other
Filed Mar 11, 2022IL
MY FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND ALL THE CAPOMINTES ARE ALSO. I CANT CHANGE ANYTHING PUT BECAUSE OF IT. MY LEAF SPRINGS ARE SHOT WHERE THEY ARE MOUNTED TO THE FRAME. IS WEAKING WHICH IS MOVING MY BACK AXLE OFF BALANCE. MY FRONT AILMENT IS COMPLETELY OFF. I AND DREAK ANYTHING LOSE TO FIX THE ISSUE'S. IT FEELS LIKE THEY COMPLETELY FORGOT TO SPRAY MY FRAME ON MY TRUCK
Suspension
Filed Dec 13, 2021MA
Excessive frame rust
Structure › Body
Filed Feb 25, 2021IL
I SEE THAT MY FRAME IS CRACKING. SO I LOOKED IT UP. AND FOUND MULTIPLE RECALLS ON THE TUCK. I NOTICED THAT I HAVE A VERY SLOPPY STEERING WHEEL. IT SAID THAT WAS A RECALL TOO. I'M DON'T NO IF PREVIOUS OWNER HAD ANYTHING RECALLED.
Structure › Body
Filed Feb 14, 2021CO
MY FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND ALL THE CAPOMINTES ARE ALSO. I CANT CHANGE ANYTHING PUT BECAUSE OF IT. MY LEAF SPRINGS ARE SHOT WHERE THEY ARE MOUNTED TO THE FRAME. IS WEAKING WHICH IS MOVING MY BACK AXLE OFF BALANCE. MY FRONT AILMENT IS COMPLETELY OFF. I AND DREAK ANYTHING LOSE TO FIX THE ISSUE'S. IT FEELS LIKE THEY COMPLETELY FORGOT TO SPRAY MY FRAME ON MY TRUCK
Structure › Body
Filed Jan 26, 2021146,000 milesNY
I BROUGHT MY 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA FOR AN INSPECTION IN JANUARY 2020 AND DISCOVERED THE FRAME WAS ROTTED AND IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I CONTACTED EMPIRE TOYOTA SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CAMPAIGN TO FIX THIS ISSUE EXPIRED SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THIS FIXED. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS CAMPAIGN NOR WAS MY HUSBAND WHO WAS THE PREVIOUS OWNER. I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT MANY OTHER TACOMA OWNERS ARE IN THE SAME PREDICAMENT. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE FIX THAT I CANNOT AFFORD. TOYOTA NEEDS TO STEP UP AND MAKE THIS A RECALL TO BE FIXED REGARDLESS OF TIMEFRAME.
Suspension
Filed Oct 21, 202075,000 milesNY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE'S SUBFRAME FELT LOOSE UNDERNEATH. THE CONTACT NOTICED RUST AND CORROSION UNDERNEATH THE WHEEL WELL AND ON THE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE. RIVERHEAD TOYOTA (1655 ROUTE 58 (OLD COUNTRY ROAD), RIVERHEAD, NY 11901 (631) 727-7722) INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO BE DRIVEN AND THAT THE SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF A SPECIAL PROGRAM TO THE REPLACE THE SUBFRAME BACK IN 01/2016 WHICH EXPIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT RECEIVED THE NOTIFICATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH A CASE NUMBER AND PROMISED A CALLBACK. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNREPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
Structure › Body
Filed Sep 24, 2020256,000 milesMD
I'M WRITING YOU BECAUSE I HAD MY 2001 TACOMA INSPECTED FOR THE FRAME RUST RECALL IN 2010. AT THAT TIME I WAS TOLD THAT MY TRUCK WOULD BE SPRAYED WITH AN INHIBITOR TO PREVENT RUST. THE VEHICLE FRAME HAS SINCE RUSTED AND IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE SPRAY INHIBITOR OBVIOUSLY DID NOT WORK OR WAS APPLIED INCORRECTLY. THE VEHICLE STARTED SHOWING THESE SIGNS WHILE DRIVINH.
Service Brakes
Filed Jul 9, 2020143,000 milesCA
OUR 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA 4WD DOUBLE CAB (WITH 143,000 MILES AND EXCELLENT CONDITION) ABS CONTROL UNIT FAILED SOMETIMES IN EARLY JAN 2020. AFTER WE SEARCHED FOR REPLACEMENT PART ON TOYOTA DEALERS' WEBSITES, THEY SHOWED "THIS PRODUCT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE." OUR SHOP SEARCHED AND WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA DEALERS THE SAME THING. I CONTACTED DEALERS AND THEY SAID NOTHING THEY COULD DO BUT TO CONTACT TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA IN PLANO, TEXAS. WE ALONG WITH OUR SHOP SEARCHED FOR USED/RECYCLED PART ACROSS AMERICA. WE FOUND ONE FROM OREGON BUT IT DID NOT WORK AFTER INSTALLATION. MARCH 17, 2020, WE CONTACTED TOYOTA IN PLANO, TEXAS, WITH A LETTER TO CHRIS NIELSEN, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF PRODUCTS SUPPORT & CHIEF QUALITY OFFICER, ABOUT THIS ABS CONTROL UNIT WITH A "SAFETY ISSUE" AS MY FAMILY AND 10 OF THOUSANDS OF OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS WHO HAD STUCK OR HAVE BEEN STUCK WITH THIS "SAFETY ISSUE." TOYOTA RESPONDED MARCH 27, 30, 31, APRIL 6, 8, BUT REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE "SAFETY ISSUE." FINALLY, ON APRIL 9, TOYOTA SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. WHEN I ASKED IF WE, ALONG WITH THOUSAND OF OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS ARE STUCK WITH THIS "SAFETY ISSUE"? TOYOTA RESPONDED BY SAYING WE GOT THERE PHONE NUMBER AND ADDRESS IF WE HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS. MEANWHILE, ON APRIL 3, 2020, WE FOUND A SECOND UNIT, BUT IT AGAIN FAILED AFTER 2 MONTHS. THESE ARE EXPENSIVE UNITS EVEN A USED ONE AND IT WAS VERY EXPENSIVE TO INSTALL AND TO UNINSTALL. MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE AND THOUSAND OF OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS ACROSS AMERICA ARE
Structure › Frame and Members › Underbody Shields
Filed Jun 10, 2020175,000 milesMA
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE SEVERELY RUSTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME RUSTED THROUGH AT THE SHOCK ABSORBERS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PRIME TOYOTA - BOSTON (1605 VFW PKWY, WEST ROXBURY, MA 02132), AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 175,000.*DT *BF *TR THE CONSUMER PROVIDED PHOTOS. *TR
Structure › Body
Filed May 7, 2020NC
TOOK TRUCK FOR INSPECTION, WOULDN'T PASS BECAUSE FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH AND RIGHT REAR SHOCK ABSORBER IS UNATTACHED BECAUSE OF FRAME. MECHANIC SAYS DRIVING IT IS UNSAFE. TOYOTA HAD RECALL I WAS UNAWARE OF FOR RUSTED FRAMES, WHEN CONTACTED THEM THEY SAID THEY COULD DO NOTHING. *TR
Structure › Body
Filed May 3, 2020MS
FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT
Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Dec 13, 2019160,000 milesNY
UNDER MODERATE ACCELERATION WHILE TURNING LEFT, THE VEHICLE SURGED AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNINTENTIONALLY. FORCEFUL BRAKING WAS APPLIED TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND GRADUALLY SLOW THE VEHICLE.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: Nov 23, 2012. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.