Problems · NHTSA complaints

1997 Toyota T100 problems

Owners filed 71 complaints about the 1997 Toyota T100 with NHTSA between Aug 1997 and Nov 2022. The most-cited component is structure (23).

Complaints
71
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Structure23
  2. Power train17
  3. Steering13
  4. Suspension8
  5. Seat belts8
  6. Service brakes, hydraulic4
  7. Fuel system, gasoline3
  8. Service brakes2
  9. Engine and engine cooling2
  10. Exterior lighting1
  11. Wheels1
  12. Seats1
  13. Other / unknown2

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
19974
19987
19993
20002
20011
20028
20033
20045
20055
20061
20073
20080
20091
20107
20111
20127
20134
20144
20152
20162
20170
20180
20190
20200
20210
20221

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Structure

23 reports
“The contact owns a 1997 Toyota T100. The contact stated that while performing an oil change on the vehicle, he noticed the sub-frame was corroded. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 122,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 10, 2022StructureODI 11493059

Power train

17 reports
“TOOK TRUCK TO REPAIR SHOP FOR EXHAUST REPAIR. TECHNICIAN FOUND THE FRAME TO BE RUSTED BADLY WITH HOLES THROUGH THE FRAME. TOLD ME THAT I NEED TO HAVE THIS LOOKED AT BY A TOYOTA DEALER BECAUSE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE IT COULD GET DANGEROUS. HE ALSO POINTED OUT RUST ON BRAKE LINES AND OTHER SUSPENSION PARTS THAT NEEDED REPLACED SOON. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 6, 2015Suspension, Power train, Service brakesODI 10692640

Steering

13 reports2 crashes1 related recall
“WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WON'T RETURN TO CENTER UPON COMPLETION OF THE TURN. I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A MAJOR SAFETY VEHICLE RECALL FOR THIS TRUCK HOWEVER TWO DEALERS IN MERCED AND MODESTO, CALIFORNIA HAVE TOLD ME THERE IS NO SAFETY RECALL. THE 1995 TO 1998 RECALL WAS FOR TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING DUE TO A BROKEN STEERING ROD. I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK IN CALIFORNIA ONE YEAR AGO AND WE KNOW FOR CERTAIN THAT IT WAS ORIGINALLY SOLD IN TEXAS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 20, 2014SteeringODI 10573895

Suspension

8 reports
“I HAVE READ SEVERAL OF THE DESCRIPTIONS ON THE SITE AND AM AFRAID I'M DRIVING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE NOW BECAUSE OF THE UNDERLYING RUST ISSUES WHICH COULD BE AT THE ROOT OF SHIFTER ISSUES, AS IN A PREVIOUS COMPLAINT AND THE DANGEROUS FRAME RUST ISSUE. I AM NOT A MECHANIC, BUT I RECOGNIZE MANY OF THE RUST ISSUES DESCRIBED HERE ON MY T100. NHTSA SHOULD RE-EXAMINE THE DECISION TO GIVE TOYOTA A BREAK BY NOT REQUIRING THAT THEY BUY BACK VEHICLES AS DONE WITH SIMILAR MODELS IN THEIR FAMILY WITH THE FRAME RUST ISSUES. THE ALLOWANCE TO CONTINUE T100S BE DRIVEN PUTS PASSENGERS AND OTHER MOTORISTS AT RISK. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED, AND THE MECHANICALS AND APPEARANCE BELIES THE SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUES BENEATH.THE NHTSA IS REMISS TO NOT PUT PRESSURE ON TOYOTA TO INCLUDE THESE VEHICLES IN THEIR RECALL AS A GOOD FAITH AND SAFETY MEASURE... AS THE OWNER OF NEWER, ALLEGEDLY SAFE, TOYOTA PRODUCTS, I AM ALSO CONCERNED BY THEIR LACK OF RESPONSE... DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO LOSE THEIR LIFE BEFORE A SUITABLE RESPONSE IS MANDATED? AFTER ALL, THIS VEHICLE COULD BE BEHIND YOU ON THE DRIVE HOME TONIGHT. THIS IGNORES HOW THIS VEHICLE WOULD LIKELY JUST CRUMBLE IN AN ACCIDENT. I PLAN TO…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 16, 2014Suspension, Power train, StructureODI 10588941

Seat belts

8 reports
“WELL ON MY 1997 TOYOTA T-100 EXTENDED CAB THE REAR SEAT BELT TO HOLD THE CHILD SEAT IN PLACE KEEPS COMING LOOSE AND I HAVE NOT OTHER OPTION THAT PLACE THE CHILD SEAT ON THE RT OR LT REAR SEATS AND THIS WILL OR MIGHT RISK MY KID IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN CASE OF A COLLISION, ALSO THE DRIVERS SEAT COME LOOSE SUPER LOOSE IT WONT RESTRAIN AND IN GOING TO HAVE TO GET ONE SOON. SO I ASK TO THE NSTHS TO CONTACT TOYOTA'S MANUFACTURER AND HAVE THEM HANDLE THIS PROBLEM. I DID INCLUDE MY TRUCK INFORMATION AND HOPE TO HEAR FROM TOYOTA'S MANUFACTURES SOON, THANKS AGAIN AND HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 27, 2012Seat beltsODI 10472686

Service brakes, hydraulic

4 reports
“RUSTING FRAME BUMPER FUEL LINES BRAKE LINES. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 13, 2014Service brakes, hydraulic, Fuel system, gasoline, StructureODI 10588058
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.