Problems · NHTSA complaints
1997 Toyota Tacoma problems
Owners filed 134 complaints about the 1997 Toyota Tacoma with NHTSA between Feb 1997 and Nov 2025. The most-cited component is structure (46).
Complaints
134
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
13
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
10
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Structure46
- Suspension23
- Tires15
- Seat belts11
- Power train9
- Air bags6
- Vehicle speed control6
- Service brakes, hydraulic5
- Steering4
- Wheels4
- Engine and engine cooling2
- Visibility2
- Engine1
- Electrical system1
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 Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
13
7
12
14
6
4
5
2
2
1
11
8
1
4
0
5
7
6
6
7
3
4
1
3
1
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 13 |
| 1998 | 7 |
| 1999 | 12 |
| 2000 | 14 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 11 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 1 |
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.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Structure
46 reports
“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.”
Suspension
23 reports1 crash
“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”
Tires
15 reports2 crashes
“CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A NOISE, GOT OUT OF TRUCK, AND LOOKED UNDER IT TO SEE WHERE NOISE WAS COMING FROM. DUELER TIRE, APT, 31 X 10.50/R 15LT. *AK”
Seat belts
11 reports1 crash
“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.”
Power train
9 reports1 crash
“MY 97 TACOMA TRUCK HAD A RECALL ON THE FRAME RUSTING. IT WAS CHECKED AND SAID IT WAS OK. 2 YEARS AFTER THE RECALL HAS LAPSED THE FRAME HAS RUSTED WITH BIG HOLES SHOWING AND IS A DANGER TO DRIVE. TOYOTA SAYS THEY WON'T DO NOTHING ABOUT THE RUSTED FRAME...WHICH WAS A PROBLEM BEFORE. MY OLDEST SON WHO JUST GOT HIS LICENSE IS DRIVING IT NOW AND I'M AFRAID THE FRAME WILL COLLAPSE AND HE WILL WRECK. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP GET A REPLACEMENT FRAME FOR THE TRUCK? THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP. [XXX] MY CASE # AT TOYOTA IS [XXX] ' *TR”
Air bags
6 reports5 crashes
“DRIVING SOUTH ON MACINTOSH RD. TRIED TO AVOID HITTING A CAR THAT MADE AN ILLEGAL U-TURN IN FRONT OF ME. I RAN INTO THE WALL HARD ENOUGH TO KNOCK THE WALL (CEMENT) DOWN. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I RECEIVED A CONCUSSION, AND AM STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH SIDE EFFECTS A YEAR LATER. ACCIDENT HAPPENED MAY 12, 2014.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.