Problems · NHTSA complaints

1999 Toyota Tacoma problems

Owners filed 251 complaints about the 1999 Toyota Tacoma with NHTSA between Nov 1998 and May 2024. The most-cited component is structure (102).

Complaints
251
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
40
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
28
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Structure102
  2. Air bags38
  3. Suspension34
  4. Tires23
  5. Power train16
  6. Electrical system12
  7. Steering10
  8. Vehicle speed control8
  9. Engine and engine cooling8
  10. Seat belts6
  11. Service brakes, hydraulic4
  12. Exterior lighting2
  13. Child seat2
  14. Visibility2

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 10, 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
19982
199917
200030
200124
20027
20039
20048
20056
20063
200721
200815
20092
201014
20117
20121
20133
201414
201517
201619
201712
20187
20194
20202
20214
20221
20230
20242

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

102 reports
“The contact owns a 1999 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was not driving smoothly. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The contact stated that while disconnecting the trailer hitch, the contact proceeded to inspect the vehicle. The contact stated that the undercarriage was severely corroded. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 13, 2024StructureODI 11588530

Air bags

38 reports31 crashes
“My 1999 Toyota Tacoma was involved in a rear end vehicle collision (the front of my vehicle struck the rear of a vehicle traveling in front of me) at a speed of approximately 40-45 mph. The roadway surface was smooth asphalt at a slight downgrade during clear/dry weather conditions on Monday 7/19/2021 at approximately 2:40 p.m. in Wythe County, VA. Neither the driver side nor passenger airbags deployed in this collision and the passenger side airbag switch was in the "ON" position. The front end damage was considerable to include destruction of front grille with radiator and other components pushed well into the engine compartment, hood, quarter panels, windshield cracked, and right front wheel joint assembly nearly detached. *Vehicle is available for inspection. *Complete failure of airbag deployment. *No indication of any airbag system issues with this vehicle. *Vehicle component has not been inspected by anyone since collision date. *No warning lamps or indicators prior to collision date. *I am the original and only owner of this vehicle since the purchase date in January, 1999. *Vehicle has 329000+ miles with certain parts of the engine being rebuilt in…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 20, 2021Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11425622

Suspension

34 reports1 crash
“Hi, i had the recall preventive performed by toyota for rusting and corrosion of the frame. Now, the vehicle is rusting throughout the frame and is very very unsafe to drive. TOYOTA is claiming that it was a program and not a recall and had no documentation to prove. Toyota performed the recall and now the frame is still at risk to crack and very unsafe.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 14, 2024Suspension, Structure, Unknown or otherODI 11577368

Tires

23 reports1 crash
“1)YOUR COMPLET TIRE SIZE SECTION DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH SPACES. 2)I WAS TRAVELING AT 70 MPH IN THE RAIN WHEN MY LEFT REAR TIRE JUST BLEWOUT. ICAN SEND YOU PHOTO'S IF YOU WANT.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 3, 2002TiresODI 766649

Power train

16 reports
“BOUGHT 99 TOYOTA TACOMA TRUCK.VERIFIED WITH DEALER WHO DID THE FRAME EXAM IN 2014 FOR RUST. AT 207000 MILES. IT PASSED IMSPECTIOM IN 2014??? NOW 4 YRS LATER AND 18000 ADDITIONAL MILES, IT'S RUSTED IN HALF?”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 13, 2018Suspension, Power train, StructureODI 11093513

Electrical system

12 reports1 crash2 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE BATTERY CABLE WAS TOO SHORT TO REACH THE BATTERY CORRECTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY CLAMPS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE STARTER AND BATTERY WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 154,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 6, 2016Electrical systemODI 10853875
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

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