Problems · NHTSA complaints
2000 Toyota Tacoma problems
Owners filed 221 complaints about the 2000 Toyota Tacoma with NHTSA between Dec 1999 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is structure (78).
Complaints
221
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
25
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
17
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Structure78
- Suspension53
- Air bags25
- Tires19
- Engine and engine cooling13
- Power train11
- Service brakes, hydraulic10
- Electrical system9
- Vehicle speed control6
- Seat belts5
- Exterior lighting4
- Steering4
- Seats4
- Visibility4
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 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
29
26
11
11
10
7
1
7
12
5
10
2
4
5
6
9
20
13
12
5
3
3
3
1
1
0
4
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 1 |
| 2000 | 29 |
| 2001 | 26 |
| 2002 | 11 |
| 2003 | 11 |
| 2004 | 10 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 12 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 20 |
| 2017 | 13 |
| 2018 | 12 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 | 4 |
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
78 reports2 crashes
“I was recently told my a service center that the frame has great corrosion and is unsafe to drive. I am now aware of past warranty extensions for this matter but Toyota will offer nothing because for my year, this warranty coverage extension is expired. My year was also not part of the recent class action settlement with Toyota vehicles having rusted frames for later models (2004+). I'm left with a decent truck that is useless now. I don't understand why a rusted frame that could crack or break would not constitute a safety recall, which I understand does not expire like their well played warranty extension. It is evident my problem is what has been experienced by many others and just because their extended warranty has expired, does not mean the issue was not caused by their defective manufacturing. It is a matter of timing, and our safety. We had taken the truck for service as a Toyota dealer in late 2008, when the program was active, and they did not mention it and maybe there was no rust. Between 2008 and 2015 when it expired, service was not performed at a dealership and still nobody mentioned it. The truck has lived in NC until 2011 and Ohio (snow) from…”
Suspension
53 reports4 crashes
“My son was driving the 2000 Toyota Tacoma across very smooth transition railroad tracks at about 25 mph and the right front ball joint failed, collapsing the suspension. He lost all control and the vehicle skidded to a stop. Had he been going any faster, the vehicle could have rolled over. I have reviewed the recalls for Toyota ball joints and found the there is a 50J recall for 2001-2005 Tacomas. Interestingly enough, the trucks/Tacomas from 1995-2000 have the same ball joint but were not included in the recall. I have tried to work with Toyota directly on this matter and they don't seem to want to help me. This is a safety issue and should be elevated to recall levels for all vehicles with this ball joint.”
Air bags
25 reports19 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SWERVED TO PREVENT HITTING A DEER BUT VEERED OFF ROAD AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER 5 TIMES. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INTERNAL BLEEDING AND A CRUSHED RIGHT ARM AND KNEE. THE CONTACT ALSO SUSTAINED AND A BROKEN LEFT ARM ,LEG, AND ANKLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.”
Tires
19 reports
“WE PURCHASED 4 LT235/75R 15 LRC BIG FOOT A/T DUAL TIRES AT $172.79 A PIECE 3/14/06, SPENDING $787.31. SUNDAY 6/24/07 ON HIGHWAY 40 AT A SPEED LIMIT OF 75MPH, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT, ALMOST FLIPPING US OVER, WHICH WOULD HAVE CREATED ENORMOUS DAMAGE TO OURSELVES AND OUR VEHICLE. LUCKILY, I STABILIZED THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OFF THE ROAD. TUESDAY 6/26/07 WE WENT TO BIG O TIRES AT 2010 E. LAKE MEAD BLVD, NORTH LAS VEGAS, NV TO GET A REPLACEMENT. MANNY WAS APPARENTLY UNABLE TO LOCATE A REPLACEMENT TIRE, DESPITE CHECKING THROUGHOUT LAS VEGAS AND CALIFORNIA. HOW CAN BIG O SELL TIRES WITH A SUPPOSED GUARANTEE WHEN THEY CAN'T LOCATE ANY SUCH TIRES WITH WHICH TO REPLACE THEM? THIS MORNING MANNY PUT ON ANOTHER BRAND TIRE, SUPPOSEDLY OF EQUIVALENT VALUE AND DURABILITY. IT IS A P, NOT LT, TIRE?HOW IS THAT EQUIVALENT? IT HAS A SPEED RATING OF S VS. THE REST OF THE TIRES HAVE A SPEED RATING OF Q. AND ON THE BIG O TIRE WEB SITE IT STATES, ?NEVER MIX TIRES WITH DIFFERENT SPEED RATINGS, AS THIS MAY CAUSE SERIOUS HANDLING PROBLEMS.? SO MUCH FOR EQUIVALENCE! FURTHERMORE, IT IS A SPECTOR ADVANTA TIRE, AND I CAN FIND ABSOLUTELY NO INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET AS TO WHO MAKES…”
Engine and engine cooling
13 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTO ZONE WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE O2 SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT'S FRIEND WAS REPAIRING THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED RUST ON THE BOTTOM OF THE FRAME. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S FRIEND WAS UNABLE TO TIGHTEN THE SENSOR COMPLETELY, WHICH CAUSED FUMES TO ENTER THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING. THE CONTACT CALLED LOU FUSZ TOYOTA (LOCATED AT 10725 MANCHESTER RD, KIRKWOOD, MO 63122, (314) 966-5404). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.”
Power train
11 reports2 crashes
“ON 12/05 I NOTICED SOMETHING HANGING FROM UNDERNEATH MY 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA PICK UP TRUCK. WHEN I GOT DOWN TO PULL IT OUT, I REALIZED IT WAS RUST FROM MY FRAME, THAT HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. I CALLED TOYOTA CONSUMER SERVICES, SPOKE TO A GENTLEMAN WHO WAS VERY RUDE, TELLING ME THAT I HAD MISSED THE WARRANTY EXTENSION TIME LIMIT AND BECAUSE I DIDN'T REGISTER MY NEW ADDRESS WITH THEM, THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING. FIRST, THE TRUCK WAS PAID FOR WHEN I MOVED. SECOND, IT IS UP TO THEM TO NOTIFY ME AND THIS CAN BE DONE VIA THE REGISTRY OF MOTOR VEHICLES, AS HAS BEEN DONE IN THE PAST WITH ANOTHER OF OUR PAID FOR VEHICLES. THIRD, I NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE THAT STATED MY WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED DO TO RUSTED FRAMES FOR 1995-2004 TACOMA'S. TOYOTA RECALLED OVER 700,000 TRUCKS, SO CLEARLY THEY ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON LINE AND VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE ABOUT THIS.THIS TRUCK IN IN GREAT SHAPE AND I PLANNED ON USING IT FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER 100K MILES. IT HAS BEEN MAINTAINED WELL AND RIDES GREAT. THIS IS THE 11TH AND LAST TOYOTA, I HAVE OWNED. I AM APPALLED AND AMAZED THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT TAKE CARE OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF A VEHICLE.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.