Problems · by component

2001 Toyota Tacoma structure problems

227 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2001 Toyota Tacoma cite structure, 57% of all 401 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
227
57% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the structure

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 27, 2024StructureODI 11616924
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 7, 2023StructureODI 11543254
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 29, 2022Suspension, StructureODI 11476592
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 25, 2021Steering, Suspension, StructureODI 11397993
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 14, 2021Suspension, Seat belts, StructureODI 11396210
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 26, 2021Suspension, StructureODI 11389962

Showing 6 of 227 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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

Other 2001 Tacoma problem areas