Toyota Tacoma / 1997
1997 Toyota Tacoma problems
Owners have filed 148 complaints about the 1997 Toyota Tacoma with NHTSA. Structure accounts for 31.1% of them — the clear leader, ahead of suspension at 17.6%.
Complaints148
Crashes16
Fires0
Injuries10
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Structure 31.1% · 46
Suspension 17.6% · 26
Tires 9.5% · 14
Seat belts 7.4% · 11
Power train 6.1% · 9
Vehicle speed control 4.1% · 6
Unknown or other 4.1% · 6
Service brakes, hydraulic 4.1% · 6
Severity
Of those complaints, 16 describe a crash and 10 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 29 model years of the Toyota Tacoma in this data, 1997 sits 24th by complaint volume. 2006 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 7 in the last three years against 9 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 143,000 miles.
In owners' own words
The contact owns a 1997 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that there was failure with the steering wheel and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection. The dealer found corrosion on the driver and passenger's side of the frame and the springs. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure was reported to the manufacturer, who refused to provide assistance. The failure and current mileage was 88,518. Structure · reported at 88,518 miles
This concerns the Toyota rusty frame problem in tacomas. My 1997 Tacoma is becoming dangerous because of the frame but Toyota refuses any help because of a reconstructed title which has nothing to do with the rusty frame problem. As a taxpayer I would like to see Toyota address this at the current congressional hearings. Toyota is basically using a legal loophole to leave dangerous vehicles on the road. Structure
The contact owns a 1997 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that the subframe was extremely rusted, making the vehicle unsafe to drive. The contact stated that a friend told him that the frame was rusted and needed to be taken to the dealer. The dealer was not called. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 172,774. Structure · reported at 172,774 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…