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1997 Toyota T100

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Toyota T100 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 26.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

36 reports with mileage · 35 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Structure. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Suspension complaints

9 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2015
Power TrainService BrakesSuspension

TOOK TRUCK TO REPAIR SHOP FOR EXHAUST REPAIR. TECHNICIAN FOUND THE FRAME TO BE RUSTED BADLY WITH HOLES THROUGH THE FRAME. TOLD ME THAT I NEED TO HAVE THIS LOOKED AT BY A TOYOTA DEALER BECAUSE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE IT COULD GET DANGEROUS. HE ALSO POINTED OUT RUST ON BRAKE LINES AND OTHER SUSPENSION PARTS THAT NEEDED RE…

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TOOK TRUCK TO REPAIR SHOP FOR EXHAUST REPAIR. TECHNICIAN FOUND THE FRAME TO BE RUSTED BADLY WITH HOLES THROUGH THE FRAME. TOLD ME THAT I NEED TO HAVE THIS LOOKED AT BY A TOYOTA DEALER BECAUSE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE IT COULD GET DANGEROUS. HE ALSO POINTED OUT RUST ON BRAKE LINES AND OTHER SUSPENSION PARTS THAT NEEDED REPLACED SOON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10692640

Mileage unknown · May 16, 2014
Power TrainStructureSuspension

I HAVE READ SEVERAL OF THE DESCRIPTIONS ON THE SITE AND AM AFRAID I'M DRIVING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE NOW BECAUSE OF THE UNDERLYING RUST ISSUES WHICH COULD BE AT THE ROOT OF SHIFTER ISSUES, AS IN A PREVIOUS COMPLAINT AND THE DANGEROUS FRAME RUST ISSUE. I AM NOT A MECHANIC, BUT I RECOGNIZE MANY OF THE RUST ISSUES DESCRIBED HERE ON MY T…

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I HAVE READ SEVERAL OF THE DESCRIPTIONS ON THE SITE AND AM AFRAID I'M DRIVING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE NOW BECAUSE OF THE UNDERLYING RUST ISSUES WHICH COULD BE AT THE ROOT OF SHIFTER ISSUES, AS IN A PREVIOUS COMPLAINT AND THE DANGEROUS FRAME RUST ISSUE. I AM NOT A MECHANIC, BUT I RECOGNIZE MANY OF THE RUST ISSUES DESCRIBED HERE ON MY T100. NHTSA SHOULD RE-EXAMINE THE DECISION TO GIVE TOYOTA A BREAK BY NOT REQUIRING THAT THEY BUY BACK VEHICLES AS DONE WITH SIMILAR MODELS IN THEIR FAMILY WITH THE FRAME RUST ISSUES. THE ALLOWANCE TO CONTINUE T100S BE DRIVEN PUTS PASSENGERS AND OTHER MOTORISTS AT RISK. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED, AND THE MECHANICALS AND APPEARANCE BELIES THE SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUES BENEATH.THE NHTSA IS REMISS TO NOT PUT PRESSURE ON TOYOTA TO INCLUDE THESE VEHICLES IN THEIR RECALL AS A GOOD FAITH AND SAFETY MEASURE... AS THE OWNER OF NEWER, ALLEGEDLY SAFE, TOYOTA PRODUCTS, I AM ALSO CONCERNED BY THEIR LACK OF RESPONSE... DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO LOSE THEIR LIFE BEFORE A SUITABLE RESPONSE IS MANDATED? AFTER ALL, THIS VEHICLE COULD BE BEHIND YOU ON THE DRIVE HOME TONIGHT. THIS IGNORES HOW THIS VEHICLE WOULD LIKELY JUST CRUMBLE IN AN ACCIDENT. I PLAN TO BRING THIS VEHICLE IN FOR A COMPREHENSIVE CHECK NOW, BUT IN THE INTERIM, WORRY ABOUT ITS SAFE USE. THE FACT THAT MY KIDS ARE EVEN NEAR IT WHEN IT IS PARKED GIVES ME PAUSE NOW. PLEASE USE YOU INFLUENCE TO IMPRESS UPON TOYOTA THAT WHAT IS RIGHT FOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS IS RIGHT FOR THEM. THANKS FOR READING MY THOUGHTS AND FOR YOU CONSIDERATION IN WORKING TOWARDS A RESOLUTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10588941

250,129 miles · Feb 26, 2013
StructureSuspension

RENEWED MY REGISTRATION SEPT 18 2012, BUT THE FRAME DIDN'T PASS INSPECTION, TOO MANY HOLES AND THIN WALLS ON THE FRAME. ALL OF THE FRAMEWORK JUST FALLING APART, REST OF THE TRUCK, DRIVE TRAIN JUST FINE. IF THE CLOTHE SEAT, WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN COVERED HAD TO PASS INSPECTION, IT WOULD EASILY! DIRTY, BUT NO HOLES OR RIPS. HOW UTTE…

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RENEWED MY REGISTRATION SEPT 18 2012, BUT THE FRAME DIDN'T PASS INSPECTION, TOO MANY HOLES AND THIN WALLS ON THE FRAME. ALL OF THE FRAMEWORK JUST FALLING APART, REST OF THE TRUCK, DRIVE TRAIN JUST FINE. IF THE CLOTHE SEAT, WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN COVERED HAD TO PASS INSPECTION, IT WOULD EASILY! DIRTY, BUT NO HOLES OR RIPS. HOW UTTERLY RIDICULOUS IS THAT? TRIED 3 TIMES TO GET SOMEONE FROM TOYOTA TO TALK ABOUT IT, BUT THEY JUST PLAY REAL STUPID AND SAY THEY DON,T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE FRAMES ROTTING ON THE T100'S AND CAN'T HELP ME. CAN AND WILL TAKE PICTURES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10500169

173,818 miles · Oct 23, 2012
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA T100. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE IN HALF. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED IT WAS RUSTY AND CORRODED AND THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE. THEY WILL NOT REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA T100. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE IN HALF. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED IT WAS RUSTY AND CORRODED AND THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE. THEY WILL NOT REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,818.

NHTSA ODI #10481570

1,404,030 miles · May 29, 2012
Service BrakesSteeringStructure

MECHANICALLY THIS TRUCK IS VERY SOUND, BUT THE FRAME AND MANY PARTS ARE RUSTING EXCESSIVELY. WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE TRUCK I HAD IT UNDERCOATED. THIS DIDN'T LAST LONG AND I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE CONTROL ARMS, THE LOAD SENSING PROPORTIONING VALVE AND WAS RECENTLY TOLD THAT I AM AT RISK OF NOT BEING INSPECTED IN JULY DUE TO THE …

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MECHANICALLY THIS TRUCK IS VERY SOUND, BUT THE FRAME AND MANY PARTS ARE RUSTING EXCESSIVELY. WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE TRUCK I HAD IT UNDERCOATED. THIS DIDN'T LAST LONG AND I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE CONTROL ARMS, THE LOAD SENSING PROPORTIONING VALVE AND WAS RECENTLY TOLD THAT I AM AT RISK OF NOT BEING INSPECTED IN JULY DUE TO THE RUST ON THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 153,000 MILES ON IT AND IT SHOULD STILL RUN STRONG, BUT THE FRAME MAY MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO GET MY VALUE OUT OF THE VEHICLE. I FEEL LIKE I WASTED MY MONEY ON A TOYOTA PRODUCT THAT USED TO HAVE A GOOD REPUTATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10459958

Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 1998
Suspension

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH CONSUMER EXPERIENCES PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE VIBRATION. ALSO, THERE IS A LEAKAGE AND THE CONSUMER DOESN'T KNOW WHERE THE LEAKAGE IS COMING FROM. WHEN PICKING UP SPEED THE VEHICLE STARTS TO VIBRATE, AND THE VEHICLE IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE WEIGHT OF CARRYING CONSUMER .*AK

NHTSA ODI #829158

Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 1998
Suspension

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH WHEN NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF VIBRATION WITHIN THE VEHICLE. WHEN PICKING UP MORE SPEED OR SLOWING DOWN, THERE IS STILL ALOT OF VIBRATION AS IF THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE ALOT OF PEOPLE IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ACTS LIKE IT CAN'T HOLD ON. *AK

NHTSA ODI #829156

Mileage unknown · Dec 16, 1997
Suspension

WHILE DRIVING EXPERIENCES CONSTANT VIBRATION. THE VIBRATION IS MORE PRONOUNCED WHEN DRIVING A HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT HAS ALSO OCCURRED AT SPEEDS AS LOW AS 35 MPH. *AK

NHTSA ODI #523299

Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 1997
Power TrainSeat BeltsService Brakes, Hydraulic

UNIVERSAL JOINT FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #524423

Official recalls

1

05V389000 · Steering:linkages:rod:relay:connecting

Sep 6, 2005

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS REPEATEDLY TURNED UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS WHERE HIGH STEERING EFFORT AND POWER ASSIST ARE REQUIRED, FOR INSTANCE, WHEN FULLY TURNING THE WHEEL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED, A FATIGUE CRACK MAY DEVELOP IN THE STEERING RELAY ROD.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE VEHICLE IS CONTINUED TO BE OPERATED IN THIS CONDITION, THE RELAY ROD MAY FRACTURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING RELAY ROD. THE RECALL BEGAN OCTOBER 5, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE02039 · Clutch Pedal Bracket/firewall

Opened Apr 1, 2002 · Closed Jul 30, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train

No summary supplied.