Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
10–25K
225–50K
450–75K
1075–100K
22100–150K
34150K+
73 reports with mileage · 180 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.
Suspension. Review the 87 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Structure. Review the 64 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
20 crash reports1 fire reports10 injury reports
What owners actually said
253 reports
Mileage unknown · Mar 11, 2002
Suspension
IT APPEARS TO ME THAT TOYOTA HAS USED A BAD QUALITY SPRING STEEL NOT ONLY HAVE MY CRACKED BUT SO HAVE EVREYONE THAT I HAVE TALK TO. THE SALVAGE YARD HAS TOLD ME THAT AS SOON AS THEY GET SOME IN THAT ARE NOT CRACKED THEY ARE SOLD FAST, I WAS TOLD BY TWO DIFRENT SPRING SERVICE COMPANYS IN TOWN THAT ALL THE TACOMA SPRINGS CRACK WH…
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IT APPEARS TO ME THAT TOYOTA HAS USED A BAD QUALITY SPRING STEEL NOT ONLY HAVE MY CRACKED BUT SO HAVE EVREYONE THAT I HAVE TALK TO. THE SALVAGE YARD HAS TOLD ME THAT AS SOON AS THEY GET SOME IN THAT ARE NOT CRACKED THEY ARE SOLD FAST, I WAS TOLD BY TWO DIFRENT SPRING SERVICE COMPANYS IN TOWN THAT ALL THE TACOMA SPRINGS CRACK WHAT IS THIS AM I THE FIRST PERSON TO REPORT THIS THE DANGER HERE IS IF THE CENTER LEAF FALLS OUT LIKE MINE DID IT COULD STAB THE TIRES AND CAUSE ONE HECK OF A ACCIDENT, I ALWAYS LOVED MY TOYOTA BUT COME ON A CRACKED LEAF SPRING AND THEY WANT 375.00 EACH FOR THEM AT A SPRING SHOP LORD KNOWS WHAT TOYOTAS GETTING. THANK YOU MARK GIANOPOULOS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #759241
Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET LEADS TO ENGINE FAILURE - TOYOTA WILL NOT ADDRESS FAILURE BUT WILL REPLACE HEAD GASKETS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #756649
Mileage unknown · Dec 18, 2001
Suspension
BRACKET THAT HOLDS COIL SPRING ONTO FRAME ON DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8000910
Mileage unknown · Dec 13, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspensionVehicle Speed Control
TAPPING NOISE IN ENGINE HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE 4-12-97. CONSUMER FOUND OUT THAT HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN, AND OTHER PROBLEMS HAD BEEN HAPPENING, TOYOTA HAS NOT BEEN ASSISTING CONSUMER WITH ANY OF THE VEHICLES ISSUES, A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET WAS NOT REPLACED AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN, AND FROM ONE TOYOTA DEALER TO THE NEXT HAS FO…
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TAPPING NOISE IN ENGINE HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE 4-12-97. CONSUMER FOUND OUT THAT HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN, AND OTHER PROBLEMS HAD BEEN HAPPENING, TOYOTA HAS NOT BEEN ASSISTING CONSUMER WITH ANY OF THE VEHICLES ISSUES, A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET WAS NOT REPLACED AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN, AND FROM ONE TOYOTA DEALER TO THE NEXT HAS FOUND MORE AND MORE PROBLEMS. TOYOTA STATED THEY WILL NOT COVER HEAD GASKET PROBLEM REGARDLESS OFTHE PAST PROBLEM. *AK. CONSUMER STATES SINCE HEAD GASKET WAS DONE THE EXHAUST STUDS WERE TIGHTENED DUE TO THE ENGINE MAKING NOISE, IT SOUNDS LIKE VALVE RAPPING, THUMBING NOISE OVER BUMPS AT LEFT FLOOR AREA, REAR SPRINGS WERE BROKEN AND NOISE FROM FRONT END AND ALSO NOISE AT IDLE. *YD
NHTSA ODI #8000679
Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicWheels
THE SPRING THAT HOLDS WHEEL COVER ON THE WHEEL IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO KEEP THE HUP CAP ON. *AK THE HUB CUPS WERE NOT WELDED PROPERLY AND CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE RUST BUILD UP ON REAR WHEEL CAUSED REAR BRAKE FAILURE. *YH
NHTSA ODI #898830
Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2001
Suspension
NOTICED RIGHT REAR WHEEL BOUNCE, INVESTIGATED NOTICED MIDDLE LEAF PROTRUDING AND RUBBING ON SHOCK ABSORBER. CALLED TOYOTA ABOUT PROBLEM, THEY INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE IT, AND I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR AT MY EXPENSE. CALLED DEALER, DEALER SAID BOTH LEAF SPRINGS SHOULD BE REPLACED ON LEFT AND RI…
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NOTICED RIGHT REAR WHEEL BOUNCE, INVESTIGATED NOTICED MIDDLE LEAF PROTRUDING AND RUBBING ON SHOCK ABSORBER. CALLED TOYOTA ABOUT PROBLEM, THEY INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE IT, AND I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR AT MY EXPENSE. CALLED DEALER, DEALER SAID BOTH LEAF SPRINGS SHOULD BE REPLACED ON LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES. REPAIR COST WOULD BE AROUND $1200.00. ONE OTHER NOTE, THIS TRUCK WAS NEVER USED TO CARRY LARGE LOADS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #753551
Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 2001
Suspension
WHILE MAKING TURNS TIRES WERE RUBBING. A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT RIGHT REAR LEAF SPRING BROKE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #897142
Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2001
Suspension
THE MIDDLE LEAF SPRING ON MY TRUCK BROKE IN HALF. I BOUGHT REPLACEMENT SPRINGS AT LEXINGTON AUTO SPRINGS, THE SALESMAN TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE REAR SPRINGS ON ABOUT 30 TACOMA'S (ALL 96 OR 97 MODELS) IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #751798
Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2001
Suspension
RIGHT REAR SPRING IS BROKEN, I HAD IT FIXED ONCE BEFORE AT AN INDIPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH TOYOTAS REAR SPRINGS I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE NHTSA IS DOING ABOUT IT SINCE IT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #751251
Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 2001
Suspension
I HAVE HEARD A NOISE IN REAR FOR SOME TIME. I DISCOVERED RECENTLY THAT THE MIDDLE OF RIGHT REAR LEAF SPRING WAS POPPED OUT AND RUBBING THE SHOCK. NO USED PART CAN BE FOUND AND NEW PART VERY UNAFFORDABLE CONSIDERING 5000.00 LEFT OWING ON 18000 FOR THE VEHICLE. WORK FOR LOCAL TAG OFFICE AND HAVE HEARD MANY SIMILIAR REPORTS ON S…
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I HAVE HEARD A NOISE IN REAR FOR SOME TIME. I DISCOVERED RECENTLY THAT THE MIDDLE OF RIGHT REAR LEAF SPRING WAS POPPED OUT AND RUBBING THE SHOCK. NO USED PART CAN BE FOUND AND NEW PART VERY UNAFFORDABLE CONSIDERING 5000.00 LEFT OWING ON 18000 FOR THE VEHICLE. WORK FOR LOCAL TAG OFFICE AND HAVE HEARD MANY SIMILIAR REPORTS ON SAME PART. REPORTS CAME FROM INDIVIDUALS, MECHANICS, AND DEALERS.
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