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1997 Toyota Tacoma

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Toyota Tacoma do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 228.5.

About this comparison →
131Owner complaints

Model-year median: 228.5

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
177
1995253
1996131
1997300
1998249
1999210
2000
Compare all Tacoma years →

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

What owners reported most

Structure
46Suspension
24Tires
14Seat Belts
11Power Train
9
All reported categories
Unknown Or Other
6Vehicle Speed Control
6Air Bags
5Service Brakes, Hydraulic
5Steering
4Wheels
4Visibility
2Electrical System
1Engine
1Engine And Engine Cooling
1Equipment
1Exterior Lighting
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Parking Brake
1

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

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

58 reports with mileage · 73 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 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

13 crash reports0 fire reports8 injury reports

What owners actually said

131 reports
95,845 miles · Jan 10, 2005
Suspension

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1997 TOYOTA TACOMA SR5, 4WD EXTRA CAB. I RECENTLY NOTICED THE BED OF MY TRUCK WAS SAGGING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO A TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE SHOP AND THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE LEAF SPRING IS BROKEN ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO CAUSE THIS TO HAPPEN TO MY TRUCK. I …

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I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1997 TOYOTA TACOMA SR5, 4WD EXTRA CAB. I RECENTLY NOTICED THE BED OF MY TRUCK WAS SAGGING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO A TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE SHOP AND THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE LEAF SPRING IS BROKEN ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO CAUSE THIS TO HAPPEN TO MY TRUCK. I DO NOT HAVE A TOWING HITCH ON MY TRUCK THEREFORE, I DO NOT TOW HEAVY LOADS OR ANY LOADS FOR THAT MATTER. I DO NOT PUT HEAVY LOADS IN THE BED OF MY TRUCK. I DON NOT USE MY TRUCK FOR HAULING THINGS. I HAVE NEVER INSTALLED A CAMPING SHELL OR ANY SHELL ON THE BED OF MY TRUCK. I HAVE NEVER TAKEN MY TRUCK OFF ROAD AND GONE "FOUR WHEELING". THEREFORE, I AM AT A QUANDARY AS TO WHY THIS WOULD HAPPEN. I HAVE NOT YET REPLACED THE LEAF SPRING. HOWEVER, THE DRIVER SIDE LEAF SPRING WILL ALSO NEED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF SAG. THE TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT OFFERED TO REPLACE THE LEAF SPRING FREE OF CHARGE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10106036

55,000 miles · Sep 13, 2004
Steering

RACK AND PINION STEERING WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE STEERING WHEEL LOST CONTROL. THEN, ONCE THE SAFETY INSPECTION FAILED BECAUSE O F THE RACK AND PINION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10091946

Mileage unknown · Feb 19, 2004
Air BagsCrash

CONSUMER HAD LOST CONTROL OF HIS VEHICLE AND HIT A GUARDRAIL AT A HIGH SPEED. UPON THE COLLISION, THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *LA (LAWYER MARY SPEEDY HAJDU ON BEHALF OF CONSUMER KENNETH C. MILLER) *JB

NHTSA ODI #10059438

85,000 miles · Sep 12, 2003
Electrical System

THE IGNITION REMAINED RUNNING AFTER THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE STARTER ENGAGED WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED ON, BUT AFTER THE ENGINE STARTED, THE STARTER CONTINUED TO CRANK UNTIL THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED. THIS CREATED A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION. ON ANOTHER OCCASION THE VEHICLE W…

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THE IGNITION REMAINED RUNNING AFTER THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE STARTER ENGAGED WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED ON, BUT AFTER THE ENGINE STARTED, THE STARTER CONTINUED TO CRANK UNTIL THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED. THIS CREATED A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION. ON ANOTHER OCCASION THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND THE STARTER STAYED LOCKED IN AND CRANKED THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, BUT THE STARTER CONTINUED TO RUN. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10026435

Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 2003
Power Train

CONSUMER STATES HAS PROBLEM WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10029853

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2003
Wheels

WHILE THE CONSUMER CHANGED A FLAT TIRE THE WHEEL STUD BROKE OFF. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10012199

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2003
Tires

WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVERS SIDE TIRE BLEWOUT. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10012198

81,500 miles · Feb 11, 2003
Visibility

FOGGING INSIDE WINDSHIELD DURING HEATER/DEFROST OPERATION. SOMETIME FOGGING WITHOUT OPERATING HEATER/DEFROST CONTROLS. A/C WILL NOT CLEAR WINDSHIELD OR SIDE WINDOWS.

NHTSA ODI #10005707

Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2002
Seat Belts

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTOR LOCKED UP AND WAS UNABLE TO BE USED, LEAVING DRIVER WITHOUT ANY RESTRAINT IF VEHICLE GOT INVOLVED IN A CRASH. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8011814

Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 2002
Suspension

CONSUMER STATES WHILE BACKING UP VEHICLE, CONSUMER RAN OVER SOMETHING IN THE DRIVEWAY. CONSUMER GOT OUT AND NOTICE THAT VEHICLE HAD RAN OVER A LEAF SPRING. CONSUMER STATES THE LEAF SPRING ASSISTS IN HOLDING VEHICLE UP OFF THE GROUND. NLM

NHTSA ODI #8008097

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.