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2001 Toyota Tacoma

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2001 Toyota Tacoma do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 228.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

295 reports with mileage · 101 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 228 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 81 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. 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.

40 crash reports4 fire reports25 injury reports

Structure complaints

228 reports
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149,000 miles · Jun 19, 2008
Structure

2001 TOYOTA TACOMA DIAGNOSED WITH FRAME ROT BACK ON 4/2/08. NUMEROUS HUGE HOLES IN RIGHT REAR FRAME RAIL. TOLD BY TOYOTA NOT TO DRIVE VEHICLE AS IT IS UNSAFE. I HAVE NO OTHER VEHICLE STILL DRIVING THIS TRUCK. MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED 01/01. NOT PART OF CURRENT BUY-BACK PROGRAM 1995-2000. I AM CAUGHT BETWEEN THE CURRENT BUYBAC…

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2001 TOYOTA TACOMA DIAGNOSED WITH FRAME ROT BACK ON 4/2/08. NUMEROUS HUGE HOLES IN RIGHT REAR FRAME RAIL. TOLD BY TOYOTA NOT TO DRIVE VEHICLE AS IT IS UNSAFE. I HAVE NO OTHER VEHICLE STILL DRIVING THIS TRUCK. MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED 01/01. NOT PART OF CURRENT BUY-BACK PROGRAM 1995-2000. I AM CAUGHT BETWEEN THE CURRENT BUYBACK PROGRAM AND THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY. THE TOYOTA TACOMA OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE ARE BEING OFFERED A DEAL OF 150% TO RETURN THE TRUCK. MY TRUCK HAS THE SAME EXACT DEFECT AS 1995-2000 MODEL WHY IS MY OFFER NOT THE SAME. I WOULD LIKE MY CASE REVIEWED. THIS PROGRAM SHOULD INCLUDE MY 2001. MY SAFETY AND TOYOTA'S REPUTATION ARE BOTH ON THE LINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10231572

74,800 miles · Jun 18, 2008
Structure

I HAVE A 2001 TACOMA THAT FAILED FRAME INSPECTION THAT WAS PERFORMED BY TOYOTA I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 1 YEAR AND BASICALLY THEY ARE NOW TELLING ME IT IS WORTHLESS AND I BELIEVE A DANGER NOT ONLY TO ME BUT TO OTHERS ON THE HIGHWAY I HAVE SOFTBALL SIZED HOLES IN MY FRAME I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FOR APPROX. 15,000 THAT'S WITH TA…

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I HAVE A 2001 TACOMA THAT FAILED FRAME INSPECTION THAT WAS PERFORMED BY TOYOTA I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 1 YEAR AND BASICALLY THEY ARE NOW TELLING ME IT IS WORTHLESS AND I BELIEVE A DANGER NOT ONLY TO ME BUT TO OTHERS ON THE HIGHWAY I HAVE SOFTBALL SIZED HOLES IN MY FRAME I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FOR APPROX. 15,000 THAT'S WITH TAXES AND A WARRANTY I PURCHASED AT THE TIME NOW THEY OFFERED MY 10,000 TO BUY IT BACK WHILE AT THE SAME TIME THEY ARE OFFERING 1995 TO 2000 OWNERS 150% ABOVE FULL RETAIL? I FEEL THIS IS UNFAIR IT WAS PRODUCED WITH THE SAME FAULTY STEEL THAT MY TRUCK WAS BUT THEY ARE CUTTING ME OFF NOW I AM NOT SURE WHAT TO DO?? ALSO THERE WAS A CARFAX REPORTING FRAME DAMAGE THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THERE ASE TECH'S CHECKED IT AND IT WAS FINE NOW I WONDER??? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10231425

170,000 miles · Jun 17, 2008
Structure

WE HAVE A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA WITH COMPLETE FRAME ROT. TOYOTA HAS TAKEN IT AND GIVEN US A FREE RENTAL. IT HAS BEEN OVER A MONTH AND THEY SAY THEY CAN'T TELL US ANYTHING HOWEVER DID SAY THAT WE WOULD PROBABLY ONLY GET 100% KBB. THIS 2001 IS NOT WITHIN THE YEARS OF THEIR BUY BACK PROGRAM. MY HUSBAND FILED A COMPLAINT AT THE BEG…

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WE HAVE A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA WITH COMPLETE FRAME ROT. TOYOTA HAS TAKEN IT AND GIVEN US A FREE RENTAL. IT HAS BEEN OVER A MONTH AND THEY SAY THEY CAN'T TELL US ANYTHING HOWEVER DID SAY THAT WE WOULD PROBABLY ONLY GET 100% KBB. THIS 2001 IS NOT WITHIN THE YEARS OF THEIR BUY BACK PROGRAM. MY HUSBAND FILED A COMPLAINT AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS PROCESS SOMETIME IN THE MIDDLE OF MAY. THERE IS A BLOG ON EDMUNDS.COM THAT PEOPLE WRITE INTO EVERYDAY. MORE AND MORE 2001 OWNERS ARE WRITING SAYING THAT THEY HAVE ROT AND ARE TURNING IN THEIR TRUCKS. SOMEONE SHOULD PUT PRESSURE ON TOYOTA TO GIVE OWNERS OF NEWER VEHICLES THE SAME DEAL AS THE OLDER ONES IN THE BUY BACK PROGRAM. I HAVE HEARD OF 2002 AND 2004 TRUCKS FAILING INSPECTION. PEOPLE HAVE LITTLE INFORMATION AND NO RECOURSE AVAILABLE TO THEM. THERE WAS ONE GUY SAYING THAT KBB OF HIS TRUCK WAS 7000 AND HE STILL OWES 15000 ON IT. TOYOTA HAS A BIG PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER NEEDS HELP HERE MAKING THEM STEP UP. IT'S WAY MORE THAN JUST 1995 TO 2000 TACOMAS. ALL THE 2001S I HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT ON THE BLOG AND OLDER YEARS CANNOT JUST BE A COINCIDENCE. THERE WAS A 2002 AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT FAILED THE DAY WE WERE THERE FOR AN INSPECTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10231313

156,300 miles · Jun 8, 2008
Structure

2001 TOYOTA TACOMA FRAME ROT - TOYOTA IS ONLY INCLUDING 1995-2000 IN THEIR "SILENT RECALL" FOR FRAME ROT. MINE FAILED THEIR 2 INSPECTIONS (MAY 01, 2008 AND MAY 20, 2008) MY TRUCK WAS TAKEN FROM ME. I WAS TOLD IT IS "UNSAFE TO DRIVE". EVIDENTLY TOYOTA IS PAYING OWNERS FOR NEWER TRUCKS MUCH LESS MONEY THAN 1995-2000 TACOMA OWN…

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2001 TOYOTA TACOMA FRAME ROT - TOYOTA IS ONLY INCLUDING 1995-2000 IN THEIR "SILENT RECALL" FOR FRAME ROT. MINE FAILED THEIR 2 INSPECTIONS (MAY 01, 2008 AND MAY 20, 2008) MY TRUCK WAS TAKEN FROM ME. I WAS TOLD IT IS "UNSAFE TO DRIVE". EVIDENTLY TOYOTA IS PAYING OWNERS FOR NEWER TRUCKS MUCH LESS MONEY THAN 1995-2000 TACOMA OWNERS. THEY HAVE A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM WITH THEIR PRODUCTION THAN IS BEING ACKNOWLEDGED AND REPORTED. PLEASE INVESTIGATE LATER MODEL YEARS THAT EXHIBIT SERIOUS FRAME ROT ISSUES BEFORE SOMEONE IN THE LATER MODEL YEARS IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. I AM HAPPY TO SUPPLY PICTURES OF MY SPECIFIC, COMPLETELY RUSTED, FRAME THAT HAS HOLES IN MANY LOCATIONS. THIS TRUCK WAS WELL MAINTAINED, WASHED, WAXED, GARAGE-KEPT. THE TRUCK BODY IS IN FANTASTIC SHAPE. THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THE RUSTED, ROTTED FRAME WITH LARGE HOLES IN IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10230278

100,497 miles · Jun 7, 2008
Structure

MY 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA FRAME IS RUSTED RIGHT THROUGH. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THEY TOLD ME THERE IS A RECALL ON 95-00 TACOMAS. MINE IS AN 01 BUT ASSEMBLED IN 09/00. THEY SAID MY TACOMA DOESN'T FALL INTO THE RECALL CATEGORY. I PAID OUT OF MY OWN POCKET TO HAVE THE RUST TEST PERFORMED ON MY TRUCK, TH…

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MY 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA FRAME IS RUSTED RIGHT THROUGH. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THEY TOLD ME THERE IS A RECALL ON 95-00 TACOMAS. MINE IS AN 01 BUT ASSEMBLED IN 09/00. THEY SAID MY TACOMA DOESN'T FALL INTO THE RECALL CATEGORY. I PAID OUT OF MY OWN POCKET TO HAVE THE RUST TEST PERFORMED ON MY TRUCK, THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT MY FRAME IS IN WORSE CONDITION THAN SOME OF THE 95-00 THAT THEY HAVE BEEN TAKING BACK ON RECALL. THEN THE WENT ON TO SAY MY TRUCK WILL NOT PASS A STATE INSPECTION AND WAS UNSAFE TO BE ON THE ROAD. 95-00 OWNERS ARE GETTING 1.5% OF THE KKB VALUE. I EXPECT TOYOTA TO DO THE SAME FOR ME SEEING MINE FAILED RUST TEST AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10230230

45,000 miles · Jun 6, 2008
Structure

RUSTING FRAME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10230154

Mileage unknown · May 22, 2008
Structure

2001 TOYOTA TRUCK - WHEN AN AUTO COMPANY FINDS A PRODUCT DEFECT, A RECALL IS ORDERED & THE DEFECT FIXED AT COMPANY COST. NO ONE BLAMES THE SALESMAN, REPAIRMAN, DEALERSHIP, ETC IF THE AUTO COMPANY DOESN'T ADDRESS THE DEFECT, IT LOSES ITS REPUTATION & ITS BUSINESS GOES AWAY. HOWEVER THERE IS A TERRIBLE PREJUDICE WHEN MY VEHI…

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2001 TOYOTA TRUCK - WHEN AN AUTO COMPANY FINDS A PRODUCT DEFECT, A RECALL IS ORDERED & THE DEFECT FIXED AT COMPANY COST. NO ONE BLAMES THE SALESMAN, REPAIRMAN, DEALERSHIP, ETC IF THE AUTO COMPANY DOESN'T ADDRESS THE DEFECT, IT LOSES ITS REPUTATION & ITS BUSINESS GOES AWAY. HOWEVER THERE IS A TERRIBLE PREJUDICE WHEN MY VEHICLE HAS THE EXACT SAME DEFECT AND I AM BEING TREATED DIFFERENTLY THAN OTHER OWNERS. I PURCHASED A 2001 TRUCK IT HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT, DETAILED AND HAND WAXED TWICE A YEAR AND ONLY HAS 87K MILES. YOUR SAFETY DEFECT OF A BAD BOX FRAME RESULTED IN A RECALL. THE 2000 TRUCK OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE ARE BEING OFFERED A DEAL OF 150% TO RETURN THE TRUCK. I AM NOT BEING OFFERED THE SAME DEAL ' HOWEVER MY TRUCK HAS THE SAME SAFETY DEFECT. I WOULD LIKE MY CASE REVIEWED, RESULTING IN THE SAME OFFER AS THE 2000 OWNERS. THE PROGRAM SHOULD INCLUDE MY 2001 TRUCK IT HAS A SAFETY DEFECT (RUSTED BOX FRAME). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10228639

170,000 miles · May 13, 2008
Structure

OUR 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA WAS IN FOR MUFFLER REPAIR WHEN THE TECH NOTICED RUST ON THE FRAME. HE SAID THAT IT WAS OVER A 2FT SECTION ON ONE SIDE HE COULD PUT BOTH HANDS THROUGH AND A SMALL SECTION ON THE OTHER SIDE. SINCE TOYOTA EXTENDED THEIR WARRANTY FOR THE SAME PROBLEM ON VEH YRS 95-2000, I THINK THEY HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED ENOU…

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OUR 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA WAS IN FOR MUFFLER REPAIR WHEN THE TECH NOTICED RUST ON THE FRAME. HE SAID THAT IT WAS OVER A 2FT SECTION ON ONE SIDE HE COULD PUT BOTH HANDS THROUGH AND A SMALL SECTION ON THE OTHER SIDE. SINCE TOYOTA EXTENDED THEIR WARRANTY FOR THE SAME PROBLEM ON VEH YRS 95-2000, I THINK THEY HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED ENOUGH OF A PROB THAT THEY SHOULD INCLUDE OTHER YEARS IF NEWER TRUCKS THAN THAT ARE EXHIBITING PROBLEMS. ONE TECH THAT LOOKED AT OUR TRUCK SAID THAT IT PROB COULD NOT BE FIXED/ WELDED. WE ARE STILL GETTING OTHER ESTIMATES AND WILL PROB HAVE TO HAVE A TOYOTA TECH LOOK AT IT JUST TO HAVE IT ON THE RECORD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10227660

93,122 miles · May 9, 2008
Structure

I, OWN A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA PICK UP TRUCK. I BOUGHT IT NEW IN JAN. 2001. I PUT 93000 MILES ON IT .LAST JUNE I WENT TO MY REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE MY LEAF SPRINGS REPLACED. MUCH TO MY SURPRISE THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT MY FRAME WAS RUSTED SO BAD THAT IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND PRESENTED THE PROBLEM T…

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I, OWN A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA PICK UP TRUCK. I BOUGHT IT NEW IN JAN. 2001. I PUT 93000 MILES ON IT .LAST JUNE I WENT TO MY REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE MY LEAF SPRINGS REPLACED. MUCH TO MY SURPRISE THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT MY FRAME WAS RUSTED SO BAD THAT IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND PRESENTED THE PROBLEM TO THEM. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ROAD SALT WAS TO BLAME NOT TOYOTA! NOW THERE IS A RECALL ON 1995 TO 2000 TRUCKS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. SINCE THE RUST PROBLEM I HAVE NOT DRIVEN MY TRUCK IT IS STILL REGISTERED AND INSURED. THE PEOPLE AT TOYOTA SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM BEFORE ONE GETS IN AN ACCIDENT AND SOMEBODY GETS HURT. THERE ARE ALOT OF THESE TRUCKS ON THE ROAD. THANK YOU HPL.

NHTSA ODI #10227179

Mileage unknown · May 7, 2008
Structure

THE FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT.... ONLY 60,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10226970

Official recalls

4

12V542000 · Tires:temporary/emergency Spare Tire

Nov 23, 2012

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2004 Tacoma light trucks manufactured from August 28, 2000, through August 27, 2004, and originally sold, or currently registered, in the following cold climate states with high road salt usage: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. The spare tire in the subject vehicles is located underneath the rear of the vehicle and held by a spare tire carrier. A lift plate on the carrier is used to help raise, lower and retain the tire. During its manufacture, the lift plate may not have been sufficiently coated with anti-corrosion materials. If the plate is insufficiently coated and the vehicle is operated in cold climate regions where road salts are frequently used, road spray can reach the carrier assembly and corrode the lift plate.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Corrosion of the plate could cause it to break, which could result in detachment of the spare tire from the vehicle. Detachment of the spare tire could result in a road hazard which may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace the spare tire carrier lift plate as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in February 2013. Owners may contact their Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.

05V225000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint

May 17, 2005

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, DUE TO A MANUFACTURING ISSUE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE SURFACE OF THE BALL OF THE JOINT MAY HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED. THE BALL JOINT MAY EVENTUALLY EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE WEAR AND LOOSENESS, RESULTING IN INCREASED STEERING EFFORT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE LOWER BALL JOINT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 5, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

03V189000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

May 19, 2003

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, DURING SIDE IMPACT NCAP TEST (I.E. LINCAP TEST), A FLANGE AT THE REAR END OF THE DOUBLE CAB BODY DEFORMED AND INTERFERED WITH THE FUEL INLET HOSE THAT CONNECTS THE FUEL FILLER PIPE AND FUEL TANK, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE FUEL INLET HOSE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS DAMAGE COULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE IF IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUEL HOSE PROTECTOR ON THE BODY FLANGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 3, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

01V186000 · Tires:sidewall

Jun 7, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 4X2 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TU4 WHITE LETTER TIRE UPGRADE OPTION AND DISTRIBUTED BY SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. TIRE DAMAGE MAY HAVE OCCURRED DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLATION, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE TIRE TO DEFLATE OR A BULGE APPEARING IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AN IMPROPERLY INFLATED TIRE COULD RESULT IN VEHICLE HANDLING PROBLEMS OR A BLOW OUT OF AN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED TIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL CHECK ALL FOUR TIRES, REBALANCE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE ANY DAMAGED TIRE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 3, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.

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.