IllustrationLower ball joint separated from knuckle and it says 0 recalls repaired i want it replaced because there oem they were never replaced when recalled
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Tacoma years →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
80–25K
2025–50K
2150–75K
2775–100K
81100–150K
138150K+
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
Wheels complaints
7 reportsBOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW FROM DEALER IN AUSTIN,TX. CARRIED IN YESTERDAY FOR TIRE ROTATION AT AMERICAN TIRE AND WAS TOLD THE TRUCK HAD THE WRONG LUG NUTS ON THE WHEELS AND IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE FROM SHOP. I PURCHASED NEW WHEELS SO I COULD SAFELY DRIVE THE TRUCK. I CALLED TOYOTA AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION TO THEM AND WAS GIVEN A CAS…
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BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW FROM DEALER IN AUSTIN,TX. CARRIED IN YESTERDAY FOR TIRE ROTATION AT AMERICAN TIRE AND WAS TOLD THE TRUCK HAD THE WRONG LUG NUTS ON THE WHEELS AND IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE FROM SHOP. I PURCHASED NEW WHEELS SO I COULD SAFELY DRIVE THE TRUCK. I CALLED TOYOTA AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION TO THEM AND WAS GIVEN A CASE NUMBER. I WAS TOLD I NEED TO CARRY IT TO A DEALER AND LET THEM SEE THE WHEELS ALSO. THE IN MODESTO CA AGREED THAT THE TRUCK HAD THE WRONG LUGS ON IT BUT SAID THE WHEELS WAS PROBABLY OK TO USE AS LONG AS THEY HAD THE PROPER LUG NUTS ON THEM. I CALLED TOYOTA BACK AND ASK THEM TO MAKE THE TRUCK RIGHT AND THAT I WAS QUOTED $341.49 FOR CORRECT PARTS AT MODESTO, CA DEALERSHIP. TOYOTA TOLD ME THEIRS NOT ENOUGH HISTORY ON THE TRUCK OF DEALERS MAINTAINING IT AND WITH THE AGE OF THE TRUCK THEY WASN'T WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.MY FAMILY AND I HAVING BEEN DRIVING THIS TRUCK FOR YEARS AND COULD HAVE HAD A TIRE COME OFF WITH THE WRONG LUG NUTS. ALL I ASK FOR WAS TO MAKE THE TRUCK SAFE AND REIMBURSE ME FOR THE COST OF THE AFTER MARKET WHEELS WHICH WAS $150.00.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WAS CORRODED AND THE SUBFRAME UNDERNEATH THE WHEEL WAS FRACTURED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF WHAT WAS BEING DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUF…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WAS CORRODED AND THE SUBFRAME UNDERNEATH THE WHEEL WAS FRACTURED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF WHAT WAS BEING DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
HI, I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN FOR MY VEHICLE AS I LOVE MY TACOMA AND HOW IT DRIVES AND WORKS FOR ME IN MY DAILY LIFE. AS I HAD TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR A RECALL ON MY SPARE TIRE CABLE, THE TECHNICIAN AND SERVICE MAN HAD TOLD ME THAT IN MY FRAME OF MY VEHICLE THERE IS A LARGE RUSTED OUT HOLE. SINCE THEN, I REALLY HAVEN'T FE…
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HI, I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN FOR MY VEHICLE AS I LOVE MY TACOMA AND HOW IT DRIVES AND WORKS FOR ME IN MY DAILY LIFE. AS I HAD TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR A RECALL ON MY SPARE TIRE CABLE, THE TECHNICIAN AND SERVICE MAN HAD TOLD ME THAT IN MY FRAME OF MY VEHICLE THERE IS A LARGE RUSTED OUT HOLE. SINCE THEN, I REALLY HAVEN'T FELT SAFE DRIVING MY VEHICLE ANYWHERE AS I'M AFRAID THAT MY FRAME WILL BREAK AND CAUSE A REALLY BAD ACCIDENT. I'VE ALSO HAVE HAD IN THE PAST WHERE MY DAD'S VEHICLE (1998 TOYOTA TACOMA) WAS RECALLED FOR THE SAME EXACT THING (FRAME ISSUE). AS FOR MY VEHICLE, I AM THE SECOND OWNER AND MY BROTHER WAS THE FIRST. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN HERE IN THE MINNESOTA WEATHER ALL ITS LIFE TIME. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, IF NOT, I WILL PUSH THIS FORWARD WHERE I WILL GET SOME ATTENTION TO MY VEHICLE, MY SAFETY, AND OTHERS. AND PLUS, I WOULDN'T WANT TO MAKE THIS INTO A LEGAL MATTER AS I LOVE MY TOYOTA. *TR
WHEELS ARE TWO PIECE CONSTRUCTION RUST BUILD-UP BETWEEN THE TWO PIECES DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO CLEAN. IMPOSSIBLE TO SERVICE RUST BUILD-UP IS EXCESSIVE.
LOSS OF SPARE TIRE ASSEMBLY DUE TO RUST TOYOTA WILL NOT REPLACE WHEEL ASSEMBLY WILL REPLACE THE RUSTED TIRE HOLDER BUT NOT THE TIRE TOYOTA REPLACED THE FRAME ON A RECALL AND DID NOT REPLACE THE RUSTED SPARE TIRE HOLDER THIS IS NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF TOYOTA SOMEONE MAY HAVE BEEN KILLED WHEN THE SPARE TIRE CAME LOOSE ON TH…
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LOSS OF SPARE TIRE ASSEMBLY DUE TO RUST TOYOTA WILL NOT REPLACE WHEEL ASSEMBLY WILL REPLACE THE RUSTED TIRE HOLDER BUT NOT THE TIRE TOYOTA REPLACED THE FRAME ON A RECALL AND DID NOT REPLACE THE RUSTED SPARE TIRE HOLDER THIS IS NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF TOYOTA SOMEONE MAY HAVE BEEN KILLED WHEN THE SPARE TIRE CAME LOOSE ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH. *TR
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM REAR WHEEL, AND THE WHEEL FELL OFF. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
Official recalls
412V542000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.