What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2001 Toyota Tacoma

Typical pattern

6.5% of complaints about the 2001 Toyota Tacoma came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2001 vehicle — around the middle of the 216 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 12.4 yr in service. The most-reported system is structure (229 complaints), typically at 12.8 yr or about 146,000 miles.

Complaints
489
Median age at failure
12.4 yr
Median mileage
148,330 n=354
Crash / fire / tow
11.9% of reports
Safety recalls
6

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Structure
229 reports · 146,000 mi
12.8 yr
0.9%
Suspension
82 reports · 173,000 mi
13.8 yr
8.5%
Other
41 reports · 176,000 mi
15.6 yr
7.3%
Air bags
20 reports · 151,900 mi
10.3 yr
95%
Steering
20 reports · 168,000 mi
12.7 yr
30%
Power train
15 reports · 121,790 mi
9.1 yr
0%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

12V542000 2012-11-23
Tires:temporary/emergency spare tire

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 sp

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.

06E065000 2006-07-17
Exterior lighting

CERTAIN AJ MOTORSPORT COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

06E026000 2006-03-23
Exterior lighting

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

05V225000 2005-05-17
Suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint

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.

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

03V189000 2003-05-19
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

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.

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

01V186000 2001-06-07
Tires:sidewall

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.

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

In owners’ own words

Suspension mileage not reported 3 mo in service
PAYLOAD RATED AT 1674/LBS ACCORDING TO THE SALES BROCHURE AND SALEMAN. WE ADVISED THE TRUCK WILL BE USED FOR DELIVERIES OF 600-1200/LBS. LOADED 800/LBS AND THE TRUCK SUSPENSION IS AT ITS FULL TRAVEL. THE TRUCK SEEMS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITH MORE THAN A 500/LB PAYLOAD. *AK
Suspension mileage not reported 1.1 yr in service crash / fire / tow
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 55MPH ON HIGHWAY AND THERE WAS A NOISE LOCATED IN REAR END. DEALERSHIP REPLACED REAR END. CONSUMER'S SON WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY, A DEER RAN IN FRONT OF HIM, HE APPLIED BRAKES AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE/ RAN INTO A TREE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AFTER HE WAS CLIMBING OUT OF VEHICLE.*AK
Suspension mileage not reported 1.5 yr in service
THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES TO CORRECT A DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION WHEN CONSUMER WOULD MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO STOP, THE DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THE CONDITION WAS DUE TO A SLIP JOINT IN THE DRIVE SHAFT WHICH NEEDED TO BE LUBRICATED AND WAS A NORMAL MAINTENANCE ISSUE, BUT ALSO STATED THE CONDITION WAS DUE TO THE DRIVE SHAFT SEIZING UP, THE SHOCKS AND REAR BRAKES WAS REPLACED.*JB
Air bags mileage not reported 5 mo in service crash / fire / tow
ANOTHER VEHICLE FAILED TO YIELD RIGHT OF WAY AND I T-BONED THEM AT 30 MPH. AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY, AND FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICER WAS VERY CONCERNED, AS HE FELT THE AIR BAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED.*AK

Other Tacoma model years

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