1997 Toyota Tacoma problems
The 1997 Toyota Tacoma has 148 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (31%) concerns body & structure. After that come suspension (18%) and tires (9%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 148 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Body & structure 31% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 16 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 10 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 143,000 miles 62 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 1 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 1 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 3 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 3 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 6 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 5 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 12 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 2 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 11 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 6 |
| 200k+ miles | 12 |
What the data shows
Among the 62 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 143,000 miles. For body & structure specifically, the median reported mileage is about 158,000 miles (34 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 16 complaints mention a crash; 10 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1997 ranks 31st most-complained-about out of 31 model years of the Toyota Tacoma with enough data (44 complaints in that window).
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
While driving and without warning, the upper ball joint broke and the front wheel came off, resulting in a rollover, there were 2 injuries.. Consumer believes that part was defective and that manufacturer should replace vehicle.
The consumer was in a line of cars when he took foot off brakes to accelerate but the vehicle suddenly surged forward at fast moderate speed. This caused the consumer to hit the vehicle in front.
Consumer was involved in a 50 MPH frontal collision in which the driver's or passenger's air bags did not deploy. The driver of the vehicle sustained fatal injuries. Please give additional information.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 toyota tacoma. The contact stated that upon inspection, the passenger's side seat belt buckle failed to operate normally. The contact also mentioned that the seat belt would not latch with the buckle. The failure was recurring. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 100,000.
I bought the above mentioned truck new in 1997. For the past few years it's just been sitting in my driveway because the frame is so rusted it's not safe to drive. A mechanic friend of mine said there was a recall on that year of truck. My wife called toyota and was told the recall was expired but they couldn't give a date. I called today and they said it wasn't a recall but an extension on the life of the frame for fifteen years (same thing). The body of the truck is in good shape for its age.