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1990 Toyota Pickup

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

Limited mileage data: 4 of 25 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

25 reports
40,000 miles · May 28, 2018
Structure

EXCESSIVE FRAME RUSTING.

NHTSA ODI #11098321

Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 2010
Electrical System

1990 TOYOTA PICK UP ELECTRONIC CONTROLS *GR THE CONSUMER STATED SOMETIMES HIS TRUCK WILL NOT START.

NHTSA ODI #10324249

244,300 miles · Mar 9, 2010
Power Train

ME AND MY DAUGHTER WHERE DRIVING TO FEDERAL EXPRESS TO DROP OF SOME PACKAGES. AS I APPROACHED THE STOP LIGHT I PRESSED IN THE CLUTCH AND IT POPPED REALLY LOUD AND I ALMOST REARENDED A CADILLAC ESCALADE. I SWERVED RIGHT TO AVOID HITTING HIM AND CONTINUED DOWN THE ROAD AND TOOK THE TRUCK OUT OF GEAR AND COASTED INTO THE FED EX PAR…

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ME AND MY DAUGHTER WHERE DRIVING TO FEDERAL EXPRESS TO DROP OF SOME PACKAGES. AS I APPROACHED THE STOP LIGHT I PRESSED IN THE CLUTCH AND IT POPPED REALLY LOUD AND I ALMOST REARENDED A CADILLAC ESCALADE. I SWERVED RIGHT TO AVOID HITTING HIM AND CONTINUED DOWN THE ROAD AND TOOK THE TRUCK OUT OF GEAR AND COASTED INTO THE FED EX PARKING LOT. MY FATHER-IN-LAW IS A TOYOTA MECHANIC AND HE SAID THE SUPPORT PLATE FOR THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE HAD BROKE IN 2 DIFFERENT PLACES. HE TOOK THE PLATE OUT SHOWED ME WHERE IT HAD BROKE AND WELDED IT BACK TOGETHER. I ASKED HIM IF THIS WAS COMMON EVEN IF IT DOES HAVE ALOT OF MILES AND HE SAID YES HE HAS SEEN THIS SEVERAL TIMES. THIS SCARED ME BECAUSE I WONDER IF THERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE HAVE THIS HAPPEN AND WHERE KILLED IN A BAD CRASH AND NO ONE KNOWS WHAT REALLY HAPPEN. I CONTACTED TOYOTA 2 TIMES BY E-MAIL BUT NO ONE HAS CONTACTED ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10318189

147,000 miles · Dec 8, 2009
VisibilityFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 TOYOTA PICKUP TRUCK 4X4. AFTER TURNING ON THE HEATER, LEAVES CAUGHT FIRE INSIDE OF HIS TRUCK. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND A LETTER WAS SENT ADVISING HIM THAT NO ASSISTANCE WOULD BE PROVIDED.. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 TOYOTA PICKUP TRUCK 4X4. AFTER TURNING ON THE HEATER, LEAVES CAUGHT FIRE INSIDE OF HIS TRUCK. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND A LETTER WAS SENT ADVISING HIM THAT NO ASSISTANCE WOULD BE PROVIDED.. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000. UPDATED 01/27/10. *LJ SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE TRUCK, THE CONSUMER NOTICED TREE LEAVES ENTERING THE MECHANICAL FAN CAGE. AFTER REMOVING THE LEAVES SEVERAL TIMES, HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE SERVICE MANAGER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING ALTERED AND WOULD NOT MAKE ANY MODIFICATIONS. OVER THE YEARS THE CONSUMER WOULD DILIGENTLY CLEAN THE SYSTEM 2-3 TIMES PER YEAR. AT TIMES HE COULD SMELL THE BURNING LEAVES WHEN OPERATING THE HEATER. WHEN THE LEAVES ACCUMULATE IN THE CAGE AND THE FAN IS ENERGIZED, THE MOVEMENT OF THE SMALL BLADES SPINNING AROUND THE LEAVES CREATES FRICTION CAUSING THE LEAVES TO IGNITE AND CATCH FIRE. UPDATED 01/28/10.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10294872

Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 2008
Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 TOYOTA PICKUP. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM TOYOTA PERTAINING TO THE STEERING. HE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIRED, BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD NO RECORD OF THE APPOINTMENT AND NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 TOYOTA PICKUP. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM TOYOTA PERTAINING TO THE STEERING. HE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIRED, BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD NO RECORD OF THE APPOINTMENT AND NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10231318

Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2007
Tires

I HAVE A 1990 TOYOTA PICKUP WITH A SET OF FIRESTONE AFFINITY TIRES IN SIZE 205/70R14. YESTERDAY WHILE ON THE WAY TO WORK ON I85 THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK BEGAN VIBRATING HORRIBLY AS IF IT HAD A FLAT TIRE. I PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED THE TIRES AND THEY ALL STILL HAD AIR IN THEM. I CONTINUED ON MY WAY BUT THE VIBRATION CONTINUED. …

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I HAVE A 1990 TOYOTA PICKUP WITH A SET OF FIRESTONE AFFINITY TIRES IN SIZE 205/70R14. YESTERDAY WHILE ON THE WAY TO WORK ON I85 THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK BEGAN VIBRATING HORRIBLY AS IF IT HAD A FLAT TIRE. I PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED THE TIRES AND THEY ALL STILL HAD AIR IN THEM. I CONTINUED ON MY WAY BUT THE VIBRATION CONTINUED. AT THIS POINT I THOUGHT I HAD THROWN A WHEEL WEIGHT AND THE TIRE WAS OUT OF BALANCE. ABOUT 1 MILE DOWN THE ROAD THERE WAS A LARGE POPPING NOISE FROM THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER INTO A GAS STATION AND WHEN I DID I FOUND THAT THE TIRE HAD A HUGE SECTION OF TREAD THAT HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE CARCAS, PROBABLY 25% AROUND THE TIRE. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I HAVE EVER HAD HAPPEN WITH ANOTHER TIRE IN 25 YEARS OF DRIVING. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD AND I FEEL LUCKY THAT I DIDN'T END UP HAVING AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS. THESE TIRES STILL HAVE CONSIDERABLE TREAD LIFE IN THEM AND HAVE BEEN ROTATED EVERY 5,000 MILES AND I RUN 32 PSI IN THEM. THE TRUCK IS RARELY USED FOR HAULING ANYTHING. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS SITUATION.

NHTSA ODI #10199620

Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 2006
Steering

RECALL NOTICE, CANNOT GET REPAIRED. DEALER WILL NOT RETURN CALLS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10174735

Mileage unknown · Apr 12, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY 1990 TOYOTA PICKUP WAS RECENTLY RECALLED. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP ON 3/10/2006. I ASSUME THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM. I NOW HAVE A NEW PROBLEM BECAUSE OF TAKING THIS IN. I HAVE A HUGE OIL LEAK, ENOUGH TO WHERE I HAVE TO ADD OIL NEARLY EVERY DAY. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THIS (( OR TO KEEP PUTTING IT IN JUST TO HA…

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MY 1990 TOYOTA PICKUP WAS RECENTLY RECALLED. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP ON 3/10/2006. I ASSUME THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM. I NOW HAVE A NEW PROBLEM BECAUSE OF TAKING THIS IN. I HAVE A HUGE OIL LEAK, ENOUGH TO WHERE I HAVE TO ADD OIL NEARLY EVERY DAY. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THIS (( OR TO KEEP PUTTING IT IN JUST TO HAVE IN MAKE THE MESS IN MY GARAGE AND ALL OVER THE HIGHWAYS)). COULD YOU PLEASE HELP ME? THIS THERE SOME KIND OF VEHICLE REPAIR ASSISTANCE? THANK YOU. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10155251

183,000 miles · Mar 13, 2006
Steering

MY 1990 TOYOTA PICK-UP WAS RECALLED SSC 50N TO REPLACE STEERING RELAY ROD. THE NEAREST DEALER IS TWO HUNDRED MILES FROM THE VEHICLE. THE RECALL CENTER STATED THAT THIS RECALL MUST BE PERFORMED BY A TOYOTA DEALER. THERE MUST BE ANOTHER WAY TO FIX THE VEHICLE. TOYOTA COULD PROVIDE THE PARTS AND I ASSUME THE PRICE TO INSTALL TH…

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MY 1990 TOYOTA PICK-UP WAS RECALLED SSC 50N TO REPLACE STEERING RELAY ROD. THE NEAREST DEALER IS TWO HUNDRED MILES FROM THE VEHICLE. THE RECALL CENTER STATED THAT THIS RECALL MUST BE PERFORMED BY A TOYOTA DEALER. THERE MUST BE ANOTHER WAY TO FIX THE VEHICLE. TOYOTA COULD PROVIDE THE PARTS AND I ASSUME THE PRICE TO INSTALL THEM. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10152610

Mileage unknown · Oct 18, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

THIS VEHICLE WAS PART OF THE HEAD GASKET RECALL BY TOYOTA, AS A RESULT THEY REPLACED THE ORGINAL ENGINE BLOCK DUE TO LEAKAGE OF COOLANT INTO THE CYLINDERS. AFTER APPROX. 45,000 MILES OF NORMAL DRIVING USING A CONNECTING ROD EXPLODED WITH NO APPARENT REASON. GIVING NO WARNING SIGNS OF ANY KIND. THE CONNECTING ROD EXPLODED WITH EN…

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THIS VEHICLE WAS PART OF THE HEAD GASKET RECALL BY TOYOTA, AS A RESULT THEY REPLACED THE ORGINAL ENGINE BLOCK DUE TO LEAKAGE OF COOLANT INTO THE CYLINDERS. AFTER APPROX. 45,000 MILES OF NORMAL DRIVING USING A CONNECTING ROD EXPLODED WITH NO APPARENT REASON. GIVING NO WARNING SIGNS OF ANY KIND. THE CONNECTING ROD EXPLODED WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO PRODUCE A 3 INCH DIA. HOLE IN THE SIDE OF THE BLOCK AND ESTABLISH A CRACK ALONG THE ENTIRE LEFT SIDE OF THE MOTOR. THIS EXPLOSION OCCURRED AT UNDER 35 MPH. I HAVE TALKED WITH TOYOTA CUSTOMERS RELATIONS AND THEY HAVE TOLD ME TOYOTA ISN'T INTERESTED. AFTER INSPECTION OF THE INSIDE OF THE MOTOR THERE WERE NO VISIUAL REASONS FOR THE CONNECTION ROD TO BLOW UP OIL PUMP WAS IN PERFECT WORKING ORDER WITH PLENTY OF OIL THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM MY CONCERNS ARE IF THIS CAN HAPPN IN THIS MOTOR AND TOYOTA HAS REPLACED THOUSANDS OF MOTORS IN THEIR HEAD GASKET RECALL, AND THERE WERE DEFECTIVE RODS INSTALLED IN THOSE MOTORS, AT A HIGHER VEHICLE SPEED, GIVEN THE FORCE OF THE EXPLOSION SOMEBODY AT SOME POINT IN TIME IS GOING TO GET HURT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN. DT

NHTSA ODI #768603

Official recalls

1

05V389000 · Steering:linkages:rod:relay:connecting

Sep 6, 2005

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS REPEATEDLY TURNED UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS WHERE HIGH STEERING EFFORT AND POWER ASSIST ARE REQUIRED, FOR INSTANCE, WHEN FULLY TURNING THE WHEEL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED, A FATIGUE CRACK MAY DEVELOP IN THE STEERING RELAY ROD.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE VEHICLE IS CONTINUED TO BE OPERATED IN THIS CONDITION, THE RELAY ROD MAY FRACTURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING RELAY ROD. THE RECALL BEGAN OCTOBER 5, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

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.