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1997 Toyota Tacoma

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Toyota Tacoma do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 228.5.

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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

58 reports with mileage · 73 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 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

13 crash reports0 fire reports8 injury reports

Power Train complaints

9 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 2025
EnginePower TrainSuspension

When’s he start and you get gas it won turn off but don’t do it , and whend I hit a jump and I tuning he shake it wild

NHTSA ODI #11697175

214,000 miles · Jan 24, 2015
Power Train

MY 97 TACOMA TRUCK HAD A RECALL ON THE FRAME RUSTING. IT WAS CHECKED AND SAID IT WAS OK. 2 YEARS AFTER THE RECALL HAS LAPSED THE FRAME HAS RUSTED WITH BIG HOLES SHOWING AND IS A DANGER TO DRIVE. TOYOTA SAYS THEY WON'T DO NOTHING ABOUT THE RUSTED FRAME...WHICH WAS A PROBLEM BEFORE. MY OLDEST SON WHO JUST GOT HIS LICENSE IS DRIVIN…

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MY 97 TACOMA TRUCK HAD A RECALL ON THE FRAME RUSTING. IT WAS CHECKED AND SAID IT WAS OK. 2 YEARS AFTER THE RECALL HAS LAPSED THE FRAME HAS RUSTED WITH BIG HOLES SHOWING AND IS A DANGER TO DRIVE. TOYOTA SAYS THEY WON'T DO NOTHING ABOUT THE RUSTED FRAME...WHICH WAS A PROBLEM BEFORE. MY OLDEST SON WHO JUST GOT HIS LICENSE IS DRIVING IT NOW AND I'M AFRAID THE FRAME WILL COLLAPSE AND HE WILL WRECK. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP GET A REPLACEMENT FRAME FOR THE TRUCK? THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP. [XXX] MY CASE # AT TOYOTA IS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *TR

NHTSA ODI #10678680

Mileage unknown · Jan 26, 2007
Power Train

(1) NORMAL USE. (2) CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY/BUSHING FAILED, SQUEAKING NOISE PRESENT WHEN CLUTCHING. (3) PARTS REPLACED ~$250-$315 TO REPAIR/REPLACE PARTS. AFTER REPLACING, PARTS LASTED APPROXIMATELY 1.5 TO 2 YEARS AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT AGAIN. NO UPDATED PARTS/RECALL AVAILABLE FROM TOYOTA, WAS TOLD BY SEVERAL TOYOTA SERVICE …

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(1) NORMAL USE. (2) CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY/BUSHING FAILED, SQUEAKING NOISE PRESENT WHEN CLUTCHING. (3) PARTS REPLACED ~$250-$315 TO REPAIR/REPLACE PARTS. AFTER REPLACING, PARTS LASTED APPROXIMATELY 1.5 TO 2 YEARS AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT AGAIN. NO UPDATED PARTS/RECALL AVAILABLE FROM TOYOTA, WAS TOLD BY SEVERAL TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENTS IT IS A "COMMON PROBLEM". NO AFTERMARKET OPTIONS AVAILABLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10180768

106,000 miles · Jun 1, 2005
Power Train

1 PARKED WITH TRUCK IN 1ST GEAR 2 TRUCK CAME OUT OF GEAR 2 TIMES. I STOPED THE TRUCK 1 TIME, A TREE STOPPED IT THE 2ND TIME. 1 YEAR LATER, THE TRUCK POPS INTO NUTURAL WHILE DRIVING. I PUT IT BACK IN GEAR, I SOMETIMES HOLD THE SHIFTER TO KEEP IT IN GEAR. 3 I HAVE NOT TRYED TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION, BUT I ALWAYS SET THE PARKI…

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1 PARKED WITH TRUCK IN 1ST GEAR 2 TRUCK CAME OUT OF GEAR 2 TIMES. I STOPED THE TRUCK 1 TIME, A TREE STOPPED IT THE 2ND TIME. 1 YEAR LATER, THE TRUCK POPS INTO NUTURAL WHILE DRIVING. I PUT IT BACK IN GEAR, I SOMETIMES HOLD THE SHIFTER TO KEEP IT IN GEAR. 3 I HAVE NOT TRYED TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION, BUT I ALWAYS SET THE PARKING BREAK.

NHTSA ODI #10123797

Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 2003
Power Train

CONSUMER STATES HAS PROBLEM WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10029853

Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 2001
EquipmentPower TrainWheelsCrash

DATE OF PURCHASE TOYOTA OF SOMERSET REPORTED THIS WAS A SECOND BUYER. THEY REPORTED A LADY HAD OWNED THE VEHICLE. THROUGH CARFAX I FOUND ME TO BE THE 5TH OWNER. THEY DID NOT HAVE THE WARRANTY INFORMATION IN WITH THE MANUAL INFORMATION. THEY DID NOT SUPPLY THIS AT TIME OF PURCHASE AND HAS NOT OFFERED UPON REQUEST. THEY SAID …

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DATE OF PURCHASE TOYOTA OF SOMERSET REPORTED THIS WAS A SECOND BUYER. THEY REPORTED A LADY HAD OWNED THE VEHICLE. THROUGH CARFAX I FOUND ME TO BE THE 5TH OWNER. THEY DID NOT HAVE THE WARRANTY INFORMATION IN WITH THE MANUAL INFORMATION. THEY DID NOT SUPPLY THIS AT TIME OF PURCHASE AND HAS NOT OFFERED UPON REQUEST. THEY SAID THEY WOULD HONOR THE SERVICE. UPON THE REVERSE COMING OUT THERE WAS DISAGREEMENT AND THE SERVICE MANAGER, MR. TURPIN AND MR. JOHNSON WERE VERY ADAMANT AND REFUSED TO HONOR THE MFG. WARRANTY ON THE DRIVE TRAIN. THEY FIRST ASKED $700 AND THEN NEGOTIATED FOR $450. WHICH I REFUSED. NEEDLESS TO SAY WE DO NOT HAVE ANY CORRESPONDENCE BUT I STILL HAVE TO DRIVE WITHOUT REVERSE IN MY VEHICLE. THIS IS WHY I DID NOT REPORT THE LUG NUTS BREAKING AND CAUSING MY WHEEL TO FALL OFF AND CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK. TOYOTA OF SOMERSET DOES NOT OFFER ASSISTANCE AND ACCUSES ABUSE.

NHTSA ODI #741889

Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 1997
Power Train

DRIVER MUST SIT TOO CLOSE TO STEERING WHEEL TO REACH THE CLUTCH DUE TO HEIGHT; DRIVER IS 5'2" TALL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #517835

Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 1997
Power Train

TRANSFER CASE SHIFT LEVER DESIGNED WITHOUT SAFETY SWITCH, ALLOWING VEHICLE TO ROLL WHILE IN PARK GEAR IF THIS SHIFT LEVER IS ACCIDENTLY BUMPED.

NHTSA ODI #516563

Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 1997
Power Train

VEHICLE ROLLED DOWNHILL DUE TO TRANSFER CASE SHIFTER BEING BUMPED INTO NEUTRAL WHICH NEUTRALIZED THE TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI #603401

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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.