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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.

About this comparison →
131Owner complaints

Model-year median: 228.5

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
177
1995253
1996131
1997300
1998249
1999210
2000
Compare all Tacoma years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Structure
46Suspension
24Tires
14Seat Belts
11Power Train
9
All reported categories
Unknown Or Other
6Vehicle Speed Control
6Air Bags
5Service Brakes, Hydraulic
5Steering
4Wheels
4Visibility
2Electrical System
1Engine
1Engine And Engine Cooling
1Equipment
1Exterior Lighting
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Parking Brake
1

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

Steering complaints

4 reports
Clear category filter
3,000 miles · Feb 25, 2018
Steering

THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN MAKING NOISES 7 MONTHS AFTER IT WAS PURCHASED NEW. DEALER TOOK THE DASH OUT, REPLACED SOMETHING AND PUT IT BACK TOGETHER AGAIN. 7 MONTHS LATER THE SOUND BEGAN AGAIN. THREE LETTERS TO TOYOTA COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WERE TOTALLY IGNORED. I VISITED THE DEALER IN TUCSON, AZ ABOUT THIS AND I WANTED TH…

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THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN MAKING NOISES 7 MONTHS AFTER IT WAS PURCHASED NEW. DEALER TOOK THE DASH OUT, REPLACED SOMETHING AND PUT IT BACK TOGETHER AGAIN. 7 MONTHS LATER THE SOUND BEGAN AGAIN. THREE LETTERS TO TOYOTA COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WERE TOTALLY IGNORED. I VISITED THE DEALER IN TUCSON, AZ ABOUT THIS AND I WANTED THE PROBLEM SOLVED AT TOYOTA EXPENSE. AGAIN I WAS PUT OFF AND THE RATTLE HAS PERSISTED TO THIS DAY. I AM TIRED OF LISTENING TO THIS RATTLE EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE TRUCK. IF THERE IS ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP ME GET THE TOYOTA FOLKS TO REPAIR, REPLACE OR PUT A GREASE FITTING ON THE DEFECTIVE PARTS IN THE COLUMN, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI #11074706

186,500 miles · Jun 30, 2010
SteeringSuspension

1. DRIVING NORMALLY, MY 1997 TOYOTA TACOMA'S FRONT PASSENGER TIRE FELL OFF AT AN INTERSECTION. THE BALL JOINT FAILED. IT WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE PLACE TODAY. HAD I BEEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, MYSELF AND PASSENGERS COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED. 2. HAS NOT HAPPENED BEFORE. THE VEHICLE IS WELL MAINTAINED. 3. WAIT…

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1. DRIVING NORMALLY, MY 1997 TOYOTA TACOMA'S FRONT PASSENGER TIRE FELL OFF AT AN INTERSECTION. THE BALL JOINT FAILED. IT WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE PLACE TODAY. HAD I BEEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, MYSELF AND PASSENGERS COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED. 2. HAS NOT HAPPENED BEFORE. THE VEHICLE IS WELL MAINTAINED. 3. WAITING ON REPAIR PARTS AND ESTIMATE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10340863

55,000 miles · Sep 13, 2004
Steering

RACK AND PINION STEERING WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE STEERING WHEEL LOST CONTROL. THEN, ONCE THE SAFETY INSPECTION FAILED BECAUSE O F THE RACK AND PINION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10091946

Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 2000
Steering

POWER STEERING PUMP MAKES A TAPPING & WHINING NOISE. ALSO, STEERING WHEEL HAS TO BE POSITIONED A CERTAIN WAY IN ORDER TO MANEUVER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #862995

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.