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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.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
131Owner complaints

Model-year median: 228.5

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1997 Toyota Tacoma

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 131 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Structure: 46 reports
  • Suspension: 24 reports
  • Tires: 14 reports
  • Seat Belts: 11 reports
  • Power Train: 9 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    177
    1995    253
    1996    131
    1997    300
    1998    249
    1999    210
    2000
    Compare all Tacoma years →

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

    What owners reported most

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

    Read full complaint

    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…

    Read full complaint

    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

    Recall campaigns

    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 ↗

    Defect investigations

    0

    No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.