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2001 Toyota Tacoma

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2001 Toyota Tacoma do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 228.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

295 reports with mileage · 101 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 228 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 81 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

40 crash reports4 fire reports25 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

3 reports
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126,000 miles · Mar 10, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingStructure

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER TO INSPECT THE FRAME, WHICH SHE HAD OBSERVED WAS SLIGHTLY RUSTED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS THOROUGHLY RUSTED AND WOULD NOT ALLOW HER TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE LOT. THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS REPLACED UNDER THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY ENH…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER TO INSPECT THE FRAME, WHICH SHE HAD OBSERVED WAS SLIGHTLY RUSTED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS THOROUGHLY RUSTED AND WOULD NOT ALLOW HER TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE LOT. THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS REPLACED UNDER THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT FOR FRAME RUST PERFORATION ON MODEL TRUCKS IN SEVERE COLD CLIMATE AREAS WITH HIGH ROAD SALT USE (NHTSA ITEM NUMBER : 10027968: SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER : TCS-08-018). AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST, THE VEHICLE WAS USING MORE GAS THAN BEFORE AND SHE COULD LITERALLY WATCH THE FUEL GAUGE MOVING CLOSER TO EMPTY AS SHE PROCEEDED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT IDLE PROPERLY AND WAS EXHIBITING A "BUCKING" GESTURE AS IF IT WAS NOT GETTING ENOUGH FUEL. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, A PERSONAL MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE 02 SENSOR WAS HANGING FROM THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXHIBIT THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY STATED THE SENSOR WAS IN THE SAME PLACE AS WHEN SHE FIRST BROUGHT THE VEHICLE. NO FURTHER REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 126,000. UPDATED 4/30/10 *CN THE O2 SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 07/15/10.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10318504

34,000 miles · Mar 2, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingStructureVehicle Speed Control

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 15-30 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CAUSING THE RPM'S TO REDLINE. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF IN ORDER TO STOP IT FROM ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT HAD THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE REPLACED AT 29,060 MI…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 15-30 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CAUSING THE RPM'S TO REDLINE. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF IN ORDER TO STOP IT FROM ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT HAD THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE REPLACED AT 29,060 MILES. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 34000. UPDATED 4/7/2010 *CN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. ALSO, THE FRAME HAD SEVERE RUST. UPDATED 08/24/10*JB

NHTSA ODI #10315542

Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER STATES THAT A CLAMP FROM A HOSE CAME OFF CAUSING THE VEHICLES RPM TO BE TOO HIGH, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL AND SMOKE, DEALER STATES PROBLEM IS DUE TO FACTORY INSTALLMENT. *TT

NHTSA ODI #564329

Official recalls

4

12V542000 · Tires:temporary/emergency Spare Tire

Nov 23, 2012

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2004 Tacoma light trucks manufactured from August 28, 2000, through August 27, 2004, and originally sold, or currently registered, in the following cold climate states with high road salt usage: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. The spare tire in the subject vehicles is located underneath the rear of the vehicle and held by a spare tire carrier. A lift plate on the carrier is used to help raise, lower and retain the tire. During its manufacture, the lift plate may not have been sufficiently coated with anti-corrosion materials. If the plate is insufficiently coated and the vehicle is operated in cold climate regions where road salts are frequently used, road spray can reach the carrier assembly and corrode the lift plate.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Corrosion of the plate could cause it to break, which could result in detachment of the spare tire from the vehicle. Detachment of the spare tire could result in a road hazard which may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace the spare tire carrier lift plate as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in February 2013. Owners may contact their Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.

05V225000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint

May 17, 2005

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, DUE TO A MANUFACTURING ISSUE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE SURFACE OF THE BALL OF THE JOINT MAY HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED. THE BALL JOINT MAY EVENTUALLY EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE WEAR AND LOOSENESS, RESULTING IN INCREASED STEERING EFFORT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE LOWER BALL JOINT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 5, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

03V189000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

May 19, 2003

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, DURING SIDE IMPACT NCAP TEST (I.E. LINCAP TEST), A FLANGE AT THE REAR END OF THE DOUBLE CAB BODY DEFORMED AND INTERFERED WITH THE FUEL INLET HOSE THAT CONNECTS THE FUEL FILLER PIPE AND FUEL TANK, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE FUEL INLET HOSE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS DAMAGE COULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE IF IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUEL HOSE PROTECTOR ON THE BODY FLANGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 3, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

01V186000 · Tires:sidewall

Jun 7, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 4X2 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TU4 WHITE LETTER TIRE UPGRADE OPTION AND DISTRIBUTED BY SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. TIRE DAMAGE MAY HAVE OCCURRED DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLATION, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE TIRE TO DEFLATE OR A BULGE APPEARING IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AN IMPROPERLY INFLATED TIRE COULD RESULT IN VEHICLE HANDLING PROBLEMS OR A BLOW OUT OF AN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED TIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL CHECK ALL FOUR TIRES, REBALANCE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE ANY DAMAGED TIRE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 3, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.

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.