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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

Power Train complaints

15 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 2017
Power TrainSuspensionUnknown Or Other

MY TACOMA HAS BEEN IN A COUPLE TIMES FOR TIMING BELT REPLACEMENT AND HAS BEEN INSPECTED FOR RUST BUT NOTHING WAS EVER DONE OR SAID ABOUT IT NEEDING ANYTHING DONE. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET I NOTICED THAT WHEN I SLOWED DOWN MY LIFTED AND WHEN I ACCELERATED MY BED LOWERED. I PULLED OFF TO FIND THAT MY FRAMES HAS RUSTED APART I…

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MY TACOMA HAS BEEN IN A COUPLE TIMES FOR TIMING BELT REPLACEMENT AND HAS BEEN INSPECTED FOR RUST BUT NOTHING WAS EVER DONE OR SAID ABOUT IT NEEDING ANYTHING DONE. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET I NOTICED THAT WHEN I SLOWED DOWN MY LIFTED AND WHEN I ACCELERATED MY BED LOWERED. I PULLED OFF TO FIND THAT MY FRAMES HAS RUSTED APART IN FRONT OF REAR LEAF SPRING. TOYOTA CORPORATE WAS CALLED AND THEY SAID NOTHING CAN BE DONE?

NHTSA ODI #10957678

152,000 miles · Jan 22, 2016
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, A LOUD NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE REAR END. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR AXLE AND DRIVE TRAIN HAD NO OIL PRESENT, WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, A LOUD NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE REAR END. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR AXLE AND DRIVE TRAIN HAD NO OIL PRESENT, WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,000.

NHTSA ODI #10821608

148,330 miles · Sep 12, 2013
Power TrainService BrakesSuspension

WHILE DRIVING HEARD A SKIDDING SOUND, LOOK UNDER TRUCK LOST TRD PLATES, ROTTED BECAME LOSE AND FELL. UNDER CARRIAGE CORRODED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10543319

200,000 miles · Mar 22, 2013
Power Train

LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END. IT APPEARS THE DIFFERENTIAL CASE ROTTED OUT LEAVING THE REAR END WITH NO GEAR FLUID. WHEN THEY REPLACED THE FRAME (AS IT ROTTED OUT TO)... THEY SHOUD HAVE REPLACED THE DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING. LUCKY THIS HAPPEN AROUND TOWN AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY. I CAN IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THE DIF…

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LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END. IT APPEARS THE DIFFERENTIAL CASE ROTTED OUT LEAVING THE REAR END WITH NO GEAR FLUID. WHEN THEY REPLACED THE FRAME (AS IT ROTTED OUT TO)... THEY SHOUD HAVE REPLACED THE DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING. LUCKY THIS HAPPEN AROUND TOWN AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY. I CAN IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THE DIFFERENTIAL BLEW APART AT HIGH SPEED (WITH FLYING METAL AND NO CONTROL OF ACCELERATION IF NEEDED TO AVOID OR CAUSE AN ACCIDENT). I CALLED TOYOTA CAR CARE AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD GO IN HALF ON THE REPAIR AND GET BACK TO ME IN A FEW DAYS WITH THE DETAILS. THEY DIDN'T... I CALLED THEM A FEW DAYS LATER AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T HELP ME. LOOKED TO BE A +/- $2,000 REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10504083

76,000 miles · Feb 16, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DIFFERENTIAL WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED AND LEAKING OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,0…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DIFFERENTIAL WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED AND LEAKING OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

NHTSA ODI #10448227

200,000 miles · Dec 16, 2010
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, AND DURING THE REPAIR THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING WAS LEAKING AND EXHIBITED SUBSTANTIAL RUST. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A COMMON DEFECT. THE VEHICLE W…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, AND DURING THE REPAIR THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING WAS LEAKING AND EXHIBITED SUBSTANTIAL RUST. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A COMMON DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000. UPDATED 02/17/11*LJ UPDATED 05/11/11

NHTSA ODI #10370884

90,000 miles · Aug 12, 2010
Power TrainSuspension

2001 TOYOTA TACOMA REPLACED REAR AXLE BEARING TWICE ALREADY TRUCK HAS LESS 90000 MILES. IN BOTH INCIDENTS IT HAS RUINED THE INTERNAL PARTS OF THE AXLES CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE CARRIER CASE. I BOUGHT A 3 RD TRD AXLE AT A WRECKING YARD TO FIND THE SAME PROBLEM IN THAT AXLE. I WAS FORTUNATE I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT. THE REAR …

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2001 TOYOTA TACOMA REPLACED REAR AXLE BEARING TWICE ALREADY TRUCK HAS LESS 90000 MILES. IN BOTH INCIDENTS IT HAS RUINED THE INTERNAL PARTS OF THE AXLES CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE CARRIER CASE. I BOUGHT A 3 RD TRD AXLE AT A WRECKING YARD TO FIND THE SAME PROBLEM IN THAT AXLE. I WAS FORTUNATE I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT. THE REAR AXLE COULD OF LOCKED UP ON THE HIGHWAY CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR DEATH RELATED TO AXLE FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10348914

121,790 miles · Nov 11, 2009
Power TrainStructure

RUSTY LEAKY DIFF PROBLEM THE OIL LEAKS CONSTANTLY. I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL AND NOTHING THEY WILL DO ABOUT IT AT THIS TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10291825

70,026 miles · Aug 3, 2006
Power Train

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH A NOISE WAS HEARD THAT GRADUALLY BECAME LOUDER. WITHOUT WARNING, THE WHEELS LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD. IT WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE TRANSFER CASE LOCKED UP AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS NO SIN OF A LEA…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH A NOISE WAS HEARD THAT GRADUALLY BECAME LOUDER. WITHOUT WARNING, THE WHEELS LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD. IT WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE TRANSFER CASE LOCKED UP AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS NO SIN OF A LEAK PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. UPDATED 08//25/06. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10164305

50,000 miles · Jan 27, 2005
Power Train

2001 TACOMA 2 WHEEL DRIVE 4 DOOR PRE RUNNER. HAVE HAD A HORRIBLE "CLUNK WHEN I REALEASE BRAKES. THE WHOLE TRUCK JERKS AND THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER JUMPS ABOUT 3 INCHES. TOOK IT TO PRECISION TOYOTA IN TUCSON AND WAS TOLD IT IS CALLED AXLE WRAP. I DID SOME REASEARCH ON AXLE WRAP AND BASICALLY IT IS WORN OUT REAR SPRINGS. THE …

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2001 TACOMA 2 WHEEL DRIVE 4 DOOR PRE RUNNER. HAVE HAD A HORRIBLE "CLUNK WHEN I REALEASE BRAKES. THE WHOLE TRUCK JERKS AND THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER JUMPS ABOUT 3 INCHES. TOOK IT TO PRECISION TOYOTA IN TUCSON AND WAS TOLD IT IS CALLED AXLE WRAP. I DID SOME REASEARCH ON AXLE WRAP AND BASICALLY IT IS WORN OUT REAR SPRINGS. THE ONLY THING I HAVE CARRIED IN THE TRUCK HEAVY IS MY 200 LB. MOTORCYCLE. THE TRUCK HAS HIGH MILEAGE AND IS ALL INTERSTATE DRIVING. THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE AND HAVE SEEN ANOTHER COMPLAINT HERE. I AM WORRIED WHAT KIND OF DAMAGE IT IS DOING TO THE WHOLE DRIVE TRAIN. WHAT'S GOING TO "SNAP"?*AK

NHTSA ODI #10108017

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.