IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING REPAIRS, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 1805082285. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Tacoma years →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
80–25K
2025–50K
2150–75K
2775–100K
81100–150K
138150K+
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
Structure complaints
228 reportsTHE FRAME IS SHOWING SEVER SIGNS OF CORROSION. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO HAVE INVESTIGATED THE VEHICLE 2 TIMES LAST YEAR AND SAID THAT THERE IS NO ISSUES WITH THE FRAME BUT ONE CAN SEE SEVERAL 4 -5 INCH RUST HOLES IN THE FRAME. I AM NOT SURE IF THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE ANYMORE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BECAUSE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE WAS DAMAGED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS MOUNTED ONTO THE LIFT, THE FRAME FRACTURED IN BETWEEN THE CABIN AND THE BED OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BECAUSE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE WAS DAMAGED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS MOUNTED ONTO THE LIFT, THE FRAME FRACTURED IN BETWEEN THE CABIN AND THE BED OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOO OLD AND ALL RECALLS HAD EXPIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300,000.
2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RUSTS PERFORATION OF THE FRAME RAILS AND SPARE TIRE CARRIER RECALL ISSUES. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER WOULD NOT HONOR THE FRAME RAIL RECALL. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED FOR THE TIRES, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE SUBFRAME WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CHESTER BERG TOYOTA (705 PAUL BUNYAN DR NE, BEMIDJI, MN 56601, PHONE: (218) 444-3040) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT RUST PREPARATION WAS FOUND AND THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED FOR THE TIRES, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE SUBFRAME WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CHESTER BERG TOYOTA (705 PAUL BUNYAN DR NE, BEMIDJI, MN 56601, PHONE: (218) 444-3040) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT RUST PREPARATION WAS FOUND AND THE FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR COST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS A LIMITED CAMPAIGN THAT ENDED ON FEBRUARY 26, 2016, AND THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 208,000. *TT RUSTY FRAME UPDATED 9/13/18*JB
FRAME IS SEVERELY RUSTED (JUST NOTICED), SPARE TIRE CAN'T BE REMOVED, AND THE HAND BRAKE CABLE FROM CENTER CAB TO REAR WHEELS IS FROZEN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRAME WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (PREMIER AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, 1140 MAIN ST, MILFORD, OH 45150). THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRAME WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (PREMIER AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, 1140 MAIN ST, MILFORD, OH 45150). THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 800-331-4331 AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. CASE NUMBER: 1710102304 WAS PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,280.
FRAME IS CRACKED AT REAR ENDED ON BOTH SIDES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A RATTLING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST.…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A RATTLING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 186,103.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE WORKING ON THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE UNDERCARRIAGE WAS CORRODED FROM THE MID POINT TO THE REAR BUMPER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SUBJECT TO A RUST PREVENTION TREATMENT IN AUGUST OF…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE WORKING ON THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE UNDERCARRIAGE WAS CORRODED FROM THE MID POINT TO THE REAR BUMPER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SUBJECT TO A RUST PREVENTION TREATMENT IN AUGUST OF 2010. GLENN TOYOTA DEALER IN FRANKFORT, KY COMPLETED THE TREATMENT ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE FRAME, BUT NOT THE INTERIOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
Official recalls
412V542000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.