Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 8 of 8 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
8 reports
130,000 miles · Jun 11, 2014
Power TrainStructure
CAME TO STOP LIGHT ENGAGED CLUTCH WENT THROUGH FIREWALL LEAVING ME UNABLE TO DRIVE. MY MECHANIC WELDED IT . JUST RECENTLY FOUND THAT FRONT END SUPPORT UNDER RADIATOR IS RUSTED ALONG WITH MOTOR MOUNTS. I HAVE HAD THIS TRUCK SINCE 1997 NEW, LEASED IT FOR 3 YEARS THEN BOUGHT IT OUT RIGHT. WHILE UNDER LEASE AGREEMENT IT WAS S…
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CAME TO STOP LIGHT ENGAGED CLUTCH WENT THROUGH FIREWALL LEAVING ME UNABLE TO DRIVE. MY MECHANIC WELDED IT . JUST RECENTLY FOUND THAT FRONT END SUPPORT UNDER RADIATOR IS RUSTED ALONG WITH MOTOR MOUNTS. I HAVE HAD THIS TRUCK SINCE 1997 NEW, LEASED IT FOR 3 YEARS THEN BOUGHT IT OUT RIGHT. WHILE UNDER LEASE AGREEMENT IT WAS SERVICED BY DEALER. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY "RECALLS WHAT SO EVER " ON THIS TRUCK. THERE ARE NOW 169000 MILES ON THIS TRUCK. THE MOTOR IS STILL IN GOOD SHAPE AND WAS LOOKING FOR SEVERAL MORE YEARS DRIVING.... IS THERE ANYTHING TOYOTA IS LIABLE FOR? I KNOW THERE WERE SIMILAR PROBLEMS IN THE VEHICLES, BUT I NEVER GOT ANY NOTICE FOR ANY RECALLS!!! A FRIEND OF MINE HAS A SIMILAR TRUCK 1998 THAT HAS OVER 2500000 MILESNOW. WE WERE ALWAYS WAITING TO SEE IF WE WERE EVER GOING TO GETA RECALL ON OUR TRUCKS.... *TR
NHTSA ODI #10597687
120,000 miles · Jul 14, 2010
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA T-100. WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED FOR AN UNRELATED ISSUE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MIDDLE PORTION OF THE FRAME WAS BEGINNING TO RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 120,000. UPDATED 09/16-10 *…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA T-100. WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED FOR AN UNRELATED ISSUE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MIDDLE PORTION OF THE FRAME WAS BEGINNING TO RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 120,000. UPDATED 09/16-10 *BF UPDATED 9/20/10. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10343226
102,000 miles · Jun 21, 2010
Service Brakes, HydraulicStructure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA TI00. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE UNDER CARRIAGE AND THE REAR BRAKE LINES WERE SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. IT WAS NOT DISCLOSED IF THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO THE TUNDRA MODEL VEHICLES. THE VIN WAS NOT AVA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA TI00. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE UNDER CARRIAGE AND THE REAR BRAKE LINES WERE SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. IT WAS NOT DISCLOSED IF THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO THE TUNDRA MODEL VEHICLES. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 102,000.
NHTSA ODI #10339310
147,000 miles · May 6, 2010
Structure
I WAS HAVING MY 1997 TOYOTA T100 PICK UP WORKED ON. THEY PUT IT ON THE LIFT AND THE FRAME WAS SO RUSTED THAT IT GAVE WAY, AND THE TRUCK BENT IN HALF FROM ITS OWN WEIGHT. I CALLED TOYOTA DIRECTLY AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WERE SORRY AND THAT'S IT. THANK GOD IT DIDN'T FAIL WHILE WE WERE DRIVING IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10329088
112,000 miles · Sep 24, 2008
SteeringStructureSuspension
ORIGINAL OWNER, 112,000 MILES, NO ACCIDENTS, MECHANICALLY SOUND. FRAME RUST THROUGH AT FRONT CROSSMEMBER. TOTAL FAILURE CAUSING FRONT STEERING AND STABILIZER ARMS TO BE NOT CONNECTED TO FRAME. VEHICLE CAN NOT BE DRIVEN OR FRONT WHEELS WILL FALL OFF. SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND TOYOTA HAS A "BUY BACK" PROGRAM IN PLACE FOR THE…
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ORIGINAL OWNER, 112,000 MILES, NO ACCIDENTS, MECHANICALLY SOUND. FRAME RUST THROUGH AT FRONT CROSSMEMBER. TOTAL FAILURE CAUSING FRONT STEERING AND STABILIZER ARMS TO BE NOT CONNECTED TO FRAME. VEHICLE CAN NOT BE DRIVEN OR FRONT WHEELS WILL FALL OFF. SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND TOYOTA HAS A "BUY BACK" PROGRAM IN PLACE FOR THE 1995-2000 TACOMA'S FOR THE EXACT SAME FAILURES. TRAILERED THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER THAT WOULD NOT EVEN CONSIDER LOOKING AT IT WHILE IT WAS IN THEIR SERVICE DRIVE AREA... THEY REFERRED ME TO TOYOTA (WHO FILED A FAILURE COMPLAINT 9-23-08) BUT THEY REFUSED TO ADMIT THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON THE T100'S AS WELL AS THE TACOMA'S, AND REFUSED ANY COMPENSATION OR CO-OPERATION. THIS FAILURE IS A SERIOUS FAILURE, AND A HAZARD TO LIVES. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE FAILURE WAS ABOUT TO OCCUR. IN ALL MY YEARS, I HAVE NEVER SEEN A FRAME RUST THROUGH TO THIS FAILURE EXTENT. THE ONLY GOOD THING WAS THAT NO ONE WAS KILLED BY THE FAILURE AND THE WHEELS DID NOT FALL OFF ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE IT WAS BEING DRIVEN. THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY 11 YEARS OLD, AND MECHANICALLY SOUND. I FEEL THAT THE COMPLETE FAILURE OF THIS FRAME DUE TO RUST, IS IDENTICAL TO THE TACOMA'S THAT THEY HAVE ADMITTED TO, AND SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE SAME "BUY BACK" BY TOYOTA, TO SETTLE THE KNOWN POOR QUALITY OF THE STEEL IN THESE VEHICLES. THE FRAME CAN NOT BE REPAIRED BECAUSE THE RUST THROUGH IS SO SEVERE THAT THERE IS NO METAL LEFT TO WORK WITH. VEHICLE IS STILL IN MY POSSESSION AND AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION, AND PHOTOS OF THE FAILED PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10243296
53,000 miles · Sep 15, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
MY 1997 TOYOTA T100 P/U, LOCKS UP THE REAR BRAKES WHEN ACCELERATING THEN WHEN SUDDEN STOPPING IS NEEDED THE REAR BRAKES GO FULL FORCE AND FRONT BRAKES ASSIST LITTLE TO NONE. I SUSPECT FAULTY WEIGHT SENSOR AT REAR AXLE. ALREADY REPLACED MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10242178
105,341 miles · May 14, 2004
Steering
P/N 45451-34010 STEERING LINK, TRUCK HAS 105,000 MILES ON IT, TURNING INTO A PARKING SPOT THE LINK SNAPPED RIGHT BY THE PITMAN ARM, THE LINK SHOWED SIGNS OF INCOMPLETE CASTING ON THE ORIGINAL PIECE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10072639
85,000 miles · May 13, 2004
Power TrainStructure
FIREWALL CRACKED. AS A RESULT, CLUTCH BECAME INOPERATIVE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10073596
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.
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