RoadVitals

1990 Toyota Pickup

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
25
Latest May 28, 2018
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
3
Latest Aug 11, 2008
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

Overview

Our database contains 25 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1990 Toyota Pickup, most frequently naming the engine, seat belts and steering categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 24 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine933.3%
  • Seat belts311.1%
  • Steering311.1%
  • Tires & wheels311.1%
  • Electrical311.1%
  • Body & structure13.7%
  • Visibility13.7%
  • Brakes13.7%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

3 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
08E050000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Aug 11, 2008
1,921 units potentially affected
The defect: K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
The risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.
K2 MOTOR CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov
06E026000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Mar 23, 2006
61,944 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
The risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
PRO-A MOTORS, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
05V389000

STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING

Sep 6, 2005
977,839 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS REPEATEDLY TURNED UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS WHERE HIGH STEERING EFFORT AND POWER ASSIST ARE REQUIRED, FOR INSTANCE, WHEN FULLY TURNING THE WHEEL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED, A FATIGUE CRACK MAY DEVELOP IN THE STEERING RELAY ROD.
The risk: IF THE VEHICLE IS CONTINUED TO BE OPERATED IN THIS CONDITION, THE RELAY ROD MAY FRACTURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING RELAY ROD. THE RECALL BEGAN OCTOBER 5, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.Manufacturer number 50NView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 25
Body & structure
Filed May 28, 2018

EXCESSIVE FRAME RUSTING.

NHTSA ID
11098321
Incident
Jan 1, 2000
Mileage
40,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 8, 2010

1990 TOYOTA PICK UP ELECTRONIC CONTROLS *GR THE CONSUMER STATED SOMETIMES HIS TRUCK WILL NOT START.

NHTSA ID
10324249
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 9, 2010

ME AND MY DAUGHTER WHERE DRIVING TO FEDERAL EXPRESS TO DROP OF SOME PACKAGES. AS I APPROACHED THE STOP LIGHT I PRESSED IN THE CLUTCH AND IT POPPED REALLY LOUD AND I ALMOST REARENDED A CADILLAC ESCALADE. I SWERVED RIGHT TO AVOID HITTING HIM AND CONTINUED DOWN THE ROAD AND TOOK THE TRUCK OUT OF GEAR AND COASTED INTO THE FED EX PARKING LOT. MY FATHER-IN-LAW IS A TOYOTA MECHANIC AND HE SAID THE SUPPORT PLATE FOR THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE HAD BROKE IN 2 DIFFERENT PLACES. HE TOOK THE PLATE OUT SHOWED ME WHERE IT HAD BROKE AND WELDED IT BACK TOGETHER. I ASKED HIM IF THIS WAS COMMON EVEN IF IT DOES HAVE ALOT OF MILES AND HE SAID YES HE HAS SEEN THIS SEVERAL TIMES. THIS SCARED ME BECAUSE I WONDER IF THERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE HAVE THIS HAPPEN AND WHERE KILLED IN A BAD CRASH AND NO ONE KNOWS WHAT REALLY HAPPEN. I CONTACTED TOYOTA 2 TIMES BY E-MAIL BUT NO ONE HAS CONTACTED ME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10318189
Incident
Feb 21, 2010
Mileage
244,300 mi
Visibility
Filed Dec 8, 2009
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 TOYOTA PICKUP TRUCK 4X4. AFTER TURNING ON THE HEATER, LEAVES CAUGHT FIRE INSIDE OF HIS TRUCK. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND A LETTER WAS SENT ADVISING HIM THAT NO ASSISTANCE WOULD BE PROVIDED.. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000. UPDATED 01/27/10. *LJ SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE TRUCK, THE CONSUMER NOTICED TREE LEAVES ENTERING THE MECHANICAL FAN CAGE. AFTER REMOVING THE LEAVES SEVERAL TIMES, HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE SERVICE MANAGER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING ALTERED AND WOULD NOT MAKE ANY MODIFICATIONS. OVER THE YEARS THE CONSUMER WOULD DILIGENTLY CLEAN THE SYSTEM 2-3 TIMES PER YEAR. AT TIMES HE COULD SMELL THE BURNING LEAVES WHEN OPERATING THE HEATER. WHEN THE LEAVES ACCUMULATE IN THE CAGE AND THE FAN IS ENERGIZED, THE MOVEMENT OF THE SMALL BLADES SPINNING AROUND THE LEAVES CREATES FRICTION CAUSING THE LEAVES TO IGNITE AND CATCH FIRE. UPDATED 01/28/10.*JB

NHTSA ID
10294872
Incident
Oct 15, 2009
Mileage
147,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jun 17, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 TOYOTA PICKUP. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM TOYOTA PERTAINING TO THE STEERING. HE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIRED, BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD NO RECORD OF THE APPOINTMENT AND NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
10231318
Incident
May 23, 2008
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 15, 2007

I HAVE A 1990 TOYOTA PICKUP WITH A SET OF FIRESTONE AFFINITY TIRES IN SIZE 205/70R14. YESTERDAY WHILE ON THE WAY TO WORK ON I85 THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK BEGAN VIBRATING HORRIBLY AS IF IT HAD A FLAT TIRE. I PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED THE TIRES AND THEY ALL STILL HAD AIR IN THEM. I CONTINUED ON MY WAY BUT THE VIBRATION CONTINUED. AT THIS POINT I THOUGHT I HAD THROWN A WHEEL WEIGHT AND THE TIRE WAS OUT OF BALANCE. ABOUT 1 MILE DOWN THE ROAD THERE WAS A LARGE POPPING NOISE FROM THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER INTO A GAS STATION AND WHEN I DID I FOUND THAT THE TIRE HAD A HUGE SECTION OF TREAD THAT HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE CARCAS, PROBABLY 25% AROUND THE TIRE. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I HAVE EVER HAD HAPPEN WITH ANOTHER TIRE IN 25 YEARS OF DRIVING. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD AND I FEEL LUCKY THAT I DIDN'T END UP HAVING AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS. THESE TIRES STILL HAVE CONSIDERABLE TREAD LIFE IN THEM AND HAVE BEEN ROTATED EVERY 5,000 MILES AND I RUN 32 PSI IN THEM. THE TRUCK IS RARELY USED FOR HAULING ANYTHING. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS SITUATION.

NHTSA ID
10199620
Incident
Aug 9, 2007
Steering
Filed Nov 29, 2006

RECALL NOTICE, CANNOT GET REPAIRED. DEALER WILL NOT RETURN CALLS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10174735
Incident
Sep 27, 2006
Engine
Filed Apr 12, 2006

MY 1990 TOYOTA PICKUP WAS RECENTLY RECALLED. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP ON 3/10/2006. I ASSUME THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM. I NOW HAVE A NEW PROBLEM BECAUSE OF TAKING THIS IN. I HAVE A HUGE OIL LEAK, ENOUGH TO WHERE I HAVE TO ADD OIL NEARLY EVERY DAY. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THIS (( OR TO KEEP PUTTING IT IN JUST TO HAVE IN MAKE THE MESS IN MY GARAGE AND ALL OVER THE HIGHWAYS)). COULD YOU PLEASE HELP ME? THIS THERE SOME KIND OF VEHICLE REPAIR ASSISTANCE? THANK YOU. *NM

NHTSA ID
10155251
Incident
Mar 10, 2006

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

TSB003220

AIR BAGS; EQUIPMENT; VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2023 model year vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the criteria listed in this Service Bulletin. Follow the Procurement Procedure in this bulletin to request a replacement certification label or VIN plate.

Toyota PRO19-02

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL; TIRES; WHEELS

POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground and spare tires currently in use by Toyota. This information must be kept near the point of vehicle sale and be available to any customer that requests it. Customers can find this information on the Owner?s section of Toyota.com. Dealers can locate a copy of this guide on the Claims Processing & Resource Center in Dealer Daily as well.

T-SB-0032-20 Rev

EQUIPMENT

TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2021 model year vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the criteria listed in this Service Bulletin. Follow the Procurement Procedure in this bulletin to request a replacement certification label or VIN plate.

T-SB-0304-17 Obs

EQUIPMENT

TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 07, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0032-20. Replacement Certification Labels and VIN Plates

T-SB-0032-20

EQUIPMENT

TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin Nos. PG021-88, PG015-89, PG0015-90, PG002-91, PG002-93, PG005-97, PG007-01, PG007-07, PG006-01, PG004-97, T-SB-0144-08, and T-SB-0304-17. The aforementioned bulletins are obsolete, and any printed versions should be discarded. Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2020 model year vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the criteria listed in this Service Bulletin. Follow the Procurement Procedure in this bulletin to request a replacement certification label or VIN plate.

PG004-97-Obsolet

EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Technical Service Bulletin: OBSOLETE NOTICE: July 31, 2018: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0304-17.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Toyota Pickup by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2002100—
2001700—
2000400—
1999200—
1998500—
1997500—
1996600—
1995354052.8
1994914051.1
1993594052.3
1992564047.4
1991293053.2
1990Viewing253045.2
1989213050.0
1988710—
1987810—
1986180034.7
1985900—
1984300—
1983200—
1982200—
1981300—
1980200—
1979000—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.