1998 Toyota Tacoma Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 1998 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the dealer for routine maintenance, the contact was informed that the subframe was severely corrosion. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Campaign: 10030357-0006 (Frame Corrosion-Preventative Compound); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 164,000.

NHTSA ID

11642253

Incident

Feb 11, 2025

Mileage

164,000 mi

The contact owns a 1998 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while inspecting the subframe of the vehicle, he noticed that there was a hole in the rear passenger side wheel well. The contact stated that the failure had increased significantly. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist as an unknown recall had expired. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

NHTSA ID

11503438

Incident

May 24, 2012

Mileage

130,000 mi

I had an accident over a year ago and the airbags did not deploy then I ask the guy that fixed it told me that it didn't have the sensor on the front of my truck, and I wonder why. Now I realized the never saw that sensor on my truck, and want to know what is happening with my truck if other vehicles are involved in the same situation. Sincerely: [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11474087

Incident

Apr 21, 2022

Left and right Frame members forward of the rear leaf spring mounts are severely rusted. According to the Toyota dealership who inspected it, the frame is compromised and their is a potential for structural failure in a collision. I purchased the vehicle in October of 2020 from the original owner who maintained it in immaculate condition. The rusted areas are not very obvious while inspecting the outside of the frame, however the interior portions have severe damage. I contacted Toyota Brand Enhancement, on the dealerships recommendation and was told they would not assist based on the lack of a recall.

NHTSA ID

11456901

Incident

Mar 15, 2022

I BOUGHT A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA 4X4 AUTOMATIC WITH 106995 ON THE ODOMETER AND I AM HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING IT INSPECTED BECAUSE OF THE RIGHT SIDE REAR FRAME IS TESTED TO BAD

NHTSA ID

11399788

Incident

Dec 15, 2020

Mileage

106,995 mi

BOUGHT A VEHICLE FROM A WOMAN OFF OF CRAIGSLIST. MET HER IN AN UNFAMILIAR AREA. WOMAN STATED THE VEHICLE WAS IN GOOD CONDITION AND RUNS PERFECT. WOMAN WOULD NOT ALLOW US TO TEST DRIVE THE VEHICLE. MY HUSBAND INSISTED ON CHECKING THE VIN ON CARFAX AND SHE QUICKLY PULLED OUT AN OUTDATED TITLE. THE VEHICLE'S ODOMETER READING STATED APPROXIMATELY 166,000 MILES. AFTER THE TRANSACTION OF $5000.00 WAS COMPLETED IN CASH. SHE QUICKLY LEFT WITH A HEAVYSET HISPANIC MALE THAT WAS WITH HER. MY HUSBAND LOOKED AT CARFAX AND THE LAST REPORTED MILEAGE ON CARFAX FOR THE VIN NUMBER WAS APPROXIMATELY 278,000 MILES FOR THAT VEHICLE. THE WOMAN QUICKLY BLOCKED OUT PHONE NUMBERS. ABOUT AN HOUR LATER SHE HAD HER NUMBER UNBLOCKED. WE CALLED HER FROM A DIFFERENT NUMBER AND ACTED AS THOUGH I WAS READY TO PURCHASE A VEHICLE FROM HER AND SHE STATED SHE HAD ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND COULD MEET ME AT THE SAME LOCATION (NOT KNOWING IT WAS ME) NOT ONLY WAS THE ODOMETER READING FALSE, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEABLE AND COMPLETELY UNSAFE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS BROKEN.

NHTSA ID

11399558

Incident

Mar 6, 2021

FRAME IS VERY BAD SHAPE DUE TO RUST PROBLEM AND BROKEN

NHTSA ID

11203515

Incident

Apr 24, 2019

MY SON WAS DRIVING HIS 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE FRAME SEPARATED IN HALF. LUCKILY HE WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE AND GET IT OFF OF THE ROAD WITHOUT HARM TO HIMSELF OR OTHERS. THE TRUCK WAS LATER TRAILERED TO A FRIENDS HOUSE WHERE A TEMPORARY BRACE WAS WELDED ON. WE LATER BROUGHT THE TRUCK TO A DEALERSHIP WHO TOOK ONE LOOK AT THE FRAME AND SAID WE WERE NOT DRIVING THAT TRUCK HOME IT WAS EXTREMELY RUSTED BEYOND ITS YEARS. THE DEALERSHIP GAVE US A RENTAL CAR FOR THE EVENING UNTIL THEY HEARD BACK FROM TOYOTA WHO REFUSED TO REPLACE THE FRAME BECAUSE THE PROGRAM HAD EXPIRED. UNFORTUNATELY I AM ON ABLE TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE FOR MY SON. I DID MY DUE DILIGENCE WHEN I PURCHASED THE TRUCK AND PULLED A CARFAX ON IT AND THERE WAS NO REPORT OF A RECALL, I DID NOT LOOK UNDERNEATH TO CHECK FOR FRAME DAMAGE AS THE TRUCK HAD A CLEAN TITLE AND THERE DID NOT SEEM TO BE A REASON.

NHTSA ID

11186670

Incident

Mar 11, 2019

Mileage

289,000 mi

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT STARTED FRAYING AND AFTER WHILE LOCKED UP ,WOULD NOT RETRACTED OR PULL OUT. NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE IS FRAYING AND NOW IT IS LOCKED UP, IT DOES NOT MATTER IF THE ENGINE IS RUNNING OR NOT IT WILL NOT RETRACTED OR PULL OUT.

NHTSA ID

11183215

Incident

Feb 13, 2019

Mileage

200,000 mi

THE WIRING HARNESS CABLE FROM THE SENSORS TO THE COMPUTER BURNOUT AND THE SEATBELTS DOESN'T RESPOND RIGHT ESPECIALLY WITH HIS UNRAVELING AND DOESN'T LOCK GOOD OR POOL AND THE MASTER CYLINDER IT'S NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY EITHER IT'S LIKE IT'S NOT STOPPING THE BRAKES ARE NOT STOPPING I KNOW THE VEHICLE IS OLD BUT STILL THIS IS A DEFECT AND VERY HAS FOR THE DRIVERS OF ALL THE VEHICLES MY 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA SR5 2.4 LITER 2 WHEEL DRIVE

NHTSA ID

11162647

Incident

Dec 7, 2016

Mileage

205,000 mi

FRAME ON RIGHT AND LEFT REAR RUSTED THREW

NHTSA ID

11115728

Incident

Jun 1, 2018

Mileage

190,000 mi

I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL LETTER IN 2011 REGARDING A TACOMA FRAME RUST CORROSION ISSUE. I OPENED A CASE AND HAD MY TOYOTA INSPECTED ON 5/20/11 BY A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THE FRAME HAD PASSED INSPECTION. ON 12/02/11 TOYOTA PERFORMED A BODY FRAME UNDERCOATING ON THE VEHICLE. FAST FORWARD TO 2017. I FOUND A SMALL HOLE IN THE FRAME THAT WAS INSPECTED BY TOYOTA AND DEEMED SAFE. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY SAID SINCE THE SAFETY RECALL ON THE FRAME HAS PASSED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. THE INTERNET IS FULL OF OTHER STORIES OF TOYOTA'S WITH RUSTING FRAMES. I FEEL IT IS NOW UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND/OR SELL TO SOMEONE.

NHTSA ID

11078567

Incident

Jan 1, 2017

THE PROBLEM WITH MY TRUCK IS THAT THERE IS SEVER CORROSION ON THE FRAME MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. TOYOTA HAS PREVIOUSLY ACKNOWLEDGED AND ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM HOWEVER THEIR ATTEMPT (UNDERCOATING) FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER NOW REFUSES TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION.

NHTSA ID

11051480

Incident

Nov 29, 2017

Mileage

220,000 mi

THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY AT A SPEED BETWEEN 60-65 ML/HR, WHEN I HEARD SOMETHING POP. WHEN COMING TO A STOP SIGN AT THE OFF RAMP, THE STEERING WHEEL IMMEDIATELY TURNED TO THE RIGHT, AFTER PRESSING ON THE BRAKES. I TOOK IT TO WALMART WERE I PURCHASED THE TIRES AND EXPLAINED TO THE INTAKE TECHNICIAN OF THE SITUATION AND REQUESTED A BALANCING OF ALL 4 TIRES, BECAUSE I THOUGHT A WEIGHT HAD FALLEN OFF THE RIM. THE AUTO TECHNICIAN BALANCED ALL 4 TIRES. THE RECEIPT STATED TIRES BALANCE ACCEPTED AND COMPLETE. NO OUT OF BALANCE SPECIFICATIONS WERE INDICATED. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60-65 ML/HR AND COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE STILL PULLED TO THE RIGHT IMMEDIATELY WHEN LETTING GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL. I THEN HAD THE ALIGNMENT CHECKED BY ANOTHER AUTO/TIRE SHOP. IT WAS FOUND TO BE OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT SOLVE THE VEHICLE PULLING TO THE RIGHT AND SWAPPED THE FRONT TIRES, FROM RIGHT TO LEFT. HE FOUND THE VEHICLE NOW PULLED TO THE LEFT. HE STATED THE ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS ARE CORRECT AND THAT IT WAS A BAD TIRE. THE PROBLEM WITH THE TIRE WAS INTERNAL AND TO CONTACT WALMART WHERE YOU PURCHASED THEM. WALMART DID NOT CHECK THE TIRE AND STATED THE WARRANTY WAS NOT EFFECTIVE AT 5/32ND TREAD DEPTH. WALMART STATED THEY OPTED OUT OF MICHELIN'S TIRE WARRANTY AND TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER OF THE TIRE DIRECTLY. I THEN CONTACTED MICHELIN NORTH AMERICA CUSTOMER CARE, WERE THEY AUTHORIZED ME TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER TIRE DEALER WHO SOLD MICHELIN TIRES. I TOOK IT TO PHIL LONG TOYOTA DEALER WHO STATED THEY WOULD PROCESS THE WARRANTY FOR THIS TIRE. THEY CHECKED THE TIRE AND FOUND THAT THE TIRE ON THE LEFT SIDE HAD AN INTERNAL SEPARATED BELT. THE COMPANY MICHELIN NORTH AMERICA IS PROCESSING THE WARRANTY.

NHTSA ID

11043791

Incident

Oct 17, 2017

Mileage

117,726 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE THAT THE SUBFRAME BETWEEN THE REAR AXLE WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER OF A BUY BACK PROGRAM, WHICH HAD EXPIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED CASE NUMBERS: 1505202202 AND 1602030551. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,238.

NHTSA ID

11024960

Incident

Mar 1, 2016

Mileage

132,238 mi

I RECENTLY BOUGHT MY 98 TOYOTA TACOMA EXTENDED CAB 44. I KNEW NOTHING OF ANY FRAME RUST PROBLEMS OR ANY OTHER PROBLEMS THAT TOYOTA'S HAD. NOW I AM THE PROUD OWNER OF A GOOD LOOKING TRUCK THAT I JUST FOUND OUT IS NOT ONLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE OFF ROAD BUT ON ROAD ALSO.YESTERDAY I FOUND THAT THE REAR SHOCK,WHERE IT MOUNTS ON TOP,HAD BROKE THROW THE FRAME AND AFTER INSPECTING AND DOING A QUICK WELDING REPAIR JUST TO MAKE IT HOME,THAT THE FRAME HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPAIRED IN OTHER PLACES BUT ONLY WELDED NEW METAL OVER THE EXISTING RUSTING FRAME.NO ONE HAS MADE ANY ATTEMY TO INFORM ME OF ANY PROBLEMS AND FROM WHAT I'M SEEING NOW IT'S PAST THE 15 YR DEADLINE. I BOUGHT A TOYOTA BECAUSE OF ITS DEPENDABILITY BUT WHAT GOOD IS IT TO HAVE A DEPENDABLE ENGINE WHEN THE FRAME WASN'T PREPARED TO HOLD UP TO NORMAL CONDITIONS WITHOUT RUSTING INTO.

NHTSA ID

11021327

Incident

Aug 24, 2017

Mileage

220,000 mi

VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC ATTEMPTING A LEFT TURN. VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY A DRIVER NOT PAYING ATTENTION, SENT AIRBORNE, FLIPPED SEVERAL TIMES FORWARD AND SIDEWAYS, THEN HIT A PARKED CAR. AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED, RESULTING IN MAJOR INJURIES TO DRIVER OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11015435

Incident

Nov 30, 2012

Mileage

200,000 mi

SEAT BELTS ARE FRAYED AND LOCK UP. SR5 EXTRA CAB- DRIVERS SIDE AND REAR SEAT BELTS ARE NOT WORKING

NHTSA ID

11012946

Incident

Mar 17, 2017

Mileage

220,000 mi

THE TACOMA HAS DEVELOPED SIGNIFICANT RUST AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR LEAD SPRING BRACKET. THE BRACKET IS BEGINNING TO PULL AWAY FROM THE FRAME AND THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER USABLE AS A RESULT, THIS IS VERY DISCOURAGING AS THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED WELL AND CURRENTLY HAS 250K MILES ON IT. ALL OTHER PARTS OF THIS VEHICLE IS IN VERY GOOD SHAPE.

NHTSA ID

10995685

Incident

Jun 12, 2017

Mileage

250,000 mi

SEAT BELTS LOCK UP AND WILL NOT RELEASE AND WILL NOT RETRACT AND THE STRAP IS COMING APART.

NHTSA ID

10993245

Incident

May 25, 2017

FRAME PERFORATION AKA RUST THROUGH PROBLEM FAILED PA INSPECTION THIS WEEK. GARAGE NOTIFIED ME OF KNOWN TACOMA FRAME RUST PROBLEMS. TOYOTA DEALER SAYS ITS TOO LATE BUT I WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS HAZARD THAT TOYOTA SEEMS TO BE WELL AWARE OF. BODY SHOP WILL NOT TOUCH THIS PROBLEM OF RUST THROUGH ABOVE SPRING LEAF MOUNTS DUE TO LIABILITY CONCERNS. THIS SEEMS LIKE TOYOTA'S PROBLEM TO SOLVE. PLEASE HELP!

NHTSA ID

10990564

Incident

May 19, 2017

THE FRAME OF THE 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA XTRACAB TRUCK WE OWN HAS SEVERE RUST ISSUES TO THE POINT THAT IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE ATTACHED 4 PICTURES TOTAL WITH 2 OF THE PICTURES SHOWING THE DAMAGE TO THE CAB FROM MOVEMENT THERE ARE OTHER AREAS THAT ARE RUSTED WORSE, BUT CAN NOT GET GOOD PICS OF. WE LIVE MIDWEST, A AREA THAT SALT IS NOT A FACTOR. WE NOTCED THIS DAMAGE AFTER FEELING THAT THE BED WAS MOVING.

NHTSA ID

10980906

Incident

Apr 1, 2017

Mileage

168,000 mi

THIS VEHICLES FRAME IS BREAKING BECAUSE IT LACKED ADEQUATE CORROSION-RESISTANT PROTECTION. AS A RESULT, IT SUFFERS HEAVILY FROM RUST PERFORATION.

NHTSA ID

10958970

Incident

Jan 1, 2010

Mileage

110,000 mi

PURCHASED 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA 4WD TRUCK OCTOBER 2012. VEHICLE HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR FRAME RUST AND WAS SERVICED BY A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP 05/25/2011 AND FRAME AND UNDER CARRIAGE WAS INSPECTED, CLEANED, PREPARED AND COATED WITH UNDERCOATING. DEALERSHIP ADVISED THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED. MILEAGE AT TIME WAS 161,757. IN LATE 2012 RUST SPOTS DEVELOPED AGAIN AND CONTINUED TO WORSEN UNTIL THE FRAME COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKE ABOVE THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL IN THE VICINITY OF THE SHOCK ABSORB-ER BRACKET WHICH ALSO WAS RUSTED THROUGH. THERE ARE VARIOUS OTHER RUST PROBLEM AREAS ON THE FRAME AND SUSPENSION PARTS AND ANOTHER FRAME RUST THROUGH IS EVIDENT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE ABOVE THE REAR TIRE AT THE SHOCK ABSORB-ERR BRACKET.. DECEMBER 2016, MILEAGE 211,927 THE VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED TO BE UNSAFE FOR OPERATION AND TAKEN OFF THE PUBLIC ROADWAYS BY THE CURRENT OWNER AFTER THE FRAME BROKE INTO WHILE TURNING INTO THE DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED OUT OF SERVICE DUE TO FEAR OF BEING HELD LIABLE FOR DEATH, INJURY OR DISMEMBERMENT TO SELF, PERSON OR PERSONS DUE TO KNOWINGLY CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE WOULD BE UNSAFE. AFTER EXTENSIVE RESEARCH OF FRAME RUST THROUGH PROBLEMS, THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THAT HANDLED THE RECALL IN 2011 WAS CONTACTED IN PERSON BY THE CURRENT OWNER ON FEBRUARY 21, 2017 AT 1:30 PM AND WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THE ENHANCED WARRANTY WAS ONLY GOOD FOR 15 YEARS FROM THE DATE THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST PURCHASED NEW AND PLACED IN SERVICE WHICH WAS APRIL 1998 AND HAD EXPIRED IN APRIL 2013. AS THE CURRENT OWNER OF THE VEHICLE I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED BY TOYOTA THAT A WARRANTY HAD EVER EXISTED AND WOULD SOON EXPIRE AND NOR MYSELF OR THE PREVIOUS OWNER WAS EVER NOTIFIED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REINSPECTED BY TOYOTA TO MAKE SURE THE PROBLEM HAD NOT REOCCURRED AND VEHICLE WAS SAFE FOR CONTINUED OPERATION.

NHTSA ID

10956183

Incident

Dec 31, 2016

Mileage

211,927 mi

RUST RECALL TOYOTA CAR DEALERSHIP UNWILLING TO "GOODWILL" FIX FRAME DUE TO NOT APPLYING RUST CHEMICALS ON TO THE FRAME

NHTSA ID

10954391

Incident

Feb 13, 2017

Mileage

227,000 mi