RoadVitals

1999 Toyota Tacoma Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints 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.
11
Latest Sep 16, 2015
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 249 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Toyota Tacoma submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 16, 2015

ENGINE SURGES AT A COMPLETE STOP WHILE IDLING AND IF I DON'T PUT ENOUGH FOOT PRESSURE ON BRAKE PEDAL IT WILL LUNGE FORWARD. IT HAPPENED SO MANY TIMES I BECAME ACCUSTOM TO THE PROBLEM

NHTSA ID
10764045
Incident
Jul 25, 2009
Mileage
7,500 mi
Body & structureEngineSuspension
Filed Jan 8, 2012

I PURCHASED A 1999 TOYOTA TACOMA IN 8/2000. THE VEHICLE HAD A BLOWN ENGINE THAT HAD BEEN REPLACED AND HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN A MINOR ACCIDENT. I BOUGHT IT FROM A LOCAL AUTO-BODY SHOP FOR $10,500 WHERE IT HAD BEEN REPAIRED. I HAVE MADE MY LIVING WITH THIS TRUCK AND HAVE PUT OVER 200 K MILES ON IT WITH NO MAJOR REPAIRS. IT HAS BEEN TROUBLE-FREE AND I HAD NO THOUGHTS OF REPLACING IT. IN OCTOBER 2008, I TOOK THE TRUCK TO A TOYOTA DEALER TO BE INSPECTED FOR RUST, ON THE ADVICE OF AN FRIEND. NO RUST PERFORATION WAS FOUND. IN AUGUST 2011 I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM TOYOTA ENCOURAGING ME TO HAVE THE TRUCK RE-INSPECTED FOR FRAME RUST. I DID THIS ON 12/30/2011. THIS TIME THEY FOUND RUST ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, ON THE INSIDE OF THE FRAME. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT I COULD NOT DRIVE THE TRUCK WITHOUT SIGNING A WAIVER AND THAT THE TRUCK WAS ELIGIBLE FOR TOYOTA'S REPURCHASE PROGRAM. I WAS GIVEN A RENTAL VEHICLE PAID FOR BY TOYOTA. ON 1/5/2012 I WAS TOLD THE TRUCK DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THE REPURCHASE PROGRAM BECAUSE IT HAD A SALVAGE TITLE AND TO PICK IT UP BY THE END OF THE DAY. I HAVE LOST A VEHICLE WITH NO COMPENSATION AND NO RECOURSE WITH TOYOTA. THERE IS NO RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE FACTS THAT RESULTED IN MY TRUCK HAVING A SALVAGE TITLE AND THE FRAME RUST. TOYOTA ISN'T INTERESTED IN ENTERTAINING THE MERIT OF MY CLAIM, PERIOD. PLEASE HELP ME. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. *TR

NHTSA ID
10442858
Incident
Jan 5, 2012
Mileage
204,008 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 16, 2010

I HAD A 1999 TOYOTA TACOMA. THIS TRUCK WAS A 2WD WITH A 2.4 LITRE ENGINE EXTENDED CAB. THE ACCELERATOR WAS ALWAYS HIGH. I GOT A FEW SPEEDING TICKETS BECAUSE OF THAT. EVEN ON SMALL ROADS THE RPM WAS UNUSUALLY HIGH. THE MECHANICS ALSO USED TO COMMENT WHEN THEY WOULD DO MAINTENANCE WORK ON THAT TRUCK. I LOST THIS TRUCK IN AN ACCIDENT NOW. BUT PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MODEL ALSO. ALSO THE EGR VALVE ON THIS TRUCKS GO BAD FREQUENTLY. THANK YOU FOR INVESTIGATING TOYOTA. I THOUGHT I HAD A FLUKE BAD TOYOTA TRUCK, BUT IT TURNS OUT THAT I WAS NOT ALONE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10311078
Incident
Jun 7, 2006
Mileage
120,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 16, 2005

DRIVING TO MY HOME ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, I HEARD A RAPPING NOISE START IN MY ENGINE. I HAD TAKEN IT TO THE GARAGE (D&J AUTO) THE FOLLOWING DAY. UPON THERE INSPECTION, THEY FOUND A HOLE IN THE BLOCK OF MY ENGINE. AFTER SWAPPING ENGINES OUT OF MY VEHICLE, I HAD FURTHER INSPECTED THE OLD ENGINE. I HAD A CERTIFIED MECHANIC FRIEND HELPING ME TO TEAR DOWN THE ENGINE TO FIND WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. WE HAD FOUND THAT A CONNECTING ROD HAD SHATTERED INSIDE THE ENGINE (ARM THAT CONNECTS PISTON TO CRANK SHAFT). I HAD CONTACTED TOYOTA MOTOR CORP. AND A FEW SERVICE MANAGERS IN MY AREA TO SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO COME AND INSPECT THE DAMAGE. I WAS TOLD BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC THAT THE METAL CASTING OF THE CONNECTING ROD WAS FAULTY, I THOUGHT TOYOTA WOULD WANT TO VERIFY THIS BY INSPECTING THE PIECES THEMSELVES. I HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY A TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE AS OF YET AND IT HAS BEEN THREE WEEKS AND THE SERVICE MANAGERS KEEP SAYING; " THE ENGINE IS OUT OF WARRANTY SO THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME". IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY THIS PROBLEM WOULD POSSIBLY HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS INJURY OR ACCIDENT TO ME OR OTHERS. I FELT SINCE THEY WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ME, IT SHOULD BE REPORTED TO YOU. I HAVE DOCUMENTED THE DAMAGE WITH DIGITAL PICTURES AND I AM IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE PIECES ANALYZED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO DETERMINE THE EXACT REASON FOR THE FAILURE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10133017
Incident
Aug 4, 2005
Mileage
101,348 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 3, 2003

WHILE DRIVING, THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED. THE ENGINE VALVES FAILED TO HOLD COMPRESSION. *JB *CB *JB

NHTSA ID
10019797
Incident
May 8, 2003
Mileage
72,026 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 21, 2002

HEAT SHIELD IS CAUSING A CRACK IN THE ENGINE MANIFOLD. VEHICLE BEEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND THE PROBLEM REOCCURRING . FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFROMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8012413
Incident
Apr 8, 2002
Engine
Filed Jun 21, 2002

ENGINE KNOCKING WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE BEEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS AND BEFORE THE CORRECTION WAS MADE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8012406
Incident
Apr 8, 2002
ElectricalEngineExterior lighting
Filed Oct 11, 2001
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 20-5392-910. *SLC

NHTSA ID
6900654
Incident
Jul 19, 2001
EngineSteering
Filed Jun 19, 2001

WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH BOLT ON ENGINE CRANKSHAFT SNAPPED ,CAUSING PULLEY TO RELEASE FROM ENGINE, RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
890650
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)+2 more
Filed May 9, 2000

DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW RATTLES AND IS NOT ABLE TO BE PROPERLY FIXED. *MJS

NHTSA ID
552183
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 11, 2000

THERE IS A PINGE IN THE ENGINE. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS AND THE OXYGEN SENSOR, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.

NHTSA ID
854892

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .