1997 Toyota Tioo Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1997 Toyota Tioo, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Body & structure646.2%
- Brakes215.4%
- Steering215.4%
- Powertrain (other)17.7%
- Suspension17.7%
- Transmission17.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
FIREWALL CRACKED. AS A RESULT, CLUTCH BECAME INOPERATIVE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .