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1.8

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
89,417 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1998 Toyota Tacoma steering problems

steering problem

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1998 Toyota Tacoma Owner Comments

problem #6

Oct 122016

Tacoma

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

"1995 through 2000 model year Tacoma frame rust corrosion warranty extension" received a letter from Toyota attached. Requested frame inspection attached. Requested another frame inspection attached. My vehicle case was not handled consistent with the intent of Toyota's program nor was I contacted by their impartial services group (isg). As a result the safety of me and my passengers has been neglected be not allowing me the safety benefits of their warranty offerings.

- Salem, NH, USA

problem #5

Apr 162014

Tacoma

  • 235,000 miles
I had exited the freeway for fuel. I had to come to a full stop and then make a left turn to go over the freeway. As I made the turn, the right front wheel broke a ball joint and the tire/wheel swung out at a right angle to the car. Given the miles on the car, I accepted the failure of the part. However, the initial failure was repaired by a Toyota dealer. Yesterday, 6/30/15, the same failure occurred. I came to a stop to make a right turn. The same thing occurred. My right front wheel broke a ball joint and the tire/wheel turned at 90 degrees to the side of the truck. Something is wrong with the steering system. To break a ball joint, installed by a dealer, after about 13 months is unreasonable. My truck is regularly maintained and I've asked my mechanic to keep an eye on the ball joints after my first problem. He regularly inspected them and kept them greased.

- Murphys, CA, USA

problem #4

Dec 122012

Tacoma 4WD 4-cyl

  • 149,000 miles
Driving down a busy boulevard, my wheel fell off and my vehicle slammed on the ground. I am lucky to not have killed anyone, and am still afraid to drive my vehicle. Faulty ball joints + rusted frames make this vehicle potentially very dangerous. Toyota initiated a program to buy Tacoma back directly from consumers, but I was not notified of the program. Now I am stuck with a potentially incredibly dangerous truck.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #3

Sep 142013

Tacoma 4-cyl

  • 152,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Hello, my vehicle is a 1998 Toyota Tacoma. It has approx. 152,000 miles on it. The issue I am having with the vehicle is primarily frame rust, the frame is beginning to look like "swiss cheese." The frame of the vehicle is in terrible shape, the spare tire even fell out due to rust. I called Toyota to inquire about the frame rust and was told that there is no warranty to cover this. I searched online and it says that 1995-2000 Toyota Tacoma's were under recall for frame rust because the rust would make the vehicles unsafe to drive because the structural integrity of the vehicle would be compromised. So I searched around and found that my vehicle is currently 15 years, 4 months old and that Toyota would not cover the vehicle. I believe that rust is an ongoing issue and takes several months/years to develop, it is not something which occurs overnight. The rust looks mainly to be surface rust on the outside, but in reality the rust has developed from the inside-out and rotted the frame out, therefore it was not caught earlier. I hope this recall is extended, there are many rusted Toyota Tacoma listed for sale from the 1995-2000 model year, which also have the same issue. The issue was caused by Toyota's 3rd party supplier not properly rust proofing the frames, therefore making them highly susceptible to rust. I hope that Toyota does something to resolve the issue.

- Canton, MI, USA

problem #2

Sep 012011

Tacoma 4WD 4-cyl

  • miles
Power steering metal tubing rusted out causing fluid leak and ultimately steering failure.

- Pasadena, MD, USA

problem #1

Sep 031998

Tacoma

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
While driving at any speed the steering and the vehicle vibrate. When applying the brakes the vehicle will be vibrating. Contacted dealer, can't determine the problem.

- Durham, NC, USA

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