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.
The contact owns a 2000 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that there was premature rust and corrosion on the front and rear frames of the vehicle. The frames fractured without warning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for further inspection. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and refused to provide a permanent remedy. The failure mileage was not available. Updated 03/11/16
The contact owns a 2000 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while having maintenance performed, the technician discovered that the frame was completely rusted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 132,000.
The contact owns a 2000 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that the frame was corroded. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis. The mechanic diagnosed that the frame needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 196,000.,,updated 01/06/15 updated 9/7/2017
Last summer, 2009, noticed that my brakes, which were only a year old, seemed to not be operating efficiently. Upon inspection of the vehicle I discovered gear oil had been coming out of the rear axle, spraying all over the passenger side brakes and tire. I had to replace the rear axel seal and ruined brake shoes. Bought the vehicle Toyota certified used in December of 2003. Recently in 2010 I noticed that my frame appeared as though it had a lot of dirt on it, so I tried to spray it off with a high powered washer, it turned out to B rust not dirt. I recently moved to California and I am still settling in, when I hear a loud banging sound coming from somewhere under my truck. I wondered if it had anything to do with the rust so I typed in rust and Toyota on google and discovered a customer warranty program issued by Toyota on 1995-2000 model Tacoma for rust perforation. I was never notified and my car is still registered in one of the applicable states, Pennsylvania. I contacted customer service and took the car to be inspected, the dealer said my car passed rust perforation test but could not locate noise. I was shocked as the noise is unmistakable. After leaving the dealer I took the car to a friend who knows a little more about vehicles then me, we crawled under the truck and he was able to point out a broken leaf spring that appeared to be rusted and grinding heavily into my passenger side shock. The dealer let me drive off their lot with my truck like that and the leaf spring is attached to the frame which they claimed to have inspected! not only this but the tech also checked off suspension as green! this is extremely dangerous, what if the broken leaf spring had swung in the other direction and jabbed into my tire? Toyota is not offering to fix the problem under the warranty despite the fact this broken leaf spring issue is well documented across the nation.
2000 Toyota Tacoma frame rust - I have owned this truck for ten years always getting my service done at darcars here in frederick, md. I decided to take my truck to a new mechanic and to what I have found my frame is rusted. Not only rusted but falling apart, I was told that my truck was a safety hazard to drive and that I should not be driving it because it could fall apart at just hitting a pot hole. The corrosion was that terrible. I immediately contacted darcars in frederick, md and was told to bring it in tomorrow. Did they not hear my say that it was a potential life threatening death trap to drive. Unhappy with my response I went to darcars immediately after picking my truck up from my new mechanic. I left my truck at darcars and had to go rent a car on my own until they look at my truck tomorrow hopefully sometime before noon. Here now I have had to pay $267 out of my account to get a rental car. Until tomorrow I have no answers. Why do I feel like I have been punished for something that they are in the wrong for. I love my truck. Had it for years and darcars could not see after servicing my vehicle for 10 years that my frame was nearly nothing but rusted metal with holes in it. They sure did find other things wrong with my truck that needed to be fixed. A true mechanic, a person you trust to make your car safe to drive let me drive a vehicle around that could have potentially killed me and the life of my daughter of 11. How sad are these people? I am very dissatisfied with the service I have received from Toyota and the communication concerning my vehicle. The are not concerned for anyone's safety. So I am left with no vehicle, one that I just paid off and now I have nothing. Maybe that is ok for some but for me it is totally unacceptable.
- Frederick, MD, USA
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The contact owns a 2000 Toyota Tacoma. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer for routine inspection and they stated that the frame was mildly rusted. Two years later, he took the vehicle to another dealer and they stated that there was excessive rust on a portion of the frame. The vehicle is unable to be repaired. He is in the process of notifying the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 90,000 and current mileage was 150,000.
The contact owns a 2000 Toyota Tacoma. The contact noticed excessive rust on the frame and called the dealer. The technician stated that they would not repurchase the vehicle because it was classified as a level three rusting hazard. They would not repurchase the vehicle until it reached a level four, which meant that the frame was rusted to the point that the vehicle was non-repairable. Symptoms of level four are holes or fractures within the frame. The manufacturer would not assist. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 120,000 and current mileage was 140,000.
In 2006, the gas pedal broke away from the firewall in our 2000 Toyota Tacoma. The dealership claimed there was nothing they could do, with no referrals. We took it to our mechanic who welded on a metal plate to attach the gas pedal. In 2008, we received a letter from Toyota Corp. Extending the warranty for rust and corrosion on the frames of Toyota Tacoma years 1995 through 2000, with a buy back program. Repairs were to be done to get the smog done, but our mechanic stated that the damage from corrosion and cracking were too dangerous for us to drive it, that the throttle will break next. He claimed the reason was the metal was not tempered right at the manufacturer when the truck was built. We took it back to the Toyota dealership, who told us that they saw the cracking and damage, and never had seen something like that before, it did not fall within the warranty guidelines. They only said they could offer us a 'deal" for another vehicle, which we refused. Our mechanic claims that the undercarriage in the front will not withstand a collision. Incidentally, the gas pedal broke away while I was driving on the freeway! updated 01/21/09.
The contact owns a 2000 Toyota Tacoma. The contact heard about an issue with the frames on the 1995-2000 Toyota Tacoma. He consulted the manufacturer and dealer and they confirmed the 150% buyback option, but would not confirm the process. He asked the dealer if the frame could be replaced and was informed that it could not. The contact was convinced that the frame could be replaced and wanted to have it done instead of trading in the vehicle. An independent mechanic stated that the frame was "soft" and not structurally sound. The current and failure mileages were 66,276.
Toyota released a service bulletin for 1995-2000 model year Tacoma due to frame rot. I've have spoken to many people who have had their Tacoma bought back by Toyota to avoid potential safety risks. Toyota has refused to repurchase my vehicle because it has a salvage title. I fear rsk of fire should I be hit in the rear and my frame fails due to a manufacturing problem, having nothing to due with the salvage title.
The contact owns a 2000 Toyota Tacoma. The contact received a recall notice from Toyota informing him that the frame of the vehicle had excessive rust. The notice also informed the consumers that if they inspect the vehicle and notice excessive rust, the manufacturer would reimburse them for financial loss and possibly exchange the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer for inspection and it failed. A representative from Toyota stated that although the vehicle was experiencing an identical failure, they would not assume any financial liability because the title was salvaged. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure and current mileages were 77,000. Updated 06/02/08
In November, 2007, I noticed a banging noise whenever I drove over the smallest of bumps. I examined the outside & the underside of the 2000 Toyota Tacoma truck I had been driving since new, & found the following: #1, the truck frame is severely rotted with jagged, sharp, irregular, penetrating holes in the frame - up to 6 inches in length. #2, the underneath inside of the truck frame box beams are covered with corrosion & large pieces of frame have "flaked off"! #3, the severest corrosion extends from the "cabin front area" to the rear leaf springs, on the driver's side. Similar but slightly lesser corrosion extends on the passenger side of this Toyota truck. #4, one rear "cabin mounting block" on the frame, on the driver's side, has totally disintegrated, dropping the cabin down about 1 inch, directly onto the frame causing my banging sound! the passenger's side rear "cabin mounting block" on the frame is about 75% disintegrated! I fear this truck might have become unsafe in an accident, due to the poor structural integrity of its frame. It was purchased new, locally, never even partially submerged in water, & never abused. It was always inspected & maintained by the local Toyota dealer, yearly, I bought it from. It was never in an auto accident, & the only damage it ever suffered, accident wise, was a fender being struck by a deer. Please note that this 2000 Toyota trucks exhaust system is still intact & original! I would expect this trucks frame to outlast an exhaust system, at the least! something is definitely wrong with the steel &/or fabrication of this particular Toyota Tacoma's frame, calling forth a safety question. This truck, at the time, had 97,361 miles on it. It was purchased new 7 yr's ago! I contacted the Toyota dealer with these facts, with a request for a "frame inspection", the dealer said the truck is "out-of-warranty", & cannot be repaired!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Clark Fork, ID, USA