1997 Toyota Tacoma: problems, recalls and reliability
4 recalls and 131 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is structure (34% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall May 2009
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 131 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“When's he start and you get gas it won turn off but don't do it , and whend I hit a jump and I tuning he shake it wild”Owner report · Power Train · Oct 2025
“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 toyota tacoma. The contact stated that the subframe was extremely rusted, making the vehicle unsafe to drive. The contact stated that a friend told him that the frame was rusted and needed to be taken to the dealer. The dealer was not called. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 172,774.”Owner report · Structure · Aug 2020
“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 toyota tacoma. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle shook and the subframe fractured half. The vehicle was driven to the smithtown toyota dealer located at 360 jericho turnpike, smithtown, ny 11787. Where it was stated that there was no recall on the vehicle. The contact stated that the technician had not inspected the vehicle. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 172,000.”Owner report · Structure · Jul 2020
Show 7 more owner reports
“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 toyota tacoma. While the vehicle was at an independent mechanic for routine maintenance, the mechanic found that the driver's side frame area was corroded and had holes. The contact stated that the manufacturer performed a repair under warranty for the frame undercoating for 1995 to 2005 tacoma vehicles, which did not correct the corrosion failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was 105,000.*pm consumer stated frame was once coated in 2011, now peeling and corroded.*jb”Owner report · Structure · Oct 2019
“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 toyota tacoma. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic to have the muffler replaced. The mechanic stated that the vehicle could not be repaired due to rust on the frame. The dealer (toyota of louisville, 6514 dixie hwy, louisville, ky 40258) stated that the contact needed to call the manufacturer. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the extended warranty for the frame expired on july 31, 2014. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 120,000.”Owner report · Structure · Sep 2018
“Recently purchased 97 toyota tacoma from private owner who claims he never received the notifications regarding the frame warranty extension from toyota and subsequently he never had the vehicle repaired. Now the frame on the vehicle is unsafe and I notified toyota who claims the extension expired and they refuse to do anything to help me, hopefully something can be done by someone because they are allowing unsafe vehicles to stay on the road because they do not want to pay anymore $ then they have to. Meanwhile they acknowledge that the frame issue was clearly their fault. Please help”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Aug 2018
“Took vehicle to curry honda to have part installed and they performed multi point inspection. Upon inspection found frame is rusted out and vehicle is unsafe to drive. Have not driven it since,and am without a vehicle. Can provide photos and documentation.”Owner report · Structure · Apr 2018
“I bought this pick up from wilson toyota,(ames,ia), on jan.17,2009.in the walk around/inspection of the vehicle, while talking with the salesman I layed on the ground,and crawled under the pick up looking for any signs of trouble. Noting the frame problems I'd had with another toyota(1984) asked if toyota had "cleaned" up their act and made the under carriage any better? Was assured "that those problems were all behind them".fast forward ^ years I'm paying a local body shop to replace the rear 60% of the frame @ a cost of $1800.00.now I find I'm having to fix/replace parts of the front end frame.”Owner report · Structure · Nov 2017
“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 toyota tacoma. The vehicle was taken to a repair shop for an alignment. The technician stated that a part of the frame was missing due to extreme rust. The vehicle was serviced per NHTSA campaign number: 07v013000 (suspension) but the remedy failed to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was invalid. The approximate failure mileage was 240,000. Updated 06/02/17*lj *as”Owner report · Structure · Mar 2017
“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 toyota tacoma. The contact stated that the vehicle structure was corroded. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage and VIN were unknown.”Owner report · Structure · Feb 2017
When filing, owners marked a crash in 13 of these complaints and injuries in 9 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 4 campaigns
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 1997 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Tacoma by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Toyota Tacoma reliable?
NHTSA has 131 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on record for the 1997 Toyota Tacoma. The most complained-about area is structure (34% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1997 Toyota Tacoma problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 149,000 miles or less.
Does the 1997 Toyota Tacoma have open recalls?
4 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning exterior lighting:headlights. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.