1998 Toyota Tacoma

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/28/2005· SUSPENSION

  MY 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA HAD ITS LEFT REAR LEAF SPRING BREAK JUST IN FRONT OF THE REAR DIFFERENCIAL. THIS CAUSE THE LEAFS TO TWIST INWARDS AND RUB AGAINST THE GAS TANK EXPOSING THE BARE METAL OF THE TANK. LUCKLY I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE MECHANIC BEFORE THE RUBBING AGAINST THE TANK WORKED ITS WAY THROUGH POTENTIALLY CAUSING AN EXPLOSION WITH A SPARK. AT THIS TIME I WILL BE REPLACING THE LEAF SPRINGS (AFTER TAKING SOME PHOTOS). I HAVE ALSO FILED A COMPLAINT NO 2005-12280233 WITH TOYOTA MOTOR CORP. THEIR POSITION IS THAT I WILL HAVE TO BEAR THE COST OF THE REPAIR AS IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I BELIEVE THIS IS A POTENTIALLY UNSAFE CONDITION AND A RECALL TO CHECK LEAF SPRINGS SHOULD BE MADE. *NM

• 12/26/2005· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  THE HANDLES ON BOTH DOORS HAVE BROKEN AND I AM UNABLE TO OPEN MY TRUCK FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE HANDLES ARE MADE OF PLASTIC AND THE PLASTIC HAS SNAPPED. *NM

• 12/20/2018· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEAT BELTS,SERVICE BRAKES

  THE WIRING HARNESS CABLE FROM THE SENSORS TO THE COMPUTER BURNOUT AND THE SEATBELTS DOESN'T RESPOND RIGHT ESPECIALLY WITH HIS UNRAVELING AND DOESN'T LOCK GOOD OR POOL AND THE MASTER CYLINDER IT'S NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY EITHER IT'S LIKE IT'S NOT STOPPING THE BRAKES ARE NOT STOPPING I KNOW THE VEHICLE IS OLD BUT STILL THIS IS A DEFECT AND VERY HAS FOR THE DRIVERS OF ALL THE VEHICLES MY 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA SR5 2.4 LITER 2 WHEEL DRIVE

• 12/19/2007· STRUCTURE

  I WAS TOLD TODAY BY AN INSURANCE APPRAISER THAT THE FRAME ON MY 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA EXTENDED-CAB, 4X4 PICKUP TRUCK IS RUSTED SO BADLY THAT IT'S UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND COULD VERY POSSIBLY BREAK ON ROUGH ROAD CONDITIONS. SUCH A FAILURE COULD RENDER THE VEHICLE UNCONTROLLABLE AND CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH. HIS EVALUATION WAS SIMPLY THAT "THIS TRUCK IS NOW JUNK". HE WAS SURPRISED THAT THE IMPACT OF THE COLLISION DAMAGE HE WAS ASSESSING DIDN'T BREAK THE FRAME. I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK NEW IN AUGUST OF 1998 ($27000+ WINDOW STICKER) AND IT NOW HAS 46,766 MILES ON IT. ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT THIS RUST IS NOT REPAIRABLE AND THAT THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND DRIVEN CAREFULLY BY A MATURE DRIVER. *TR

• 12/19/2000· POWER TRAIN

  VEHICLE HAS A CLUTCH CHATTER PROBLEM WHICH COULD CAUSE OTHER DAMAGES. DEALER HAS REPLACED 4 CLUTCHES/ 4 PRESSURE PLATES, AND 2 FLY WHEELS. BUT DEFECT STILL OCCURS. DEALER CLAIMS IT IS NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

• 12/18/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  RUBBER SUBSTANCE COATING THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD CAUSE FIRE.

• 12/17/1998· TIRES

  WHEN DRIVING THE TIRES STICK, CAUSING DIRT AND ROCKS TO COME FLYING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE,AND THAT IS A SAFETY DEFEC. THE ROCKS MIGHT HIT ANOTHER CONSUMER/VEHICLE OR WINDSHIELD. *AK

• 12/16/2003· AIR BAGSCrash

  UPON FRONTAL COLLISION AT 40-45 MPH IN THE FRONT MIDDLE TO LEFT SIDE OF VEHICLE, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. OWNERS INFORMATION STATES THE AIR BAG SHOULD GO OFF AT 14 MPH. *AK

• 12/14/2016· STRUCTURE

  MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED EACH YEAR AND PROPERLY MAINTAINED. INSPECTIONS AND OTHER MAINTENANCE HAVE FREQUENTLY OCCURRED AT TOYOTA DEALERS BY TOYOTA TECHNICIANS. MY VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING ANNUAL INSPECTION DECEMBER 2016 AT A NON-TOYOTA GARAGE AND I WAS ADVISED OF A FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY ISSUES CAUSED BY SEVERE RUSTING ON THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK. I WAS ALSO ADVISED TO CEASE DRIVING THE TRUCK AS IT IS NOW CONSIDERED A DANGER TO MYSELF AND, I ASSUME, TO OTHER MOTORISTS. THE TECHNICIAN SUGGESTED THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. I CALLED TOYOTA SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS ULTIMATELY TOLD I HAD RUN OUT OF TIME. I PLEADED THAT I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR OVER TEN YEARS AND WOULD HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF ANY RECALLS HAD I RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION OF ONE, BUT NO ONE IS ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHY I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. A PROBLEM LIKE THIS DOES NOT CROP UP WITHIN A YEAR AND HAVE THE ABILITY TO HIDE FROM HONEST TECHNICIANS CONCERNED WITH THE INTEGRITY OF THEIR INSPECTIONS/MAINTENANCE AND THE SAFETY OF MOTORISTS. THIS VEHICLE IS FREQUENTLY USED FOR TRAVEL OVER DISTANCES GREATER THAN 50 MILES, ONE WAY, AND TO FIND OUT THAT I HAVE BEEN OPERATING SUCH A DANGEROUS VEHICLE OVER SUCH LONG DISTANCES AND POSING SUCH A DANGER TO MYSELF AND COUNTLESS OTHER MOTORISTS BECAUSE OF THE SILENCE AND/OR NEGLIGENCE OF TOYOTA TECHNICIANS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND REPREHENSIBLE. MY VEHICLE IS OTHERWISE IN GREAT RUNNING CONDITION WITH MANY NEW PARTS THAT SHOW PRIDE OF OWNERSHIP. I MUST DEMAND THAT TOYOTA REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FRAME ON MY VEHICLE TO RESTORE THE SAFETY AND PEACE OF MIND THAT MOTORISTS HAVE A RIGHT TO EXPECT WHEN THEY GET BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A CAR. *TR

• 12/14/2011· SEAT BELTS

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS SHREDDING AND TEARING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE SEAT BELT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE SEAT BELT WAS REPLACED AND AFTER THE REPAIR, THE SEAT BELT BEGAN TO SHRED AND TEAR AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

• 12/14/1998· AIR BAGSCrash

  THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN AND A PATHFINDER CROSSED IN FRONT OF HIM, WENT INTO HIS LANE. CONSUMER HIT THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE WHERE THE TIRES ARE LOCATED ON THE BACK OF THE PATHFINDER . DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY.

• 12/10/2016· SEAT BELTS

  EXCESS FRAYING BOTH DISES

• 12/10/2001· TIRES

  REAR LEFT TIRE SEPARATED WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. THE SIDE OF THE TIRE CAME OFF.*AK (TIRESIZE: P265/75R15)

• 12/09/1998· STRUCTURE

  FRONT BUMPER IS SIMPLY A PLASTIC SHROUD. IT PROVIDES NO PROTECTION AGAINST ANY TYPE OF INCIDENTAL CONTACT. EXCESSIVE BODY DAMAGE COULD OCCUR AT SPEEDS LESS THAN 5 MPH.

• 12/07/2015· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  I TOOK MY 1998 TACOMA IN FOR AN INSPECTION AT MY LOCAL DEALER IN NOVEMBER OF 2011. I WAS TOLD IT PASSED AND HAD ONLY NORMAL SURFACE RUST. NO COMPENSATION IN ANY FORM WAS MADE, NOT EVEN AN UNDERCOATING. MY VIN NUMBER FELL INTO THE CATEGORY OF BEING SUSPECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER. I MADE THE DEALER AWARE OF THIS AT THE TIME. NOW AT 190K MILES AND THE 15 YR DEADLINE GONE, I HAVE A USELESS TRUCK THAT IS BASICALLY WORTH NOTHING AS FAR AS I CAN TELL. THIS ISSUE SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH IN 2011 WHEN THEY WERE GIVEN THE CHANCE. THE DEALER JUST SENDS YOU ON YOUR MERRY WAY BECAUSE THEY KNOW THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT. THE FRAME RUSTS FROM THE INSIDE OUT. NOTHING WILL FIX IT. TOYOTA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RUSTY FRAMES.

• 12/07/1999· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  VEHICLE WAS AT COMPLETE STOP WITH AIR CONDTIONER ON, IDLE KICKED IN & LURCHED THE VEHICLE FORWARD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TWICE. THE TROTTLE SENSOR WAS REPLACED THE FIRST TIME. THE SECOND TIME CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC IT WAS THE NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

• 12/06/2010· STRUCTURE

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MAIN FRAME AND REAR BUMPER EXHIBITED SEVERE RUST. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT AND REAR SHOCKS WERE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST AND WITHIN A ONE YEAR PERIOD, BOTH NEW SHOCKS REQUIRED A SECOND REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXAMINED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 182,000. UPDATED 02/07/11 *BF UPDATED 04/21/11

• 12/06/2007· STRUCTURE

  1998 TOYOTA TACOMA WITH A CRACKED FRAME. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FRAME IS CRACKED AND IT IS NOT DUE TO RUST OR CORROSION. CONSUMER STATES THAT HIS SON HEARD A LOUD BANG AND FELT THE REAR END WAS LOOSE. *KB

• 12/03/2000· SEAT BELTS

  THE SEATBELT JAMMED IN THE "CLOSED" POSITION AND I WAS ONLY ABLE TO DEPLOY IT FOR RESTRAINING PURPOSES WITH CONSIDERABLE EFFORT. THE BELT HAS FRAYED ALONG THE FRONT LEADING EDGE AND THIS COULD BE JAMMING THE RETRACTOR MECHANISM. THE BELT HAS SO FRAYED - JUST FROM THIS JAM - I WILL HAVE TO HAVE IT REPLACED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE I CAN OPERATE THE VEHICLE. *AK

• 12/03/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  VEHICLE VIRBRATES WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, AND THE DEALER STATES THE MOTOR SUPPORTS AREN'T LARGE ENOUGH FOR THE MOTOR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE.*AK

• 12/02/2007· STRUCTURE

  FRAME IS ROTTED FROM RUST AND IS UN-USABLE. *TR

• 11/30/2017· STRUCTURE

  THE PROBLEM WITH MY TRUCK IS THAT THERE IS SEVER CORROSION ON THE FRAME MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. TOYOTA HAS PREVIOUSLY ACKNOWLEDGED AND ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM HOWEVER THEIR ATTEMPT (UNDERCOATING) FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER NOW REFUSES TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION.

• 11/29/2007· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  I HAVE SEEN IN THE NEWS, REPORTS OF '07 TOYOTA TACOMAS ACCELERATING UNINTENTIONALLY. I BOUGHT A USED 1998 TACOMA ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED PERHAPS TEN OR MORE INCIDENTS OF MY ENGINE RUNNING AWAY TO THE POINT I HAVE TO PUT IT NEUTRAL AND KICK THE GAS PEDAL TO STOP IT. AT LEAST TWICE THAT HAS NOT WORKED , FORCING ME TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE. I NOTICE IT HAPPENS WHEN I'M DOWNSHIFTING FROM THIRD TO SECOND. I CALLED TOYOTA TWO YEARS AGO AND ASKED IF THEY HAD HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM FROM OTHER OWNERS. THEY SAID THEY HAD NOT. THIS IS NOT SO MUCH A COMPLAINT AS IT IS AN FYI TO YOU IN CASE YOU'RE STILL LOOKING INTO THIS. OTHER THAN THAT THE TRUCK HAS BEEN VERY DEPENDABLE. AND SINCE THE PROBLEM IS SO INTERMITTENT, ( IT HASN'T HAPPENED IN A YEAR), I DON'T FEEL THE NEED TO GET RID OF IT. BUT I CAN IMAGINE IN THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU OR TOYOTA IS LOOKING INTO THIS. THANK YOU, JOHN T. POPE *TR

• 11/28/2007· STRUCTURE

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE VEHICLE'S FRAME IS ROTTED, RUSTED, AND CORRODED FROM THE FRONT TO THE BACK OF THE FRAME RAILS. THE VEHICLE FAILED STATE INSPECTION BECAUSE IT WAS DEEMED AS STRUCTURALLY UNSAFE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND TOYOTA WILL NOT RECOGNIZE THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND PURCHASE DATE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

• 11/27/2012· STRUCTURE

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT INSIDE THE VEHICLE WOULD BOUNCE UP AND DOWN WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE FRAME HAD RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

• 11/23/1998· SEAT BELTS

  FRONT RESTRAINT BELTS ARE NOT LONG ENOUGH FOR THE VEHICLE, AND THE DEALER TELLS CONSUMER TO PAY FOR EXTENTIONS IF THEY DON'T FIT. *AK

• 11/20/1999· UNKNOWN OR OTHERCrash

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

• 11/17/2007· STRUCTURE

  FRAME BROKE IN HALF ON PASSENGERS SIDE AHEAD OF REAR WHEEL. FRAME RUSTED 2005. FRAME RUSTED 2007. FRAME HAS APPROXIMATELY $1000 OF WELDING DONE TO IT. WON'T PASS INSPECTION IN 2008. *TR

• 11/17/2000· AIR BAGSCrash

  SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT RESULTING IN SEVERE FRONT END DAMAGE INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WITH NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE HEAD TRAUMA AS A RESULT. *AK

• 11/14/2016· SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  THERE IS AN ACCELERATED AND ABNORMAL AMOUNT OF CORROSION AND RUST SHOWING UP ON UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. REAR LEAF SPRINGS HAVE LOST RUBBER BUMPER DUE TO RUST, AND SUSPENSION/FRAME MAKE NOISES DUE TO STRESS ON FRAME WHICH IS THE RESULT OF RUST/CORROSION. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER TO THIS VEHICLE, HAVING PURCHASED IT NEW AND HAVING ALWAYS HAD IT IN COLORADO A MOSTLY DRY CLIMATE NOT CONDUCIVE TO RUST/CORROSION. I HAVE IT AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM MULTIPLE TIMES PER YEAR FOR SERVICE, AND IT IS STILL UNDER 150K ORIG MILES. I HAVE NEVER BEEN INFORMED BY THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP REPS. ABOUT CONCERNS WITH RUST/CORROSION ISSUES, NOR HAS ANY COMPANY STAFF EVER ACKNOWLEDGED ANY CONCERNS OVER THESE ISSUES, OR HAS THE COMPANY REACHED OUT TO INFORM ME OF POTENTIAL PROBLEMS. IN NO WAY, SHAPE OR FORM HAS TOYOTA EVER ADVISED ME OF ANY RECALL, CONCERNS OR PROBLEMS. I HAVE LIVED AT MY CURRENT RESIDENCE AND HAD THE SAME PHONE NUMBERS FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS AND THIS HAS BEEN IN THE STEVENSON TOYOTA DEALERSHIP RECORDS THIS WHOLE TIME. THIS IS EXTREMELY CONCERNING DUE TO THE MOUNTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS HERE IN COLORADO, AND SPEED AT WHICH THIS RUST/CORROSION IS EXPANDING AND MAKING THE VEHICLE WEAK AND UNSAFE TO OPERATE. APPARENTLY MORE OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE AND MODEL YEAR ARE EXPERIENCING THE VERY SAME ISSUES AND HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED BY TOYOTA. THIS APPEARS TO BE A PROLIFIC ISSUE THAT NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.

• 11/11/2008· STRUCTURE

  1998 TOYOTA TACOMA WITH SIGNIFICANT FRAME RUST. VEHICLE FALLS WITHIN THE "FRAME RUST CORROSION PERFORATION WARRANTY EXTENSION" PROGRAM OFFERED BY TOYOTA. THE PROGRAM OFFERS TO BUY BACK TOYOTA TACOMAS THAT FAIL THEIR "INSPECTION" DEALER ACTUALLY DENTED THE FRAME DURING INSPECTION DUE TO WEAK FRAME SECONDARY TO RUST. THEY DID NOT PUT A HOLE IN IT THEREFORE RETURNING IT TO ME, SAYING THE VEHICLE IS SAFE. CONTACTED CORPORATE TOYOTA AND BASICALLY GOT BLOWN OFF AS THEY STATED THE DEALER DID NOT PUT A HOLE IN IT DURING INSPECTION. PERSONALLY, ANY VEHICLE WHICH YOU CAN DENT THE FRAME IN CRITICAL AREAS WITH A 12 OZ HAMMER WITH "LIGHT TO MODERATE" SWINGS IS UNSAFE. AT THIS POINT I CAN ONLY HOPE I DO NOT GET INTO A CRASH WITH THIS VEHICLE. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT AS I BELIEVE THEY ARE OVERLOOKING A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR

• 11/08/2000· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  CRUISE CONTROL IS DANGEROUS, WHEN TURNED ON 90% OF TIME IT WONT ENAGE WHEN BUTTON IS PRESSED, IF YOU DO NOT TURN POWER TO UNIT OFF, IT WILL ENGAGE AT RANDOM AND CAUSE GREAT SURPRISE AND DANGER TO THE DRIVER. COMPLAINED TO DEALER 5 TIMES, UNIT HAS BEEN REPLACED, BUT SAME PROBLEM WITH REPLACEMENT. MANUFACTUER OF TRUCK'S ONLY RESPONSE"ALL PROBLEMS ARE HANDLED BY DEALERS". THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. *AK

• 11/07/2016· STRUCTURE

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA. UPON INSPECTING UNDER THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDES OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS RUST AND A HOLE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO SOLUTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 261,000.

• 11/07/2012· AIR BAGSCrash

  MY TRUCK WAS TRAVELING IN MIDDLE LANE OF INTERSTATE WHEN TRAFFIC ON THE RIGHT WAS SLOWING DOWN TO EXIT AND ANOTHER TRUCK IN THE LANE NEXT TO ME ON THE RIGHT DID NOT SLOW DOWN AND SWERVED INTO THE MIDDLE LANE FAILING TO YIELD CAUSING MY TRUCK TO STRIKE HIS TRUCK CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND TOTALING MY TRUCK. DURING THIS ACCIDENT THAT CRUSHED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

• 11/06/2017· WHEELS

  THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY AT A SPEED BETWEEN 60-65 ML/HR, WHEN I HEARD SOMETHING POP. WHEN COMING TO A STOP SIGN AT THE OFF RAMP, THE STEERING WHEEL IMMEDIATELY TURNED TO THE RIGHT, AFTER PRESSING ON THE BRAKES. I TOOK IT TO WALMART WERE I PURCHASED THE TIRES AND EXPLAINED TO THE INTAKE TECHNICIAN OF THE SITUATION AND REQUESTED A BALANCING OF ALL 4 TIRES, BECAUSE I THOUGHT A WEIGHT HAD FALLEN OFF THE RIM. THE AUTO TECHNICIAN BALANCED ALL 4 TIRES. THE RECEIPT STATED TIRES BALANCE ACCEPTED AND COMPLETE. NO OUT OF BALANCE SPECIFICATIONS WERE INDICATED. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60-65 ML/HR AND COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE STILL PULLED TO THE RIGHT IMMEDIATELY WHEN LETTING GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL. I THEN HAD THE ALIGNMENT CHECKED BY ANOTHER AUTO/TIRE SHOP. IT WAS FOUND TO BE OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT SOLVE THE VEHICLE PULLING TO THE RIGHT AND SWAPPED THE FRONT TIRES, FROM RIGHT TO LEFT. HE FOUND THE VEHICLE NOW PULLED TO THE LEFT. HE STATED THE ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS ARE CORRECT AND THAT IT WAS A BAD TIRE. THE PROBLEM WITH THE TIRE WAS INTERNAL AND TO CONTACT WALMART WHERE YOU PURCHASED THEM. WALMART DID NOT CHECK THE TIRE AND STATED THE WARRANTY WAS NOT EFFECTIVE AT 5/32ND TREAD DEPTH. WALMART STATED THEY OPTED OUT OF MICHELIN'S TIRE WARRANTY AND TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER OF THE TIRE DIRECTLY. I THEN CONTACTED MICHELIN NORTH AMERICA CUSTOMER CARE, WERE THEY AUTHORIZED ME TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER TIRE DEALER WHO SOLD MICHELIN TIRES. I TOOK IT TO PHIL LONG TOYOTA DEALER WHO STATED THEY WOULD PROCESS THE WARRANTY FOR THIS TIRE. THEY CHECKED THE TIRE AND FOUND THAT THE TIRE ON THE LEFT SIDE HAD AN INTERNAL SEPARATED BELT. THE COMPANY MICHELIN NORTH AMERICA IS PROCESSING THE WARRANTY.

• 11/06/2001· TIRES

  THE TIRE DEVELOPED A BLISTER ON THE SIDEWALL. I CHANGED THE TIRE, I WAS DRIVING TO THE FIRESTONE DEALER WHEN THE TIRE EXPLODED IN THE BED OF MY TRUCK. I HAVE DIGITAL PHOTOS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE DAMAGE. HMV. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W29VAWI497 TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

• 11/03/2007· STRUCTURE

  THIS IS A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA WITH 107,000 MILES. AFTER REPEATEDLY NOTICING RUST FLAKES ON THE GROUND UNDER THE VEHICLE, IT WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL MECHANICS AND A BODY SHOP FOR ASSESSMENT. THERE WAS CONSENSUS THAT THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH, AND THAT THERE WASN'T SUFFICIENT INTACT METAL LEFT TO ENABLE IT TO BE REPAIRED. THEY ALSO AGREED THAT THAT IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE THE FRAME (ESTIMATES RANGED FROM $3,500 TO $10,000), SO THE VEHICLE WAS ESSENTIALLY "TOTALED." THEY ALL WARNED THAT IT WAS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS TO DRIVE, SINCE THE SLIGHTEST ACCIDENT OR ROAD HAZARD COULD CAUSE THE FRAME TO BREAK AND THE VEHICLE TO SPLIT APART AND/OR BUCKLE. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT OLD ENOUGH, NOR DOES IT HAVE ENOUGH MILES ON IT, TO WARRANT THIS MASSIVE FAILURE OF FRAME INTEGRITY. IT HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND NOT DRIVEN UNDER ANY CONDITIONS THAT COULD ACCOUNT FOR THE FAILURE; THUS, IT SEEMS SELF-EVIDENT THAT IT IS A FUNDAMENTAL DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE VEHICLE THAT HAS RESULTED IN THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION. *TR

• 10/31/2005· STEERING

  1998 TOYOTA TACOMA 4X4 REG CAB THERE IS A KNOCK AND PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. MOST TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS SAY IT IS NORMAL AND SAY NOTHING IS WRONG. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN ISOLATED TO THE SLIP JOINT IN THE MAIN STEERING COLUMN COMING LOOSE. THIS WAS DONE BY A TOYOTA SERVICE TECH. THE PROBLEM WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP WITH THIS INFORMATION AND WAS FIXED BUT THEY SAY IT WILL MOST LIKELY HAPPEN AGAIN DUE NO CHANGE IN DESIGN BY TOYOTA. THE SLIP JOINT IS CRIMPED OVER THE SHAFT, AND AFTER USE IT BECOMES LOOSE CAUSING PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. *NM

• 10/30/2002· WHEELS

  DRIVER WAS ALONE TRAVELING WESTBOUND ON I-64. WHILE TRAVELING AT THE POSTED HIGHWAY SPEED (65), AFTER COMING OVER THE CREST AT MILE MARKER 242. THE DRIVER NOTED A LOUD SNAPPING SOUND. DRIVER THEN NOTED WITH PERIPHERAL VISION THAT THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL HAD BEEN EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. DRIVER'S IMMEDIATE REACTION WAS TO REMOVE FOOT FROM ACCELERATOR AND TO CONTINUE MAINTAINING CONTROL. THAT IS CONTINUE IN A STRAIGHT PATH WITH BOTH HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO PREVENT AN OVER CORRECTION SCENARIO. DRIVER TRIED TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES TO GRADUALLY SLOW DOWN. HOWEVER, AFTER APPLYING PRESSURE THE DRIVER REALIZED THAT HE HAD NO BRAKES. DRIVER CONTINUED WITH THE CONTROLLED CRASH AND ALLOWED THE TRUCK TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER WHERE THE TRUCK EVENTUALLY CAME TO A STOP. RIGHT FRONT SPINDLE SNAPPED. SINCE ROTOR AND BRAKES EJECTED WITH THE WHEEL DRIVER HAD NO BRAKES. WITNESS AVAILABLE IN RED JEEP (LICENSE # AVAILABLE). MORE DETAILS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. DT

• 10/29/1999· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  NO SUMMARY

• 10/24/2007· STRUCTURE

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE IS RUSTED AND CORRODED WHERE THE REAR SPRINGS HOOK TO THE FRAME. THE CONTACT HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO TOYOTA THREE TIMES AND THEY HAVE GIVEN HIM THE RUN AROUND. HE WAS INITIALLY INFORMED THAT TOYOTA WOULD MAKE A ONE HUNDRED PERCENT REPAIR. THEN HE WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD MAKE A FIFTY PERCENT REPAIR. THE DEALER FINALLY STATED THAT HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE COST FOR A SHORT TERM REPAIR WAS OVER $2,500. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INSPECTION AGENCY AND WAS INFORMED THAT TOYOTA'S REMEDY WOULD HAVE ONLY BEEN TEMPORARY. TOYOTA OFFERED TO PURCHASE THE VEHICLE AFTER THE REPAIR FOR HALF THE MARKET VALUE. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT PASS INSPECTION. THE CONTACT HAS PHOTOS OF THE VEHICLE AND ALSO OF HOW TOYOTA WAS GOING TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

• 10/23/2000· STRUCTURE

  THE SUPPORT ARMS THAT HOLD MY FRONT BUMPER ON KEEP BREAKING WITHOUT ME HITTING ANYTHING. THE BUMPER JUST HANGS ON BY WIRES SOMETIMES. FAIRWAY TOYOTA SAYS IT IS MY FAULT BECAUSE I USE IT ON A MAIL ROUTE

• 10/22/2007· STRUCTURE

  1998 TOYOTA TACOMA FRAME ROTTED AWAY AT REAR SPRINGS AND ELSEWHERE. *JB

• 10/22/2000· TIRES

  THE TIRE HAS A CRACK IN THE SIDE WALL THAT COULD RESULT IN A BLOW OUT. THE TIRE ALSO WILL NOT THE RECOMMENDED TIRE PRESSURE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 31X10.5R15 )

• 10/21/2002· SUSPENSION

  CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN HAVING AN OIL CHANGE WAS INFROMED THAT THE LEAF SPRINGS WERE FALLING APART. DEALER CONTACTED, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. TS

• 10/20/2007· STRUCTURE

  FRAME ROT IN FRONT OF THE REAR LEAF SPRING MOUNTS ON BOTH SIDES. I'VE HAD THREE SHOPS LOOK IT OVER AND ALL THREE SAY THE DAMAGE IS TO FAR GONE TO REPAIR. *TR

• 10/20/2000· TIRES

  WHILE DRIVING AROUND A CURVE THE LEFT FRONT FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRE BLEWOUT, DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BUT WAS NOT HURT.

• 10/19/2000· TIRES

  TIRES LOOK LIKE TREAD IS BREAKING OFF. WANT THEM REPLACED ASAP (DOT NUMBER: W29VAWI TIRESIZE: 265/75R)

• 10/19/2000· TIRES

  VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY DEALER AND FIRESTONE AUTO CENTER, BOTH CONCURRED THAT ALL TIRES SHOW SIGN OF TREAD SEPARATION ON A 1998 TOYOTA, TOCOMA; ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, P215/70R14, DOT# W2HYAWA351. FIRESTONE WILL NOT CHANGE TIRES BECAUSE TIRES WERE NOT COVER UNDER THE RECALL OR THE CONSUMER ADVISORY. TIRES ARE AVAILABLE FOR ANALYSI. *AK *SLC

• 10/17/2013· STRUCTURE

  1998 TOYOTA TACOMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE RUSTED FRAME RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF A RECALL. WHEN HE CALLED TOYOTA, TO INQUIRE ABOUT GETTING HIS VEHICLE FIXED, HE WAS INFORMED, HE WAS A MONTH TOO LATE.