1997 Toyota Tacoma Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Tacoma years
- Fewer complaints than other years 23rd of 32 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 131 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Toyota Tacoma. That ranks 23rd out of 32 Tacoma model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is structure (46 complaints, 35%), typically at around 158,500 miles. Complaints mention 13 crashes, 9 injuries. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year.
- 131owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 13complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 Toyota Tacoma problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | 46 | 35% | 158,500 | — | — |
| Suspension | 24 | 18% | 189,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 14 | 11% | 120,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 11 | 8% | 118,500 | — | — |
| Power Train | 9 | 7% | 160,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 6 | 5% | 115,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 5 | 4% | 131,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 5 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 4 | 3% | 55,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 4 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 2 | 2% | 81,500 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 1 | 1% | 85,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Toyota Tacoma recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 1997 Toyota Tacoma.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Whenâs he start and you get gas it won turn off but donât do it , and whend I hit a jump and I tuning he shake it wild
It appears to be the clear coat of the paint job has been coming off for a very long time. Really does not look good at all now. I reside in the state of Oregon. Although it rains a fair amount here, that should not cause this rate of decay of the paint job. It was not painted very well!!
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…
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…
My lee springs are rusted frame is to lee's springs are broken
Other Toyota Tacoma years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Tacoma | 10 | 0 |
| 2025 Tacoma | 106 | 5 |
| 2024 Tacoma | 152 | 5 |
| 2023 Tacoma | 54 | 4 |
| 2022 Tacoma | 59 | 3 |
| 2021 Tacoma | 81 | 0 |
| 2020 Tacoma | 90 | 1 |
| 2019 Tacoma | 219 | 4 |
| 2018 Tacoma | 209 | 3 |
| 2017 Tacoma | 242 | 5 |
| 2016 Tacoma | 323 | 4 |
| 2015 Tacoma | 101 | 4 |
| 2014 Tacoma | 93 | 4 |
| 2013 Tacoma | 125 | 6 |
| 2012 Tacoma | 295 | 7 |
| 2011 Tacoma | 186 | 9 |
| 2010 Tacoma | 294 | 13 |
| 2009 Tacoma | 519 | 13 |
| 2008 Tacoma | 447 | 11 |
| 2007 Tacoma | 541 | 10 |
| 2006 Tacoma | 782 | 11 |
| 2005 Tacoma | 707 | 10 |
| 2004 Tacoma | 414 | 3 |
| 2003 Tacoma | 360 | 3 |
| 2002 Tacoma | 333 | 3 |
| 2001 Tacoma | 396 | 4 |
| 2000 Tacoma | 211 | 0 |
| 1999 Tacoma | 249 | 0 |
| 1998 Tacoma | 300 | 1 |
| 1997 | 131 | 0 |
| 1996 Tacoma | 253 | 1 |
| 1995 Tacoma | 177 | 2 |
See all Toyota Tacoma problems by year, every Toyota model, or the Toyota VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Toyota Tacoma?
Owners most often report structure, suspension, tires problems. The top one, structure, accounts for 46 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Toyota Tacoma?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 1997 Toyota Tacoma a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Tacoma model years, the 1997 has fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.