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U.S. public vehicle records

1995 Toyota TACOMA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

124 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

160,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1995 model year. Data snapshot: . 51 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Suspension:Rear:Springs:Leaf Spring Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 20 of 124 complaints (16.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior75.6%
Braking behavior64.8%
Fuel system concerns64.8%
Electrical and battery issues54.0%
Transmission and shifting10.8%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Suspension:Rear:Springs:Leaf Spring Assembly
20
Suspension
19
Structure:Body
11
Unknown Or Other
10
Structure:Frame And Members
9
Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields
8
Suspension:Front
8
Suspension:Rear:Springs:Leaf Spring Assembly:Leaf
8
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Suspension:Rear:Springs:Leaf Spring Assembly20
Suspension19
Structure:Body11
Unknown Or Other10
Structure:Frame And Members9
Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields8
Suspension:Front8
Suspension:Rear:Springs:Leaf Spring Assembly:Leaf8

Suspension:Rear:Springs:Leaf Spring Assembly: 20; Suspension: 19; Structure:Body: 11; Unknown Or Other: 10; Structure:Frame And Members: 9; Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields: 8; Suspension:Front: 8; Suspension:Rear:Springs:Leaf Spring Assembly:Leaf: 8

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
2
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
1
75,000 to 99,999
7
100,000 to 149,999
13
150,000 and above
27
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0002
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9991
75,000 to 99,9997
100,000 to 149,99913
150,000 and above27

Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 13; 150,000 and above: 27

150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (27). 73 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995
5
1996
10
2000
22
2001
9
2002
9
2003
7
2004
4
2005
3
2006
1
2007
1
2008
5
2009
2
2010
4
2011
3
2012
2
2013
9
2014
7
2015
5
2016
4
2017
1
2018
6
2020
2
2021
2
2023
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
19955
199610
200022
20019
20029
20037
20044
20053
20061
20071
20085
20092
20104
20113
20122
20139
20147
20155
20164
20171
20186
20202
20212
20231

1995: 5; 1996: 10; 2000: 22; 2001: 9; 2002: 9; 2003: 7; 2004: 4; 2005: 3; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 5; 2009: 2; 2010: 4; 2011: 3; 2012: 2; 2013: 9; 2014: 7; 2015: 5; 2016: 4; 2017: 1; 2018: 6; 2020: 2; 2021: 2; 2023: 1

Pattern summary

Suspension:Rear:Springs:Leaf Spring Assembly leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10011542 · 2003-03-12 (March 12, 2003)

A BOLT FELL FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO SPINS FREELY. *JB DEALER TIGHTENED LOOSE STEERING WHEEL NUT. THIS ALSO ENABLED THE AIR BAG SENSOR HARNESS AND HORN. CONSUMER DECLINED TO HAVE SRS AIR BAG LIGHT REPLACED. *TT

Owner-reported narrative. 141,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011542 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10028901 · 2003-07-22 (July 22, 2003)

THE HEADLIGHTS WORKED INTERMITTANTLY, THEN THEY STOPPED WORKING AT ALL. I AM AN ELECTRICIAN, AND I STARTED DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM, FINDING NO GROUND TO THE HEADLIGHTS. FOLLOWING THE WIRING DIAGRAM, THIS LED ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE DIMMER SWITCH PORTION OF THE COMBINATION SWITCH ON THE STEERING WHEEL HAD FAILED. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I FOUND THAT THE BLACK/WHITE GROUND WIRE FOR THAT SWITCH ON THE WIRING HARNESS SIDE OF THE CONNECTOR UNDER THE DASH WAS BLACKENED FROM EXCESS HEAT. ALSO THE TERMINAL INSIDE THE CONNECTOR WAS ALMOST MELTED. THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 113,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10028901 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10525717 · 2013-07-19 (July 19, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HEARD A KNOCKING FROM UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BRAKE SPECIALIST FOR INSPECTION AND THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE FRONT FRAME, WHICH WAS CORRODED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE SPECIALIST THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 174,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 174,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10525717 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 601111 · 1995-12-12 (December 12, 1995)

EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. *TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 601111 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10018549 · 2003-05-12 (May 12, 2003)

MIDDLE LEAF IN BOTH REAR SPRINGS ON 1995 TOYOTA TACOMA 4X4 STD CAB WERE FOUND BROKEN IN TWO. BREAK IS JUST IN FRONT (TOWARDS ENGINE) OF AXLE U-BOLTS. DRIVERS SIDE FRONT BROKEN PIECE HAD ROTATED INWARD TOWARDS 18 GALLON GAS TANK (WITHIN TWO INCHES) AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BROKEN PIECE HAD ROTATED INWARD AND HIT AND DENTED SHOCK CASING. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 205,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018549 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10126742 · 2005-06-27 (June 27, 2005)

1. TRUCK PRIMARILY USED AS A PASSENGER VEHICLE. ONLY INFREQUENT USE TRULY AS A TRUCK. 2. WHILE CARRYING A MODERATE LOAD ON THE HIGHWAY, A GRATING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE SPRING. THE LOWER LONG LEAF (2 LEAF + HELPER) HAD BROKEN OFF FORWARD OF THE DIFFERENTIAL AND DISLODGED ITSELF FROM THE ASSEMBLY SUCH THAT IT WAS RUBBING AGAINST GAS TANK SEAM. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I DISCOVERED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR LEAF SPRING WAS ALSO BROKEN BUT ONLY SLIGHTLY DISLODGED. BOTH HAD BEEN BROKEN FOR AN UNDETERMINED AMOUNT OF TIME SIN…

Owner-reported narrative. 232,065 miles reported. Look up ODI 10126742 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10204679 · 2007-10-02 (October 2, 2007)

EXTERIOR LIGHTING HEADLIGHTS: THE HEADLIGHTS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY,FLASHING FROM LOW BEAM TO HIGH THEN OFF AND BACK ON. I AM AN AIRCRAFT MECHANIC, AND I STARTED DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM, FINDING NO GROUND TO THE HEADLIGHTS. FOLLOWING THE WIRING DIAGRAM, THIS LED ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE DIMMER SWITCH PORTION OF THE COMBINATION SWITCH ON THE STEERING WHEEL HAD FAILED. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I FOUND THAT THE BLACK/WHITE GROUND WIRE FOR THAT SWITCH ON THE WIRING HARNESS SIDE OF THE CONNECTOR UNDER THE DASH WAS BLACKENED FROM EXCESS HEAT. ALSO TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 174,993 miles reported. Look up ODI 10204679 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 802972 · 1996-09-30 (September 30, 1996)

THE 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION STICK SHIFT WILL NOT STAY IN GEAR. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 802972 at NHTSA ↗