1999 Toyota TACOMA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
230 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
120,633 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 127 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Body is the most frequently named component, appearing in 38 of 230 complaints (16.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 10 | 4.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 3.0% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 2.2% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 0.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 0.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 0.4% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Structure:Body | 38 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 37 |
| Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields | 22 |
| Suspension | 21 |
| Unknown Or Other | 19 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 16 |
| Tires | 16 |
| Air Bags | 9 |
Structure:Body: 38; Structure:Frame And Members: 37; Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields: 22; Suspension: 21; Unknown Or Other: 19; Air Bags:Frontal: 16; Tires: 16; Air Bags: 9
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 19 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 49 |
| 150,000 and above | 41 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 19; 100,000 to 149,999: 49; 150,000 and above: 41
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (49). 103 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 30 |
| 2001 | 24 |
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2003 | 9 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 21 |
| 2008 | 15 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 14 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 14 |
| 2015 | 17 |
| 2016 | 19 |
| 2017 | 12 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
2000: 30; 2001: 24; 2002: 7; 2003: 9; 2004: 8; 2005: 4; 2006: 3; 2007: 21; 2008: 15; 2009: 2; 2010: 14; 2011: 7; 2012: 1; 2013: 3; 2014: 14; 2015: 17; 2016: 19; 2017: 12; 2018: 7; 2019: 4; 2020: 2; 2021: 4; 2022: 1; 2024: 2
Pattern summary
Structure:Body leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 7 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 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 10063280 · 2004-04-08 (April 8, 2004)
THE REAR AXLE SEALS ARE LEAKING. THE REAR AXLE FLUID IS DRIPPING ON THE BRAKE DRUM. THIS IS THROWING THE REAR AXLE FLUID ONTO THE SHOE, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO LOCK UP. THE DRIVER ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT. *AK THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED SNOWY WEATHER WHILE MAKING A TURN. THE REAR END WOULD LOCK UP AT SLOW SPEEDS AND WOULDN'T UNLOCK UNTIL IT WAS GIVEN GAS TO START UP AGAIN. WHEN THE BRAKES LOCKED, THE VEHICLE SLID INTO THE CURB. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10063280 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10199967 · 2007-08-17 (August 17, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE BALL JOINTS FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL TO COLLAPSE. THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 90,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10199967 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10175255 · 2006-12-05 (December 5, 2006)
I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM BLAISE ALEXANDER FAMILY DEALERSHIP ON OCTOBER 19 2005. I BOUGHT IT WITH 80K MILES ON IT. I PAID ROUGHLY 13,500.00 FOR IT. MY LOCAL MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT HE NOTICED A SMALL RUST HOLE IN THE FRAME ON THE DRIVERS SIDE APPROXIMATELY 5 MONTHS AGO. WELL A FEW MONTHS LATER I HAD NOTICED A HUGE HOLE HAD APPEARED IN THE AREA OF THE LEFT REAR SHACKLE. SINCE IT WAS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL WELD SHOP. HE AGREED TO TRY AND FIX IT. UPON REMOVING THE BOX, THE GAS TANK HE NOTICED HE HAD OPENED A MAJOR CAN OF WORMS.…
Owner-reported narrative. 105,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10175255 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10585306 · 2014-04-28 (April 28, 2014)
ON MARCH 26, 2014, I LEARNED BY WORD OF MOUTH ABOUT THE RUST CORROSION PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA TACOMA'S. ON THAT DAY I CONTACTED TOYOTA TO VERIFY THE INFORMATION I RECEIVED. I WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA ABOUT THE "RUST CORROSION PROGRAM" AND THAT MY TACOMA WOULD NEED TO BE INSPECTED AND THAT I HAD UNTIL SEPT. 2014 TO GET THIS COMPLETED, AS THAT IS WHEN THE PROMOTION EXPIRED FOR MY TRUCK. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT A LETTER NOTIFYING ME WENT OUT IN 2008 AND I WAS PROVIDED THE ADDRESS IT WAS SEND, WHICH WAS NOT THE ADDRESS WHERE MY TRUCK WAS REGISTERED IN 2008. TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 161,790 miles reported. Look up ODI 10585306 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10125979 · 2005-06-20 (June 20, 2005)
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE, POWER STEERING PUMP GOES OUT. PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES ALREADY BY TEMPE TOYOTA AND SUPERSTITION SPRINGS TOYOTA. PUMP HAS GONE OUT FOR THE THIRD TIME IN 3 YEARS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10125979 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10154648 · 2006-04-05 (April 5, 2006)
TRUCK SHAKES AT ABOUT 45 MPH AND CONTINUES TO SHAKE THROUGH HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WHEN LOOKED AT FOR INSPECTION I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY BOTH TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE CENTERS AND INDEPENDENT GARAGES THAT THE PLAY IN THE RACK AND PINION IS CAUSING THE SHAKE AND THE PLAY IS TO SIGNIFICANT TO PASS INSPECTION. AS I WRITE, MY TRUCK IS AT A TOYOTA DEALER HAVING THE 4TH RACK AND PINION INSTALLED. THE SHAKE CAUSES SEALS IN THE RACK TO WEAR AND BREAK. WHEN THESE SEALS BREAK IT WILL QUICKLY EMPTY THE POWER STEERING PUMP OF FLUID CAUSING LOSS OF POWER ASSIST STEERIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 84,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10154648 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10853875 · 2016-04-06 (April 6, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE BATTERY CABLE WAS TOO SHORT TO REACH THE BATTERY CORRECTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY CLAMPS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE STARTER AND BATTERY WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 154,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 154,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10853875 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 756182 · 2001-12-29 (December 29, 2001)
MY TRUCK WAS RECALLED FOR A DEFECTIVE TRAILER WIRING HARNESS CONVERTER. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:01E041000. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO FERRIS TOYOTA IN DOVER, OH. THEY TOLD ME I HAD A CONVERTER THAT WASN'T RECALLED. THEY TOLD ME NOT TO WORRY IT WOULD BE FINE. ON 12/28/01 I HOOKED MY TRAILER UP TO THE TRUCK. BEFORE PULLING OUT I DISCOVERED THAT I HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS OR TURN SIGNALS ON THE TRAILER. USING A TEST LIGHT I DISCOVERED THAT I HAD POWER TO THE CONVERTER BUT NOT OUT OF THE CONVERTER. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO CAIN TOYOTA WHERE I HAD ORIGINALL…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 756182 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086992 · 2004-08-16 (August 16, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING MY 5 SPEED 3.4L TACOMA IN 3RD GEAR I GET A SLIGHT VIBRATION OTHER THAN NORMAL BETWEEN 40-45. IT IS ONLY IN 3RD GEAR THAT THIS OCCURS AND A TRANSMISSION FLUSH HAS BEEN PERFORMED TO SOMEWHAT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10086992 at NHTSA ↗