AI Damage2001 Toyota Tacoma: common problems
Owners of the 2001 Toyota Tacoma filed 396 complaints with NHTSA, most often about structure and suspension. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 396
- involving a crash
- 40
What fails most often
- 1 Structure 58% of all complaints
- 2 Suspension 20% of all complaints
- 3 Air bags 5% of all complaints
- 4 Steering 5% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 5% of all complaints
- 6 Powertrain 4% of all complaints
- 7 Tires 3% of all complaints
- 8 Vehicle speed control 3% of all complaints
- Structure: 228 complaints (58% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Suspension: 81 complaints (20% of all), 8 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Air bags: 20 complaints (5% of all), 19 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Steering: 20 complaints (5% of all), 6 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 19 complaints (5% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.4 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 2.7 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 3.4 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: RWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 396 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | 228 | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension | 81 | 8 | 0 |
| Air bags | 20 | 19 | 0 |
| Steering | 20 | 6 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 19 | 3 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 13 | 3 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 11 | 6 | 0 |
| Wheels | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Parking brake | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 3 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The truck was in a front end to rear end collision at or around 40 mph the airbags didn't deploy. I have pictures of the truck. The accident report. & witness of the vehicle. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
I was concerned that my airbags did not deploy and I wound up hitting my chin on the steering wheel and left elbow hit the windshield. Toyota corporate was notified and an inspector was sent out to my local toyota dealer on 3/12/18 but will not tell me anything until toyota corporate contacts me in 30-45 days.
The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained minor injuries, which did not require medical attention. A police report was filed. A diagnostic appointment was scheduled for february 7, 2018. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure.
Still upset about not knowing what caused the wreck, we decided to look up the truck to see if there had ever been a recall dealing with what exactly happened in her wreck, this is when we found out about the lower ball-joint failing causing the actions of loss of steering, accidents, and accidents with flipping.
The frame is completely rusted out and the spare tire cannot be removed. No notice was ever given to us or the previous owner by toyota, regarding the problems stated above.
The mechanic stated that the brakes had failed because the strut and shock had dismounted from the vehicle due to severe rust on the driver's side under carriage. The vehicle was included in a manufacturer's recall where the under carriage was treated with a anti-corrosion coating.
Even though the brake pedal went to the floor I was able to some how get the vehicle stopped before the passenger side hit the pole where my 1 year old daughter was riding. I had the truck checked for recalls in late 2008 when I purchased it.
Loss of spare tire assembly due to rust toyota will not replace wheel assembly will replace the rusted tire holder but not the tire toyota replaced the frame on a recall and did not replace the rusted spare tire holder this is negligence on the part of toyota someone may have been killed when the spare tire came loose…
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 985 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 3% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Tacoma has 258 complaints (33 years in the data). This year has 396, above average.
What to check before buying
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Other years of this model
- Tacoma 1995177 sources
- Tacoma 1996253 sources
- Tacoma 1997131 sources
- Tacoma 1998300 sources
- Tacoma 1999249 sources
- Tacoma 2000211 sources
- Tacoma 2002333 sources
- Tacoma 2003360 sources
- Tacoma 2004415 sources
- Tacoma 2005707 sources
- Tacoma 2006782 sources
- Tacoma 2007541 sources
- Tacoma 2008450 sources
- Tacoma 2009520 sources
- Tacoma 2010294 sources
- Tacoma 2011186 sources
- Tacoma 2012295 sources
- Tacoma 2013125 sources
- Tacoma 201493 sources
- Tacoma 2015102 sources
- Tacoma 2016592 sources
- Tacoma 2017480 sources
- Tacoma 2018379 sources
- Tacoma 2019390 sources
- Tacoma 2020269 sources
- Tacoma 2021246 sources
- Tacoma 2022182 sources
- Tacoma 2023129 sources
- Tacoma 2024244 sources
- Tacoma 2025155 sources
- Tacoma 202640 sources
- Tacoma 999912 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Toyota Tacoma?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: structure, suspension, air bags. Total complaints: 396. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: rust, corrosion (56%), airbags did not deploy (4%), knocking, grinding or other noise (2%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2001 Toyota Tacoma?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2001 Toyota Tacoma from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2001 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.