1995 Toyota Tacoma Suspension
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
APPROXIMATELY 5 YEARS AGO 125K MILES LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEPARATION. 11/11/18 APPROXIMATELY 250K MILES LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE BALL JOINT SEPARATION. TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL. IF I HAD BEEN AT HIGH SPPED SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH MIGHT HAVE OCCURRED.
FRONT END MAKING LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE. SEEN WHERE THERE WAS A RECALL. HAVE HAD ISSUES IN THE PAST AND REPLACED THOSE PARTS. FRONT END KEEPS MESSING UP. WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS MODEL TO ANYBODY.
CHASSI/ FRAME HAS CRACKS DUE TOO METAL FAILURE.FAILED STATE INSPECTION.
MU TACOMA HAS RUSTED SUSPENSION. I FIRST NOTIVE IT WHEN THERE WAS A RECALL. I WENT TO A DEALERSHIP AND WAS TIOLD I WAS NOT THE LIST. I PAID FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS OUT OF POCKET. NOW MORE RUST IN FRAME HAS BEEN DISCOVERED. IT WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. WHAT CAN I DO?????
WHEN DRIVING SLOW OR ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I WOULD HIT A BUMP I WOULD HEAR A POPPING NOISE. THOUGHT IT WAS A SHOCK THAT BROKE. TILL I SAW THE FRAME HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKE ON MY REAR SUSPENSION AREA. *JS
GOING ABOUT 20 MILES/HR SUDDENLY THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE BROKE, IT MEANS THE WHOLE WHEEL FOLD OUT OF PLACE LEAVING THE TRUCK NOT ABLE TO DRIVE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND THE TECHNICIAN DETECTED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SUSPENSION SUPPORT FRACTURED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V129000 (SUSPENSION: FRONT). THE VIN WAS INCLUDED; HOWEVER THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY PLANNED TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 217,668.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 96V129000 (SUSPENSION: FRONT). RECENTLY, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS BENT AND COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,500.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE, THE DEALER NOTED THAT THERE WERE 2 CRACKED LEAF SPRINGS IN THE REAR SUSPENSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED. UPDATED 01/10/07. *JB
DT: REAR LEFT SPRINGS FAILED. THE CALLER SAID IT WAS ON BOTH SIDES. THIS DEALER AND MANUFACTURER SAID THEY COULD DO NOTHING TO HELP HIM. *AK THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE 2 LEAFS IN ONE SPRING. *NM
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 SINCE THE BROKEN ENDS WERE WELL RUSTED. 3. WAS APPROX. 200 MILES FROM HOME AND FORTUNATELY HAD A HAMMER TO FREE THE BROKEN SPRING FROM THE TANK. STOPPED EVERY 30 MILES TO CHECK IT. THE PROBLEM IS NOT YET CORRECTED AND STILL INSTALLED ON VEHICLE. THIS COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY CAUSED A FIRE IF THE TANK WAS RUPTURED. TOYOTA WAS CALLED TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON THIS ISSUE. THEY TOOK MY VIN NUMBER AND SAID THAT THERE WAS A RECALL BUT MY PARTICULAR VIN WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. IN TRYING TO OBTAIN USED PARTS FROM AUTO RECYCLERS, MORE THAN ONE HAS STATED THAT THEY HAVE HAD QUITE A FEW INQUIRIES FOR USED SPRINGS FOR TACOMAS. AND AFTER SEARCHING THE NHTSA DATABASE, I BELIEVE THAT THE PROBLEM IS MORE WIDESPREAD THAN IS REPORTED TO TOYOTA OR THE NHTSA.
SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE USED 1995 TACOMA, UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE MIDDLE REAR DRIVER'S SPRING APPARENTLY BROKE AND CAME IN CONTACT WITH SHOCK, CAUSING HARD SQUEAKING. CHECKING WITH LOCAL SUSPENSION REPAIR SHOPS AND JUNKYARDS, ALL PARTIES INDICATE HOW COMMON AN OCCURANCE THIS IS. SEVERAL JUNKYARDS STATED THEY CANNOT KEEP ENOUGH OF THESE REPLACEMENT SPRINGS IN STOCK.*AK
TOM SCOTT MOTORS OF CALDWELL IDAHO SOLD ME A USED VEHICLE THAT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IN CONTACTING THE DEALERSHIP THE PROBLEM IS STILL NOT RESOLVED AND THEY ARE WAITING TO SEE IF THEY CAN PURCHASE THE PARTS FROM A WRECKING YARD. THE DEALERSHIP KNEW THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED NEW LEAF SPRINGS ON THE REAR OF THE TRUCK( THIS IS EVIDENT BECAUSE THEY UNDER COATED THE BROKEN PARTS) THEY DID NOTHING TO FIX IT BEFORE SELLING IT AND ALLOWED ME TO PURCHASE IT AND DRIVE FROM CALDWELL IDAHO TO LA GRANDE OREGON WHICH IS ABOUT 140 MILES ONE WAY. *JB
REAR 3-LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY HAS FAILED TWICE,BOTH TIMES BREAKING IN THE MIDDLE AND DAMAGING REAR SHOCK. BOTH TIME THIS HAS BROKEN WERE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS WITH LITTLE OR NO LOAD. LOCAL DEALERSHIP DENY'S HEARING OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT WAS QUICK TO SCHEDULE A REPLACEMENT FOR $1200!. *AK
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
IN JUNE 2003, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP BECAUSE IT WAS NOT RIDING SMOOTHLY IN THE REAR. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE LEAF SPRINGS WERE SPLIT IN HALF. *AK THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT HE HASN'T FIXED A LOT OF THESE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *SCC *JB
BROKEN REAR LEAF SPRING ON THE DRIVERS SIDE (LEFT). *JB
LEAF SPRINGS BROKEN ON REAR OF TRUCK UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM. JUST WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE WHO IS PULLING A CAMPER WITH THEIR FAMILY IN THE TRUCK HAS ONE FAIL AND IT CAUSES A CRASH THAT KILLS THEM ALL CAN YOU SAY LAWSUIT?*JB
WHILE DRIVING 40MPH LEFT REAR LEAF SPRING BROKE. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER.*AK
REAR LEAF SPRINGS BROKE AND SPUN OUT 1/2 INCH AWAY FROM CATCHING THE BACK WHEELS. DEALER AND TOYOTA WERE CONTACTED. *AK *SLC
LEAF SPRING BROKE IN TWO LOCATIONS. ONE PORTION DISLODGED AND ALSO DAMAGED NEARBY SHOCK ABSORBER AND NEARLY SEVERED REAR BRAKE LINE. *AK
THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS BROKE UNDER NORMAL OPERATION CONDITIONS ! I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALER AND SAID THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAVE A "FIX" FOR $600.00! I CALLED 10 JUNKYARDS LOOKING FOR USED SPRINGS AND THEY ALL JUST LAUGHED AND SAID" THEY SELL THEM AS FAST AS THEY GET THEM" BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A COMMON FAILURE. I NOW ASK EVERYONE I SEE DRIVING ONE OF THESE TRUCKS IF THIERS HAS BROKE AND ABOUT 80% OF THEM SAY YES! IF THE TRUCK HAD BEEN LOADED OR IF I HAD BEEN GOING FAST WHEN IT BROKE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A HECK OF A WREACK! HOW COULD SO MANY TRUCKS BE DOING THIS AND TOYOTA NOT BE MADE TO MAKE IT GOOD? THANKS, GREG. *AK
REAR LEAF SPRING DISCONNECTED WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT OF 5 MPH. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
BOTH SPRINGS FAILED AND DAMAGED REAR SHOCK CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK
THE LEFT REAR AND RIGHT REAR LEAF SPRINGS SNAPPED IN HALF NEAR MOUNTING POINT ON AXLE, ONE OF THE BROKEN SPRINGS SWUNG IN AND PUNCTURED THE SHOCK. NLM
Trend Over Time
Complaints by year
Other Issues
Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 1995 Toyota Tacoma has 77 Suspension complaints on file. 3 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.