2000 Toyota Tacoma Structure
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
THE FRAME ON MY 2000 TACOMA 4X4 CORRODED AND THE RIGHT SIDE LEAF SPRING HOLDING THE THE REAR AXLE ON IS SHIFTED MOVING THE WHOLE AXLE SEVERAL INCHES BACKWARDS ON THE RIGHT SIDE, ON THE VERGE OF DETACHING COMPLETELY. MY BELOVED TACOMA IS UNDRIVEABLE, AND CRAIGSLIST IN KANSAS CITY WON'T LET ME SELL IT SINCE IT'S A SAFETY HAZARD, EVEN THOUGH I FULLY DISCLOSE EVERYTHING WRONG WITH THE FRAME, AND INCLUDE EXCELLENT PHOTOGRAPHS. SOME PEOPLE MAY WANT TO RESTORE THE FRAME AND HAVE THE MEANS TO DO SO. I CONTACTED TOYOTA U.S.A. AND WAS TOLD I'M TO LATE FOR RECALL: JULY OF 2015 WAS MY DEADLINE, 15 YEARS FROM THE DAY IT WAS PURCHASED BY SOMEONE, ALLOWING UNLIMITED MILES, AND UNLIMITED OWNERS. TOYOTA SHOULD ALLOW A RECALL OF ALL OF THERE DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS AT ANYTIME! THE TACOMA ONLY HAS 206,000 MILES ON IT, MECHANICALLY IS EXCELLENT, AESTHETICALLY, BEING A METALLIC EARTH GREEN, IS, I HATE TO SAY THE WORD NOW, BEAUTIFUL. I'M VERY FORTUNATE A SERIOUS MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT DIDN'T OCCUR WITH MY TOYOTA TACOMA, BEFORE THE DEFECTIVE CORRODED FRAME WAS DISCOVERED AT MY MECHANICS SHOP DURING YEARLY INSPECTION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS PREMATURE RUST AND CORROSION ON THE FRONT AND REAR FRAMES OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRAMES FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFUSED TO PROVIDE A PERMANENT REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 03/11/16*LJ *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE LEAF SPRING ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE FRACTURED AND SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED AND INSPECTED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT DUE TO THE SEVERE CORROSION, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING AN OIL CHANGE, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED. AS A RESULT, THE MECHANISM THAT HELD THE SPARE TIRE UNDER THE VEHICLE COULD NO LONGER HOLD THE SPARE TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHERE IT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR FRAME WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 199,340. MA 08/14/15 UPDATED 10/26/2017*CN
THE FRAME IS RUSTING OUT. TOYOTA KNEW THEY HAD A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THEIR NOTIFICATION CAMPAIGN DID NOT REACH US IN TIME. TOYOTA WILL NOT HONOR THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
TOOK TRUCK TO MECHANIC. VEHICLE HAS 240,000+ MILES. FRAME IS RUSTED OUT AND ALL ASSOCIATED PARTS, I.E. BRAKE CABLES ETC. AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. TRUCK IS IN CALIFORNIA, SUBJECT TO OCEAN AIR/SALT. CALIFORNIA NOT ONE OF STATES UNDER FRAME RECALL/REPLACE FOR RUST. MANY TOYOTA FORUMS WITH COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER SIMILAR OWNERS IN "NON-RECALL" STATES WITH EXCESSIVE FRAME RUST. MECHANIC SHOWED ME A 1993 FORD PICK UP WITH NEARLY NO RUST ON FRAME. TOYOTA SHOULD APPLY THE RECALL CONDITIONS TO ALL STATES, NOT JUST THOSE THAT USE SALT ON ROADS. I AM 3RD OWNER AND NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALL NOTICE. FOR SAFETY, TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE NOTIFIED ALL OWNERS, WHETHER VEHICLE SUBJECT TO RECALL OR NOT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 196,000. ,,UPDATED 01/06/15 *BF UPDATED 9/7/2017*CN
HEARD RATTLING SOUND FROM UNDER PICKUP. CHECKED AND SAW CORROSION OF FRAME. BROUGHT TO MECHANIC WHO SAID TRUCK IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, TOTAL FRAME CORRODED BY RUST, TOTAL FRAME ROTTED OUT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING MAINTENANCE PERFORMED, THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED THAT THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000.
I PURCHASED MY TACOMA NEW IN 2001 AND RECENTLY I HEARD OF A RECALL CONCERNING THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE, SO I TOOK MY TRUCK TO GLENN TOYOTA IN FRANKFORT KY. I WAS TOLD THAT THE FRAME WAS BAD AFTER THEY CHECKED THE FRAME BY HITTING IT WITH A HAMMER AND PUTTING A HOLE IN THE FRAME. I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD BUY BACK MY TRUCK FOR 1.5 TIMES THE BLUE BOOK VALUE. WE DONE SOME PAPER WORK WHEN THEY REALIZED MY TRUCK WAS A 2001 INSTEAD OF A 2000. I WAS THEN TOLD THEY WOULD NEITHER BUY BACK MY VEHICLE NOR FIX MY TRUCK THEY PUT A HOLE IN. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA AND I WAS TOLD THEY DID NOT HAVE TO FIX OR BUY BACK MY TRUCK BECAUSE IT WAS A ?VOLUNTARY RECALL?. THIS ALLOWED THEM TO NO LONGER HONOR ANY PART OF THIS RECALL WHICH INCLUDES NOT FIXING NOR BUYING BACK THE TRUCKS WITH FRAME PROBLEMS THAT ARE NEWER THEN 2000. I WAS ALSO TOLD I HAD WAITED TOO LONG FROM THE TIME THE RECALL WAS FIRST ISSUED. I WAS IN THE MILITARY DURING THE ISSUING OF THIS RECALL. DURING MY MILITARY OBLIGATION I SPENT A YEAR IN AFGHANISTAN AND A YEAR IN IRAQ. CLEARLY I WAS NOT IN A POSITION TO HEAR OF THE RECALL NOR BRING MY VEHICLE INTO A DEALERSHIP. NOT ONLY IS THIS BUSINESS PRACTICE NOT FAIR (DOING ONE THING FOR ONE CUSTOMER AND NOT OFFERING THE SAME DEAL TO THE NEXT), BUT TOYOTA CLEARLY KNOWS THERE IS UNSAFE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD AND DOES NOT WANT TO FIX THEIR MISTAKE. TOYOTA HAS MADE THE DECISION THAT IF THE VEHICLES FROM THE YEARS RANGING 1996-2000 FAILED THE SAME TEST THAT MY VEHICLE FAILED IT WAS UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE BOUGHT BACK. I KNOW THAT THIS MUST BE A SAFETY CONCERN OR TOYOTA WOULD NO LONGER TEST THE VEHICLES FROM 1996-2000 STILL. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED HOW TOYOTA HAS HANDLED THIS SITUATION, ESPECIALLY SINCE I WORK FOR TOYOTA MOTOR MANUFACTURING OF KENTUCKY (TMMK), AND I FEEL TOYOTA SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE VEHICLES THEY ARE SELLING. *TR
I HAVE A 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA AND HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY A RECALL. THE RECALL IS FOR EXCESSIVE FRAME RUST. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT MY OPTIONS ARE. CAN I PRESS FOR A REPAIR AND REFUSE A BUY BACK? I CALLED THE DEALER FROM MY CELL PHONE APPROX A YEAR AND A HALF AGO AND THEY STATED NO RECALL EXISTED FOR THE 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE ISSUE IS SIMILAR TO NHTSA REFERENCE NUMBER: 10379995 WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER TO HAVE A CORROSION RESISTANCE PRODUCT APPLIED TO THE FRAME THE TECHNICIANS NOTICE THE FRAME WAS RUSTED. *TR
LETTER FROM SENATOR KERRY ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE HIS CONCERNS WITH EXTREME RUST IN THE FRAME OF HIS 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA TRUCK *TGW THE FRAME WAS COMPROMISED DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE RUST. *JB
THE FRAME ON MY 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA HAS RUSTED THROUGH. I NEVER GOT ANY INFO ABOUT A RECALL BUT THERE IS ONE FOR MY MODEL. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THE FRAME COULD BREAK AT ANY TIME. *TR
2000 TOYOTA TACOMA FRAME RUST - I HAVE OWNED THIS TRUCK FOR TEN YEARS ALWAYS GETTING MY SERVICE DONE AT DARCARS HERE IN FREDERICK, MD. I DECIDED TO TAKE MY TRUCK TO A NEW MECHANIC AND TO WHAT I HAVE FOUND MY FRAME IS RUSTED. NOT ONLY RUSTED BUT FALLING APART, I WAS TOLD THAT MY TRUCK WAS A SAFETY HAZARD TO DRIVE AND THAT I SHOULD NOT BE DRIVING IT BECAUSE IT COULD FALL APART AT JUST HITTING A POT HOLE. THE CORROSION WAS THAT TERRIBLE. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED DARCARS IN FREDERICK, MD AND WAS TOLD TO BRING IT IN TOMORROW. DID THEY NOT HEAR MY SAY THAT IT WAS A POTENTIAL LIFE THREATENING DEATH TRAP TO DRIVE. UNHAPPY WITH MY RESPONSE I WENT TO DARCARS IMMEDIATELY AFTER PICKING MY TRUCK UP FROM MY NEW MECHANIC. I LEFT MY TRUCK AT DARCARS AND HAD TO GO RENT A CAR ON MY OWN UNTIL THEY LOOK AT MY TRUCK TOMORROW HOPEFULLY SOMETIME BEFORE NOON. HERE NOW I HAVE HAD TO PAY 267.00 OUT OF MY ACCOUNT TO GET A RENTAL CAR. UNTIL TOMORROW I HAVE NO ANSWERS. WHY DO I FEEL LIKE I HAVE BEEN PUNISHED FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE IN THE WRONG FOR. I LOVE MY TRUCK. HAD IT FOR YEARS AND DARCARS COULD NOT SEE AFTER SERVICING MY VEHICLE FOR 10 YEARS THAT MY FRAME WAS NEARLY NOTHING BUT RUSTED METAL WITH HOLES IN IT. THEY SURE DID FIND OTHER THINGS WRONG WITH MY TRUCK THAT NEEDED TO BE FIXED. A TRUE MECHANIC, A PERSON YOU TRUST TO MAKE YOUR CAR SAFE TO DRIVE LET ME DRIVE A VEHICLE AROUND THAT COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY KILLED ME AND THE LIFE OF MY DAUGHTER OF 11. HOW SAD ARE THESE PEOPLE? I AM VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THE SERVICE I HAVE RECEIVED FROM TOYOTA AND THE COMMUNICATION CONCERNING MY VEHICLE. THE ARE NOT CONCERNED FOR ANYONE'S SAFETY. SO I AM LEFT WITH NO VEHICLE, ONE THAT I JUST PAID OFF AND NOW I HAVE NOTHING. MAYBE THAT IS OK FOR SOME BUT FOR ME IT IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME AND CALLED THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS CLASSIFIED AS A LEVEL THREE RUSTING HAZARD. THEY WOULD NOT REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT REACHED A LEVEL FOUR, WHICH MEANT THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED TO THE POINT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NON-REPAIRABLE. SYMPTOMS OF LEVEL FOUR ARE HOLES OR FRACTURES WITHIN THE FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS MILDLY RUSTED. TWO YEARS LATER, HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE RUST ON A PORTION OF THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
IN 2006, THE GAS PEDAL BROKE AWAY FROM THE FIREWALL IN OUR 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, WITH NO REFERRALS. WE TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC WHO WELDED ON A METAL PLATE TO ATTACH THE GAS PEDAL. IN 2008, WE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM TOYOTA CORP. EXTENDING THE WARRANTY FOR RUST AND CORROSION ON THE FRAMES OF TOYOTA TACOMAS YEARS 1995 THROUGH 2000, WITH A BUY BACK PROGRAM. REPAIRS WERE TO BE DONE TO GET THE SMOG DONE, BUT OUR MECHANIC STATED THAT THE DAMAGE FROM CORROSION AND CRACKING WERE TOO DANGEROUS FOR US TO DRIVE IT, THAT THE THROTTLE WILL BREAK NEXT. HE CLAIMED THE REASON WAS THE METAL WAS NOT TEMPERED RIGHT AT THE MANUFACTURER WHEN THE TRUCK WAS BUILT. WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, WHO TOLD US THAT THEY SAW THE CRACKING AND DAMAGE, AND NEVER HAD SEEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT BEFORE, IT DID NOT FALL WITHIN THE WARRANTY GUIDELINES. THEY ONLY SAID THEY COULD OFFER US A 'DEAL" FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE, WHICH WE REFUSED. OUR MECHANIC CLAIMS THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE IN THE FRONT WILL NOT WITHSTAND A COLLISION. INCIDENTALLY, THE GAS PEDAL BROKE AWAY WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY! *TR UPDATED 01/21/09. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM TOYOTA INFORMING HIM THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE HAD EXCESSIVE RUST. THE NOTICE ALSO INFORMED THE CONSUMERS THAT IF THEY INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND NOTICE EXCESSIVE RUST, THE MANUFACTURER WOULD REIMBURSE THEM FOR FINANCIAL LOSS AND POSSIBLY EXCHANGE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND IT FAILED. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM TOYOTA STATED THAT ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING AN IDENTICAL FAILURE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME ANY FINANCIAL LIABILITY BECAUSE THE TITLE WAS SALVAGED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 77,000. UPDATED 06/02/08 *BF
I'M THE OWNER OF A 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA. TOYOTA HAS MADE A RECALL ON RUSTED FRAMES ON YEARS 95-2000. MY TRUCK HAS A REPAIRED TITLE WHICH THEY SAY VOIDS THE WARRANTY. THE TRUCK HAD NO FRAME DAMAGE WHAT SO EVER AND WAS NOT ROLLED OVER, ONLY COSMETIC DAMAGE. I HAVE PICTURES AND DOCUMENTS SHOWING WHAT WAS REPAIRED. I HAVE A WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN THAT I DON'T WANT IN THE VEHICLE WHEN IT DECIDES TO BREAK IN HALF. THERE SHOULD BE SOME EXCEPTION IF EVIDENCE IS PROVIDED THAT THE DAMAGE WAS LIGHT OR HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH FRAME. *TR
2000 TOYOTA TACOMA V6, ONLY 80K MILES, TRUCK IS NOT GOING TO PASS INSPECTION DUE TO FRAME ROT! *TR
TOYOTA RELEASED A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR 1995-2000 MODEL YEAR TACOMAS DUE TO FRAME ROT. I'VE HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THEIR TACOMAS BOUGHT BACK BY TOYOTA TO AVOID POTENTIAL SAFETY RISKS. TOYOTA HAS REFUSED TO REPURCHASE MY VEHICLE BECAUSE IT HAS A SALVAGE TITLE. I FEAR RSK OF FIRE SHOULD I BE HIT IN THE REAR AND MY FRAME FAILS DUE TO A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM, HAVING NOTHING TO DUE WITH THE SALVAGE TITLE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR MAINTENANCE. THE DEALER SHOWED THE CONTACT A SMALL HOLE IN THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE, LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE 1995-2000 TACOMA'S HAD UNDERCOATING FAILURES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD CALL HER AND KEPT THE VEHICLE FROM MARCH 21-28, 2008; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT NEVER RECEIVED A CALL. SHE RETRIEVED HER VEHICLE AND RETURNED THE LOANER THAT WAS PROVIDED ON MARCH 28, 2008. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,205 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,204.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT HEARD ABOUT AN ISSUE WITH THE FRAMES ON THE 1995-2000 TOYOTA TACOMAS. HE CONSULTED THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER AND THEY CONFIRMED THE 150% BUYBACK OPTION, BUT WOULD NOT CONFIRM THE PROCESS. HE ASKED THE DEALER IF THE FRAME COULD BE REPLACED AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT COULD NOT. THE CONTACT WAS CONVINCED THAT THE FRAME COULD BE REPLACED AND WANTED TO HAVE IT DONE INSTEAD OF TRADING IN THE VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS "SOFT" AND NOT STRUCTURALLY SOUND. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 66,276.
WE HAVE A 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA SR5 XTRA CAB, 4 X 4. THE BODY IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. IT WENT IN FOR ROUTINE SERVICE TODAY AND IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FRAME RAILS HAVE ROTTED. THE FRAME IS UNSAFE AND BECAUSE OF THIS, WE WILL HAVE TO GET RID OF THE TRUCK. IT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING IN TALKING WITH THE DEALER, IT WILL BE GOING TO THE SALVAGE YARD, IT CANNOT BE REPAIRED. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING TO US AS THE OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE, IT ONLY HAS 37,000 MILES ON IT! WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE THAT NOTHING HAS HAPPENED WITH THIS VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS BEING DRIVEN. THE FRAME ROT COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS L INJURY OR DEATH. *TR
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Quick Summary
The 2000 Toyota Tacoma has 56 Structure complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.