1997 Toyota Tacoma Suspension Problems

Your truck started riding rougher and leaning to one side. When inspected, the frame was found to have severe rust and corrosion that destroyed the structural support for the suspension components, making the truck unsafe to drive. The damage was extensive enough that repair shops determined the vehicle should not be operated. This appears to be related to a recall you were never notified about.

Your truck's frame has extensive rust with multiple holes eaten completely through it, making it unsafe to drive on highways according to both a tire shop and Toyota dealership inspection. Toyota informed you that a recall covering this frame rust has expired, but suggested filing a complaint might result in a cash settlement. The frame damage is severe enough that professional technicians have deemed the vehicle not road-safe.

Your 1997 Toyota Tacoma's suspension components — including the sub frame, left rear wheel, leaf springs, and chassis — have developed severe corrosion that makes the vehicle unsafe to drive, according to a mechanic's inspection at 189,000 miles. Toyota indicated that their corrosion buyback program is no longer available for your vehicle. Repairing this will likely require replacement of corroded suspension parts and possibly welding or frame repair to restore structural integrity.

Your truck shakes wildly when you turn the steering wheel, especially after hitting a bump. The engine also won't shut off properly when you try to turn it off after accelerating. You should have a mechanic inspect your engine idle control, suspension alignment, and steering system to identify the source of the shaking and rough idle.

Your leaf springs are rusted and broken. This affects your suspension's ability to support your truck's weight and handle properly. You should have a mechanic inspect the suspension and replace the damaged leaf springs to restore safe handling and load capacity.

Your 1997 Toyota Tacoma has developed severe rust that has caused part of the frame to deteriorate and go missing, discovered during an alignment check at a repair shop. Even though your truck was previously serviced under a Toyota recall (campaign 07V013000) for suspension issues, that repair did not fix this rust problem. The frame damage will need to be professionally repaired or replaced to restore structural integrity.

Your Tacoma's frame has developed rust holes that you believe make the vehicle unsafe to drive. You've contacted Toyota about this, but they've declined to repair it. Frame rust can compromise structural integrity and suspension attachment points, potentially affecting vehicle safety.

Your truck's frame has severe rust damage, including a hole where the shock absorber mounted—the shock actually fell off because of the corrosion. You're seeing rust in several other areas of the frame as well, and you're concerned about whether it's safe to drive. Repairing this will likely require welding or frame replacement, which is a major structural repair.

I BOUGHT THE ABOVE MENTIONED TRUCK NEW IN 1997. FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS IT'S JUST BEEN SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY BECAUSE THE FRAME IS SO RUSTED IT'S NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. A MECHANIC FRIEND OF MINE SAID THERE WAS A RECALL ON THAT YEAR OF TRUCK. MY WIFE CALLED TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD THE RECALL WAS EXPIRED BUT THEY COULDN'T GIVE A DATE. I CALLED TODAY AND THEY SAID IT WASN'T A RECALL BUT AN EXTENSION ON THE LIFE OF THE FRAME FOR FIFTEEN YEARS (SAME THING). THE BODY OF THE TRUCK IS IN GOOD SHAPE FOR ITS AGE. THE ENGINE ONLY HAS 126K MILES WHICH IS NOTHING FOR A TOYOTA. I SHOULD STILL BE DRIVING THIS TRUCK TODAY. I TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING I HAVE SO IT WILL LAST. BIGGEST ISSUE HERE IS I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE FRAME. I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER SO IT'S NOT LIKE TOYOTA DIDN'T KNOW WHO HAD THE TRUCK OR WHERE I WAS LIVING. IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED OR I SHOULD RECEIVE COMPENSATION FOR THE TRUCK AND NOT BEING ABLE TO USE IT FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW. *TR

THE FORWARD LEAF SPRING MOUNT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR LEAF SPRING BROKE UP AND INTO THE FRAME RAIL. THIS VEHICLE EASILY HAD ANOTHER 100,000 MILES OF LIFE LEFT IN IT, BUT NHTSA EVIDENTLY DOES NOT THINK THAT FRAME RAILS ROTTING AWAY DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IS A SAFETY CONCERN, AND HAS NOT FORCED TOYOTA INTO RECALL MODE. THERE IS A GREAT NUMBER OF THESE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD YET. I WAS LUCKY THAT WHEN MINE FAILED, IT DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I'M SURE THERE WILL BE SOME THAT WON'T BE AS LUCKY. *TR

THE TOYOTA TACOMA I BOUGHT IN 1997 IS IN EXCELLENT MECHANICAL CONDITION. HOW EVER IT IS IN HORRIBLE STRUCTURAL CONDITION, WITH A FRAME THAT IS ALMOST COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH, AND NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO KINGS TOYOTA TO GET INSPECTED AND THEY TOLD ME THAT SINCE THE TRUCK HAS PASSED THE 15 YR WARRANTY EXTENSION, THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME AND ALLOWED ME TO DRIVE THE TRUCK OFF OF THEIR LOT. I THEN CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY SAID THAT UNFORTUNATELY I AM OUT OF LUCK, SINCE THE TRUCK IS A YEAR PAST THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THIS WAS THE RESULT OF TOYOTA NOT HAVING ADEQUATE CORROSION-RESISTANT PROTECTION. THEY INVESTIGATED THIS PROBLEM AND CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE PROTECTION WAS IN FACT INADEQUATE. YET THEY ALLOW PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE ON THE ROADS WITH THEIR PRODUCT THAT THEY KNOW IS UNSAFE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE BALL JOINT WAS REPAIRED TWICE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING WAS REPLACED ONCE. EACH TIME THE BALL JOINTS FAILED, IT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FALL TO THE GROUND AND WOULD NEED A SPECIAL TRUCK TO TOWING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE, BUT HAD NEVER GIVEN A CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN SEVEN MONTHS APART. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 144,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT AXLE FAILED ON MAY 29, 2007. HE CALLED THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER WHO LOOKED UP HIS VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS ISSUED FOR OLDER MODELS OF HIS VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE AGENCY REFERRED HIM TO NHTSA. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 201,000. THE LOWER BALL JOINT HAD FAILED. UPDATED 07/06/07. *JB

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1997 TOYOTA TACOMA 4X4 LX. I HAVE EXPERIENCED SUSPENSION PROBLEMS FOR THE LAST 6 YEARS. THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS WILL NOT SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE STOCK VEHICLE. I HAVE TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO GET TOYOTA TO REPLACE THEM WITH LARGER SPRINGS. TOYOTA HAS TURNED THEIR BACK ON ME AND SEVERAL FRIENDS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I INSTALLED AFTERMARKET HELPER SPRINGS AND ONE OF THEM BROKE AS IT WAS OVERLOADED BECAUSE OF THE WEAK FACTORY SPRINGS. I NOW HAVE A DRIVETRAIN NOISE BECAUSE THE DRIVESHAFT IS AT AN IMPROPER ANGLE DUE TO THE SAG IN THE LEAF SPRINGS. *NM

I NOTICED A NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH MY VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT LEAF SPRING HAD BROKEN. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER, THE VEHICLE HAD 57,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED AND HAS BEEN GIVEN PROPER MAINTENANCE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS AN ITEM THE MFG. SHOULD STAND BEHIND. *JB

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1997 TOYOTA TACOMA SR5, 4WD EXTRA CAB. I RECENTLY NOTICED THE BED OF MY TRUCK WAS SAGGING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO A TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE SHOP AND THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE LEAF SPRING IS BROKEN ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO CAUSE THIS TO HAPPEN TO MY TRUCK. I DO NOT HAVE A TOWING HITCH ON MY TRUCK THEREFORE, I DO NOT TOW HEAVY LOADS OR ANY LOADS FOR THAT MATTER. I DO NOT PUT HEAVY LOADS IN THE BED OF MY TRUCK. I DON NOT USE MY TRUCK FOR HAULING THINGS. I HAVE NEVER INSTALLED A CAMPING SHELL OR ANY SHELL ON THE BED OF MY TRUCK. I HAVE NEVER TAKEN MY TRUCK OFF ROAD AND GONE "FOUR WHEELING". THEREFORE, I AM AT A QUANDARY AS TO WHY THIS WOULD HAPPEN. I HAVE NOT YET REPLACED THE LEAF SPRING. HOWEVER, THE DRIVER SIDE LEAF SPRING WILL ALSO NEED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF SAG. THE TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT OFFERED TO REPLACE THE LEAF SPRING FREE OF CHARGE. *AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE BACKING UP VEHICLE, CONSUMER RAN OVER SOMETHING IN THE DRIVEWAY. CONSUMER GOT OUT AND NOTICE THAT VEHICLE HAD RAN OVER A LEAF SPRING. CONSUMER STATES THE LEAF SPRING ASSISTS IN HOLDING VEHICLE UP OFF THE GROUND. NLM

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE UPPER BALL JOINT BROKE AND THE FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF, RESULTING IN A ROLLOVER, THERE WERE 2 INJURIES.*AK. CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT PART WAS DEFECTIVE AND THAT MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPLACE VEHICLE.*JB

LEFT REAR LEAF SPRING SEPARATED/CAUSING LEFT REAR TO SAG.*AK

REAR SUSPENSION AND BODY OF VEHICLE SAGS AND DRIVING AND HANDLING ARE NEGATIVELY EFFECTED.

VEHICLE'S SUSPENSION IS UNSTABLE, DESIGN DOES NOT INCLUDE REAR SWAY BAR AND THE SHOCKS ABSORBERS ARE INADEQUATE.

SUSPENSION IS VERY UNSTABLE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.

CONSUMER COMPLAINS THAT REAR LEAF SPRINGS DO NOT MEET LOAD SPECS AS SPECIFIED BY MANUFACTURER, CAUSING VIBRATION.