2001 Toyota Tacoma Tires Problems
8 owner-reported tires complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Tires Recalls (2)
TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2004 Tacoma light trucks manufactured from August 28, 2000, through August 27, 2004, and originally sold, or currently registered, in the following cold climate states with high road salt usage: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. The spare tire in the subject vehicles is located underneath the rear of the vehicle and held by a spare tire carrier. A lift plate on the carrier is used to help raise, lower and retain the tire. During its manufacture, the lift plate may not have been sufficiently coated with anti-corrosion materials. If the plate is insufficiently coated and the vehicle is operated in cold climate regions where road salts are frequently used, road spray can reach the carrier assembly and corrode the lift plate.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace the spare tire carrier lift plate as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in February 2013. Owners may contact their Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.
TIRES:SIDEWALL
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 4X2 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TU4 WHITE LETTER TIRE UPGRADE OPTION AND DISTRIBUTED BY SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. TIRE DAMAGE MAY HAVE OCCURRED DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLATION, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE TIRE TO DEFLATE OR A BULGE APPEARING IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL CHECK ALL FOUR TIRES, REBALANCE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE ANY DAMAGED TIRE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 3, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.
Owner Complaints (8)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE REVERSING AT A LOW SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SPARE TIRE SEPARATED FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V542000 (TIRES). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR DUE TO CORROSION AROUND THE ATTACHMENT AREA. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 6/25/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM THE RECALL, UNLESS HE PAID $ 147 EACH TO REPLACED TWO METAL TIRE HOLDERS. THE DEALER STATED THE METAL RODS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE SPARE TIRE WAS RUSTED FROM BEING IN THE CARRIER. THE SPARE TIRE FROM THE CARRIER AND THE CONSUMER ACCIDENTALLY RAN OVER IT. UPDATED 05/10/16.*JB
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 ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON TX US59 NB RIGHTHAND LANE AND VEHICLE SPEED APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE FAILED. I MANAGED TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STOP ON THE SHOULDER. WHAT I FOUND WAS A VERY HOT TIRE WHICH HAD REMAINED INFLATED BUT HAD LOST APPROX. 75% OF THE TIRE TREAD CIRCUMFERENCE DOWN TO THE STEEL BELT. APPROX. 25% OF TREAD REMAINED WITH THE TIRE OF WHICH APPROX.10% REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE STEEL BELT. THE SITUATION DESCRIBED ALLOWED THE TIRE TO BECOME A ROTATING METAL EATING MACHINE, DOING CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE WHEEL WELL, TRUCK BED, SUSPENSION AND EXHAUST (3 INCH STAINLESS STEEL PIPE BENT TO 90 DEGREES). AFTER WAITING FOR THE TIRE TO COOL, I DEFLATED AND REMOVED THE TIRE. I WAS THEN ABLE TO BEND AND MOVE SOME DAMAGED SHEET METAL AWAY FROM THE WHEEL WELL TO ALLOW CLEARANCE FOR MY FULL SIZE SPARE, WHICH I INSTALLED AND DROVE APPROX. 5 MILES HOME, WITHOUT FURTHER DAMAGING THE VEHICLE. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON TX US-59 NB RIGHTHAND LANE GOING APPROX. 65 MPH, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE FAILED. I MANAGED TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STOP ON THE HIGHWAY SHOULDER. WHAT I FOUND WAS A VERY HOT TIRE WHICH HAD REMAINED INFLATED, BUT HAD LOST APPROX. 75% OF THE TREAD CIRCUMFERENCE DOWN TO THE STEEL BELT. APPROX. 25% OF THE TREAD REMAINED WITH THE TIRE, OF WHICH APPROX. 10% REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE STEEL BELT. THE SITUATION DESCRIBED ALLOWED THE TIRE TO BECOME A ROTATING METAL EATING MACHINE, CAUSING CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE WHEEL WELL, TRUCK BED, SUSPENSION AND EXHAUST SYSTEM (3 INCH STAINLESS STEEL PIPE BEND TO 90 DEGREES). INSURANCE ESTIMATES ARE APPROX. $2400.00. AFTER WAITING FOR THE TIRE TO COOL, I DEFLATED AND REMOVED THE TIRE. I WAS THEN ABLE TO BEND AND MOVE DAMAGED SHEET METAL AWAY FROM THE WHEEL WELL AREA TO ALLOW CLEARANCE FOR MY FULL SIZE SPARE, WHICH I INSTALLED AND DROVE APPROX. 5 MILES HOME WITHOUT CAUSING FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *TR
ONE OF THE TIRES BLEW UP ON ME WITHOUT ANY WARNIG ALL OVER SUDDENLY MY TRUCK WAS FISH TAILING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. I WAS VERY CLOSE TO CAUSE A COLLECTIVE ACCIDENT. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY REFFERED ME TO THEIR LOCAL DEALER TO LOOK AT THE TIRES BUT THEIR ANSWER WAS THAT THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY A ROAD HAZARD. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE TIRES BLEW UP IN PIECES IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. I INSTALLED THE SPARE TIRE BUT THE DAY AFTER I NOTICE THAT THE TIRE WALL HAS A BIG LUMP.( LOOK LIKE A WEAKER SECTION ON THE SIDE READY TO EXPLODE) DT
FRONT PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT ON SIDEWALL CAUSING VEHICLE TO VEAR INTO IRON GATE DAMAGING FRONT FENDER, SIDE DOOR, SIDE MIRROR, RUNNING BOARD.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W2ULAWN160 TIRESIZE: P205/75R15)
THIS TIRE WAS FLAT AFTER 1200 MILES OF HIWAY DRIVING. THERE WAS FOUND TO BE A STONE ABOUT 1 CENTIMETER BY 2 CENTIMETER THAT HAD PENETRATED AND TORN THE BODY OF THE TIRE. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT . THE PEOPLR WHO REPAIRED THE TIRE STATED THAT THE TIRE WAS THE THINNEST THEY HAD SEEN. WE HAVE PURCHASED NEW TIRES. THIS SHOULD NO HAPPEN ON A NEW PICK-UP. *AK
TIRE IS LOW-PROFILE DESIGN STANDARD ON PRIUS. EXPLOSIVE SEPARATION OCCURRED ON DRY ROADWAY WITHOUT DEBRIS. OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78 DEGREES. THANK GOODNESS THAT THE TIRE WAS ON THE REAR. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO INITIATE A CONTROLLED STOP FROM THE NUMBER ONE LANE TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. THE SEPARATION CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT REAR QUARTER-PANEL, THE ALLOY RIM AND OF COURSE THE TIRE. BRIDGESTONE CUSTOMER CARE WAS CONTACTED AT 800-847-3272 AND I WAS ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD SEND A CLAIM PACKAGE WITHIN 5 DAYS. THERE IS NO REFERENCE NUMBER ASSIGNED. THEY INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR REPAIRS. SERIAL NUMBER FOR ALL 4 TIRES IS: CHA3700. IT IS LIKELY THAT THIS LOT OF TIRES IS ON ALL OF THE PRIUS VEHICLES SITTING AT THE LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA STORAGE FACILITY. THE TIRE PRESSURE ON THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED THE DAY BEFORE THE INCIDENT AND ALL TIRES WERE INFLATED ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATIONS. *AK (DOT NUMBER: EL9P TIRESIZE: P17565 R14)