2001 Toyota Tacoma suspension problems

The 2001 Toyota Tacoma has 84 suspension complaints filed with NHTSA — 17% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

Suspension complaints

17%

Share of year

Crash-involved

Related recalls

Suspension complaints by year

Tacoma suspension complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

05V225000SuspensionMay 17, 2005 · 768,379 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, DUE TO A MANUFACTURING ISSUE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE SURFACE OF THE BALL OF THE JOINT MAY HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED. THE BALL JOINT MAY EVENTUALLY EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE WEAR AND LOOSENESS, RESULTING IN INCREASED STEERING EFFORT.

Consequence

THE LOWER BALL JOINT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 5, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

What owners report

“CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 55MPH ON HIGHWAY AND THERE WAS A NOISE LOCATED IN REAR END. DEALERSHIP REPLACED REAR END. CONSUMER'S SON WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY, A DEER RAN IN FRONT OF HIM, HE APPLIED BRAKES AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE/ RAN INTO A TREE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.…”
Complaint filed with NHTSA · Suspension · October 12, 2001 · crash

Common questions

How many suspension complaints does the 2001 Toyota Tacoma have?

NHTSA has 84 complaints about the 2001 Toyota Tacoma suspension — 17% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2001 Toyota Tacoma suspension?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the suspension: 05V225000.

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.