11 of the 148 complaints about the 1997 Toyota Tacoma are about the seat belts — 7% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 118,500 miles.
11
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
SEAT BELTS
1997 TACOMA FRAME RUST AT LEADING EDGE OF REAR AXLE LEAF SPRINGS ALLOWED THE LEAF SPRINGS TO BECOME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE SHOULDER LAP SEAT BELTS DO NOT RECOIL.
NHTSA complaint #10904665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT LATCH WITH THE BUCKLE. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #10549410 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTOR LOCKED UP AND WAS UNABLE TO BE USED, LEAVING DRIVER WITHOUT ANY RESTRAINT IF VEHICLE GOT INVOLVED IN A CRASH. DEALER CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #8011814 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT IS INOPERABLE. SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT OUT OF HOUSING MECHANISM. ALSO, SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE.
NHTSA complaint #885852 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT TIRES P21570R14, DOT WTHYAWA, TOYOTA TAKOMA, EXTEND CAB 1997. PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE WENT FLAT WHEN TURNING A CORNER. *AK DUE TO THE TIRE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL, WENT INTO A DITCH AND HIT A STUMP, THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED INURIES BECAUSE THE AIRBAG EXPERIENCED NO DEPLOYMENT. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #869353 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
REOCCURRING PROBLEM WITH SEAT BELT RETRACTORS. BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE EXPERIENCE PROBLEM, BUT PROBLEM IS MORE COMMON ON PASSENGER'S SIDE. SEAT BELT COMMONLY HANGS OUT OF VEHICLE DOOR UNLESS NOTICED PRIOR TO CLOSING DOOR. A REAL HASSLE - DESTROYING PAINT ON DOOR SILL.
NHTSA complaint #718114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT IS LOCKED IN THE RETRACTED POSITION, THE BELT WILL NOT DISENGAGE FROM THE RETRACTING MECHANISM. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS YET TO REPLACE PARTS.TOYATA DEALERS DO NOT KEEP THIS PART IN STOCK..
NHTSA complaint #854128 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
INOPERATIVE SEAT BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPLACED SEAT BELT. CONSUMER WANTS THIS INCIDENT ON RECORD WITH NHTSA.
NHTSA complaint #853356 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT IS STUCK-CAN NOT USE-WILL NOT PULL OUT OF ASSEMBLY-DEALER UNABLE TO REPAIR-MUST WAIT 3 DAYS FOR THEM TO LOOK AT.
NHTSA complaint #708696 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SEAT BELT RETRACTORS DO NOT RETACT PROPERLY WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE CAUSING THEM TO GET STUCK IN THE DOOR.
NHTSA complaint #607793 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
DRIVERS SEAT BELT LOCKED UP/INOPERATIVE.
NHTSA complaint #544612 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.