FaultScore

2001 Toyota Tacoma transmission problems

16 of the 504 complaints about the 2001 Toyota Tacoma are about the transmission — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 105,895 miles.

A

16

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Power Train 6 37.5%
Driveshaft 3 18.8%
Driveline 2 12.5%
Automatic Transmission 1 6.3%
Manual Transmission 1 6.3%
Axle Shaft 1 6.3%
Differential Unit 1 6.3%
Transfer Case (4-WHEEL Drive) 1 6.3%

Transmission & Drivetrain across every Toyota Tacoma year

1995 13 1.4%
1996 15 1.6%
1998 11 1.2%
1999 16 1.7%
2000 12 1.3%
2001 16 1.7%
2002 22 2.4%
2003 18 2.0%
2004 22 2.4%
2005 60 6.6%
2006 57 6.2%
2007 73 8.0%
2008 23 2.5%
2009 76 8.3%
2010 29 3.2%
2012 36 3.9%
2013 22 2.4%
2014 13 1.4%
2016 136 14.9%
2017 67 7.3%
2018 29 3.2%
2019 40 4.4%
2020 15 1.6%
2021 13 1.4%
2022 10 1.1%
2024 52 5.7%
2025 19 2.1%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Bloomington, IN

POWER TRAIN

MY TACOMA HAS BEEN IN A COUPLE TIMES FOR TIMING BELT REPLACEMENT AND HAS BEEN INSPECTED FOR RUST BUT NOTHING WAS EVER DONE OR SAID ABOUT IT NEEDING ANYTHING DONE. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET I NOTICED THAT WHEN I SLOWED DOWN MY LIFTED AND WHEN I ACCELERATED MY BED LOWERED. I PULLED OFF TO FIND THAT MY FRAMES HAS RUSTED APART IN FRONT OF REAR LEAF SPRING. TOYOTA CORPORATE WAS CALLED AND THEY SAID NOTHING CAN BE DONE?

NHTSA complaint #10957678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 152,000 miles Ginter, PA

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, A LOUD NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE REAR END. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR AXLE AND DRIVE TRAIN HAD NO OIL PRESENT, WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,000.

NHTSA complaint #10821608 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 148,330 miles DEL RIO, TX

POWER TRAIN

WHILE DRIVING HEARD A SKIDDING SOUND, LOOK UNDER TRUCK LOST TRD PLATES, ROTTED BECAME LOSE AND FELL. UNDER CARRIAGE CORRODED.

NHTSA complaint #10543319 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 200,000 miles Raymond, ME

POWER TRAIN

LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END. IT APPEARS THE DIFFERENTIAL CASE ROTTED OUT LEAVING THE REAR END WITH NO GEAR FLUID. WHEN THEY REPLACED THE FRAME (AS IT ROTTED OUT TO)... THEY SHOUD HAVE REPLACED THE DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING. LUCKY THIS HAPPEN AROUND TOWN AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY. I CAN IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THE DIFFERENTIAL BLEW APART AT HIGH SPEED (WITH FLYING METAL AND NO CONTROL OF ACCELERATION IF NEEDED TO AVOID OR CAUSE AN ACCIDENT). I CALLED TOYOTA CAR CARE AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD GO IN HALF ON THE REPAIR AND GET BACK TO ME IN A FEW DAYS WITH THE DETAILS. THEY DIDN'T... I CALLED THEM A FEW DAYS LATER AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T HELP ME. LOOKED TO BE A +/- $2,000 REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #10504083 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 76,000 miles Rome, OH

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DIFFERENTIAL WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED AND LEAKING OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

NHTSA complaint #10448227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 200,000 miles Ross Common, MI

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, AND DURING THE REPAIR THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING WAS LEAKING AND EXHIBITED SUBSTANTIAL RUST. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A COMMON DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000. UPDATED 02/17/11*LJ UPDATED 05/11/11

NHTSA complaint #10370884 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Tulare, CA

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

2001 TOYOTA TACOMA REPLACED REAR AXLE BEARING TWICE ALREADY TRUCK HAS LESS 90000 MILES. IN BOTH INCIDENTS IT HAS RUINED THE INTERNAL PARTS OF THE AXLES CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE CARRIER CASE. I BOUGHT A 3 RD TRD AXLE AT A WRECKING YARD TO FIND THE SAME PROBLEM IN THAT AXLE. I WAS FORTUNATE I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT. THE REAR AXLE COULD OF LOCKED UP ON THE HIGHWAY CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR DEATH RELATED TO AXLE FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10348914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 121,790 miles Prattsville, NY

POWER TRAIN

RUSTY LEAKY DIFF PROBLEM THE OIL LEAKS CONSTANTLY. I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL AND NOTHING THEY WILL DO ABOUT IT AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA complaint #10291825 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,026 miles West Chicago, IL

POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH A NOISE WAS HEARD THAT GRADUALLY BECAME LOUDER. WITHOUT WARNING, THE WHEELS LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD. IT WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE TRANSFER CASE LOCKED UP AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS NO SIN OF A LEAK PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. UPDATED 08//25/06.

NHTSA complaint #10164305 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,000 miles Tucson, AZ

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

2001 TACOMA 2 WHEEL DRIVE 4 DOOR PRE RUNNER. HAVE HAD A HORRIBLE "CLUNK WHEN I REALEASE BRAKES. THE WHOLE TRUCK JERKS AND THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER JUMPS ABOUT 3 INCHES. TOOK IT TO PRECISION TOYOTA IN TUCSON AND WAS TOLD IT IS CALLED AXLE WRAP. I DID SOME REASEARCH ON AXLE WRAP AND BASICALLY IT IS WORN OUT REAR SPRINGS. THE ONLY THING I HAVE CARRIED IN THE TRUCK HEAVY IS MY 200 LB. MOTORCYCLE. THE TRUCK HAS HIGH MILEAGE AND IS ALL INTERSTATE DRIVING. THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE AND HAVE SEEN ANOTHER COMPLAINT HERE. I AM WORRIED WHAT KIND OF DAMAGE IT IS DOING TO THE WHOLE DRIVE TRAIN. WHAT'S GOING TO "SNAP"?

NHTSA complaint #10108017 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 44,000 miles Grand Rapids, MI

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT

FILE #200408021294. CUSTOMER (KIM REAMER) 07/27/2004 07:50 AM I HAVE A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA 4 X 4. IT HAS AN ISSUE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE RELEASED YOU WOULD FEEL A JOLT OR A SLIGHT PUSH FROM THE DRIVE TRANE AREA. I HAVE READ UP ON THIS AND IT IS ALSO KNOWN AS ENGINE WRAP WHERE THE ENERGY GETS STORED UP IN THE TRANSMISSION AND THE RELEASE IS WHEN THE BREAKS ARE RELEASED FROM A STOP. IT FEELS LIKE YOU ARE HIT IN THE REAR END BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. YOU SOMTIMES HERE A SLIGHT THUD. THESE SYMPTOMS DO NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME BUT QUITE OFTEN. PER A CONVERSATION WITH ANOTHER TOYOTA TACOMA OWNER HE STATED THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS AND HAS A REPAIR DIRECTIVE OUT. I AM SENDING THIS TO VERIFY THAT INFORMATION AS MY DEALER STATE HE FELT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY TOY AFTER TAKING IT FOR A DRIVE WITH ME IN IT. PLEASE NOTE I POINTED IT OUT ONCE BUT HE SAID IT IS NORMAL. NORMAL IT IS NOT SERVICE RESPONSE: RUSS SWANSON: WE MET AND WENT ON A ROAD TEST TOGETHER WHEN YOU WERE LAST HERE ON JULY 21. OUR BEST INTEREST IS IN FINDING ANY ABNORMALITIES AND CORRECTING THEM. IF THIS CONDITION WORSENS TO THE POINT WHERE THERE IS AN ABNORMALITY, IT WILL BE OUR PLEASURE TO CORRECT IT. AT THIS POINT, ANY ATTEMPT AT CORRECTIVE ACTION WOULD BE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE. RUSS SWANSON KOOL TOYOTA MY RESPONSE: WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ROAD TESTED WITH YOU IN IT, I ONLY NOTICED THE VEHICLE DO IT ONCE WHICH WAS SLIGHT TO WITH WHAT IT DOES. AS I STATED IT HAPPED ABOUT 4 TIMES DRIVING IN TO WORK AND HEARD IT THUMB ON ALL 4 CASES. THE PUSH OR ACTION FROM LETTING THE BREAK OFF ONCE STOPPED WAS FELT 4 TIMES AS WELL. THIS IS NOT NORMAL UNDER ANY DRIVING CONDITIONS AND CONCERNS ME THAT YOU SAY SO. THIS WOULD BE CONSTRUED AS ABNORMAL. THERE A REPAIR DIRECTIVE OUT THERE REGARDING THIS COMPLAINT. BUT TOYOTA IS FAILING TO CORRECT THE ISSUE TO SAY IT IS NORMA. THEN WHY A REPAIR DIRECTIVE?. PLEASE ADDRESS MY CONCERNS. THANK YOU. KIM R. REAMER .

NHTSA complaint #10086079 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tucker, GA

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES TO CORRECT A DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION WHEN CONSUMER WOULD MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO STOP, THE DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THE CONDITION WAS DUE TO A SLIP JOINT IN THE DRIVE SHAFT WHICH NEEDED TO BE LUBRICATED AND WAS A NORMAL MAINTENANCE ISSUE, BUT ALSO STATED THE CONDITION WAS DUE TO THE DRIVE SHAFT SEIZING UP, THE SHOCKS AND REAR BRAKES WAS REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #8018737 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Redwood City, CA

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE MOVES FORWARD AND THEN SWAYS BACK, DEALER REMOVED DRIVELINE AND PERFORMED LAP ADJUSTMENT, ALSO ADDED A COMPOUND. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #563269 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Redwood City, CA

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE MOVES FORWARD AND THEN SWAYS BACK, DEALER REMOVED DRIVELINE AND PERFORMED LAP ADJUSTMENT, ALSO ADDED A COMPOUND. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #563269 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Auburn, ME

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

MAKES A CLANKING SOUND IN DRIVESHAFT WHEN SHIFTING.REPORTED THIS TO DEALERSHIP PROCEEDED TO ADD GEAR OIL TO REAREND .THIS HELPED SOME BUT DIDNT STOP NOISE . CONTACTED CHARLIES AGAIN AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD DROP AND PACK DRIVESHAFT TO ELIMINATE SOUND. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE DRIVESHAFT AND IM AFRAID THAT THE END RESULT COULD BE DANGEROUS. IVE CONTACTED THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPT. AND WAS TOLD A NEW DRIVE SHAFT WAS OUT OF THE QUESTION AND THEY WOULD ONLY PACK THE OLD ONE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.I BELIEVE PACKING THE DRIVESHAFT WOULD ONLY BE A BANDAID ON A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. ARE YOU AWARE OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH OTHER TOYOTA TACOMA DRIVESHAFTS?

NHTSA complaint #747122 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Willmington, NC

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

THREE BOLTS THAT HOLD DRIVESHAFT CAME OUT ALMOST ALL THE WAY . CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER HAS FIXED PROBLEM.*AK FRONT DRIVE SHAFT BOLTS WERE NOT INSTALLED CORRECTLY AT FACTORY.

NHTSA complaint #889694 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2001 Toyota Tacoma problems

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