Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 1999 Toyota Tacoma
NHTSA data on file today
The 1999 Toyota Tacoma has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 249 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #09E025000 FMVSS 108/REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS/AMBER REFLECTOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E012000 FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E049000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E026000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #01E041000 TOYOTA/TRAILER WIRE HARNESS CONVERTER NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Structure 102 complaints
- Air Bags 38 complaints
- Suspension 34 complaints
- Tires 23 complaints
- Unknown or Other 20 complaints
- Power Train 16 complaints
Of the 249 complaints on file, 40 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 249 complaints, owners report 28 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $7,500–$14,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 1999 Toyota Tacoma has some significant concerns, particularly with the vehicle structure being the most complained about issue. Additionally, there are numerous complaints about air bags and suspension, indicating potential safety and ride quality concerns. The recall history largely focuses on aftermarket lighting issues, but the structural complaints are endemic to the model.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| structure | 100,000–150,000 miles | $1,000–$3,000 | very common |
| suspension | 90,000–130,000 miles | $500–$1,500 | common |
| air bags | 80,000–120,000 miles | $800–$2,000 | occasional |
| power train | 110,000–160,000 miles | $700–$2,500 | occasional |
| steering | 100,000–140,000 miles | $400–$1,200 | rare |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake pad replacement
- Transmission fluid flush
- Cooling system service
- Spark plug replacement
- Timing belt or chain check
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Rough or noisy suspension
- Cracking or rusting in frame
- Unusual airbag warning lights
- Steering wheel vibrations
- Sudden loss of power
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 1999 Toyota Tacoma at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.