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Vehicle safety record

1994 Toyota Pickup Problems, complaints & recalls

Owners have filed 102 complaints about the 1994 Toyota Pickup with NHTSA, most often about the body, doors & structure (27) and the engine & cooling (18). Those complaints describe 9 crashes, 6 injuries and 3 deaths. It is covered by 4 recalls, the latest in May 2009 for the headlights. For comparison, the 1993 has 63 and the 1995 has 38.

NHTSA data checked

FFar more problems than a typical Pickup year, for its age

#47 most complained-about 1994 vehicle

Complaints
102
Recalls
4
Crashes
9
Fires
0
Injuries
6
Deaths
3

Most common 1994 Toyota Pickup problems

Share of all 102 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.

1994 Toyota Pickup recalls 4

Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do

Exterior lighting: headlights

09E02500042,540 vehicles affected

The problem
Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." These lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
The risk
Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
The fix
Dope, inc. Will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on july 28, 2009. Owners may contact dope, inc. At 1-626-272-1798.

Exterior lighting: headlights

08E0500001,921 vehicles affected

The problem
K2 motor is recalling 1,921 aftermarket headlamps of various models sold for use on the above listed vehicles. These headlamps are missing the amber side reflex reflector which fails to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
The risk
Without the amber side reflex reflectors, the lighting visibility may be affected, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
The fix
K2 motor will notify owners and offer a full refund. The recall began on decemeber 17, 2008. Owners may contact k2 motor at 1-909-839-2992.

Exterior lighting

06E02600061,944 vehicles affected

The problem
Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
The risk
Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
The fix
Pro-a motors will notify owners and offer to repurchase the lamps. The recall began on april 3, 2006. Owners may contact pro-a motors at 323-838-2988.

Steering: connecting

05V389000977,839 vehicles affected

The problem
On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, if the steering wheel is repeatedly turned under certain conditions where high steering effort and power assist are required, for instance, when fully turning the wheel while the vehicle is stopped, a fatigue crack may develop in the steering relay rod.
The risk
If the vehicle is continued to be operated in this condition, the relay rod may fracture, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix
Dealers will replace the steering relay rod. The recall began october 5, 2005. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

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102 complaints about the 1994 Toyota Pickup

Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 5.

Seats & seat belts

Seat belts will no longer retract making them unusable

Filed Incident Seat beltsNHTSA 10992578
SteeringBody, doors & structure

Rust, corrosion, failure and detachment of exterior body and frame components, and other structural components that is a safety hazard. Not safe to drive. Steering box came off of the frame!!! Then told not to drive anymore. This is a 1994 toyota .. The 1995 toyota trucks were recalled same reason. These need to be recalled same reason!!!

Filed Incident Steering · Structure · Unknown or otherNHTSA 10853901
Other & unknown

Frame area driver side forward area of leaf spring mount rusted out and collapsed ,this should never happen to any vehicle.

Filed Incident Unknown or otherNHTSA 10785731
Seats & seat belts

The drivers side seat belt stopped retracting. The passenger side gets stuck sometimes and won't pull out. The driver's side stopped working while I was in a parking lot, getting ready to leave.

Filed Incident Seat beltsNHTSA 10783148
SteeringSuspension

I lost tail lights and brake lights so I took it to my uncle witch is a certified mechanic we got the lights fixed up but while under the truck we found alot of rot both I side frame rails now I have a crackright in the middle of frame and the bad part there isnt a spot of rust on the body of the truck. They said they were built in the usa but they dont tell u its all china junk steel they need to take care of this like they did the years 95-2000. Its all the same complaints I say we all get together and file a big...

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lawsuit against toyota im down to help here is my email address [[redacted]] parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.S.C. 552(B)(6).*Cc

Filed Incident Steering · SuspensionNHTSA 10760573
Body, doors & structure

Tl* the contact owns a 1994 toyota pickup. While driving at various speeds, the steering wheel made an abnormal noise and was difficult to turn. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the entire frame was rusted and the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.

Filed Incident StructureNHTSA 10702515
SuspensionBody, doors & structure

Extreme rust damage to frame ,suspension,steering components etc. Under the vehicle becoming progressively worse even with measures taken to remove and treat with inhibitive coating. Never seen rust this bad on any vehicle I've owned . Apparently toyota recalled many other pickups from 1995 forward. Mine is a 1994 and from reading other comments many people have the same conditions. *Tr

Filed Incident Suspension · StructureNHTSA 10652211
Body, doors & structure

Tl* the contact owns a 1994 toyota pickup. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken for routine maintenance when he was advised that the frame became bent when the vehicle was placed on the mechanical lift. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and was not taken to a dealer for diagnosis or repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 154,000. *Tr

Filed Incident StructureNHTSA 10561001
Body, doors & structureBrakesCrash

Lost brake function, brakes went to floor & locked up. Slid across road & hit guard rail. Luckily no one was coming in other direction. Mechanic said brake lines where competely rusted out & so is the entire frame of my truck.I'm afraid truck could eventually brake in half while driving. Entire under body is completely rusted. Had to replace all brake lines at my own expense. I just found out about this website, so I am writing now. *Tr

Filed Incident Structure · Service brakesNHTSA 10507006
Seats & seat belts

I have owned 6 toyota trucks from 1985 thru 1997 and they all have had seat belt problems. They do not retract all the way and hang out the door and you have to manually retract them back in. This has been a long time know event and in the past toyota has replaced them at no charge. However, when I called customer care and then took it to a toyota dealership in wesley chaple fl. Both the manufacture and the dealer said "sorry you have to pay for it. I am very upset since my seat belts have now since frayed...

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from being caught in the door and am afraid to drive the vehicle on highways. I use to be a mechanic for toyota and know for a fact they have have had many issues with seatbelt concerns and problems in the past. I would hope someone can investigate this complaint and resolve this serious issue. [[redacted]] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.S.C. 552(B)(6). *Tr

Filed Incident Seat beltsNHTSA 10504337
Body, doors & structure

I have read there are hundreds of people having the same problems with the 1994 toyota short bed pick up truck, 4wd, having extreme rusting to the frame. Yet they will only buy back the 1995-2000 models? How can they think that they did something right in 94 that they didn't do in 95, and nothing can be done about this? No one can change this to include the 1994s? My husband's truck doesn't even sit level from all the rust underneath. He is a welder and can't even fix it. Something needs to be done about this by toyota. Everyone I know who has contacted toyota said they are out of luck due to the buy back/recall being 1995 and newer models. Help! *Tr

Filed Incident StructureNHTSA 10504108
Body, doors & structure

Tl* the contact owns a 1994 toyota short wb deluxe. The contact stated that while having the vehicle inspected he was notified that the frame was completely corroded. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 187,239.

Filed Incident StructureNHTSA 10474526
Wheels & tires

Tl* the contact owns a 1994 toyota pickup equipped with general touring tires, size: 205/75/14.The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 mph, the front driver side tire became flat. The contact mentioned that after inspecting the tire he noticed that the tread was separated. The contact had a roadside assistance technician replace the tire with the spare. Shortly after the replacement, he noticed that the spare tire was cracked and rotten. The tires were not replaced. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.

Filed Incident TiresNHTSA 10469563
Body, doors & structure

1994 Toyota pick up has dramatic and unusual frame rot. I was informed the entire frame has just rusted and rotted. The truck had good care parked in a garage, washed often including the undercarriage. The mechanic said the rust was very unusual. It is now a safety issue. The tuck is otherwise in very good condition. *Tr

Filed Incident StructureNHTSA 10466297
BrakesBody, doors & structure

Tl* the contact owns a 1994 toyota pickup. The contact stated that the vehicle jerk abnormally and when applying the brakes, the vehicle would pull abruptly to one side. In addition, the frame exhibited severe rusting. The dealer and manufacturer were contacted but denied any assistance with repairs to the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 175,000.

Filed Incident Service brakes, hydraulic · StructureNHTSA 10428075
Engine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 1994 toyota pickup. The vehicle was repaired under a silent recall for the head gasket, but the failure recurred. The contact stated that heavy white smoke was coming from the exhaust. The dealer diagnosed that the passenger side head gasket failed. The manufacturer was contacted but denied any assistance with repairs to the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 43,000 and the current mileage was 108,000.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10423073
Suspension

Owner of 2 1994 toyota pickups, was driving home from work in one of them and by the time I got home, the front passenger wheel was almost ready to fall in....Decided to see what I needed to do to repair it and discovered that the upper control arm had completely rusted into, I realized I was lucky I made it home without getting hurt. I decided to look and see if I could use the one from my other truck that I no longer drove, considering after days of searching, that buying a new one was not an option. Low and...

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behold it was just as bad. It is a miracle that I hadn't been involved in a bad accident on my two hour one-way drive to work everyday for the past two years. Used upper control arms are the only thing I can find, but I don't know if it is safe to even use a used one. *Tr

Filed Incident SuspensionNHTSA 10415229
Body, doors & structure

Driving the vehicle something did not feel or sound right. My initial inspection found the truck cab and truck bed were folded in on each other. Further investigation found the frame cracked from extensive rust rot on both sides near front brackets of rear leaf springs. Not sure what to do now. No longer safe to drive. Engine, transmission, transfer case are still strong. Glad no one was hurt. *Tr

Filed Incident StructureNHTSA 10367088
Body, doors & structure

Rear frame rotted from inside out on 1994 toyota pickup. Called toyota and they stated the recall only went back to 1995. Just put new brakes, new clutch, new engine, etc into vehicle. Wish I knew the frame was rotted prior to doing all that. I am hoping toyota will extend the recall back a year as it is clear it is the same problem as those involved in the buy back. *Tr

Filed Incident StructureNHTSA 10366603
Body, doors & structure

1994 Toyota 4 x4 pick up truck. Consumer states rust and holes in frame, known as "frame rot" *tgw

Filed Incident StructureNHTSA 10364468
SuspensionBody, doors & structure

My frame on my 1994 toyota, pick- up rusted from the inside out. While I was driving south on interstate 77. The spring shackle separated from the frame causing the rear to separate and shift almost 2 inches. I took the truck to a dealership in parkersburg, wv, where the vehicle remains today. (The dealer is about 91 miles form where I live) the dealership advised the frame had in deed failed and could not be repaired. Dealer advised to contact toyota motor corp. I contacted toyota, who in turns denies any wrong...

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doing! They told me this was a dealer consumer issue. I asked what am I supposed to do with the truck? Toyota,advised me to continue to drive a vehicle they know is unsafe, on the highway! *Tr

Filed Incident Suspension · StructureNHTSA 10348014
SteeringBody, doors & structure

Tl*the contact owns a 1994 toyota pickup. The dealer informed the contact that the a-rod that held the tire in place was covered with rust and caused the front left wheel to fall off of the vehicle. The contact stated that during an inspection, she was told that the rust on the frame near the fuel tank had to be repaired before the vehicle could pass inspection. The current and failure mileages were approximately 154,000. The consumer also stated she lost steering control while driving. A recall was previously issued regarding the steering relay. Updated evoq 08/05/10*jb

Filed Incident Steering · StructureNHTSA 10332359
SteeringCrash1 death

Police report stated: unit fell off the right shoulder of the roadway. Unit overcorrected, crossed both lanes of traffic and ran off the left shoulder of the roadway. The angle of embarkment caused unit to overturn. Unit overturned and struck a tree. *Tr

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 10330444
Body, doors & structure

Tl* the contact owns a 1994 toyota pickup. The contact stated that the frame rusted causing the vehicle to pull and shake when he accelerated which he noticed while driving at approximately 70 mph. The vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint. The failure mileage was approximately 240,000. The current mileage was approximately 245,000

Filed Incident StructureNHTSA 10322249
Acceleration & cruise control

Tl*the contact owns a 1994 toyota pickup. The contact stated that the accelerator pedal sticks, the rpms increased, and the vehicle lunged forward. While driving 55 mph the vehicle accelerated and she engaged the brake pedal twice to slow down. The vehicle was repaired by a local mechanic. The toyota manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 159,000.

Filed Incident Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 10302179

Toyota Pickup: every year compared

YearComplaintsRecallsCrashesFiresTop problemGrade
19985020AirbagsC
19975000BrakesB
19966010Acceleration & cruise controlC
199538452Engine & coolingF
1994102490Body, doors & structureF
199363471Body, doors & structureF
199256420Body, doors & structureF
199130360Engine & coolingF
199028311Engine & coolingF
All Pickup years

1994 Toyota Pickup vs rivals

More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.

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Questions about the 1994 Toyota Pickup

Does the 1994 Toyota Pickup have any recalls?

Yes - NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 1994 Toyota Pickup: headlights (May 2009); headlights (August 2008); exterior lighting (March 2006); connecting (September 2005). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.

What are the most common problems with the 1994 Toyota Pickup?

By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the body, doors & structure (27), engine & cooling (18), seats & seat belts (16).

How many complaints has the 1994 Toyota Pickup had?

102 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on October 5, 1994 and the latest on May 31, 2017. Of these, 9 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 6 injuries and 3 deaths.

Is the 1994 Toyota Pickup a reliable vehicle?

Its Safety Index is 1 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Toyota Pickup year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.

Which Toyota Pickup years have the most complaints?
What should I do if my 1994 Toyota Pickup has a problem?

If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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