1995 Toyota T100

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

79/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 91 complaints with NHTSA about the 1995 Toyota T100, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Power train	21	23%
Air bags	16	18%
Suspension	8	9%
Service brakes	6	7%
Fuel system	5	5%
Seat belts	5	5%
Equipment	5	5%
Structure	4	4%
Steering	4	4%
Tires	3	3%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

The contact owns a 1995 Toyota T100. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45-50 MPH, the driver's side air bag unexpectedly deployed. The air bag warning light had illuminated intermittently. The contac
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

Within about 30 seconds of pulling out of my driveway on a dead end street, and thus driving very slowly, the driver's side airbag suddenly exploded. Thankfully there was no one else on the road and I wasn't going at a h
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

A-ARM SUSPENSION IS VERY RUSTY WITH HOLES RUSTED THROUGH LOWER A-ARMS. HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MECHANICS THAT IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT REPLACEMENT. THIS HAS TAKEN PLACE OVER TIME. NO BREAKAGE AT THIS TIME.
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

I GOT INTO MY VEHICLE AND TURNED THE KEY. THE AIRBAG EXPLODED IN MY FACE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND COMPLETELY STILL. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON AND IT WAS NOT IN GEAR. THE IMPACT OF THE EXPLOSION CAUSED MILD INJURIES
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

WHILE DRIVING UP THE ROAD MY DRIVER'S AIRBAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHERS AND THAT HUMIDITY COULD AFFECT THE SENSORS ON THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. THIS WAS A
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

JUNE 1, 2017, WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ABOUT 40 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, IN 5 O'CLOCK TRAFFIC, THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT REASON. I WAS NOT HURT AND THE INCIDENT DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE STEERING COLUMN SHROUD IS ORIGINA
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

WHILE DRIVING DOWN A DIVIDED HIGHWAY, THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITH NO WARNING. LUCKILY, NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE DRIVER HAD CUTS AND BRUISES (SEE PHOTOS). WE IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE NEARES
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

TAKATA RECALL AT APPROXIMATELY 5:45 PM ON 11/18/2016 AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 10 MPH AND COMPLETING A RIGHT TURN IN A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF SE INDIAN STREET
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1995 Toyota T100. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Steering:linkages:rod:relay:connecting 05V389000

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 RELA

Risk: IF THE VEHICLE IS CONTINUED TO BE OPERATED IN THIS CONDITION, THE RELAY ROD MAY FRACTURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING RELAY ROD. THE RECALL BEGAN OCTOBER 5, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

The seven scores

Reliability raw	89	excellent
Longevity est.	87	excellent
Maintenance	84	excellent
Depreciation	89	excellent
Performance	56	average
Efficiency	36	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other pickup trucks in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 71% of pickup trucks
Longevity: better than 99% of pickup trucks
Running costs: better than 91% of pickup trucks
Value retention: better than 94% of pickup trucks

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 89: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 87: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1995 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 84: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1995 Toyota T100?

Owners have filed 91 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 21 of them (23%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1995 Toyota T100 reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 89/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 1995 Toyota T100 last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 87/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1995 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1995 Toyota T100?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 79/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.