Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 183 complaints with NHTSA about the 1995 Toyota Tacoma, and it carries 6 recalls. 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.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 81 | 44% |
| Structure | 18 | 10% |
| Tires | 10 | 5% |
| Power train | 10 | 5% |
| Unknown or other | 9 | 5% |
| Air bags | 7 | 4% |
| Suspension | 5 | 3% |
| Seat belts | 5 | 3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 5 | 3% |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The frame is rusted out and now it wont pass inspection in PA.
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
THERE WAS FRAME RECALL BACK IN 2010 AND I WOULD LIKE TO GET TO THE FRAME RECALL
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
YES I WROTE AWHILE BACK ABOUT MY BALL JOINT SNAPPING IN HALF GOING 55. IT WAS THE LOWER ONE BUT IT WASN'T WHERE THE BALL JOINT WAS IT WAS THE METAL PART ABOUT AN INCH AND A HALF FROM WHERE THE BALL JOINT WAS. DUE TO RUST
NHTSA complaint: Steering
YES I WAS DRIVING MY TOYOTA TACOMA ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 55MPH WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT BROKE. THIS CAUSED MY SHUT TO SNAP IN HALF ALSO CAUSED THE CONTROL ARM TO BREAK. WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SO BAD HAD THE TRUCK
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
APPROXIMATELY 5 YEARS AGO 125K MILES LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEPARATION. 11/11/18 APPROXIMATELY 250K MILES LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE BALL JOINT SEPARATION. TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL. IF I HAD BEEN AT HIGH SPPED
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
WE BOUGHT OUR 1995 TOYOTA AND HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALLS,OUR TRUCK HAS ONLY 60,000 MILES
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
TOYOTA TACOMA 1995 BODY IS RUSTING AWAY, FRAME IS RUSTING AWAY. EVERYTHING ON THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUCK HAS RUST ON IT THERE IS A HOLE IN THE FLOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. MUFFLER HAD TO GET REPLACED. BREAK LINES HAD TO GET
NHTSA complaint: Structure
SO THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR MY FRUCK FOR THE FRAME AND ALL UNDERCARIAGE VEING ROTTEN BECAUSE OF THE BAD STEAL USED THE YEAR AND OR YEARS OF MY TRUCK WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND GOTTEN A NEW TRUCK TO ITS
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 1995 Toyota Tacoma. 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.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 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
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE 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.
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
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
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
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.
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 D
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
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.
| Reliability | 69 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 78 | good |
| Maintenance | 79 | good |
| Depreciation | 93 | excellent |
| Performance | 62 | average |
| Efficiency | 36 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other pickup trucks in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 183 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and suspension is the most reported area with 81 of them (44%). There are 6 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 69/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density, adjusted for how many were sold so a popular model is not penalised for having more owners.
AVOIR scores its longevity 78/100, 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.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 72/100. 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.