Model year guide

1997 Toyota T100

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1997 Toyota T100 is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 3 on record.

1997 Toyota T100 at a glance

Safety recalls1
Owner complaints75
Combined15–19 mpg

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1997 Toyota T100 recalls 1

Steering:linkages:rod:relay:connecting NHTSA Campaign #05V389000 · manufacturer #50N · 06/09/2005

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.

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

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1997 Toyota T100 common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 75 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Structure
Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Suspension
Listen for clunks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for uneven tire wear and worn shocks or struts.
Seat Belts
Check that every belt latches, retracts and locks under a sharp tug, and that none are frayed.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.

1997 Toyota T100 MPG & running costs

Combined15–19 mpg
City16 mpg
Highway19 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$4,050
EPA size classStandard Pickup Trucks
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd or Manual 5-spd
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$8,250 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 6 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1997 Toyota T100 costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$20,250
Fuel only$20,250
Per mile$0.27

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Dimensions & weight

Length
207.1 in
Width
75.2 in
Height
67.7–71.7 in
Wheelbase
122.0 in
Curb weight
3,430–4,039 lb
Front track
61.8–63.4 in
Rear track
63.8 in

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 1997 Toyota T100 — ranges cover the 4 body / drivetrain versions on record. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Investigations & service bulletins

NHTSA defect investigations 1

CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET/FIREWALL Closed

NHTSA #PE02039 · Power Train · opened Apr 2002 · closed Jul 2002

An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.

Manufacturer service bulletins 33

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 33.

Toyota Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements

Bulletin Toyota Safety Re · Air Bags · Mar 2021

TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2021 model year vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the crit…

Bulletin T-SB-0032-20 Rev · Equipment · Feb 2021

TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 07, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0032-20. Replacement Certification Labels and VIN Plates

Bulletin T-SB-0304-17 Obs · Equipment · Apr 2020

TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin Nos. PG021-88, PG015-89, PG0015-90, PG002-91, PG002-93, PG005-97, PG007-01, PG007-07, PG006-01, PG004-97, T-SB-0144-08, and T-SB-0304-17. The aforementioned bulleti…

Bulletin T-SB-0032-20 · Equipment · Apr 2020

Technical Service Bulletin: OBSOLETE NOTICE: July 31, 2018: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0304-17.

Bulletin PG004-97-Obsolet · Equipment · Aug 2018

Technical Service Bulletin: OBSOLETE NOTICE: July 31, 2018: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0304-17.

Bulletin PG006-01-Obsolet · Equipment · Aug 2018

TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 31, 2018 Rev2: ? The Supersession Notice has been updated. January 11, 2018 Rev1: ? The Supersession Notice has been updated. Any previous printed versions of this bulletin should be discarded. SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information cont…

Bulletin T-SB-0304-17_Rev · Equipment · Jul 2018

TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin Nos. PG021-88, PG015-89, PG0015-90, PG002-91, PG002-93, PG005-97, PG007-01, PG007-07, and T-SB-0144-08. Service Bulletin Nos. PG021-88, PG015-89, PG0015-90, PG002-9…

Bulletin T-SB-0304-17_Rev · Equipment · Jan 2018

TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE November 21, 2017: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0304-17.

Bulletin T-SB-0144-08_Obs · Equipment · Nov 2017

TSB: Vehicle replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) may be available from Toyota, provided the request meets one of the criteria listed in this Service…

Bulletin T-SB-0304-17 · Structure · Oct 2017

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the T100. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

Canadian recalls 1

Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 1997 Toyota T100. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.

Steering

On certain vehicles, if the steering wheel is repeatedly turned under 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. Correction: Dealers will replace the steering relay rod.

Transport Canada #2005261 · Sep 2005

Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.

About the Toyota T100

The Toyota T100 is a full-size pickup truck manufactured and marketed by Toyota for model years 1993–1998 for the United States and Canada over a single generation; it was intended and designed specifically for the North American market.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

1997 Toyota T100 trims & engines on record

Trims
SR5 · DX
Engines
3.4L 6-cyl 190 hp

1997 Toyota T100 vehicles on record

Other Toyota T100 model years

1997 Toyota T100 — frequently asked questions

Does the 1997 Toyota T100 have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1997 Toyota T100. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 1997 Toyota T100?

Across all 75 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are structure, power train, steering.

What gas mileage does the 1997 Toyota T100 get?

The 1997 Toyota T100 has U.S. EPA estimates of 15–19 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (6 versions).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.