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2001 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner AC

The 2001 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner AC is a 150-hp 2.7-liter inline-4 pickup truck with a 4-speed automatic and rear-wheel drive. It starts at $16,815 MSRP and is rated at 18 mpg combined.

It makes 150 horsepower at 4,800 rpm and 177 lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm. EPA fuel-economy estimates are 17 mpg city and 20 mpg highway (18 mpg combined).

The Tacoma measures 202.3 inches long on a 121.9-inch wheelbase and has a curb weight of 3,175 lb.

Spec Value
Vehicle
Body TypePickup
PowertrainGas
Price
MSRP$16,815 ($30,858 *)
Engine
Engine Type2.7L DOHC 16-valve EFI I4
Displacement2.7 L
Horsepower150 hp @ 4,800 rpm
Torque177 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
ValvetrainDOHC 16-valve
Injection TypeElectronic Fuel Injection (EFI)
Drivetrain
Drive TypeRWD (front engine, rear-wheel drive)
Transmission
Transmission4-speed automatic
Final Drive3.91
Fuel Economy
City17 MPG
Highway20 MPG
Combined18 MPG
Tank Capacity18 gal
Suspension
Front SuspensionCoil-spring double-wishbone independent front suspension with stabilizer bar and gas-filled shock absorbers
Rear SuspensionLeaf-spring rear suspension with staggered gas-filled shock absorbers
Turning Diameter40 ft
Tires & Wheels
Wheels Front15 in.
Wheels Rear15 in.
Tires FrontP225/75R15
Tires RearP225/75R15
Dimensions & Weight
Length202.3 in
Width66.5 in
Height67.1 in
Wheelbase121.9 in
Front Track57.5 in
Rear Track57.3 in
Ground Clearance11 in
Approach Angle32°
Departure Angle24°
Curb Weight3,175 lbs
Interior
Headroom Front38.4 in
Headroom Rear35.5 in
Legroom Front42.8 in
Legroom Rear27.2 in
Shoulder Room Front54.1 in
Shoulder Room Rear53.3 in
Hip Room Front54.6 in
Hip Room Rear52.6 in
* Amount adjusted for inflation to 2026 dollars

Safety & Recalls

NCAP safety ratings

Overall Not rated
Frontal crash Not rated
Frontal – driver ★★★★★
Frontal – passenger ★★★★★
Side crash Not rated
Rollover Not rated
Tested variant: 2001 Toyota Tacoma Extended Cab
Other tested variants (1)
  • 2001 Toyota Tacoma 4-DR.: overall not rated

Recalls

6 recalls on file with NHTSA for the 2001 Toyota TACOMA. Not every recall applies to every trim or VIN — check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Nov 23, 2012 · TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2004 Tacoma light trucks manufactured from August 28, 2000, through August 27, 2004, and originally sold, or currently registered, in the following cold climate states with high road salt usage: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. The spare tire in the subject vehicles is located underneath the rear of the vehicle and held by a spare tire carrier. A lift plate on the carrier is used to help raise, lower and retain the tire. During its manufacture, the lift plate may not have been sufficiently coated with anti-corrosion materials. If the plate is insufficiently coated and the vehicle is operated in cold climate regions where road salts are frequently used, road spray can reach the carrier assembly and corrode the lift plate.

Consequence: Corrosion of the plate could cause it to break, which could result in detachment of the spare tire from the vehicle. Detachment of the spare tire could result in a road hazard which may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace the spare tire carrier lift plate as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in February 2013. Owners may contact their Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.

NHTSA campaign 12V542000

Jul 17, 2006 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING

CERTAIN AJ MOTORSPORT COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Consequence: LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: AJ MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AJ MOTORSPORT AT 626-618-2026.

NHTSA campaign 06E065000

Mar 23, 2006 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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.

Consequence: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: 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.

NHTSA campaign 06E026000

May 17, 2005 · SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, DUE TO A MANUFACTURING ISSUE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE SURFACE OF THE BALL OF THE JOINT MAY HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED. THE BALL JOINT MAY EVENTUALLY EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE WEAR AND LOOSENESS, RESULTING IN INCREASED STEERING EFFORT.

Consequence: THE LOWER BALL JOINT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 5, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

NHTSA campaign 05V225000

May 19, 2003 · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, DURING SIDE IMPACT NCAP TEST (I.E. LINCAP TEST), A FLANGE AT THE REAR END OF THE DOUBLE CAB BODY DEFORMED AND INTERFERED WITH THE FUEL INLET HOSE THAT CONNECTS THE FUEL FILLER PIPE AND FUEL TANK, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE FUEL INLET HOSE.

Consequence: THIS DAMAGE COULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE IF IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUEL HOSE PROTECTOR ON THE BODY FLANGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 3, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

NHTSA campaign 03V189000

Jun 7, 2001 · TIRES:SIDEWALL

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 4X2 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TU4 WHITE LETTER TIRE UPGRADE OPTION AND DISTRIBUTED BY SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. TIRE DAMAGE MAY HAVE OCCURRED DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLATION, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE TIRE TO DEFLATE OR A BULGE APPEARING IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE.

Consequence: AN IMPROPERLY INFLATED TIRE COULD RESULT IN VEHICLE HANDLING PROBLEMS OR A BLOW OUT OF AN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED TIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL CHECK ALL FOUR TIRES, REBALANCE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE ANY DAMAGED TIRE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 3, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.

NHTSA campaign 01V186000

401 owner complaints to NHTSA for the 2001 Toyota TACOMA

Owner Complaints

401 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2001 Toyota TACOMA (41 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 25 an injury). See all on nhtsa.gov

Most-cited areas
Structure227
Suspension81
Unknown Or Other40
Air Bags21
Steering20
Service Brakes19
A complaint can cite more than one area.
Most recent complaints
Sep 21, 2025 · Steering, Suspension, Wheels Crash
“Lower ball joint separated from knuckle and it says 0 recalls repaired i want it replaced because there oem they were never replaced when recalled”
Sep 27, 2024 · Structure
“We purchased a 2001 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner from a used car lot in Omaha NE. We have had it for 3 months and recently had a mechanic look over the vehicle for repairs. The mechanic indicated the frame…”
May 16, 2024 · Unknown Or Other
“My Toyota truck frame is rusted with big holes and could break in two at any time.”
Sep 7, 2023 · Structure
“The contact owns a 2001 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously serviced under recall for corrosion underneath the vehicle. The contact became aware that there was corrosion…”
Jul 24, 2023 · Suspension
“The contact owns a 2001 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the contact swerved to the left to avoid another vehicle and the steering had stiff. The contact stated…”

Complaints are unverified reports submitted to NHTSA by owners. They cover the whole model year, not a specific trim, and a count alone doesn't show how common a problem is.

Source: US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (nhtsa.gov), matched as 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. US-market vehicles only; data cached for up to 7 days.

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