Toyota Tacoma Gen1 (1995-2004): Specs, Problems, Pros And Cons (2024)

Updated on January 2, 2024

The first generation Toyota Tacoma is one of the best off-road pick-ups ever made. Even today, the average price of a first-generation Tacoma is well over $15,000 with some examples going for over $40,000. And that’s not surprising when we consider just how reliable and capable the Tacoma is.

The Gen1 Tacoma was offered with two inline four engines and a V6 which is the most desireable. It also had two transmission options – a four-speed automatic and a five-speed manual. Common problems include rust, timing belt failure, oil leaks, poor interior quality, and frequent checks of engine lights. None of them are that serious.

Even with its flaws and 3 decades of age, the first-generation Tacoma costs as much as some trucks that are less than ten years old. Stick around then as we try to figure out whether or not the first-generation Tacoma is a good truck for you.

First-Gen Toyota Tacoma Specs

The first generation Toyota Tacoma started selling in the US in 1995. Since domestic manufacturers didn’t offer that many alternatives to half-ton trucks, the Tacoma didn’t have much of a competition. And considering that Toyota was already a reputable brand in the nineties, Tacoma was bound for success. In the first year, Toyota sold over 80,000 units, and by 2004 it would sell nearly 1.5 million.

The Tacoma came in a bunch of different configurations with the entry model getting a 2.4 inline four-cylinder engine and two-wheel driver as the only option. The 2.4 engine only got 140 horsepower which definitely isn’t enough for the Tacoma, even the V6 was fairly underpowered. The next engine in line is the 2.7-liter inline-four. The 2.7 was available with four wheel drive and it got a nice power bump from 142 to 150 horsepower, and from 160 to 177 lb-ft of torque.

But the 3.4 liter V6 is the one everyone is after. The V6 has 190 horsepower and 220 lb-ft of torque. That’s a nice power increase which will help you greatly in tough off-road terrains. The V6 also has a better fuel economy than the 2.7 engine, and it’s more reliable. The 3.4 was also offered with both two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive, plus automatic or manual transmission.

Lastly, the Tacoma came in three different chassis configurations. The regular cab is the smallest one with only a front row of seats. Then comes the Xtracab which had small rear seats with not a lot of legroom, and no rear doors. The biggest one was the double cab which had full-size rear doors and rear seats. It’s worth mentioning that the regular cab and the Xtracab have a six-foot bed while the double cab has a 5.5-foot bed.

Chassis Specifications

Engine Specifications

First-Gen Toyota Tacoma Common Problems

Frame and Suspension Corrosion

Rust is by far the biggest problem with the first-generation Toyota Tacoma. The Toyota Tacoma is a body-on-frame truck and that frame loves to turn brown. That’s not surprising since these trucks see a lot of off-road and winter driving, but it’s also partially because of poor corrosion protection from Toyota. It also doesn’t help that these trucks are 20 to 30 years old.

The frame likes to rust mainly around the leaf spring mounting points which can be extremely dangerous. But don’t be surprised if the entire frame is rusted and there might even be holes in it. Fixing frame rust won’t be cheap and you will find yourself spending thousands on welding and rust protection. And in extreme cases which are fairly common, the frame will be damaged enough that it’s impossible to fix.

At the moment there are no shops that sell remanufactured frames, but you can buy all the sections brand new and have someone weld them for you. But again, that will cost thousands. On a positive note, the body doesn’t rust nearly as much as the frame, but it’s worth inspecting it before buying the truck just in case.

Timing Belt Failure (V6 Engine)

The 3.4 V6 engine is the only one of the three offered with the first-generation Tacoma that has a timing belt. The four-cylinder engines all have timing chains that are extremely durable and will easily outlive the engine. But Toyota stuck with a timing belt for the V6 which is a good idea since it reduces the complexity of an already mechanically complicated engine.

Unfortunately, the timing snaps relatively often since Toyota didn’t specify the replacement interval properly. In 1997 and earlier models, there was no specific replacement interval at all. Toyota did recommend that you replace the belt every 60,000 miles if the vehicle saw a lot of highway driving and idling but that’s about it.

Once 1998 rolled around, Toyota began including the timing belt in regular maintenance. The interval was set at 90,000 miles or six years whichever comes first. The only reason the timing belt breaks is if it wasn’t replaced on time, which happens too often. But it’s good to know that there are no premature failures.

It’s even better to know that the 3.4 V6 is a noninterference engine so the belt snapping will have the same consequences as a dead battery. You just tow the car to a repair shop, replace the belt and that’s it. That service will set you back around $500 with parts and labor, but at least you don’t have to think about it for the next six years.

Poor Interior Quality

The first generation Toyota Tacoma was an extremely simple truck that came way before infotainment systems, luxury materials, and driver assists became the norm. On a 20-year-old truck, that’s a good thing because not that many things can break. Unfortunately, you will still find issues with the interior even though everything still probably works. For example, squeaks and rattles are just something you will have to get used to.

The plastic and rubber interior trim holds up pretty well, but the seats definitely do not. Tears and exposed foam in the cloth seats are something you will find in virtually every Tacoma of this generation unless they have already been repaired. And repairing them isn’t cheap either as it can cost well over $1,000 for a professional job. But at least it’s not a time-sensitive repair like the rust and timing belt are.

What’s more worrying are the seat belts. The seat belts get damaged over the years and you can sometimes find signs of the edges starting to disintegrate and tear. If you notice that, definitely get them replaced as soon as you can because in an accident even the tiniest seat belt damage can cause them to snap.

Replacing the seat belts will set you back around $200 to $300 depending on where you live. You can also replace the seatbelts yourself if you get a universal kit or manage to find brand-new ones for a first-generation Tacoma specifically. The universal kit will set you back around $50 to $70 for a set of two so it can be a fairly cheap repair.

Oil Leaks

Oil leaks are also fairly common on the first-generation Tacoma, as they are on virtually all older vehicles. The most frequent oil leak is the valve cover which definitely isn’t that serious and it’s also easy and cheap to repair. The biggest problem with it is that your engine bay will look all greasy and you will have to top up the oil frequently. The valve cover gasket kits for a 3.4 Tacoma are fairly expensive at $50 to $100 depending on the brand.

And replacing them is fairly time-consuming as well so expect to pay for around two to three hours of labor which is another $200 to $300. Other common oil leaks are found on the oil filter housing and the oil cooler. Fixing each of those leaks will cost several hundred dollars as well, and both of them are fairly serious since they can lead to low oil pressure. But on a positive note, they don’t happen that often although you should inspect them if you are looking to buy one.

Frequent Check Engine Light

Check engine lights and onboard diagnostic systems were still brand new when the first-generation Tacoma came out. And the same goes for all the sensors that are found on all cars today. Given that all the sensors were still a relatively new technology back then, and considering how old these trucks are today, a check engine light is something you will almost definitely see at least once.

The most common cause of the check engine light in a first-generation Tacoma is a bad O2 sensor. O2 sensors cost around $30 to $50 and replacing them takes less than half an hour so it’s not an expensive repair. But the check engine light can be triggered by any number of things although most of them are right around $50 to $100 to fix with both parts and labor. Still, pulling the fault codes before buying a Tacoma is a good idea just to see if there are pending or stored faults.

Failing Steering Rack Bushings

Steering rack bushings are something we never mention when talking about common problems as they virtually never cause issues, and they just don’t exist on most vehicles. But they do exist on all first-generation Tacoma trucks and they help minimize steering wheel vibrations when driving over unpaved roads. Since the bushings are exposed to all kinds of external contaminants and are made from rubber, they will fail eventually.

When they do, you might hear and feel weird clunks coming through the steering wheel, steering wheel vibrations, and free play. While the bushings are not a dangerous problem, you still want to fix them as soon as you can. A new set of bushings will set you back around $30 and you can buy upgraded polyurethane ones for just under $100.

Replacing them is somewhat time-consuming but it’s also fairly simple so you can do it yourself. Bushings take around two to three hours to replace which is $200 to $300 in labor. But if they are bad, you will certainly feel it when you take the truck for a test drive before buying it.

Toyota Tacoma Gen1 Pros

Reliability

Regardless of which engine or transmission you get, the first-generation Toyota Tacoma will be one of the most reliable vehicles you will ever own. Their reliability plays a huge role in how popular they are, and they are amazingly popular. You easily find first-generation Tacomas will well over 250,000 miles on them, and they will still sell at a premium if they are in good condition.

Simplicity

The first generation Toyota Tacoma came out right at the time when OBD systems started getting traction. That means they have just the right amount of electronics that help increase their fuel economy and performance, but not enough where it becomes too advanced for an amateur mechanic to fix with some basic tools. That also helps its reliability and longevity and it reduces maintenance costs.

Great Off-Road Potential

About half of the first-generation Toyota Tacoma owners bought them with the sole intention of taking them off-road. The Tacoma is light, has four-wheel drive as an option, and has torquey engines. Locking hubs were also available, and the off-road aftermarket support was amazing. You can find these Tacomas converted into over-landing vehicles, rock crawlers, and even in off-road racing.

Holds Resale Value

The first generation Tacoma, as all Tacomas that came after, holds its resale value amazingly well. The Tacoma in general is one of the slowest depreciating vehicles on the market for decades now. And the fact that a small truck that’s over twenty years old sells for an average price of $15,000 backs up those statements. It’s also interesting that prices of the first generation just keep rising so it will be difficult to lose money on one.

Practicality

The first-generation Tacoma isn’t that practical when it comes to cabin space. The driver and the passenger won’t complain much, but if you get the Xtracab with no rear doors, the passengers in the rear definitely won’t enjoy a comfortable ride with its limited legroom. But you will definitely be happy with its towing capabilities and beds that are the same size as they are on modern full-size trucks.

Comfortable and Handles Well

The first-generation Toyota Tacoma is fairly comfortable for a body-on-frame truck. It’s definitely the most comfortable when compared to its competitors. And that’s not surprising when we consider that the Tacoma is essentially the same vehicle as the 4Runner which is a family SUV. The Tacoma also handles the bends pretty good thanks to the fact it’s very light.

Toyota Tacoma Gen1 Cons

Good Examples are Expensive

The prices of first-generation Toyota Tacomas are the highest they have ever been and they just keep rising. The main reason is that they are amazing trucks, but also that they have a huge cult following and enthusiasts who are willing to pay good money for them.

If you love the Toyota Tacoma and recognize its potential, the price is something you can neglect. But if you are just looking for a small work truck, there are better options out there.

Slow

Nobody buys a Toyota Tacoma for its performance stats, but it’s nice to know that the truck has some punch for when you need it. But the first-gen Tacoma doesn’t. The fastest one with the 3.4 V6 engine, a manual transmission, and two-wheel drive will get you to sixty in around ten seconds. Get one with a 2.7-liter engine, automatic transmission, and four-wheel drive, and you are looking at a zero to sixty time of well above 15 seconds.

Conclusion

In the end, you can’t really go wrong with a Toyota Tacoma. The hard stats we are showing you in this article are just a small part of the whole picture. The only way you can make a mistake is if you don’t inspect the truck properly and end up overpaying.

But as long as you keep that in check, even if you figure out you don’t like a truck after a few months, you likely won’t lose any money on it, and you won’t have to wait a long time to sell it.

Here are some articles that might interest you:

Why Are Toyota Tacomas So Expensive? 9 Reasons Why

Toyota Tacoma 6-Speed Manual Transmission Problems and Fixes

Why Are Used Toyota Mirai So Cheap?