Total Complaints
10 filings
TOYOTA PICKUP · model year
1985 TOYOTA PICKUP
10 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1985TOYOTAPICKUP carries 10 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 1 fatality. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1985 PICKUP is tires with 3 filings, followed by parking brake (2) and steering (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 51 investigation files overlapping the 1985 PICKUP, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
10
Complaints
4
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
1
Deaths
Crashes Reported
4 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| TIRES | 3 |
| PARKING BRAKE | 2 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 1 |
| WHEELS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20211012WHEELS
The contact owns a 1985 Toyota Pickup. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 mph when the vehicle began emitting a noise coming from the rear axle. The contact was able to pull over and noticed that 3/4 lug nuts had sheared off. The contact drove to a local mechanic where it was repaired but continues to experience the same failure. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with, NHTSA Campaign Number: 85V129000 (WHEELS) however the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was informed of failure and told the contact that they were unable to assist. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Mileage: 100,000
20121001CrashTIRES
1985 TOYOTA 4X4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ACCIDENT AND SNOW TIRES *TGW THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE OTHER DETAILED INFORMATION, SUCH AS CRASH TEST, DEFECTS AND STATISTICS INFORMATION.
20001114STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS REPAIRED. CONSUMER NOTICED VIBRATION FROM THE REAR OF VEHICLE, AFTER INSPECTION THE ENTIRE FRAME OF THE TRUCK WAS FOUND TO BE CORRODED BADLY ESPECIALLY IN THE RIGHT REAR SECTION WHERE THE REAR SPRINGS ARE SHACKLED TO THE FRAME. *SLC
20001114PARKING BRAKE
EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS REPAIRED. CONSUMER NOTICED VIBRATION FROM THE REAR OF VEHICLE, AFTER INSPECTION THE ENTIRE FRAME OF THE TRUCK WAS FOUND TO BE CORRODED BADLY ESPECIALLY IN THE RIGHT REAR SECTION WHERE THE REAR SPRINGS ARE SHACKLED TO THE FRAME. *SLC
20000928PARKING BRAKE
BELLCRANK AND BRACKET FROZEN RENDERING PARKING BRAKE INOPERATIVE. DISSIMILAR METALS WITH HEAVY CORROSION OF COMPONENTS AT CONTACT AREA IN EVIDENCE.
19981005SUSPENSION:REAR
REAR AXLE BROKE CAUSING WHEEL TO FALL OFF. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT).
19960918CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
UPON PLACING INTO REVERSE GEAR EXPEIENCED ENGINE SURGE, THEN VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, OVERPOWERING BRAKES, FINALLY HIT AN OTHER RV DUE TO THOTTLE STICKING.*AK
19960502TIRES
ATLAS TIRES WEAR ON INSIDE OF TIRE. *DSH
19960417CrashFatalTIRES
VEHICLE MODIFIED WITH LARGER TIRES WHICH, CAUSED DEATH WHEN VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER DUE TO THE CHANGE IN THE CENTER OF GRAVITY. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT) *SD
19950622CrashSTEERING
VEHICLE LOST CONTROL/ROLLOVER, RESULTING IN INJURY. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT) *SKD
Compare 1985TOYOTAPICKUP to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1985 TOYOTA PICKUP have?▼
The 1985 TOYOTA PICKUP has 10 NHTSA complaints, 4 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1985 TOYOTA PICKUP?▼
The most-complained component for the 1985 TOYOTA PICKUP is TIRES with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include PARKING BRAKE and STEERING.
Is the 1985 TOYOTA PICKUP safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.