TOYOTA PICKUP · model year

1990 TOYOTA PICKUP

29 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1990TOYOTAPICKUP carries 29 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. 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 1990 PICKUP is engine and engine cooling:engine with 8 filings, followed by seat belts:front:buckle assembly (3) and tires:tread/belt (3). 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 1990 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.

29
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

29 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE8
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY3
TIRES:TREAD/BELT3
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER2
STEERING2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE1
STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING1
VISIBILITY1
POWER TRAIN1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1

Recent Complaints

20180528STRUCTURE:BODY

EXCESSIVE FRAME RUSTING.

Mileage: 40,000

20100408ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1990 TOYOTA PICK UP ELECTRONIC CONTROLS *GR THE CONSUMER STATED SOMETIMES HIS TRUCK WILL NOT START.

20100309POWER TRAIN

ME AND MY DAUGHTER WHERE DRIVING TO FEDERAL EXPRESS TO DROP OF SOME PACKAGES. AS I APPROACHED THE STOP LIGHT I PRESSED IN THE CLUTCH AND IT POPPED REALLY LOUD AND I ALMOST REARENDED A CADILLAC ESCALADE. I SWERVED RIGHT TO AVOID HITTING HIM AND CONTINUED DOWN THE ROAD AND TOOK THE TRUCK OUT OF GEAR AND COASTED INTO THE FED EX PARKING LOT. MY FATHER-IN-LAW IS A TOYOTA MECHANIC AND HE SAID THE SUPPORT PLATE FOR THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE HAD BROKE IN 2 DIFFERENT PLACES. HE TOOK THE PLATE OUT SHOWED ME WHERE IT HAD BROKE AND WELDED IT BACK TOGETHER. I ASKED HIM IF THIS WAS COMMON EVEN IF IT DOES HAVE ALOT OF MILES AND HE SAID YES HE HAS SEEN THIS SEVERAL TIMES. THIS SCARED ME BECAUSE I WONDER IF THERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE HAVE THIS HAPPEN AND WHERE KILLED IN A BAD CRASH AND NO ONE KNOWS WHAT REALLY HAPPEN. I CONTACTED TOYOTA 2 TIMES BY E-MAIL BUT NO ONE HAS CONTACTED ME. *TR

Mileage: 244,300

20091208FireVISIBILITY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 TOYOTA PICKUP TRUCK 4X4. AFTER TURNING ON THE HEATER, LEAVES CAUGHT FIRE INSIDE OF HIS TRUCK. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND A LETTER WAS SENT ADVISING HIM THAT NO ASSISTANCE WOULD BE PROVIDED.. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000. UPDATED 01/27/10. *LJ SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE TRUCK, THE CONSUMER NOTICED TREE LEAVES ENTERING THE MECHANICAL FAN CAGE. AFTER REMOVING THE LEAVES SEVERAL TIMES, HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE SERVICE MANAGER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING ALTERED AND WOULD NOT MAKE ANY MODIFICATIONS. OVER THE YEARS THE CONSUMER WOULD DILIGENTLY CLEAN THE SYSTEM 2-3 TIMES PER YEAR. AT TIMES HE COULD SMELL THE BURNING LEAVES WHEN OPERATING THE HEATER. WHEN THE LEAVES ACCUMULATE IN THE CAGE AND THE FAN IS ENERGIZED, THE MOVEMENT OF THE SMALL BLADES SPINNING AROUND THE LEAVES CREATES FRICTION CAUSING THE LEAVES TO IGNITE AND CATCH FIRE. UPDATED 01/28/10.*JB

Mileage: 147,000

20080617STEERING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 TOYOTA PICKUP. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM TOYOTA PERTAINING TO THE STEERING. HE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIRED, BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD NO RECORD OF THE APPOINTMENT AND NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN.

20070815TIRES:TREAD/BELT

I HAVE A 1990 TOYOTA PICKUP WITH A SET OF FIRESTONE AFFINITY TIRES IN SIZE 205/70R14. YESTERDAY WHILE ON THE WAY TO WORK ON I85 THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK BEGAN VIBRATING HORRIBLY AS IF IT HAD A FLAT TIRE. I PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED THE TIRES AND THEY ALL STILL HAD AIR IN THEM. I CONTINUED ON MY WAY BUT THE VIBRATION CONTINUED. AT THIS POINT I THOUGHT I HAD THROWN A WHEEL WEIGHT AND THE TIRE WAS OUT OF BALANCE. ABOUT 1 MILE DOWN THE ROAD THERE WAS A LARGE POPPING NOISE FROM THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER INTO A GAS STATION AND WHEN I DID I FOUND THAT THE TIRE HAD A HUGE SECTION OF TREAD THAT HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE CARCAS, PROBABLY 25% AROUND THE TIRE. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I HAVE EVER HAD HAPPEN WITH ANOTHER TIRE IN 25 YEARS OF DRIVING. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD AND I FEEL LUCKY THAT I DIDN'T END UP HAVING AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS. THESE TIRES STILL HAVE CONSIDERABLE TREAD LIFE IN THEM AND HAVE BEEN ROTATED EVERY 5,000 MILES AND I RUN 32

20061129STEERING

RECALL NOTICE, CANNOT GET REPAIRED. DEALER WILL NOT RETURN CALLS. *JB

20060412ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

MY 1990 TOYOTA PICKUP WAS RECENTLY RECALLED. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP ON 3/10/2006. I ASSUME THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM. I NOW HAVE A NEW PROBLEM BECAUSE OF TAKING THIS IN. I HAVE A HUGE OIL LEAK, ENOUGH TO WHERE I HAVE TO ADD OIL NEARLY EVERY DAY. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THIS (( OR TO KEEP PUTTING IT IN JUST TO HAVE IN MAKE THE MESS IN MY GARAGE AND ALL OVER THE HIGHWAYS)). COULD YOU PLEASE HELP ME? THIS THERE SOME KIND OF VEHICLE REPAIR ASSISTANCE? THANK YOU. *NM

20060313STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING

MY 1990 TOYOTA PICK-UP WAS RECALLED SSC 50N TO REPLACE STEERING RELAY ROD. THE NEAREST DEALER IS TWO HUNDRED MILES FROM THE VEHICLE. THE RECALL CENTER STATED THAT THIS RECALL MUST BE PERFORMED BY A TOYOTA DEALER. THERE MUST BE ANOTHER WAY TO FIX THE VEHICLE. TOYOTA COULD PROVIDE THE PARTS AND I ASSUME THE PRICE TO INSTALL THEM. *JB

Mileage: 183,000

20021101ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

THIS VEHICLE WAS PART OF THE HEAD GASKET RECALL BY TOYOTA, AS A RESULT THEY REPLACED THE ORGINAL ENGINE BLOCK DUE TO LEAKAGE OF COOLANT INTO THE CYLINDERS. AFTER APPROX. 45,000 MILES OF NORMAL DRIVING USING A CONNECTING ROD EXPLODED WITH NO APPARENT REASON. GIVING NO WARNING SIGNS OF ANY KIND. THE CONNECTING ROD EXPLODED WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO PRODUCE A 3 INCH DIA. HOLE IN THE SIDE OF THE BLOCK AND ESTABLISH A CRACK ALONG THE ENTIRE LEFT SIDE OF THE MOTOR. THIS EXPLOSION OCCURRED AT UNDER 35 MPH. I HAVE TALKED WITH TOYOTA CUSTOMERS RELATIONS AND THEY HAVE TOLD ME TOYOTA ISN'T INTERESTED. AFTER INSPECTION OF THE INSIDE OF THE MOTOR THERE WERE NO VISIUAL REASONS FOR THE CONNECTION ROD TO BLOW UP OIL PUMP WAS IN PERFECT WORKING ORDER WITH PLENTY OF OIL THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM MY CONCERNS ARE IF THIS CAN HAPPN IN THIS MOTOR AND TOYOTA HAS REPLACED THOUSANDS OF MOTORS IN THEIR HEAD GASKET RECALL, AND THERE WERE DEFECTIVE RODS INSTALLED IN THOSE MOTORS, AT A HIGHER VEHICLE SPEED, GIVEN THE FORC

20011108SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM

SINCE THIS TRUCK WAS NEW WE HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR BRAKES. ONE OF THE TWO WHEELS LOCKS UP; CAUSING THE TRUCK TO PULL TO WHICHEVER SIDE IS LOCKING UP. WE HAVE TAKEN THIS TRUCK TO TOYOTA SEVERAL TIMES AND AFTER SPENDING $100.00 OR MORE THEY TELL ME THAT EVERY THING IS FINE. THE LAST TIME THEY TOLD ME IT IS BECAUSE IT IS A 1-TON TRUCK AND THE FACT THAT WE DO NOT HAVE THE TRUCK LOADED IS THE PROBLEM, AS THIS TRUCK WAS MADE TO CARRY A LOAD OF 1 TON. I HAVE REPLACED THE REAR BRAKE SHOES AS I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE SHOES MADE IN THAT TIME FRAME. THIS DID SEAM TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 6 TO SEVEN MONTHS. THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED AND WE HAD ONCE AGAIN TRIED TO GET TOYOTA TO LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. THEY WILL AT MY EXPENSE, AND AFTER PAYING FOR THIS THE LAST TWO TIMES ONLY TO BE TOLD THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. I AM NOT WILLING TO PAY FOR THIS AGAIN. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES ON 1990 TOYOTA TRUCKS BUT NEVER A RECALL ITEM.

20010605ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

MY ENGINE HAD A FAILURE OF ONE CYLINDER AND A LEAKING HEAD GASKET,THERE WAS A SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN BY TOYOTA THAT WAS ISSUED IN DEC97 THAT EXTENDED MY WARRENTY TO 8 YEARS TO FIX THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM,THAT GAVE TOYOTA ONE MONTH TO NOTIFY ALL TRUCK OWNERS AND FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE SPECIAL EXTENSION EXPIRED,HOW BENEVOLENT.TOYOTA TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR MY ENGINE FAILURE,EVEN THUOGH IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKET,ANY HELP WOULD BE WELCOME.*AK

20010403ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA MOTOR COORPORATION THAT ONLY CERTAIN 3.0 LITER PICK UPS WERE RECALLED. MINE DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THIS RECALL. THERE ARE MANY TOYOTA PICKUPS WITH THIS HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. WHY WAS MY TRUCK EXEMPT FROM THIS RECALL PROGRAM.*AK

20001106TIRES:TREAD/BELT

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A THUMPING NOISE. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SIDE OF SHOULDERS, AND NOTICED THAT LEFT REAR TIRE HAD SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE . TIRE WAS A B.F.GOODRICH, P21565R15, DOT BEVFNX71308. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.*AK

20001002TIRES:TREAD/BELT

PE00 O20; CONSUMERWAS TRAVELING 45MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE RIM. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED FIRESTONE AT THIS TIME. FIRESTONE FIRE HAWK #4410 P25575R15 108SM/S. *AK

19980213ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET RECALL. TOYOTA REFUSED TO COVER ALL DAMAGE.

19970904SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

SEAT BELT BUCKLES UNLATCH WITHOUT BEING RELEASED.

19970830ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TIMING CHAIN FAILURE.

19961203FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

FUEL LINE FAILED, CAUSING ODOR/FUMES TO ENTER INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT; ALSO REPLACED TIMING BELT/OIL SEAL THAT WAS PUT IN BACKWARDS. *AK

19961203ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

FUEL LINE FAILED, CAUSING ODOR/FUMES TO ENTER INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT; ALSO REPLACED TIMING BELT/OIL SEAL THAT WAS PUT IN BACKWARDS. *AK

Compare 1990TOYOTAPICKUP to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1990 TOYOTA PICKUP have?
The 1990 TOYOTA PICKUP has 29 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 TOYOTA PICKUP?
The most-complained component for the 1990 TOYOTA PICKUP is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE with 8 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY and TIRES:TREAD/BELT.
Is the 1990 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.