Two problems related to automatic transmission column shift have been reported for the 1999 Toyota Tacoma. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
This is to clarify NHTSA odi #742258, filed by me on 3/11/01. I was driving south on 35w from st. Paul minnesota at approximately 7 am. The temperature was close to zero and it was snowing lightly. I had gone about 75 miles when I came upon packed snow and random patches of ice on the highway. I had passed several cars in the ditch. I was reasonably worried about my safety, so I attempted to pull the lever to engage my 4-wheel drive. It would not engage. I pulled hard, but not as hard as I could, fearing that something would break. I continued to drive in 2-wheel for another 10-20 minutes. The highway was still icy and I had passed more cars in the ditch. I tried again to engage the 4-wheel drive and again could not. I did not try again for another half hour and when I did, it engaged. I reported the incident to scott nichols' service manager, who phoned Toyota. He told me that they said they had had 'a few' similar reports from drivers in cold areas, but that no accidents had resulted.
Location: s. Minnesota, approx. Zero degrees, random ice and snow on pavement; was unable to engage 4-wheel drive for protection; tried twice; 75 miles later was able to engage. Complained to vendor, who called Toyota and was told they'd had "a few" similar incidents during extremely cold weather, but no injuries resulted.