Two other 1998 model pickups didn't perform a lot better than the Tacoma. The bumpers on pickups are stiffer than on cars. Backing into a loading dock as slowly as 5 mph, for example, can cause damage as far forward as the cabs of some pickups.
Front bumpers are inadequate, too.
They allow damage to safety systems like headlight assemblies as well as expensive body panels. All four tests are conducted at 5 mph, little more than walking speed. Instead, the bumper systems on pickups consist of rigid bars attached directly to vehicle frames. So in most cases, this energy is transmitted by the bumper system directly to the body of a pickup. This damaged both the cab and the bed on the Dakota and the cab of the Tacoma.