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Toyota Tacoma

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Toyota Tacoma • Consumer complaints • Transmission failure • Safety interlock failure • Spontaneous starting • Misc. failings --- News • Toyota Announces Recall to Fix Runaway Acceleration • NHTSA Ends Toyota Tacoma Investigation • Toyota Resists Possible Tacoma Recall

The Tacoma is putting a big dent in American automakers' truck sales but it's also putting a big ugly dent in Toyota's reputation for quality, reliability and service. The trucks are plagued by engine and transmission problems as well as an assortment of defects and quirks that we don't usually associate with Japanese cars and trucks.

Here are some of the more recent complaints:

James of La Verne, CA February 7, 2010

I have a 2005 Toyota Tacoma which I purchased new for my wife. In November 2009 she was traveling to our vacation house and it started making a ticking noise from the front of the truck when turning or accelerating. Not knowing what was really wrong or how to fix it she drove home trying to avoid it making noise. We took it to the a body shop who did repairs on it thinking there was a mis alignment or something like that. they had it looked at by a Toyota dealer and they stated it needed new motor mounts costing over 600.00. I purchased the motor mounts and installed them for under 300.00 although I did not see anything with the ones I had removed.

My wife drove the truck to work the next day and told me the noise was back and worse than before. I took the truck to a friends brake shop, he put it on the lift to check it our and found the frame was cracked around the drivers side engine mount which was dropping the motor down causing the fan to hit the shroud, The crack extends nearly completely around the motor mount and is caving into the frame. I took it to Toyota and they stated that there was no recall on this and they could not do anything about it but I could put another frame under it at a cost of 10,000.00, they would however give me a 4000.00 credit towards the change out if they did the repairs at the dealer. The service consultants stated that there are others with this issue but nothing being done about it.

I have since researched this and found others on the web with this complaint, I don’t think anyone would expect this kind of defect to occur and no one is checking to see how many other vehicles have this condition. One of the guys at work has a 2006 Tacoma and the frame has additional plate to help support the frame where the motor mount perch is attached. After finding this it tells me that Toyota knew that there was an issue which drove their decision to change the design of the frame.

Mark of Colorado Springs, CO February 5, 2010

I recently bought a 2002 Tacoma, found out the defroster was not working. The cause was the "Air Outlet Servomotor"! Yikes! I purchased another and decided to take the damaged one apart. Inside the main pivot gear was made of brass, the adjacent gear was made of plastic and had teeth sheared off as the brass took the torque of the motor but the weak link was the adjacent plastic gear teeth !

It is obvious the gears should have all been made of metal rather than plastic. I wonder how long will the "replacement" motor will last? The problem --the guide track that the servomotor arm pushes to make the vent move deflector so that the hot air goes where we want has a binding turn that makes the motor work harder.

Vicky of Fairview, TN February 4, 2010

I have a 2000 Toyota Taucoma that the gas pedal sticks on. When you go to take off it sticks and the when you press it to get it to go it jumps. I ask them about this in the past after having it about a year and they told me they did not know what it could be and said nothing was wrong on their part. In light of this new recall I thought you should know this may go back further than current cars because sometimes I feel my when stopped I may press the pedal to go and when it sticks and I press it again I may hit someone. I have to be really careful.

George of Axtell, TX February 3, 2010

I have a 2005 Toyota Tacoma 4X4 manual 6 speed stretch cab with a clutch issue. In the winter months, the clutch is slow to engage until the truck warms up. In warm weather, there is no issue. The vehicle is a safety issue when driving in traffic due to slow clutch engagement.

David of Lunenburg County, NS February 1, 2010

I need help, I have a 2003 Toyota Tacoma truck 4x4 with a rusty frame, the VIN and Year are correct for a frame replacement on Toyota's campaign#917, but because the vehicle is a rebuilt vehicle they will not replace it. My problems is that I have proof that Oregans Toyota in Bridgewater has accepted at least one other rebuilt vehicle for the by back at 1.5 times the Kelly Blue Book value. I can not get the VIN number of the truck, Oregans Toyota won't give it to me and neither will the truck's owner (I do know him-he bought this rebuilt truck from my Father) neither will Registry of Motor Vehicles.

When I notified Toyota Canada of this fact, that they did accept a rebuilt vehicle, they called me a liar and said that under no circumstances did they accept a rebuilt vehicle. Well I know different, and this is my point indeed, what is good for the goose is good for the gander.

I called Transportation Canada and they told me to call APA(Automobile Protection Association), their suggestion was to take them to Small Claims Court. What I need is proof from someone at Oregans Toyota that they did indeed have a by back because of the frame rot. All I am asking for is to have my frame replaced so that I feel safe having my wife and son drive the truck.

Hollace of not at this time, CA January 29, 2010

2003 Pre-Runner 6 cylinder Tacoma Toyota, 44,000 miles, purchased new. Noticed something wrong with acceleration months ago, spoke to the dealer didn't seem concerned if the diagnostic light was not on. I have trouble when I turn seems I loose control of the vehicle. It bothered me but I didn't think too much about it until the recent recall.

Now I have contacted Toyota and the local dealer. The dealer says this truck is not part of the recent recall about acceleration problems and that it does not have the part Toyota says causes the problem. I am thinking Toyota still does not know what the problem is because first it was the carmats, then an acceleration box made in some state here in the USA but I have been reading that truck like mine not in the recall have the same problems so I am wondering if it is not something else. Course my local dealer is not going to be helpful

Alexander of Marcellus, NY January 28, 2010

My 2003 Toyota Tacoma has been plagued with a non-latching hood latch for several years. You need a screwdriver to push the catch to get it to fully latch. The clearances are too tight. Now I cannot open the hood and the cable is not broken. We had a 1996 Toyota Landcruiser and a 1997 Toyota Rav4 with identical problems. I talk to Toyota owners with other models that have the same problem.

Can't Toyota make a better hood latch. They must have had other complaints about this over the years and apparently did nothing. Hood can fly open and obstruct front view or come through the windshield.... Presently I am unable to open hood to perform basic maintenance.

pete of stratford, Canada January 27, 2010

I just finished reading about one hour of complaints with Toyotas problems ranging from stuck gas pedals,floor mats and frame rust. These are the big three.I did experience the stuck gas pedal with my 2009 Tacoma. At first I thought my winter boot slipped of the brake and somehow lodged between the gas and brake pedal..it did not. I did press the brake quite hard ad the truck stopped..I had a little panic attack but it passed Now 2 weeks ago it happened again and I did report it to Toyota in Guelph. They took it on a 14 mile road trip and found no problem and recorded it on my invoice.

I love my truck and will buy another Tacoma but please Toyota you have to admit there is a problem..and yes it is sporadic...but the bottom line is the Tacomas should be added to the list of recalls. PS.... Once you have solved this particular problem I will get it fixed whether warranty or not...it will give me peace of mind.

gary of springfield, WV January 14, 2010

I purchased a used 1999 Toyota Tacoma from a private citizen as a third vehicle, it had a salvaged title, (I was told an individual committed suicide in truck, therefore reason for title change, both front seats were replaced, owner said he has pictures of incident). My service man just told me the frame was rusting through, I discovered toyota has a "warranty" to replace any trucks with excess rust at 150% bluebook value.

I took the truck to Kern toyota and they advised it was rejectable and qualified for replacement, but due to salvage/reconstructed title they would NOT replace it. Per Michael F. service manager at Kern Toyota. I have personally owned approx. 10 toyotas over the last 20 years, 4 or 5 purchased at Kern toyota, and presently also have a 2004 Lexus rx330.

Toyota originated this warranty due to danger of frame rusting through and engine falling through to road or vehicle breaking apart. How can they walk away from the safety factor, long time customer, and simply leave a defective vehicle on the highway. As I understand this vehicle was re-titled in Pa due to suicide and resold in Wv. If vehicle is approved to be sold in Pa and Wv why wouldn't it be protected in the states involved for a toyota defect problem?

The economic difference is approx. 15,000 dollar loss and safety factor of toyota pickup dropping motor or breaking in two while driving down highway, service mgr. advised I should not load truck with heavy load. I would be receptive to frame reconstruction by toyota to solve this problem, it would not have to be another truck at toyota expense.

Kara of Prattville, AL December 29, 2009

My husband & I were on a road trip when the oil light came on in our 2002 Toyota Tacoma. After having our local Toyota service center take a look, we are now being told that the vehicle needs a new engine at 11,600. The truck has only 90K miles & has been properly maintaned, w/ documentation to prove it. The Toyota service center admits to sludging in the engine, but are not willing to accept any responsibility for the repairs. They only offer excuses or blame others as to why this happened. Undisclosed information to us revealed that this is the second occurence of sludging in this engine. It originally happend at 31K miles, before we purchased the vehicle (at 33K miles), and the engine was not replaced. We were not told any of this at the time of purchase.

We have contacted Toyota Corporate offices and basically have been told that since our manufacturer's warranty has expired it is our responsibility. We did purchase an extended bumper to bumper warranty for up to 100K miles, but unfortunately the time has expired 8 months ago. We currently own two Toyota's, but will never purchase another one if they do not make this situation right.

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