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Toyota Tacoma - Misc. Problems

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

Assi of San Diego (12/3/03):
I purchased a brand new 2003 Tacoma V6 automatic in December of 2002. Two weeks after I got the vehicle it started exhibiting starting problems. The problem would manifest itself when I would start the vehicle, the engine would crank, fire, and as soon as I would release the starter, it would run several more cycles and die. On good instances, it would then start on the second or third try. On bad instances it would refuse to start for many tries and would only start by pumping the gas pedal. The worst thing about this is that this happens randomly!

In the past year, this has happened on the average three times a month. The vehicle has been to the dealer over 7 different times. The dealers are all controlled by the manufacturer and therefore refuse to look under the hood unless the problem is reproduced. I have already been to arbitration and am having a second go at present. Toyota quit answering my calls a long time ago, and my letters are ignored. On my last conversation with Toyota I was told that unless I solved the problem with the dealer “I have exhausted all means of resolution internal to Toyota and should go elsewhere”. In other words, they are telling me to sue them!

Jeff of San Diego (11/24/03):
I purchased a new 2000 Toyota Tacoma 4X4 in December of 1999. At the time of purchase I explained that I am in the Military and would like to purchase the best warranty offered that would act just like my factory warranty once it ran out. I knew I would put a lot of miles on it and needed a good warranty.

It was the easiest warranty sale the finance guy had all day. I ASKED for the warranty. He told me that this warranty would cover bumper to bumper, just like my factory warranty. It was called Toyota Extra Care Gold Package. I asked again, is this the best warranty you guys offer? Oh yes, this will cover everything.

Now that I am at 61,000 miles and need new clutch bushings, my "best they offer" warranty won't cover it. I am supposed to pay out of pocket for this after purchasing my warranty almost four years ago. Now I find out there was a platinum warranty available but not sold to me. I would like some answers and the best I can get from Bill Wright Toyota is voicemail after voicemail of the service managers and finance dept. and not one return phone call.

Victor of Lodi CA (11/19/03):
I purchased a 2000 Toyota Tacoma 4 wheel drive pickup. Since owning the pickup three rack and pinions have went out. When the rack and penion went out once it also knocked out the power steering box. I have talked to other Tacoma owners and they have had the same problems. One owner, I know, replaced five rack and pinions. Toyota claims they have no problem with the system and claims they do not know how many racks they have replaced. I believe the rack and pinion system is defective and unless you can afford to pay about $1,200. ever year and a half I would suggest you not purchase one.

Cynthia of Anchorage AK (6/16/03):
I have a 1995 Toyota Tacoma 4WD pick-up manual. I have 2 broken rear Leaf Springs, both at the same time. There is a Toyota Service Bulletin regarding this issue but I cannot find it on the internet.

Toyota now uses 4 leaf springs instead of 3. I was a manuf defect, recalled in some models but not mine ... or so the Toyota Service Dept. says. I need more data on this defect. I cannot drive my truck and don't have the $$ to get it fixed.

If not corrected can get into a severe accident.

Brent of King, NC (9/4/03):
I bought a 2003 Toyota Tacoma. I have a leak in the floor. I took it back twice but they can't find it. I want a new truck -- I can't help that they can't find the leak, I can't find it either but it was a brand new vehicle. I paid $23,000 cash, there was nothing wrong with my money. There shouldn't be anything wrong with the truck

Brent should contact a Lemon Law attorney quickly. There is a limited time during which he can take action.

Michael of Big Island VA (8/6/03):
In May 2002 I purchased a 2002 Tacoma Pick-up, black in color. By July of 2003 the top coat had started to spot and be eaten away. This Tacoma has 9600 miles on it and has never been driven in salt/chemical road conditions, I do not live downwind from any manufacturing plants that produce chemicals that would damage paint.

I approached Oak Ridge Toyota about this problem and they along with the rep. from Toyota used excuses from bird droppings/sap to normal road conditions. At the suggestion of my State Farm Insurance agent I visited 3 independant body paint shops in the Lynchburg area and all 3 said that in their opinion the top coat or clear coat did not have the correct mix of hardener to prevent the moisture from eating through the top coat and damaging the paint. I have a meeting next week with NCDS of Texas and have filed several complaints with other agencies.

I have owned a couple Toyotas in the past and they like the Tacoma sit outdoors and I have never had this problem, Also there are several Toyotas in my area that do not have this problem and they are much older than mine. This attitude of Toyota's is not like the company I had come to trust.

Brian of Eugene OR (9/15/02):
I bought a 2002 Tacoma from Thomason Toyota in Portland three months ago. And ever since then i have had problems with it. about a month after I purchased my truck the clutch petal started squeaking, I took it to my local dealer (Romaina, Eugene, Oregon) and they first said that it was the bushings that needed to be replaced, but when I brought it in for my appointment to have it fixed they didn't fix it because they changed what the problem was and said that it was the Clutch Master Cylinder and they had to order a new part.

So a week later I took it in again and had the master cylinder replaced, about two days later the clutch started squeeking again so I took it back in, this time they said the pedal itself was crooked, so they replaced that. Then not even three days later it started again, so I took it back in for a third time, this time they said it was the bushings again, so the next week they fixed that, now after about a week this time it squeaks again, this will be the fourth time I have had to take it in and get it fixed.

Not only have I had problems with the clutch but the passenger side door lock had to be replaced and when they did that they didn't put the door panel on right and now it looks like there is a piece of the door almost coming through the panel on the inside, and it is not even put on all the way and scratched all over. I also work in the hills that is why I bought a 4x4, I need it to make it up some of the big hills I work in.

About a month after I bought the truck I noticed a chip of paint and a dent, with a crack in the seam on the back of my bed, it looks as if the bed came loose and hit the cab. When I took it in to see what the dealership could do they said that they would have to inspect it and then if it turns out to be my fault I would have to pay for the inspection, when the corporation told me that I would not have to pay to have it looked at. And if they determinded that it was my fault it would no longer be covered under warrenty. But how can they determine if something is my fault of not, I know what I did and didn't do to my truck. That is a big trust issue.

They also said that if I have done anything off road it would make my warrenty void. But what they consider off road is anything not on pavement, but when you go to fairs they park you in the grass, that is off road right? Some places have gravel roads, that is off road right? I went to Portland International Raceway not too long ago they park you in the grass, this is off road right? Well these are all common places to go with a truck and a car but they consider it off road and therefore your warranty is voided.

But at the dealership they have the same year tacomas parked right on the grass where they had to jump the curb just to get on the grass, so the warranty on that truck is void now right...no not according to them, so if anything happened to that truck they have sitting on the grass after sold and the buyer had it inspected they would say "oh well it has been off road so your warranty wont pay for this." What if the damages happened when they jumped that curb and put the trucks on the grass themselves?

I risk not getting my car fix, and the cracked seam in the bed is a safety issue. If someone hits me from behind there is a risk of the bed coming through the cab.

Craig of Ogeden UT (8/14/02):
On 6/7/02 I was in an accident. I was driving 2002 TACOMA TRD 4X4 EXTRA CAB TOYOTA PICK-UP.I was hit head-on both going under 30 miles per hour. My air bags deployed but my thottle stuck open. The truck continued to run and pushed the heavier 80`s full-size truck back out of the way, then my truck jumped a 10-12 inch curb, then hit a large tree.

Even after hitting the tree the truck was still running, wheels spinning into the lawn. It was not til I reached down and turned the key off did the engine stop.

I suffered not one impact but two, as the tree was involved and the air bags had begun to deflate. I was in the hospital for two days on oxygen for one month and missed work for that month, as well as the broken ribs and bruised lung and chest walls. If the throttle had not stuck open I don`t feel I would have been hurt so much.

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