Complain about a product or service

Toyota Tacoma

Save up to $379 on Your Auto Insurance. Compare Quotes from Top Providers Now! Find the Best Deal and Apply! - Adv.

Toyota Tacoma • Consumer complaints • Transmission failure • Safety interlock failure • Spontaneous starting • Misc. failings --- News • 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:

William of Brandywine, MD April 26, 2009

I have/had a 5 speed 4x4 1998 Toyota Tacoma that started on it's on and did damage to my garage and some item within the garage. With the truck in the garage and smoking coming from under the hood we could only think that the truck was going to catch the house on fire! We manage to get the truck out of gear and release the emergency break, which we then pushed the truck out of the garage.

Once out of the garage we pop the hood and had to disconnect the cable from the battery because the truck was still trying to start. The fire department responded and ensured the vehicle was no longer a danger since the battery cables were disconnected. The truck has now been tow to a Toyota dealership who said the wiring harness shorted out and cause the vehicle to start and being that it was in gear it when forward. The issue is the truck should have never started and if I had left with a friend my house would have most likely been burnt down or received major fire damage.

Regardless of the age of the vehicle the vehicle should never be a life safety issue! I don't know who to contact because all the Toyota dealership wants is money to repair the vehicle and could care less about what could have happen to my family. I would think that Toyota at minimum would offer/give me a Toyota of my choice after what me and my family when through because of there faulty wiring. To have that vehicle repaired and put my family in it is a option that I don't want to think about.

My family will never feel safe riding in that vehicle and could never feel safe with the vehicle parked in front of the house again, let alone in the garage, which is a place that vehicle will never see again. Somewhere along the line Product Reliability should be an issue.

Greg of Sault Ste Marie, MI April 20, 2009

Greg of Sault Ste Marie MI (04/20/09)
4x4 08 Tacoma Problem: 1.Both rear axle seals leaking 2.Speedometer reads higher by 6-8 mph Action: 1. Seals were replaced under warranty. Truck was returned with greasy rims and tires that had accumilated while leaking. (dealership should have cleaned up the tires and rims) 2. No work done. Service person told me Toyota allows up to 7mph variance.

I think this is totally unacceptable, todays technology allows for much better accuracy than this. My mileage is increasing faster than it should that reduces vehicle value and reduces warranty time. This is my 1st Toyota product, I will never buy a Toyota vehicle again. Not impressed with engineering or quality control if they build vehicles with misleading and inaccurate speedometers.

Darron of Merrimack, NH March 8, 2009

Darron of Merrimack NH (03/08/09)
I own a 2002 Toyota Tacoma, 4WD double cab limited edition truck with just under 33,500 miles and Toyota failed the NH state inspection due to frame rot. Toyota found at least one hole in the frame and has only offered me a frame replacement. Toyota offered 150% Kelly blue book value in a buy back program for 1995-2000 Tacoma owners with this same problem but not to those of us with newer Tacomas. The following link from Toyota even states in most cases it may be determined that the best course of action will be to repurchase the vehicle. This is due to the invasive nature of reparing or replacing the frame.

Toyota is providing a 15 year extended warranty on the new frame and some other things touched during the frame replacement (nuts, bolts, etc..) but they aren't including anything else. I've been told if I drive off the lot and I have a problem with the 4 WD system it would have to be proven that the work done to my vehicle was the direct cause and Toyota would be the only one who could determine that. So, while the entire frame of my vehicle is rusted and Toyota is torching and smashing at the rusted parts to get it apart, they're taking no responsibility for any problem which may result from that invasive work.

I found documentation on the web from another Tacoma owner and he stated the final paperwork showed the frame replacment cost Toyota ~14,000.00 so I called my Toyota dealer and they confirmed it did cost that much. The trade in value on my Tacoma is 14,000.00 at best now that it's having a frame replacement and Toyota feels it's best to invest 14,000.00 into my vehicle and potentially cause many more problems down the road which they may not (most likely won't) cover.

The consequences of having my frame replaced will significantly devalue my truck. I've spoken with several people who are interested in purchasing a truck but none are willing to pay the KBB value on a truck that's had a frame replacement. Toyota should be offering the same buy back program to newer Tacoma owners that it offered to 1995-2000 Tacoma owners.

Toby of Beech Creek, PA March 6, 2009

Toby of Beech Creek PA (03/06/09)
Im an Owner of a 1999 Toyota Tacoma, Never had a problem with it. Im only 20 years old so as you can imagine it goes to the mountain and gets muddy! It has 2 1/2 sus. lift and 3 inch body lift. I have 3 friends that own tacomas and they have yet to have any problems. I love Toyotas and will never switch to another Make! Keep doing what your doing Toyota!

Erin of Soo, MI March 5, 2009

Erin of Soo MI (03/05/09)
I also purchased my 2005 Tacoma in Nov 2005. I have had the dealer fix the leaf springs with pads 2Xs after I noticed it squeeking like an old truck...6 months after purchase! It still bottoms out on small frost heaves and bumps. It's very frustrating. Recently, one of the gas cap door hinges rusted totally through and broke off. I was extremely disappointed. Looking under this truck, you wouldn't know it is 3.5 years old. It squeeks and is just junk.

We have had to have the drivers seat repaired because of springs sticking through and we need to bring it back to the dealer again for the same issues because of a different spring puncturing the seat cover. My husband is so ready to get this thing off our hands before our extended warranty runs out. First and last Toyota EVER! Actually my father in law's truck was part of the recall. not impressed!

Clay of Waurika, OK February 27, 2009

Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.

Share		Follow us on Twitter.

Back to the top |