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Toyota Tacoma - Safety Interlock

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

Vicki of Jensen Beach FL (1/22/04):
On November 19, 2003, I purchased a 2004 4-door Tacoma from Bev Smith Toyota. About two days after I brought the truck home, I noticed that the gear shift could be moved to any gear with the engine off and without depressing the brake pedal. As this is the first automatic transmission vehicle that I have owned in a few years, I at first thought that I was doing something incorrectly.

Then one day, the truck started to roll out of my driveway. I knew that I had a problem. I immediately called the dealership and they had me bring the truck in. After about 2 hours, the service representative told me that they would have to order the part to repair this. When the part came in, I took the truck back and they made a repair. When I got home, I realized that I could still move the gear shift between park and reverse without having the engine on or the brake depressed. When the truck is parked on a hill, this allows the truck to roll.

I immediately called the dealership again. This time I was told that they had never seen this problem before and that the truck was dangerous to drive. They gave me a loaner car and I left the truck there. After having the loaner car for two weeks, I was told that they would take another new truck apart and replace the defective part in my truck with the pirated part from the truck on the lot. The service manager called to tell me that my truck was fixed and that he had tested it himself. I attempted to pick up the truck the next day. The service manager got in the truck with me and we test drove it together. IT DID THE SAME THING WHEN PARKED ON A HILL!

He informed me that he wouldn't allow his wife to drive this truck if he owned it and said he would contact the regional service rep. He was going to attempt to have the truck replaced with no additional cost to me. This was on January 16,2004. Yesterday, the service manager called me to inform me that they were unable to fix the truck due to the fact this is an inherent trait of all 4-door Tacoma's from 2001 on, and that this problem would only be a problem if "I lived in San Francisco". I assume that this means that Tacomas are not sold in San Francisco since it would be dangerous to own one there!

I called 1-800- GO TOYOTA and was told that I had no recourse but to deal with the dealership. Then another sales manager from the dealership called me and told me that I had no recourse but to go through Toyota corporate offices. At this point, I want my money back so I can purchase a four-door pickup that does not have this problem. Since I have been told that this is an inherent problem with ALL Tacomas, I am forced into going elsewhere for a truck.

Vicki should report this to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which should investigate and possibly order a recall. The online report form is at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/.

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