2004 Toyota Tacoma Complaint Log

WHILE RELEASING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WAS PRODUCE FROM THE REAR. DEALER STATED THAT WAS NORMAL BECAUSE IT WAS A NEW PART. *AK

THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE SEAT BELTS WERE OPERATING AS DESIGNED. *JB WHEN ATTEMPTING TO LATCH THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER SHOULDER SEAT BELT, THE SEAT BELTS WOULD HAVE TO BE CROSSED OVER THE CENTER SEAT BELT TO BE USED. THIS APPLIED TO ALL OF THE REAR SEAT BELTS. IN ORDER TO USE THE LEFT REAR SHOULDER BELT, IT WOULD HAVE TO GO OVER OR UNDER THE CENTER BELT TO BE USED. *SC *JB

A WEEK AFTER BUYING MY TACOMA (04) WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND W/ONLY 496.4 MILES ON IT, THE TRUCK STARTED TO SHAKE CONTINUOSLY, IT STARTED SMOKING AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED UP ON ME. I MANAGED TO AVOID A HUGE CAR ACCIDENT, AND PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN WE GOT OUT WE SAW THAT MY BACK DRIVERS SIDE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY GONE AND HAD A SIDEWALL BLOWOUT W/NOTHING LEFT ON THE TIRE. I CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY WOULD DO NOTHING FOR ME SINCE IT WAS THE TIRE, I HAD TO TAKE IT TO A TIRE COMPANY. I DID GET THE ONE TIRE REPLACED BUT IT WAS A TIRE THAT DIDN'T MATCH MY OTHER 3. I HAD REQUESTED ALL OF MY TIRES TO BE INSPECTED AS WELL AS MY TRUCK BUT NO ONE WOULD COOPERATE.

IT'S THE 5TH TACOMA I'VE OWNED. THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER IN EACH OF THE OTHER TRUCKS ALWAYS CAME OUT 4 INCHES FROM THE DASH. THE "ON" LIGHT CAME ON WHEN AT THE 3" MARK. THIS NEW TRUCK COMES OUT 11.5 INCHES, HITS ME IN THE KNEE, MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET IN AND OUT, ALMOST COLLIDES WITH THE STICK SHIFT WHEN ITS IN 1ST GEAR. THE "ON" LIGHT COMES ON BEFORE ITS PULLED A QUARTER OF AN INCH. THE MANUAL DIRECTS THE OPERATOR, WHEN IN STOPPED ON AN INCLINE, NOT TO USE THE CLUTCH TO HOLD THE CAR BUT RATHER PLACE THE CAR IN NUETRAL AND USE THE PARKING BRAKE. AFTER 26 HOURS OWNING THE CAR, IT ROLLED DOWN MY DRIVEWAY. AT THE TIME, THE CAR WAS IN NUETRAL WITH THE BRAKE ON TO THE EXTENT ALL MY OTHER ( 4) TACOMAS WOULD HAVE BEEN. THE "ON" LIGHT WAS ON. I JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR FOR JUST A SECOND AND IT ROLLED AWAY. THE INSURANCE MAN RENACTED THE INCIDENT .HE AGREED SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT. AS THE CAR BEGAN TO ROLL DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, HE GOT BEHIND IT AND BEGAN TRYING TO STOP IT. I WAS ABLE TO JUMP IN AND STOP IT. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT. BEFORE I APPROACH TOYOTA, I WANTED HIS REPORT DETAILING HOW THE BRAKE FAILED. I'VE YET TO SEE IT. I 'M NOT COMFORTABLE APPROACHING THE DEALER, NOR TOYOTA, WITHOUT SOME AUTHORITATIVE BACKING. THE BRAKE NEEDS TO BE FIXED. THE BUMPER AND SLIGHT BODY DAMAGE NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED . I WAS NEVER "WALKED THROUGH" IT AT THE DEALER. NOR DO I HAVE ANYTHING THAT SAYS THE PRE-DELIVERY INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED. I DON'T KNOW IF THE DEALER IS MANDATED TO WALK ONE THROUGH THE CAR OR WHAT IF ANY, INSPECTION IS SUPPOSED TO BE PERFORMED AND DOCUMENTED FOR THE CUSTOMER. WHAT IS IN PLACE TO ENSURE A NEW CAR IS NOT UNSAFE? I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE ANY RESPONSE YOU MAY DEEM APPROPRIATE. I HAVE E-MAILED THE TOYOTA WEB SITE TWICE IN AN ATTEMPT TO GATHER SOME INFORMATIONABOUT THE VERY QUESTIONS I RAISE HERE. THEY DO NOT APPEAR TO BE RESPONDING. THANKS AGAIN, I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE ENTERED THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE SEAT BELTS ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WERE WET. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER IT RAINED. THERE WAS NO WATER VISIBLE INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND THE WINDOWS WERE CLOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HIM TO CONTACT TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE TIRES ROTATED, AND DEALER HAD PROBLEMS GETTING LEFT FRONT TIRE ROTATED. DEALER STATED THAT WHILE THEY WERE WORKING ON LEFT FRONT WHEEL THE WHEEL BOLTS BROKE. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE BRUCKNER BY-PASS I EXECUTED A 90 DEGREE TURN TO A SIDE ROAD. WHEN I TURNED THE TRUCK CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP. I INSPECTED THE TRUCK AND FOUND BOTH REAR SPRINGS BROKEN AND THE REAR AXLE SHIFTED TO THE RIGHT JAMMING THE TIRE INTO THE WHEEL WELL. THE TRUCK WAS EMPTY AND NOT USED AS A HAULING VECHIELE. THE MANUFACTURER REPLACED THE SPRINGS. THE ORIGINAL SPRINGS WERE CLEARLY DEFECTIVE AND COULD OF RESULTED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT IF THEY HAD FAILED ON THE MAIN HIGHWAY.

VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH 4 GOODYEAR WRANGLER TIRES, SIZE P205/75R15, DOT # M6ULF00R1203. THE OUTER SIDEWALL ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE COMPLETELY EXPLODED. THERE WAS NO PUNCTURE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE RIGHT. *AK

HARD START WITH 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. THIS PROBLEM BEGAN THE DAY I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE STARTS RIGHT UP AND OTHER TIMES IT TAKES 3-5 ATTEMPTS AT STARTING. THIS NONCONFORMITY USUALLY HAPPENS AFTER ITS BEEN DRIVEN AND SITS FOR 1-2 HOURS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN FOR THIS INTERMITTENT STARTING PROBLEM 5 TIMES. WITH 870 MILES ON THE VEHICLE I BROUGHT IT IN AND TOYOTA SAID THE SPARK PLUGS WERE FOULED AND CHANGED THEM. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO OCCUR 2-3 TIMES PER WEEK. WITH 1500 MILES WE BROUGHT IT IN AGAIN AND TOYOTA SAID THE PROBLEM WAS THE ELECTRO MAGNETIC CURRENT INTERFERING WITH THE INJECTOR CIRCUIT. THEY REMOVED THE GROUND WIRE CABLE OUT OF THE WIRE HARNESS AND SAID THE ENGINE STARTED JUST FINE. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE THIRD TIME I BROUGHT IT IN WITH 9087 MILES. THEY PERFORMED A TSB EG042-04 FPN-8122-04052, 0P EG4016. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE FOURTH TIME I BROUGHT IT IN WITH 9901 MILES THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND SAID EVERYTHING WAS IN SPECIFICATIONS. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE FIFTH TIME I BROUGHT IT IN IT HAD 11.700 MILES. TOYOTA REPLACED THE UBE SUB-ASSMBLY E. THE ENGINE STILL HAS PROBLEMS STARTING.*AK

THE SEATS OF THE 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA HAVE HARD, PROJECTING LUMBER SUPPORTS WHICH ARE NOT ADJUSTIBLE. THESE PERMANENT LUMBER SUPPORTS PLACE ABNORMAL PRESSURE ON THE LOWER BACK OF THE DRIVER. AFTER HAVING THIS VEHICLE FOR A PERIOD OF SEVERAL MONTHS, I FELT LOW BACK PAIN WHEN DRIVING. REDUCING THE PROMINENCE OF THESE LUMBAR SUPPORTS AT A LOCAL UPHOLSTERY SHOP HAS RELIEVED THE PROBLEM. THE COST WAS $50 PER SEAT, BUT TOYOTA REFUSES TO REIMBURSE THIS COST UNDER THE WARRANTY OF THE NEW TRUCK. I AM AN ABIH-CERTIFIED INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST AND A BCPE- CERTIFIED ERGONOMIST ASSOCIATE. I BELIEVE THAT THESE NON-ADJUSTIBLE LUMBER SUPPORTS IN THE TOYOTA TACOMA CAN CAUSE PERMANENT INJURY AND PAIN TO THE LOWER BACK OF DRIVERS, BECAUSE THEY ARE SO PROMINENT AND NOT ADJUSTIBLE. NO OTHER TYPE OF VEHICLE HAS SUCH PROMINENT LUMBER SUPPORTS. I BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE ONLY BEEN INSTALLED IN THE 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA AND NOT IN PREVIOUS VERSIONS OF THIS TRUCK. DRIVERS OF THE 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA MAY NOT REALIZE THE CAUSE OF THEIR LOWER BACK PAIN UNTIL IT CAUSES PERMANENT DAMAGE AND PAIN TO THEIR BACKS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING 50 MPH OR MORE IN FIFTH GEAR, THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY ENGAGE IN NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE CONSISTENTLY RECURRED IN COLDER WEATHER. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO DECELERATE BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD ENGAGE BACK INTO FIFTH GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE AND THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

FAILURE OF THE DRIVE SHAFT BEARING ON A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA PRERUNNER P/U. REPLACEMENT PART $1,500. VEHICLE MILEAGE 70,700.

THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN ON MY 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA DOUBLE CAB V6, 4X4 TRUCK. THE EXTERIOR MIRRORS ON BOTH SIDES FOG UP SO BAD IN COLD WEATHER THEY BECOME VIRTUALLY USELESS. TOYOTA DOES NOT OFFER A HEATED MIRROR OPTION ON THE TRUCK. AT SEVERAL TIMES DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER I'VE BEEN FORCED TO PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO TRY TO CLEAR THE MIRRORS, TO NO AVAIL. THEY WOULD JUST FOG UP AGAIN, ONCE I GOT UNDERWAY. THE CONDITION IS DIFFERENT THEN STARTING OUT AFTER THE TRUCK HAS SAT OUTSIDE OVERNIGHT IN THE COLD. THE MIRRORS MIGHT CLEAR FOR A WHILE THEN, WHILE UNDERWAY, FOG UP FOR NO APPARENT REASON. TOYOTA SAYS DON'T DRIVE IN THAT KIND OF WEATHER. NOT A GOOD REMEDY. THE TRUCK IS BRAND NEW AND TOYOTA SAYS I HAVE NO RECOURSE, THAT IT HAS MET ALL OF THE SAFETY STANDARDS REQUIRED BY THE GOVERNMENT. DRIVING BLIND AT NIGHT, TO ME, IS NOT AN OPTION. I DRIVE APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES PER YEAR AND HAVE NEVER DRIVEN AN AUTOMOBILE WITH A MIRROR PROBLEM LIKE THIS. IT'S A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN IN MY OPINION AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA. I REGISTERED MY COMPLAINT WITH THE COMPANY BY PHONE AND BY EMAIL. I HAVE RECEIVED NO RESPONSE FROM MY LOCAL DEALER OR TOYOTA TO ANY OF MY EMAIL COMPLAINTS.

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, IN INCLEMENT WEATHER THE BRAKES FAILED. THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP COMPLETELY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. THIS INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED BY THE CONSUMERS DAUGHTER. *JB *ER