2009 Toyota Tacoma Complaint Log

FOUND A BROKEN LEAF ON THE REAR SUSPENSION ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE, IT WAS THE MIDDLE LEAF NOT THE MAIN LEAF. MUST HAVE HAPPENED IN THE LAST 2700 MILES. WAS UNDER THE TRUCK AT 65,000 AND ALL WAS GOOD. I DO NOT LOAD THIS TRUCK, IT CAN'T TAKE IT. IT IS BASICALLY A PASSENGER CAR WITH A CARGO BOX, AND THATS HOW I USE IT. CALLED LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE ARE NO RECALLS OR SERVICE LETTERS. CALLED A LOCAL SPRING SHOP AND WHEN I GAVE THEM THE MAKE AND MODEL, THEY SAID THEY WEREN'T SURPRISED, THEY DO A LOT OF SINGLE LEAFS ON TACOMAS, AND AT A WIDE RANGE OF MILEAGE. THEY HAVE DONE REPLACEMENTS ON VEHICLES FROM 18K-80K. *JS

AT FREEWAY SPEEDS GRINDING NOISE FROM DRIVELINE UPON DECELERATION. IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS GOING TO BREAK/LOCKUP. DEALERSHIP HAD THE TRUCK FOR 2 WEEKS TRYING TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THEY OPENED A SERVICE TICKET WITH TOYOTA AND EVENTUALLY A FIELD SERVICE TECH CAME TO DIAGNOSE THE TRUCK. HE DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE IT STATING "NO ABNORMAL NOISE HEARD DURING OPERATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. NO FURTHER REPAIRS AUTHORIZED". I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY TOLD ME "WE STAND BEHIND OUR TECHS". TCC WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO SPEAK WITH THE FIELD SERVICE TECH?!? I EXPRESSED MY FEAR OF AN ACCIDENT TO TCC TO NO AVAIL. WHY WOULD THE DEALER BE SO CONCERNED ABOUT MY TRUCK BUT TOYOTA BLEW IT OFF? I AM VERY DISPLEASED WITH TOYOTA. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE FOOT REST NEXT TO THE CLUTCH SNAPPED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE PIECE THAT CAME OFF, FELL BEHIND THE HER FOOT, CAUSING A DISRUPTION IN OPERATING THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY COULD PROVIDE NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 19,200. UPDATED 07/17/12*LJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT WAS ENTERING A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY AND AS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS RELEASED, THE VEHICLE SUDDEN ACCELERATED RAPIDLY. THERE WAS ALSO AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN ENGINE ROMS. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF THE RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD SEND AN INVESTIGATOR TO FURTHER ASSESS THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,300.

MY TRUCKS HEADLIGHT UNIT HAS DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS "AMBER TURN SIGNAL LIGHTING" AND ITS CONTINUED TO CAUSE MELTING AROUND THE HOUSING. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A YEAR NOW AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN INFORMED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION AND THEY REFUSE REPLACEMENT BECAUSE ITS NOT A DECLARED RECALL FROM TOYOTA. THE LIGHT ISSUE CONTINUES TO GET WORSE AND IS ALMOST COMPLETELY MELTED AROUND THE TURN AREA. *TR

DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHT COVERS BURNT FROM THE HEAT OF LIGHT BULBS BEING MOUNTED TO CLOSE TO LENS COVER. LENS COVER CRACKED, BURN AND AT SOME TIMES SMOLDERS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL BULBS HAD BURNED THROUGH THE TURN SIGNAL COVERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL BULBS WERE POSITIONED TOO CLOSELY TO THE CASING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,250. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. ..UPDATED 11/29/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE LIGHTS WERE NO LONGER EFFECTIVE

FUEL RATIO SENSOR LIGHT DISPLAYED AT 34,000 MILE AND 39 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. TOYOTA WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR. *TR

DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT (DTRL) HOUSING BURNED/MELTED/CRACKED ON BOTH LH & RH. SAFETY RELATED SYSTEM WITH PROPER OEM FACTORY BULBS STILL INSTALLED. *TR

AT 59,500 MILES THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING STARTED MAKING A LOT OF NOISE AND VIBRATION AND NOTICEABLY ALTERED THE STEERING. THE WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. NOW AT 90,000 MILES THE BEARING IS FAULTY AGAIN AND TOYOTA REFUSES TO FIX IT AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THAT HE SEES A LOT OF FAILED WHEEL BEARINGS ON THE TACOMAS. A FAILED BEARING CAN RESULT IN THE WHEEL LOCKING UP OR FALLING OFF AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR

THE HEADLIGHT LENSES ARE MELTING IN THE FRONT OF THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS/TURN SIGNAL. BOTH SIDES HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THEY BOTH HAVE A HORIZONTAL CRACK AND A MELTED BLOB OF PLASTIC THAT WILL LIKELY KEEP GETTING BIGGER. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD. WHILE AT LOWES YESTERDAY, I CHECKED THE HEADLIGHTS OF ONE OTHER TACOMA, AND HE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. WHEN I GOT HOME, I PERFORMED A GOOGLE SEARCH AND FOUND SEVERAL FORUMS WHERE OWNERS WERE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. MOST SAID THAT WHEN THEY MENTIONED IT TO THEIR TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, THE DEALERSHIP ACTED LIKE NO ONE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. SOME CUSTOMERS WERE ABLE TO GET THE HEADLIGHTS REPLACED AND SOME WERE NOT. I'D BE CONCERNED THAT THE REPLACEMENT WILL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE A COUPLE OF YEARS FROM NOW. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS DRIVING 40 MPH AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING HIM TO CRASH INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE STEERING WHEEL BROKE OFF BEFORE THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED HEAD INJURIES AND WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT IN THE VEHICLE. HE WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY ANOTHER PERSON. THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED AND A REPORT WAS AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS ALSO NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.

I HAVE EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM WITH READ LEAF SPRINGS AS EVERYBODY ELSE- THE REAR IS SAGGING AND AND THE FRONT END IS STARTING TO RISE(EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR) MY TRUCK HAS 66,000 MILES AND IT ONLY CARRIES A 210LB VINTAGE DIRTBIKE 5 OR 6 TIMES A YEAR. DO PEOPLE HAVE TO START DYING LIKE GM'S IGNITION SWITCH BEFORE SOMEONE IN THE FEDERAL GOVT GETS OFF THEIR REAR END AND ACTUALLY DOES THEIR JOB? ALSO SPIRAL CABLE RECALL THAT COULD DAMAGE DRIVER'S AIRBAG(COB (C1B) I HAVE PAPERWORK FROM TOYOTA AND DEALER STATING THE RECALL AND NOW THEY ARE DENYING THAT ONE EXISTS OR EVER EXISTED. ALSO, WHEN TRANSMISSION SHIFTS AT LOW SPEEDS(USUALLY DOWNSHIFTING, CLUNK IS HEARD IN DRIVE SHAFT) TOO MUCH LASH IN REAREND OR JUNK U-JOINTS. I HAVE AN AAS IN AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLGY AND OVER 105 CREDITS IN AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING . I'M NOT JUST BLOWING SMOKE. WHEN I LIVED IN NYS, I HAD A VEHICLE INSPECTION LICENSE AND I WOULD DEFINITELY FAIL MANY TOYOTAS WITH THESE PROBLEMS. NO INSPECTION STICKER-NO DRIVING OF VEHICLE.

DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS OVERHEATING AND MELTING THE PLASTIC INSIDE HEADLIGHT WHICH LOOKS LIKE IT IS BURNT AND BLACK CAUSING HEADLIGHT TO CRACK AND DAMAGE TO THE BULBS. I HAVE REPLACED DRIVER SIDE NOW AND PASSENGER SIDE HAS STARTED TO MELT. *JS

THE HEADLIGHT LENSES ARE MELTING IN FRONT OF THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT BULBS/TURN SIGNALS. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BY TOYOTA. I WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT MY TOYOTA EXTENDED PLATNIUM WARRENTEE WILL NOT COVER THIS PART AND THEY WILL NOT AUTHORIZE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE HEADLIGHTS. *TR

I BEGAN TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE TODAY AND HEARD A STRANGE CLANKING NOISE. I PULLED OVER AND UPON INSPECTION I FOUND THAT ONE OF THE RIGHT REAR LEAF SPRINGS WAS BROKEN. I HAVE NEVER HAD A LOAD IN THE BED OF THE TRUCK OVER 500LBS. I SEE THAT PRIOR MODEL YEAR TACOMAS HAD A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE TRUCK HAD THE SAME PART BUT THE RECALL DOES NOT EXTEND TO 2009. *TR

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT LENS WOULD CONTINUOUSLY OVERHEAT AND BECOME CRACKED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD POSSIBLY CATCH ON FIRE SINCE THE BULB WAS SO CLOSE TO THE LENS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 3/13/14*CN

FRONT AMBER TURN LAMPS BUBBLED, LOOK VERY HOT ON PLASTIC LENS, BURNT THROUGH, COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE FIRE? LENS CRACKED. *TR

DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE TO CLOSE TO THE PLASTIC IN FRONT OF THE BULB, WHICH HAS CRACKED AND MELTED THE PLASTIC LENS, WHICH IS A FIRE HAZARD. *TR

THE PLASTIC LENS COVERING THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS/BLINKERS ARE MELTING AND CRACKED. THE CAUSE APPEARS TO BE FROM THE LIGHTS WHICH ARE ON WHEN THE ENGINE IS ON. LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE LENS ARE MELTED. *TR

DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE TOO HOT CAUSING THE PLASTIC LENSES TO CRACK, MELT, AND BURN. TOYOTA IS TREATING THIS AS PURELY COSMETIC IN T-SB # 0129-11 (FOR 6 MODEL YEARS THEY WERE AWARE OF IT). THIS LISTING SHOULD BE CHANGED TO A SAFETY RECALL, THAT AMOUNT OF HEAT COULD START A VEHICLE FIRE. *TR

STEERING GEARBOX SEAL FAILURE REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF THE RACK AND PINION. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WERE MELTING THE HEADLIGHT LENSES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE LENSES WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED TO PAY FOR THE COST OF THE LENS BUT NOT FOR THE LABOR COSTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

I NOTICED THAT THE DTRL HAD STARTED TO MELT THE AMBER LENSES AND BROUGHT IT TO THE ATTENTION OF MY LOCAL DEALER. ALTHOUGH I WAS STILL WITHIN THE WARRANTY MILEAGE, I WAS OVER BY A FEW MONTHS ON THE 36-MONTH WARRANTY (I BOUGHT THE TRUCK USED IN DEC-2011.) I JUST HEARD FROM MY LOCAL DEALER THAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO WORK WITH CONCERNING THE MELTING LENSES IN MY '09 TACOMA TRD. I TRIED TO GET TOYOTA TO REPLACE THE LAMP ASSEMBLY AND THEY WOULD ONLY COVER HALF OF THE REPLACEMENT AND SUBSEQUENT RE-AIMING OF THE HEAD LIGHTS. I THEN PRINTED OUT SOME INSTRUCTIONS TO INSTALL A TOYOTA RELAY AND JUMPER WIRES TO TURN THE DTRL FUNCTION OFF, LEAVING THE TURN SIGNAL FUNCTION ALONE. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, TOYOTA WILL NOT SIGN OFF ON, NOR ALLOW THEIR DEALERS TO MAKE THIS MODIFICATION, EVEN THOUGH THE PARTS ARE ALL TOYOTA OEM PARTS. I WOULD ALSO STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT EVERY OWNER OF A TACOMA THAT IS HAVING ANY ISSUE (MELTING, BUBBLING, CRACKING ETC.) WITH THE DTRL'S WRITE TOYOTA CORPORATE EXPRESSING THEIR DEEP DISAPPOINTMENT WITH THE QUALITY OF TOYOTA PRODUCTS AND THE CORPORATIONS LACK OF CONCERN FOR THE CUSTOMERS SAFETY BUYING THE PRODUCT. WITH ALL THE NEGATIVE THAT TOYOTA HAS RECEIVED DURING THE PAST FEW YEARS OVER SAFETY RELATED ISSUES, YOU WOULD THINK THAT TOYOTA WOULD BE FALLING ALL OVER THEMSELVES TO CORRECT A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE IN A REQUIRED SYSTEM, INSTEAD OF TAP DANCING AROUND LIKE THEY ARE DOING. AS A RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, I FIND THAT THE RESPONSE I'VE BEEN RECEIVING FROM TOYOTA TO BE PARTICULARLY DISAPPOINTING, ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE INVOLVING A MANDATED LIGHTING SYSTEM. THE STAFF AT NHTSA IS WELCOME TO CONTACT ME AT ANY TIME TO DISCUSS THIS. *TR

THE DRLS/TURN SIGNALS OF THE 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA HAVE A FAULTY DESIGN RESULTING WITH THE LENS MELTING (TOYOTA CALLS IT BUBBLING) AND CRACKING. TOYOTA DID ISSUE A RECENT TSB (T-SB-0129-11) TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES ON IMPACTED TRUCKS. SEVERAL MODEL YEARS WERE INCLUDED. THE TSB IS WORDED THAT ONLY TRUCKS WITH LESS THAN 36K MILES AND LESS THAN 36 MONTHS OLD WILL BE REPAIRED. MY TRUCK HAD ABOUT 40K MILES AND WAS ABOUT 34 MONTHS OLD WHEN I FINALLY TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER. I DIDN'T BRING IT IN WHEN I FIRST NOTICED THE DEFECT BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK TOYOTA WOULD EVEN CONSIDER NOT REPLACING THE LIGHTS BECAUSE IT'S AN OBVIOUS DESIGN DEFECT. SOME OF THE OLDER MODELS MENTIONED IN THE TSB WOULD HAVE BEEN OLDER THAN 36 MONTHS WHEN THE TSB WAS RELEASED. DRLS WERE DEVELOPED SO OTHER DRIVERS CAN BETTER SEE YOU. A MELTED DRL LENS WILL DIM THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE LIGHT TO OTHER DRIVERS. TOYOTA SHOULD BE REPAIRING ALL THE DAMAGED HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. *TR

THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS HAVE MELTED AND CRACKED THE LENS/PLASTIC. THESE ARE ALSO USED AS FRONT END TURN SIGNALS. IF THESE FAIL, IT COULD BE A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. WHILE THERE IS A TSB, THE DEALERSHIP DENIED TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENTS SINCE MY 36K WARRANTY HAS NOW EXPIRED. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT JUST STARTED TO HAPPEN AND TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR

THE RUNNING LIGHTS MELT THE PLASTIC HEADLAMP COVERS AND LITERALLY MELT THE PLASTIC, THIS IS A PICTURE OF MY SECOND SET THAT ARE ALSO MELTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WERE BEGINNING TO MELT THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

MANUAL TRANSMISSION CLUTCH DIFFICULT ENGAGING. SLIPPING FEELING IN FORWARD GEARS AND REVERSE. THE CENTER SECTION OF THE CLUTCH DISK HAVE SEPARATED FROM THE FRICTION MATERIAL SECTION OF THE CLUTCH DISK. DEFECTIVE CLUTCH. *TR

IGNITION COIL FAILED CAUSING ROUGH ENGINE. *TR

CLUTCH SLIPS GOING UP HILL. YOU HAVE TO DOWNSHIFT WHEN GOING UP HILL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V388000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL) AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. ONE YEAR LATER, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED AN ABNORMAL ACCELERATION WHILE SHIFTING INTO DRIVE WITH THE BRAKES DEPRESSED. HE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE ACCELERATION FAILURE BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL AND SHUTTING OFF THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE DEALER ADVISED THAT HE WOULD BE SENDING FOR AN INVESTIGATOR TO FURTHER INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 15,322.

AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, IN SEPT 2011, I HAD MY TRUCK FOR ONLY A FEW WEEKS AND I WAS DRIVING AND HIT A SMALL BUMP AND HEARD AS WELL AS FELT A LOUD THUMP COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AREA, I ALSO NOTICED MY BED WAS MOVING A LITTLE AS WELL. I BROUGHT THE TRUCK INTO THE DEALERSHIP AS SOON AS I HEARD THE ISSUE, BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY DIDN'T HEAR OR FEEL ANYTHING. NOW WHEN I HIT ANY BUMP (BIG/SMALL) I CAN LITERALLY SEE THE BED ON MY TRUCK MOVE IN MY SIDE MIRRORS, THE ISSUES ARE PROGRESSING AND MY TRUCK IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND I WANT THESE ISSUES FIXED ASAP, ESP SINCE ITS STILL UNDER WARRANTY . EXTREMELY HARSH RIDE, AND FEELING UNSAFE TO DRIVE, NEEDS TO BE FIXED ASAP. *TR

AFTER COMPLETING AN OIL CHANGE ON MY 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA IN OCTOBER OF 2011 I NOTICED THAT THE AMBER LENS IN THE HEADLIGHT WAS DISCOLORED AND SEEMED TO BE MELTING DUE TO OVERHEATING. OVER THE PAST YEAR I HAVE BEEN MONITORING THE SITUATION AND NOTICED THAT THE MELTING AND CRACKING OF THE AMBER LENS INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT IS PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE. IT SEEMS THAT THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WERE NOT PROPERLY ENGINEERED IN THIS MODEL. BECAUSE OF THE DEFECT THERE IS A CLEAR CONCERN FOR DRIVER SAFETY. THE MELTING LENSES CREATE AN OBVIOUS FIRE HAZARD. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED MY TACOMA IN THE METRO ATLANTA AREA ADVISED ME THAT TOYOTA HAS NO RECALL OF EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS "KNOWN" PROBLEM. I WAS VERY DISMAYED TO HEAR THIS BECAUSE THE ISSUE IS CLEARLY PRESENTS A THREAT TO THE DRIVER. BECAUSE OF THIS SITUATION I HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHAT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE TO ME. EITHER I REPLACE THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WITH THE TOYOTA FACTORY ASSEMBLY WHICH IS ALREADY KNOWN TO HAVE A DEFECT OR PURCHASE AND AFTERMARKET HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND HOPE THE IT IS ENGINEERED BETTER THAN THE TOYOTA ONE, OR I FIGURE OUT A WAY TO DISABLE THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS TO CUT BACK ON THE HEAD THAT BUILDS UP WITH THEM CONSTANTLY BEING ON. I WOULD RATHER NOT DISABLE THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THEY DO PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT SAFETY VALUE. I AM NOT SURE WHAT I AM GOING TO DO AT THIS POINT BUT CLEARLY ACTION IS NEEDED. I WOULD LIKE TOYOTA TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE POTENTIALLY HARMFUL HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD LIGHT BULBS WERE OVERHEATING AND CAUSING THE LENS TO MELT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN VERIFIED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

THE DTRL AMBER BULB HAS MELTED BOTH LENS DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM BULB.THE LEFT/RIGHT LENS ARE CRACKED AND FALLING APART. *TR

DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHTS BURN /MELT THE LENS DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT, IN LESS THEN 30K MILES. I BELIEVE TOYOTA HAS A DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THE DRLS. EVERY TACOMA WITH THE DRL OPTION WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THE COMPARTMENT THAT HOLDS THE DLR LIGHT IS SMALL, WITH NO VENTILATION, AND THE LAMP DISSIPATES APPROXIMATELY 28 WATTS OF HEAT, WHICH IS FOCUSED TOWARD THE LENS (ALONG WITH THE LIGHT). IT IS SIMPLY TOO MUCH HEAT IN TOO SMALL AN AREA, AND THE HEAT IS SUFFICIENT TO MELT THE PLASTIC LENS IN FRONT OF THE LAMP. SINCE THE DRL IS PART OF THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, THE COST OF PARTS IS REPORTED TO BE AROUND $700 PLUS LABOR. I BELIEVE THAT LENSES (WITH PROPER LAMPS) SHOULD NEVER MELT. ASKING TACOMA OWNERS TO PAY $700 +, EVERY 30K MILES IS OUTRAGEOUS! MY HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THEY ARE SURE TO FAIL AGAIN IF SOMETHING IS NOT DONE TO CORRECT THE DESIGN OF THE DLRS. IT APPEARS THAT TOYOTA IS IGNORING THE PROBLEM AND HOPING MOST PEOPLE WON'T RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM UNTIL AFTER THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. NOW I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS CONDITION WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. *TT

IN SEPTEMBER 2011, I NOTICED THE DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHTS HAD AN ORANGE/BROWN SPOT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LENS. EIGHTS MONTHS LATER, THE DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHTS HAVE MELTED AND CRACKED THE PLASTIC LENS. THE PASSENGER SIDE LENS HAS COMPLETELY MELTED IN HALF. THE BULB APPEARS TO SIT TOO CLOSE TO THE LENS IN THE HOUSING UNIT. FIRE RISK. *TR

ON THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY OF MY VEHICLE BOTH OF THE RUNNING LIGHT LENSES ARE MELTING. THEY FIRST STARTED TO BUBBLE AND I NOTICED IT AT APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND THEY SAID THAT THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT AND OFFERED NO FIX. RECENTLY, I LOOKED AT THE LENSES AGAIN AND THEY ARE NOW CRACKED AND BURNT. THE PLUGS THAT THE BULBS ARE IN ARE BURNT AS WELL. TOYOTA TOLD ME THEY WOULD PAY HALF OF THE DAMAGES, BUT NOT THE WHOLE THING. IN TOYOTA'S SERVICE BULLETIN THAT THEY PUBLISHED IN 2011, IT STATES THAT THE 2005-2011 VEHICLES HAVE DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHTS AND CAME OUT WITH A NEW DESIGNED HEADLIGHT FOR THEM. WITH THAT SAID, MY TACOMA IS A 2009 MODEL. ONE OF MY BIGGEST WORRIES REGARDING THIS DEFECT IS THE FACT THAT I LIKE TO GO ON ROAD-TRIPS IN MY VEHICLE WHICH SOMETIMES REQUIRES ME TO DRIVE FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. I AM CONCERNED THAT OVER TIME THE LENSES WILL MELT COMPLETELY AND CAUSE A FIRE OR SHORT IN THE WIRES. I HAVE THREE SMALL CHILDREN AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT DEFECTED HEADLIGHTS CATCHING FIRE AND ENDANGERING THEM. THE LAST TIME I WENT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, I WALKED AROUND AND LOOKED AT THE USED TACOMA'S AND FOUND THE SAME ISSUES ON ALMOST ALL OF VEHICLES. LIKE I SAID MY BIGGEST THING IS MY SAFETY AND TOYOTA KNOWS THAT THEY MANUFACTURED A DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHT AND REFUSE COMPLETE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. *TR

DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE MELTING THE PLASTIC LAMP HOUSING. ALL COMPONENTS ARE FACTORY STOCK: BULBS, HOUSINGS, WIRING, ETC. MELTED PLASTIC HOUSING HAS CHANGED THE TURN SIGNAL BEAM GEOMETRY RESULTING IN REDUCED VISIBILITY AND RISK OF ACCIDENT. ALSO, MELTED MATERIAL INDICATES A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WERE MADE WITH DOUBLE CONTACT BULBS. THE HEAT FROM THE LIGHT WAS BURNING THROUGH THE LENSES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND HAD THE LENSES REPLACED BUT THE DEALER DID NOT CHANGE THE BULBS. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR BECAUSE THE BULBS WERE NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS EXTREMELY RARE AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BULB BURNED THROUGH THE LENS WITHIN TWO YEARS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,600.

MY 09 TOYOTA TACOMA DRL (DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHT/TURN SIGNAL) LENS BURNED/MELTED/BROKE. I HAVE EXCEEDED MY WARRANTY BUT I FEEL TOYOTA SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND REPLACE MY LIGHT LENS. MY LOCAL DEALER DID DO A 50/50 SPLIT ON THE COST OF REPLACEMENT, BUT THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM. LIGHT LENS SHOULD NEVER BURN/MELT/BREAK REGARDLESS OF HOW OLD OR HOW MANY MILES THE VEHICLE HAS ON IT. NOT ALL TACOMA'S HAVE DRL , THIS IS AN OPTION, MY LOCAL DEALER DID NOT KNOW THIS BUT I POINTED THIS OUT TO HIM. I HAVE A FRIEND WITH SAME PROBLEM BUT HIS TACOMA IS STILL IN WARRANTY AND THE DEALER DID A 100% REPLACEMENT. I CONTACTED TOYOTA WITH A LETTER AND PICTURES AND WAS TOLD TOYOTA WOULD NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT BECAUSE I HAD EXCEEDED MY WARRANTY. *TR

I ALWAYS WANTED A TOYOTA TRUCK EVER SINCE I WAS 16. NOW AT 38 I DECIDED TO PURCHASE A 2009 TACOMA BRAND NEW AND I CURRENTLY HAVE 30,000 MILES ON IT AND I BEGAN NOTICING AN ANNOYING WHINING SOUND FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AT 65 - 70 MPH. I BROUGHT IN IN TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL. I WAS SHOCKED TO HEAR THIS SINCE I HAVE NEVER HEARD THIS NOISE FROM ANY OF THE TRUCKS I HAVE OWNED PREVIOSULY AND I CHECKED ONLINE AND THIER IS A TSB FOR THE DIFFERENTIAL FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM IN 2008 MODELS. I TOLD TOYOTA THIS AND THEY SAID A REP WOULD BE COMING OUT. A WEEK OR SO LATER THE REP CAME OUT AND I RECIEVIED A CALL STATING THAT THE VEHICLE IS NORMAL AND THE NOISE CAN BE HEARD IN OTHER TOCAMAS AS WELL. THE REP SAID TO WAIT AND A TSB MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT BE RELEASED. I WAS VERY UPSET AT THIS ESPECIALLY WHEN I READ ONLINE THAT TOYOTA FIXED THIS PROBLEM FOR OTHER PEOPLE. I OPENED A CASE UP WITH TOYOTA AND THEY DID NOT EVEN CARE ONE BIT. NOW LAST WEEK AS I WENT TO PARK MY TRUCK IN THE GARAGE AND I SHIFTED IT IN DRIVE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE (NOT THE GAS PEDAL)THE VEHICLE'S RPM RACED UP AND THE VEHICLE TRIED TO LURCH FORWARD. SHOCKED TO SAY THE LEAST I THEN SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL WAITED A FEW MOMENTS AS THE VEHICLE KEPT RACING UP I THEN SHUT IT DOWN. I STARTED IT BACK UP AND IT IDLED NORMALLY. THE NEXT DAY I CALLED TOYOTA TO STATE THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. TOYOTA WANTED ME TO BRING IT IN RIGHT AWAY. I TOOK IT IN AND THEY HAD A LONG LISTED FORM OF QUESTIONS LIKE WHERE WAS THE FLOOR MAT, WAS CRUISE CONTROL ON, DO I USE BOTH FEET TO DRIVE ONE FOR BRAKE AND ONE FOR THE GAS PEDAL. I TOLD THEM NOTHING WAS ON THE PEDAL, I DID NOT HAVE CRUISE CONTROL ON, AND I USE ONE FOOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE ONLY. MY FOOT CANNOT EVEN HIT THE GAS WHEN ITS ON THE BRAKE. THEY THINK IT IS ME. THIS IS A SAFTY ISSUE AND THEY TREAT IT LIKE IT'S NOTHING. TOYOTA.BAD CUSTOMER WARRANTY SERVICE. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS ISSUE. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SIGNAL LIGHTS STARTED TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE LENS LOST COLOR. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. ...UPDATED 04/08/15 *BF UPDATED 4/13/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE SIGNAL LIGHTS ARE HOUSED IN A HEATED LAMP MODULE AND THEY CONSTANTLY BURNED OUT/ THE MELTED THE SIGNAL LENS INSIDE THE HEAD LAMP ASSEMBLY AND CRACKED THE PLASTIC AND NOW THE SIGNAL LAMPS ARE FOGGING UP INSIDE THE LENS OF THE HEAD LAMP ASSEMBLIES. UPDATED 04/21/15*JB UPDATED 10/22/2015*JS

THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS (DRL'S) ON MY 2009 TACOMA HAVE BUBBLED UP AND CRACKED THE LENS/PLASTIC. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS BECAUSE THE BULB IS TOO CLOSE TO THE PLASTIC OR THE WATTAGE IS TOO HIGH FOR THE PLASTIC. THE DRL'S ARE ALSO USED AS FRONT END TURN SIGNALS. IF THESE FAIL, IT COULD BE A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. DEALERSHIP DENIED TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT FOR IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE AGREEMENTS OF MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FRONT TURN SIGNAL LENSES BURNED OUT. THE CONTACT NOTICED VISIBLE BURN MARKS ON BOTH LENSES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE TO USE THE COMPLAINT THAT WAS SENT VIA EMAIL. JO. NOT SURE WHO TO CONTACT BUT I AM A SAFETY PROFESSIONAL FOR MANY YEARS AND AN INCIDENT LAST NIGHT CONFIRMED AN OBVIOUS DANGER TO DRIVERS BASED ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DASHBOARD LIGHTING AND HEADLAMP ACTIVATION. A NEAR MISS LAST NIGHT REMINDED ME OF THE SAME CONDITION I NOTED LAST YEAR IN A SIMILAR INCIDENT. I BELIEVE A SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO DRIVERS EXISTS, IT IS AN UNRECOGNIZED THREAT, A SIMPLE REMEDY WOULD CORRECT AND I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THAT CONCERN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LENSES FOR THE DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS AND THE TURN SIGNALS WERE MELTED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE COULD LEAD TO A FIRE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE ENTIRE LIGHTING ASSEMBLY WOULD REQUIRE REPLACING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

FRAME HAS EXCESSIVE RUST. VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT NEW IN SUMMER 2008, LESS THAN 3 YEARS LATER THE SEAMS OF THE FRAME HAD SUBSTANTIAL RUST. FRAME IS NOW COVERED IN RUST . WHEN THE TOYOTA DEALER WAS CONTACTED THEIR REPLY WAS ~THERE IS NO RECALL FOR YOUR VEHICLE REGARDING THIS MATTER. I AM AWARE OF MANY OTHER MODEL YEARS OF TACOMA BEING RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR THE MODEL YEAR 2009 TACOMAS AND THAT MODEL YEAR SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. FORM REQUIRES A "WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN" DATE, A DATE OF JUNE 2011 WAS ENTERED AS THE APPROXIMATE DATE WHEN THE EXCESSIVE RUST WAS FIRST NOTICED

BRAKING INCONSISTENCY, USUALLY IN STOP AND GO OR UNEXPECTED TRAFFIC STOPS, SAY AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND INTERSECTIONS. OCCASIONALLY THE EFFICIENCY OF THE BRAKES VARIES, USUALLY CAUSING CONCERN THAT ONE MIGHT / WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STOP SHORT OF A COLLISION. IE NEAR MISSES. THIS CONDITION IS EXPERIENCED EVEN ON DRY EXCELLENT ROAD SURFACES IN NORMAL WEATHER CONDITIONS. SURPRISE, LONGER THAN EXPECTED STOPPING DISTANCES, QUESTIONING IF ALL THE BRAKES ARE FUNCTIONING OR IF ABS IS CUTTING IN PREMATURELY. OCCASIONAL LONG ROLLOUTS STOPS AND A COUPLE OF EXPERIENCES WHERE I HAD TO ALTER HEADING TO ALMOST PASS UP ALONG SIDE THE VEHICLE AHEAD, DURING A FREEWAY STOP AND GO, PANIC STOP HAS MADE ME SUSPECT THAT THERE MIGHT BE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE AXLE-WRAP (TACOMA) PHENOMENON. COULD THE EXCESSIVE BRAKE BIAS CAUSED ROTATION OF THE REAR AXLE HOUSING AND ABS SENSORS BE IMPARTING A PREMATURE FALSE, IMPENDING WHEEL LOCKUP SIGNAL, TO THE ABS COMPUTER TO UNNECESSARILY BYPASS FLUID UNDER PRESSURE BACK TO THE RESERVOIR AND THUS NOT MAINTAIN FULL BRAKE PRESSURE TO ALL FOUR BRAKES/WHEELS DURING MEDIUM TO HEAVY BRAKING ON GOOD ROAD CONDITIONS? NOT ALL STOPS PRODUCE BUMPING (AXLEWRAP) AND ONLY ON OCCASION IS REDUCED BRAKING A MAJOR FACTOR, HOWEVER THEY DO OCCUR AND USUALLY WHEN YOU ARE NOT EXPECTING IT. TOYOTA DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE A SOLUTION TO THE AXLE-WRAP RECURRING DISCREPANCY. DEALERSHIPS SEEM TO BELIEVE THAT IF THERE WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THEN TOYOTA WOULD TELL THEM ABOUT IT? UNUSUAL BRAKE SHOE WEAR PATTERNS EXIST. ON SUBJECT VEHICLE THE REAR SHOES AT LAST INSPECTION APPEARED TO BE ABOUT HALF WORN AWAY AND THE FRONT DISC PADS WERE RELATIVELY LITTLE WORN AND ONE COULD EXPECT THAT THE BACKS WOULD NEED CHANGING TWO TO THREE TIMES RELATIVE TO THE FRONT DISCS ONCE. THIS MAY SUPPORT THE THEORY THAT A SEVERE BRAKE BIAS EXISTS AND COULD BE DUE TO A MALFUNCTIONING ABS SYSTEM? TECHNICIANS FROM TOYOTA HAVE DRIVEN THE VEHICLE AND HAVE NOT RECOMMENDED ANY SOLUTIONS OR CORRECTIVE MAINTENANCE. 5/10 - 5/11. *TR