2005 Toyota TACOMA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
707 owner complaints analyzed
10 distinct recall campaigns
82,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 534 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Body is the most frequently named component, appearing in 136 of 707 complaints (19.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 95 | 13.4% |
| Steering behavior | 75 | 10.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 42 | 5.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 1.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 9 | 1.3% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 0.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Structure:Body | 136 |
| Suspension | 124 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 82 |
| Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields | 72 |
| Steering | 57 |
| Unknown Or Other | 42 |
| Air Bags | 39 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 33 |
Structure:Body: 136; Suspension: 124; Vehicle Speed Control: 82; Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields: 72; Steering: 57; Unknown Or Other: 42; Air Bags: 39; Structure:Frame And Members: 33
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 104 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 63 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 72 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 78 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 112 |
| 150,000 and above | 105 |
Under 25,000: 104; 25,000 to 49,999: 63; 50,000 to 74,999: 72; 75,000 to 99,999: 78; 100,000 to 149,999: 112; 150,000 and above: 105
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (112). 173 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 51 |
| 2006 | 32 |
| 2007 | 29 |
| 2008 | 30 |
| 2009 | 27 |
| 2010 | 74 |
| 2011 | 24 |
| 2012 | 21 |
| 2013 | 53 |
| 2014 | 108 |
| 2015 | 62 |
| 2016 | 74 |
| 2017 | 40 |
| 2018 | 17 |
| 2019 | 16 |
| 2020 | 17 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2004: 2; 2005: 51; 2006: 32; 2007: 29; 2008: 30; 2009: 27; 2010: 74; 2011: 24; 2012: 21; 2013: 53; 2014: 108; 2015: 62; 2016: 74; 2017: 40; 2018: 17; 2019: 16; 2020: 17; 2021: 9; 2022: 7; 2023: 7; 2024: 4; 2025: 2; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Structure:Body leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 95 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 75 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 42 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10119499 · 2005-05-03 (May 3, 2005)
I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA 4 DOOR AND EVER SINCE TAKING IT OFF THE LOT 5 DAYS AGO, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IN ANY WEATHER, ON ANY SURFACE OF ROAD, I GET A THUMPING IN THE PEDAL AND THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES TO STOP. IT GETS WORSE WITH MORE PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE BRAKES. THE FRONT END SEEMS TO BOUNCE, AND FEELS LIKE IT WILL GO OUT OF CONTROL. THE TRUCK HAS 230 MILES ON IT, I WILL BE CALLING THE DEALER TODAY.
Owner-reported narrative. 225 miles reported. Look up ODI 10119499 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10125529 · 2005-06-16 (June 16, 2005)
DT:TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING IN PARKING LOT AT LOW SPEED HIT BRAKES AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED AFTER BEING STEERED ON CONCRETE ABUTMENT. DID NOT HAVE ANY PROPERTY DAMAGES OR ACCIDENT, BUT THERE WAS BRAKE FAILURE. HAD TOWED VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP WHERE HE PURCHASED VEHICLE. DEALER TESTED IT, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE, BUT DID NOTE THAT THE BRAKE PRESSURE WAS WEAK, AND THE PEDAL HAD TO BE PUT TO THE FLOOR TO STOP. BECAUSE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE THEY CO…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10125529 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10125047 · 2005-06-12 (June 12, 2005)
STEERING WHEEL SHACKS FROM APPROXIMATELY 62 TO 75 MILES PER HOUR. HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM AND THAT THE SHACKING IS NOT A SAFETY CONSERN. THE SECOND VISIT TO THE DEALER THEY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 3 DAYS. VEHICLE HAS 1700 MILES.
Owner-reported narrative. 295 miles reported. Look up ODI 10125047 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10102153 · 2004-12-04 (December 4, 2004)
2005 TOYOTA TACOMA 2WD MANUAL WITH 800 MILES DEVELOP A MAJOR OIL LEAK BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION AND THE CRANK SHAFT. GEAR SHIFT NOT SMOOTH. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10102153 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10124392 · 2005-06-06 (June 6, 2005)
DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE VEHICLE HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND HE STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO INTO 5TH GEAR SAFELY. THIS VEHICLE WILL GO INTO EVERY OTHER GEAR PERFECTLY FINE. THIS IS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION CONSUMER HAS PUT IN HIS VEHICLE AND HE ONLY HAS 5000 MILES ON HIS VEHICLE. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10124392 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10126431 · 2005-06-24 (June 24, 2005)
WHILE PERFORMING A NORMAL REVIEW UNDER THE HOOD, I DISCOVERED THE OEM DELPHI BATTERY HAD SPRAYED ACID ON THE UNDER SIDE OF THE HOOD WHICH RAN DOWN THE FENDER WELL (REMOVING THE PAINT ON BOTH) AND CONTINUED RUNNING DOWN TO THE FRAME AND AC LINE.
Owner-reported narrative. 7,965 miles reported. Look up ODI 10126431 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10151695 · 2006-03-03 (March 3, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WAS SHIFTED FROM FOUR WHEEL DRIVE HIGH OR LOW, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ALWAYS SHIFT. THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE AUDIBLE ALARM STATING THE VEHICLE HAS NOT SHIFTED CAME ON. AN ADDITIONAL 5 ATTEMPTS WERE NEEDED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED. THE TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE MANUFACTURER DROVE THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THIS WAS NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS. ALSO, WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES WERE BELOW ZERO DEGREES THE KEYLESS ENTRY WOULD NOT UNLOCK THE VEHICLE. THE DEALE…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10151695 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10565302 · 2014-02-21 (February 21, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD FROM UNDER THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT LATER DISCOVERED THAT THE METAL STRAPS USED TO SECURE THE FUEL TANK TO THE VEHICLE HAD RUSTED AND FRACTURED, CAUSING THE RIGHT FRONT SECTION OF THE FUEL TANK TO HANG FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE FRACTURED METAL STRAP WOULD MAKE CONTACT WITH THE DRIVE SHAFT WHENEVER THE CONTACT WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DI…
Owner-reported narrative. 132,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10565302 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10586827 · 2014-05-06 (May 6, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING, ONE OF THE FUEL TANK STRAPS FRACTURED AS A RESULT OF CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000. UPDATED 06/17/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED ONE OF THE TWO STRAPS THAT SECURED THE GAS TANK FAILED UNDER THE WEIGHT OF THE TANK. THE TANK WAS TILTED AS A RESULT. THE STRAP FAILED AS A RESULT OF CORROSION. …
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10586827 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10267472 · 2009-05-01 (May 1, 2009)
I NOTICED OCCASIONAL STIFF STEERING FOR A FEW MONTHS WHICH GRADUALLY BECAME WORSE WITH TIME. EVENTUALLY SEEMED LIKE COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST STEERING. I FOUND THAT IT WAS THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WHICH CONTAINS A UNIVERSAL JOINT THAT HAD BECOME SEIZED. I HAD THIS INTERMEDIATE SHAFT PART REPLACED AT A TOTAL COST OF $885.00. THE NEW PART ORDERED FROM TOYOTA WAS DIFFERENT FROM THE ORIGINAL IN THAT THE NEW PART HAD A BOOT PROTECTING THE UNIVERSAL FROM DIRT DUST AND DEBRIS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10267472 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10273638 · 2009-06-12 (June 12, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING AND GRINDING NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE AND ABS WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE WARNING INDICATORS REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE REAR PINION AND GEAR FAILED. THE VEHICLE …
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10273638 at NHTSA ↗