2004 Toyota TACOMA: complaints, problems and recalls

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 …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10051012 at NHTSA ↗

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- …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10057075 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 10,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10066857 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10071851 at NHTSA ↗

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 T…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10081212 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10083529 at NHTSA ↗

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10090988 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PASSENGER SUFFERED FROM A BROKEN WRIST. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 1,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10097634 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2004-05-05 (May 5, 2004)

CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, 'SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES.' THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT HAS INCORRECT MARKINGS.

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD.

Remedy: DEALERS HAVE REPLACED THE SEAT BELTS. NO VEHICLES WERE SOLD TO CONSUMERS.

Reported: 2005-05-17 (May 17, 2005)

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, DUE TO A MANUFACTURING ISSUE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE SURFACE OF THE BALL OF THE JOINT MAY HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED. THE BALL JOINT MAY EVENTUALLY EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE WEAR AND LOOSENESS, RESULTING IN INCREASED STEERING EFFORT.

Consequence: THE LOWER BALL JOINT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 5, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

Reported: 2012-11-23 (November 23, 2012)

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2004 Tacoma light trucks manufactured from August 28, 2000, through August 27, 2004, and originally sold, or currently registered, in the following cold climate states with high road salt usage: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. The spare tire in the subject vehicles is located underneath the rear of the vehicle and held by a spare tire carrier. A lift plate on the carrier is used to help raise, lower and retain the tire. During its manufacture, the lift plate may not have been sufficiently coated with anti-corrosion materials. If the plate is insufficiently coated and the vehicle is operated in cold climate regions where road salts are frequently used, road spray can reach the carrier assembly and corrode the lift plate.

Consequence: Corrosion of the plate could cause it to break, which could result in detachment of the spare tire from the vehicle. Detachment of the spare tire could result in a road hazard which may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace the spare tire carrier lift plate as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in February 2013. Owners may contact their Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.