2004 Toyota Tacoma
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Structure is the leading concern among 414 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 6th highest complaint count among 26 Tacoma model years with reports.
Of the 2004 reports, 27 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 23 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Tires, temporary/emergency spare tireNov 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 12V542000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lightingJul 17, 2006
CERTAIN AJ MOTORSPORT COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
AJ MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AJ MOTORSPORT AT 626-618-2026.
Campaign 06E065000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lightingMar 23, 2006
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
Campaign 06E026000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, front, control arm, lower ball jointMay 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.
THE LOWER BALL JOINT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
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.
Campaign 05V225000 on NHTSA.gov
Seat belts, frontMay 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.
THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD.
DEALERS HAVE REPLACED THE SEAT BELTS. NO VEHICLES WERE SOLD TO CONSUMERS.
Campaign 04V214000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: steering
29 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Mar 27, 2006
2004 TACOMA RACK AND PINION SYSTEM WAS REPLACED TWICE PER THE SUGGESTION OF THE MECHANIC. MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE STEERING ROD WAS ALSO BROKEN. ALTHOUGH THIS PART WAS BROKEN THE DEALER RETURNED THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE CONSUMER BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PART AVAILABLE TO REPAIR IT. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NO DANGER IN DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH A STEERING BROKEN ROD. *TS *NM
Steering, Mar 10, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE RACK AND PINION STEERING HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE DUE TO CRACKS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY BUSHING. AFTER THE SECOND REPAIR, THERE WAS A LOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING, CAUSING REDUCED CONTROL. THE STEERING ROD ALSO FAILED. UPDATED 04/11/06. *JB
Steering, Oct 26, 2005
NOISE AND EXCESS PLAY IN STEERING WHEEL WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPY SURFACES. FOUND UPPER STEERING SHAFT SLIP JOINT IMPROPERLY MACHINED /CRIMPED RESULTING IN ABNORMAL NOISE AND EXCESS PLAY WHEN DRIVING UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. DEALER REPLACED UPPER STEERING SHAFT WITH AND IDENTICAL PART. THIS PART HAS NOT BEEN REDESIGNED AND WILL FAIL AGAIN. PART IS NOT AVAILABLE AS IT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AND THE DEALER KEPT THE OLD PART. HAVE FOUND FROM OTHERS THROUGH THE INTERNET THAT THIS PLAY AND NOISE IS VERY COMMON BUT NO ONE KNEW THE CAUSE UNTIL RECENTLY. *NM
Steering, Oct 25, 2005
1) NORMAL DRIVING, ON ROAD AND OFF OF HIGHWAY ON DIRT ROADS 2) LOOSE STEERING SHAFT, RATTLES ON ROUGH ROADS OR WHEN HITTING OBSTACLES IN ROAD. 3) DEALER CLAIMS SUSPENSION MODIFICATIONS HAVE VOIDED MY WARRANTY ON STEERING COMPONENTS. DEALER REFUSES TO DO WARRANTY WORK ON VEHICLE FOR NON RELATED COMPONENTS.