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: structure
203 reports, newest first. Show all
Structure, Aug 30, 2005, crash
STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE CLAIM #06-5795-637 REGARDING A REAR END COLLISION TO A TRUCK IN WHICH THE FRAME WAS BENT.*MR THE REPAIRMAN INFORMED THE CONSUMER THERE WAS NO NEED TO REPAIR THE FRAME DAMAGE BECAUSE IT WAS WITHIN THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS WHICH WAS LESS THAN 5 MILLIMETERS. *JB
Suspension, Service brakes, Air, Power train, Structure, Jul 27, 2005
MY 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA DOUBLE CAB PRERUNNER V6 SR5 HAS 18,000MILES AND HAS HAD THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM FOR A WHILE. I DID NOT NOTICE IT UNTIL ABOUT 2 MONTHS AFTER I HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. WHICH TELLS ME THAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE A PROGRESSIVE ISSUE. THE TRUCK CONTINUES TO SHOW AN INCREASE IN THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: WHEN DRIVING THE TACOMA DOWN THE ROAD THE TACOMA DRIVES FINE. BUT WHEN APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION WHERE THE VEHICLE IS BROUGHT TO A COMPLETE STOP IS WHEN THE FOLLOWING OCCURS. THE VEHICLE WILL SHIFT TO THE REAR AND A JERK SOUND IS HEARD AND FELT. WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKE ON THE VEHICLE YOU WILL FEEL AND HEAR ANOTHER MORE INTENSE JERK. WHEN YOU PRESS ON THE THROTTLE PEDAL TO MOVE FORWARD FROM AN INTERSECTION THE VEHICLE DISPLAYS YET ANOTHER JERK. ALL OF THESE FEELS AS IF IT IS COMING FROM THE REAR. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR IT'S REGULAR MAINTENCE AND QUESTIONED THE SERVICE ADVISOR ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I WAS TOLD IN A VERY "I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR YOU MANNER" IT'S A TACOMA IT WILL ALWAYS DO THAT. I CAN'T NOR WILL I ACCEPT THAT ANSWER.
Structure, Jan 3, 2005, fire
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH PASSENGER'S SIDE UNDER BODY CAUGHT ON FIRE. NO INJURIES REPORTED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. *AK