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: other or unspecified
32 reports, newest first. Show all
Structure, Other or unspecified, Jun 10, 2015
I PURCHASED A USED 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA 4X4 4 YEARS AGO IN NY. I MOVED TO MA 2 YEARS AGO AND TOOK TRUCK TO A CAPE COD TOYOTA DEALER AND ASKED THEM TO CHANGE OIL AND TELL ME IF THERE WERE ANY ISSUES I NEEDED TO DEAL WITH. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT THEY TOLD ME ABOUT THE SPARE TIRE RUST RECALL AND MADE THE REPAIR. WHEN WE PICKED UP THE TRUCK THEY GAVE IT A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH. THEY THEN SAID "BY THE WAY, YOU HAVE A TINY HOLE IN FRAME THAT MAY NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF AT SOME POINT-NOT URGENT." FAST FORWARD 2 YEARS- A GARAGED TRUCK THAT ONLY HAD AN ADDITIONAL 7,000 MILES. WE TOOK IT FOR THE MA STATE INSPECTION AND IT FAILED. THEY SAID IT NEEDED A NEW MUFFLER. WE TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL CAPE COD MECHANIC WHO CALLED AND SAID THE PROBLEM WAS MUCH BIGGER- THE ENTIRE FRAME IS RUSTED OUT AND IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. WE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA CORPORATE AND THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING. THE DEALER CALLED TO SAY COME PICK IT UP EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. HOW MUCH IS A LIFE WORTH? OBVIOUSLY TOYOTA DOESN'T CARE. HELP PLEASE!!!
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 5, 2015
FROM A DEAD STOP TO ANY SPEED, IT FELT LIKE I NO ACCERATION. I WOULD HAVE TO FEATHER THE GAS PEDAL TO GET UP TO SPEED. I'VE REPLACED FUEL FILTER, 02 SENDER ( FRONT), MAF SENDER ,FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR ,CLEANED ALL GROUNDS, HAD FUEL PUMP TESTED , HAD HEAD GASKET CHECKED ,CHANGED SPARK PLUGS AND WIRE'S, CLEANED THROTTLE BODY AND PRESSURE CLEANED FUEL SYSTEM. EVERY TIME I CHANGE A PART OR DO ANY CLEANING , THE TRUCK WILL RUN FINE, FOR AWHILE , BUT THE PROBLEM RETURNS. I NOW HAVE 150K ON TRUCK ,AND I WANT TO GET 150 K MORE. I FELL THIS IS A EXTREMELY HAZARDS SITUATION. ALL I'M LOOKING FOR IS A ANSWER TO WHAT'S WRONG!!!! TOYOTA IS AWARE OF WHAT'S WRONG ,BUT THE DEALERS ONLY TO KEEP REPLACING PARTS ($) . THE TOYOTA FORUM S ON WEB HAVE 1000S OF ANSWER S, BUT, NOTHING DEFINITE. PLEASE HELP!!!!
Other or unspecified, Aug 25, 2014
VEHICLE WAS AT DEALER FOR RECALL "EXCESSIVE CORROSION OF THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER LIFT PLATE" SERVICE TECH. NOTED "FRAME HAS A HOLE, WOULD NOT PASS NYSI". IN RESEARCHING THE ISSUE TOYOTA ADMITTED THAT THE FRAME, MANUFACTURED BY [XXX] DID NOT RECEIVE PROPER CORROSION PROTECTION. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Suspension, Structure, Other or unspecified, May 7, 2014
FRAME IS PERFORATED DUE TO RUST JUST IN FRONT OF REAR AXLE ON BOTH SIDES OF VEHICLE. ABOUT A 1.5" X 6" HOLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE WITH A FRACTURE OF ABOUT 12" GOING TOWARD REAR AXLE. PASSENGER SIDE HAS A FRACTURE ABOUT 18" LONG IN SAME AREA. REAR SUSPENSION MOUNTS AND SPRINGS ARE COMPROMISED. TOYOTA HAD A PROGRAM TO DEAL WITH ISSUE BUT DEADLINE HAD PASSED BY THE TIME I PURCHASED VEHICLE. DEALER TOLD ME TOYOTA HAD CHECKED OUT FRAME ISSUE AND IT PASSED. ACCORDING TO TOYOTA I WAS MISINFORMED. TOYOTA WILL NOT FIX WHAT IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT I NEVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEAL WITH PROPERLY. BODY AND BED ARE RUST FREE AND IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. I PAID 11,700 FOR THE TRUCK WITH 88,000 MI., HAVE OWNED IT FOR ONE YEAR AND PUT APPROX. 9,000 MILES ON IT. IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES TOTALED. *TR
Other or unspecified, Sep 22, 2013
THIS IS A STORY ABOUT THE PURCHASE OF A BRAND NEW TOYOTA TACOMA IN 2004 THAT I PAID CASH FOR. ON OR ABOUT JANUARY OF 2012 I CALLED TOYOTA TO FIND OUT IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE JUST CHECKING. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL FOR A FRAME RUSTING WHEN WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR ANOTHER SERVICE MATTER WE WERE TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE FRAME (THERE WAS NO RECORD OF OUR HAVING BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE RECALL JUST THE SERVICE THAT WAS PERFORMED). WE NEVER RECEIVED OFFICIAL NOTICE OF THE RECALL BUT NOW WE HAVE A FRAME RUSTING ISSUE WITH SOME AREAS THAT ARE ROTTING THROUGH THE FRAME! WHEN I CONTACTED TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS I WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED SEVEN DAYS PRIOR AND THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME! HOW CAN THIS BE? IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE PRODUCT AND THE VEHICLE IS SHOWING THE DEFECT FROM THE RECALL HOW CAN IT EXPIRE? TOYOTA HAS RECOMMENDED WE RETAIN A LAWYER FOR THIS ISSUE. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I HAVE A TRUCK WORTH NEXT TO NOTHING THAT I DEPEND ON FOR MY LIVING AND THEY TELL ME TO GET A LAWYER? FRANKLY, I AM VERY SURPRISED AT TOYOTA A COMPANY WITH AN EXCELLENT REPUTATION, THAT I THOUGHT MAKES GOOD CARS AND TRUCKS NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR DEFECTIVE MERCHANDISE. I WILL NEVER EVER BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM TOYOTA AND TO ME THEIR REPUTATION IS NOW TARNISHED.
Suspension, Other or unspecified, Mar 28, 2011
UPON INSPECTION FROM TOYOTA ,FROM THE DEALER BERT WOLFE TOYOTA IN CHARLESTON, WV, THE FRAME ON MY TACOMA WAS FAILED. THE RESULT WAS PERFORATIONS FROM RUST. I HAD PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED A LETTER STATING THE THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY TRUCK. THE LETTER STATED THAT IT NECESSARY TO BE INSPECTED FOR FRAME CORROSION, AND THAT THREE POSSIBLE OUTCOMES WOULD ARISE: 1) UPON THE PASSING OF THE CORROSION TEST AN ANTI-CORROSION TREATMENT WOULD BE APPLIED AND A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE WOULD BE EXTENDED UNTIL THE TREATMENT WAS COMPLETE. 2) UPON THE FAILURE OF THE TEST (MEANING THE FRAME HAD CORROSION) THE FRAME WOULD BE REPLACED, AND A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE WOULD BE RENDERED. 3) UPON FAILURE OF THE TEST TOYOTA MAY REPURCHASE MY VEHICLE AT A PRICE OF 150% OF THE KELLY BLUE BOOK VALUE. NONE OF THESE OUTCOMES WERE INSTITUTED UPON FAILURE OF MY FRAME CORROSION TEST. BERT WOLFE TOYOTA FAILED THE FRAME, STATED THEY WOULD REPLACE THE FRAME , BUT IT WOULD TAKE SIX MONTHS. THEY PLACED ME BACK IN MY TRUCK WHICH FAILED THE TEST, WITHOUT A TEMPORARY REPLACEMENT. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT A) MY TRUCK WILL NEVER BE THE EQUIVALENT, ALL OF THE PARTS THAT WILL BE TAKEN OFF AND/OR REPLACED AND THEN REINSTALLED ON THE NEW FRAME, CAUSES FOR SAFETY CONCERNS. THERE IS A HIGH PROBABILITY THAT SOMETHING WILL BE OVERLOOKED IN THE PROCESS OF REINSTALLATION. B) THAT THE PARTS THAT CONNECT TO THE FRAME OR LOCATED IN IT'S VICINITY WILL CORRODE EVENTUALLY CAUSING SAFETY CONCERNS. C) MY VEHICLE FAILED A TEST IN WHICH THE FRAME IS CONSIDERED UNSAFE, AND I WAS SENT OFF IN THAT SAME VEHICLE WITHOUT A PROVISIONAL REPLACEMENT.
Other or unspecified, Apr 16, 2010, crash
2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. CONSUMER WRITES TO SHARE THAT HE WAS IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND PRAISES TOYOTA FOR HOW THIS VEHICLE HELD UP. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN, WHEN ANOTHER MOTORIST RAN A LIGHT AND HIT HIM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE IMPACT CAUSED HIS VEHICLE TO FLIP IN THE AIR WHILE DOING A 180 DEGREE TURN. HE THEN LANDED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, THEN ROLLED BACK ON ALL FOUR TIRES. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE . THE CONSUMER ONLY HAD A SMALL SCRATCH WHERE THE SEAT BELT HELD HIM IN PLACE.