Known Recalls

Model year record

2004 Toyota Tacoma

3 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 552 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 12V542000

Tires: temporary/emergency spare tire

Component
Tires: temporary/emergency spare tire
Manufacturer
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Vehicles affected
150,000
Reported to NHTSA
2012-11-23
Owners notified
2013-02-15

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 05V225000

Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint

Component
Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint
Manufacturer
TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected
768,379
Reported to NHTSA
2005-05-17
Owners notified
2005-07-05

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 04V214000

Seat belts: front

Component
Seat belts: front
Manufacturer
TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected
8
Reported to NHTSA
2004-05-05
Owners notified
2004-04-28

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD.

Manufacturer remedy

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

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Structure: body130130,000 mi
Suspension72122,000 mi
Structure: frame and members: underbody shields39120,000 mi
Unknown or other33120,000 mi
Vehicle speed control2562,700 mi
Structure: frame and members2490,000 mi
Steering2384,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system15117,500 mi
Power train1565,275 mi
Electrical system14115,000 mi
Structure1381,000 mi
Air bags12131,200 mi
Engine11115,000 mi
Service brakes1077,220 mi
Wheels10120,000 mi
Tires644,000 mi
Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint577,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline4111,000 mi
Seat belts4113,000 mi
Suspension: front4110,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal49,000 mi
Air bags: frontal31,800 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic353,566 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip329,000 mi
Steering: column322,000 mi
Tires: tread/belt320,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring22,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling28 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery215,000 mi
Parking brake238,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: floor shift26,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings280,000 mi
Suspension: rear: shock absorber25,000 mi
Tires: bead220,000 mi
Tires: sidewall2496 mi
Tires: temporary/emergency spare tire2104,040 mi
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers1—
Electronic stability control (ESC)1106,000 mi
Electronic stability control: automatic (ASC)115,166 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine167,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline16,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control140,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor140,000 mi
Equipment120,000 mi
Exterior lighting1—
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings117,576 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system12,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage117,576 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly118,600 mi
Latches/locks/linkages1100,000 mi
Parking brake: indicator light138,000 mi
Power train: axle assembly: axle shaft: seal11,798 mi
Power train: driveline1—
Power train: driveline: differential unit1190,000 mi
Power train: driveline: driveshaft110,000 mi
Power train: manual transmission110 mi
Power train: transfer case (4-wheel drive)1—
Seat belts: front: retractor1—
Seat belts: rear/other1—
Seats1—
Seats: front assembly: recliner1—
Service brakes, air: disc11,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc1—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads1—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor1—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum11,798 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum: shoes/linings110,000 mi
Steering: hydraulic power assist: pump157,000 mi
Steering: rack and pinion1151,000 mi
Steering: rack and pinion: rack138,000 mi
Structure: body: door1100,000 mi
Suspension: front: control arm: upper ball joint1158,000 mi
Suspension: front: macpherson strut169,000 mi
Suspension: front: wheel bearing124,000 mi
Suspension: rear: axle: spindle1—
Suspension: rear: springs: leaf spring assembly169,000 mi
Suspension: rear: springs: leaf spring assembly: hanger/bracket115,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: cruise control115,700 mi
Visibility: glass, side/rear1—
Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs1—

The 2003 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. The 2005 model has about half as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.