2004 TOYOTA TACOMA Complaints

THERE WAS NOTHING THAT LED UP TO THIS EVENT. I WAS JUST DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE BRACKET THAT ATTACHES THE FRONT AXEL OF MY TRUCK TO THE FRAME JUST SNAPPED OFF. THIS IS A RELATIVELY NEW VEHICLE AND HAS NOT SEEN TOO ROUGH A ROAD! IT IS QUITE PAMPERED AND WELL MAINTAINED. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT DUE TO THE MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE EXACT THING HAPPENING. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT I AM NOT ALONE IN THIS EVENT AS IT SEEMS TO BE IT OCCURS QUITE FREQUENTLY TO (FROM WHAT I HEAR), 2 WHEEL DRIVE TOYOTA TACOMA'S, THAT HAVE INSTALLED A LIFT. I CANNOT IMAGINE HOW MANY LIVES HAVE BEEN LOST LET ALONE HOW MANY ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES THIS HAS RESULTED IN AS YOU LOOSE COMPLETE CONTROL OF WHERE THE VEHICLE GOES. AND IN SOME INSTANCES IT ALSO SEVERS THE BRAKE LINE LEAVING THE VEHICLE OUT OF CONTROL WITH NO BRAKES. I IMAGINE THAT MOST CRASHES ARE NOT BLAMED ON THIS DUE TO THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCING A LARGE ACCIDENT WITH IMPACT TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. AND THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE FRONT AXEL TO FRAME IS MANGLED. THEREFORE, LEAVING ONE TO BELIEVE THAT THE ACCIDENT CAUSED THE DAMAGE. WHEN THE FACT IS THAT THE DAMAGE OR DEFECT IF YOU WILL IS WHAT CAUSED THE ACCIDENT WHICH IN TURN DAMAGED THE VEHICLE, DRIVER, PASSENGER(S). NOT TO MENTION THAT ACCIDENTS OFTEN INVOLVE OTHER VEHICLES AS WELL. IT SEEMS TO BE MORE PREVALENT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE SO THAT USUALLY MEANS THAT THE VEHICLE TRAVELS INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC! IE: HEAD ON COLLISIONS! HOW MANY SURVIVE A HEADON COLLISION IN A LIGHT DUTY TRUCK? FEW I WOULD IMAGINE. WELL IT ALMOST BECAME A REALITY FOR ME AS WELL AS MY PASSENGER. WE WERE JUST LUCKY THAT WE LIVE WHERE WE DO AND THERE WAS LIGHT TRAFFIC COMING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. I HAVE HEARD THAT THIS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL OTHERS IN THE AREA AND TOYOTA TELLS THEM TO GO TO "ROCKY'S OFFROAD", TO GET IT FIXED. NO OFFER OF EXPLANATION OR REASON WHY BUT THAT IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN ALOT?! DOESN'T THAT SCREAM "MANUFACTURER DEFECT!" IT'S A *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN THE CONTACT HEARD A GROANING NOISE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE BUT THE WHEEL BEARING ON THE VEHICLE WAS TIGHTENED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE CAME OFF OF THE VEHICLE. THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY BROKE AS WELL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000. UPDATED 2/23/11 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE COASTED TO A STOP ON THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. UPDATED 02/28/11

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL CAME OFF. RIGHT BEFORE THE WHEEL CAME OFF, THE VEHICLE STARTED PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE IN THE LOWER BALL JOINT. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN 05V225000, SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 385000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT HAD A REPAIR FOR A RECALL ON THE FRAME PERFORMED (RECALL INFORMATION NOT AVAILABLE IN NHTSA DATABASE). THE DEALER UNDERCOATED THE FRAME WHICH TURNED INTO AN OIL BASE THAT DRIPPED IN THE CONTACT'S GARAGE AND DAMAGED IT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED HER TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AGAIN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 81,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL PERTAINING TO POSSIBLE FRAME CORROSION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND TO HAVE RUST INHIBITOR SPRAYED ON THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DID NOT LOCATE A CORROSION FAILURE IN THE FRAME AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SERVICED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DIFFERENT DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE SECOND DEALER DISCOVERED HOLES AND CORROSION ON THE FRAME. THE DEALER DEEMED THE VEHICLE AS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND ADVISED THAT THE FRAME WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE DEALER WOULD HAVE TO REBUILD THE ENTIRE TRUCK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NO LONGER WANTED OWNERSHIP OF THE TRUCK AND BELIEVED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD TAKE THE LIABILITY FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,500.

MY 2004 TACOMA HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE (AROUND 64,000 MILES). THE STEERING WHEEL FEELS VERY LOOSE AND HAS ALOT OF ABNORMAL PLAY. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES, VIBRATES, AND RATTLES AROUND ALL THE TIME AND BECOMES REALLY BAD ON ROUGH ROADS. WHEN THERE IS A SLIGHT BUMP IN THE ROAD, TURNING A CORNER, BEING BLOWN AROUND IN A LITTLE WIND, OR TRYING TO AVOID OTHER CARS, THE TRUCKS STEERING IS SO LOOSE THAT I CONSIDER IT A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. I'VE DONE MY RESEARCH ONLINE AND HAVE FOUND NO RECALLS OR TSB'S FOR THIS PROBLEM FROM TOYOTA, BUT I HAVE FOUND MULTIPLE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM WHICH ALL RELATE TO A POORLY DESIGNED STEERING SHAFT ON THE COLUMN WHICH WEARS OUT AND RESULTS IN LOOSE STEERING. WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO RESORT TO THE ONLY KNOWN FIX OF WELDING THE TWO PARTS OF THE SHAFT TOGETHER. SOMEONE SHOULD REALLY BE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS AS IT'S A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS IN ROAD, FEELS LIKE DRIVER COULD LOOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE,OR STEERING COMPONENT COULD FALL OFF. *TR

THIS IS A LONG SHOT IN THE DARK BUT ITS WORTH A TRY. TOYOTA HAS A RECALL OUT FOR THE 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA BALL JOINT. THE RECALL SUMMARY : ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, DUE TO MANUFACTURING ISSUE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE SURFACE OF THE BALL 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: DEALER WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 5, 2005. I OWN A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA AND I WAS COMING HOME FROM LOS ANGELES MY STEERING FELT KIND OF FUNNY FELT LIKE I HAD A FLAT TIRE SO I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND CHECKED THE TIRES BUT EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE FINE I CONTINUED DRIVING I CAME INTO TOWN AND TURNED ONTO VISTA CHINO OFF OF THE HWY 111 IN PALM SPRINGS ALL OF A SUDDEN THE WHOLE FRONT OF MY TRUCK COLLAPSED AND WENT SLIDING DOWN THE ROAD NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP THANK GOD IT DIDN'T DO THAT ON THE FREEWAY OR EVEN IN TOWN SOMEONE COULD OF LOST A LIFE I HAD IT TOWED TO THE SHELL STATION AT THE CORNER I CALLED TOYOTA AND HAD IT TAKEN OVER TO THE DEALER. I LOOKED ONLINE TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS AND SURE ENOUGH THERE WAS. I CALLED THE RECALL NUMBER CORPORATE TOYOTA THEY ASKED FOR MY VIN# THEY SAID THAT MY TRUCK DOES NOT FALL IN UNDER THE RECALL. THEY HAD A TECH FLY OUT FROM THE FACTORY AND SAID THE SAME THING BECAUSE MY TRUCK WAS MANUFACTURED ON A DIFFERENT DATE. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND THERE A LOT OF CONSUMERS THAT ARE RUNNING INTO THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I HAVE BEEN THROUGH WITH THE VIN#. I COULD OF LOST MY LIFE OR TAKEN SOMEONE ELSE'S IN THIS COLLISION. ITS OBVIOUS IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM IN THE RECALL, TIRES JUST DON'T BREAK AT THE BALL JOINT WHILE YOUR DRIVING TIRES SHOULD STAY INTACT TO YOUR VEHICLE. *TR

VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOSES ENGINE POWER. SOMETIMES HAPPENS AT CRUISING SPEED, SOMETIMES HAPPENS WITH A SLIGHT DEPRESSING OF THE ACCELERATOR (WHEN MAKING TURNS, AT RISK OF GETTING STRUCK WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS). DEALERS HAVE TRIED TO FIX SEVERAL TIMES AND USUALLY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE INTERMITTENT PROBLEM (NO CHECK ENGINE CODES). ABUNDANCE OF REPORTS ONLINE OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS. OFTEN REPORTED AS THROTTLE BODY PROBLEMS. HOW CAN A COMMON PROBLEM BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEORETICALLY WELL TRAINED DEALER EMPLOYEES TO DIAGNOSE? IF IT IS A ROUTINE PROBLEM, WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL, OR AT LEAST A SERVICE BULLETIN? *TR

I OWN A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA, ALL FACTORY STANDARD, VERY CLEAN, WITH ABOUT 80,000 MILES ON IT. THE STEERING WHEEL HAS A VERY NOTICEABLE AMOUNT OF PLAY IN IT (ABOUT 0.5 TO 1" AT THE RIM). THE PLAY CAUSES RATTLING ON ROUGH ROADS, AND REDUCED CONTROL ON SMOOTH HIGHWAYS. THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN NARROWED DOWN TO THE STEERING SHAFT. I JUST RESEARCHED THE ISSUE ON LINE AND FOUND A LARGE NUMBER OF MENTIONS OF THAT VERY SAME ISSUE ON TACOMAS AND 4-RUNNERS. I CONSIDER THIS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND WANT TOYOTA TO REPAIR IT. I ASSUME IT COULD ALSO BE A SAFETY ISSUE AS IT RELATES TO STEERING. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS? *TR