2009 TOYOTA TACOMA Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FRONT TURN SIGNAL LENSES BURNED OUT. THE CONTACT NOTICED VISIBLE BURN MARKS ON BOTH LENSES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHTS BURN /MELT THE LENS DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT, IN LESS THEN 30K MILES. I BELIEVE TOYOTA HAS A DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THE DRLS. EVERY TACOMA WITH THE DRL OPTION WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THE COMPARTMENT THAT HOLDS THE DLR LIGHT IS SMALL, WITH NO VENTILATION, AND THE LAMP DISSIPATES APPROXIMATELY 28 WATTS OF HEAT, WHICH IS FOCUSED TOWARD THE LENS (ALONG WITH THE LIGHT). IT IS SIMPLY TOO MUCH HEAT IN TOO SMALL AN AREA, AND THE HEAT IS SUFFICIENT TO MELT THE PLASTIC LENS IN FRONT OF THE LAMP. SINCE THE DRL IS PART OF THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, THE COST OF PARTS IS REPORTED TO BE AROUND $700 PLUS LABOR. I BELIEVE THAT LENSES (WITH PROPER LAMPS) SHOULD NEVER MELT. ASKING TACOMA OWNERS TO PAY $700 +, EVERY 30K MILES IS OUTRAGEOUS! MY HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THEY ARE SURE TO FAIL AGAIN IF SOMETHING IS NOT DONE TO CORRECT THE DESIGN OF THE DLRS. IT APPEARS THAT TOYOTA IS IGNORING THE PROBLEM AND HOPING MOST PEOPLE WON'T RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM UNTIL AFTER THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. NOW I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS CONDITION WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. *TT

MY 09 TOYOTA TACOMA DRL (DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHT/TURN SIGNAL) LENS BURNED/MELTED/BROKE. I HAVE EXCEEDED MY WARRANTY BUT I FEEL TOYOTA SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND REPLACE MY LIGHT LENS. MY LOCAL DEALER DID DO A 50/50 SPLIT ON THE COST OF REPLACEMENT, BUT THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM. LIGHT LENS SHOULD NEVER BURN/MELT/BREAK REGARDLESS OF HOW OLD OR HOW MANY MILES THE VEHICLE HAS ON IT. NOT ALL TACOMA'S HAVE DRL , THIS IS AN OPTION, MY LOCAL DEALER DID NOT KNOW THIS BUT I POINTED THIS OUT TO HIM. I HAVE A FRIEND WITH SAME PROBLEM BUT HIS TACOMA IS STILL IN WARRANTY AND THE DEALER DID A 100% REPLACEMENT. I CONTACTED TOYOTA WITH A LETTER AND PICTURES AND WAS TOLD TOYOTA WOULD NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT BECAUSE I HAD EXCEEDED MY WARRANTY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WERE MADE WITH DOUBLE CONTACT BULBS. THE HEAT FROM THE LIGHT WAS BURNING THROUGH THE LENSES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND HAD THE LENSES REPLACED BUT THE DEALER DID NOT CHANGE THE BULBS. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR BECAUSE THE BULBS WERE NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS EXTREMELY RARE AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BULB BURNED THROUGH THE LENS WITHIN TWO YEARS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,600.

DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE MELTING THE PLASTIC LAMP HOUSING. ALL COMPONENTS ARE FACTORY STOCK: BULBS, HOUSINGS, WIRING, ETC. MELTED PLASTIC HOUSING HAS CHANGED THE TURN SIGNAL BEAM GEOMETRY RESULTING IN REDUCED VISIBILITY AND RISK OF ACCIDENT. ALSO, MELTED MATERIAL INDICATES A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. *TR

I ALWAYS WANTED A TOYOTA TRUCK EVER SINCE I WAS 16. NOW AT 38 I DECIDED TO PURCHASE A 2009 TACOMA BRAND NEW AND I CURRENTLY HAVE 30,000 MILES ON IT AND I BEGAN NOTICING AN ANNOYING WHINING SOUND FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AT 65 - 70 MPH. I BROUGHT IN IN TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL. I WAS SHOCKED TO HEAR THIS SINCE I HAVE NEVER HEARD THIS NOISE FROM ANY OF THE TRUCKS I HAVE OWNED PREVIOSULY AND I CHECKED ONLINE AND THIER IS A TSB FOR THE DIFFERENTIAL FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM IN 2008 MODELS. I TOLD TOYOTA THIS AND THEY SAID A REP WOULD BE COMING OUT. A WEEK OR SO LATER THE REP CAME OUT AND I RECIEVIED A CALL STATING THAT THE VEHICLE IS NORMAL AND THE NOISE CAN BE HEARD IN OTHER TOCAMAS AS WELL. THE REP SAID TO WAIT AND A TSB MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT BE RELEASED. I WAS VERY UPSET AT THIS ESPECIALLY WHEN I READ ONLINE THAT TOYOTA FIXED THIS PROBLEM FOR OTHER PEOPLE. I OPENED A CASE UP WITH TOYOTA AND THEY DID NOT EVEN CARE ONE BIT. NOW LAST WEEK AS I WENT TO PARK MY TRUCK IN THE GARAGE AND I SHIFTED IT IN DRIVE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE (NOT THE GAS PEDAL)THE VEHICLE'S RPM RACED UP AND THE VEHICLE TRIED TO LURCH FORWARD. SHOCKED TO SAY THE LEAST I THEN SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL WAITED A FEW MOMENTS AS THE VEHICLE KEPT RACING UP I THEN SHUT IT DOWN. I STARTED IT BACK UP AND IT IDLED NORMALLY. THE NEXT DAY I CALLED TOYOTA TO STATE THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. TOYOTA WANTED ME TO BRING IT IN RIGHT AWAY. I TOOK IT IN AND THEY HAD A LONG LISTED FORM OF QUESTIONS LIKE WHERE WAS THE FLOOR MAT, WAS CRUISE CONTROL ON, DO I USE BOTH FEET TO DRIVE ONE FOR BRAKE AND ONE FOR THE GAS PEDAL. I TOLD THEM NOTHING WAS ON THE PEDAL, I DID NOT HAVE CRUISE CONTROL ON, AND I USE ONE FOOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE ONLY. MY FOOT CANNOT EVEN HIT THE GAS WHEN ITS ON THE BRAKE. THEY THINK IT IS ME. THIS IS A SAFTY ISSUE AND THEY TREAT IT LIKE IT'S NOTHING. TOYOTA.BAD CUSTOMER WARRANTY SERVICE. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS ISSUE. *TT

I HAVE A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA AND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED FOR EXAMPLE AT A RED LIGHT THE VEHICLE RPM WILL INCREASE AND THE VEHICLE WILL THEN LURCH FORWARD. FORTUNATELY MY FOOT IN ON THE BRAKE. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAS A WHINING NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED BY TOYOTA REGIONAL REPS AS A WHINING NOISE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL AT 50 TO 70 MPH. TAKEN BACK 3 TIMES TO DEALER THEY SAY ITS NORMAL BUT I KNOW IT IS NOT. THESE MAY BE 2 SEPARATE ISSUES BUT IT IS CLEAR THAT TOYOTA MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR IT'S CUSTOMERS TO GET WARRANTY REPAIRS AND IN ACKNOWLEDGING A PROBLEM. TOYOTA SHOULD BE ASHAMED FOR ITS LACK OF CUSTOMER SERVICE IN FIXING ITS VEHICLES UNTIL PEOPLE GET INJURED. *KB

THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE TO USE THE COMPLAINT THAT WAS SENT VIA EMAIL. JO. NOT SURE WHO TO CONTACT BUT I AM A SAFETY PROFESSIONAL FOR MANY YEARS AND AN INCIDENT LAST NIGHT CONFIRMED AN OBVIOUS DANGER TO DRIVERS BASED ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DASHBOARD LIGHTING AND HEADLAMP ACTIVATION. A NEAR MISS LAST NIGHT REMINDED ME OF THE SAME CONDITION I NOTED LAST YEAR IN A SIMILAR INCIDENT. I BELIEVE A SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO DRIVERS EXISTS, IT IS AN UNRECOGNIZED THREAT, A SIMPLE REMEDY WOULD CORRECT AND I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THAT CONCERN.

BRAKING INCONSISTENCY, USUALLY IN STOP AND GO OR UNEXPECTED TRAFFIC STOPS, SAY AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND INTERSECTIONS. OCCASIONALLY THE EFFICIENCY OF THE BRAKES VARIES, USUALLY CAUSING CONCERN THAT ONE MIGHT / WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STOP SHORT OF A COLLISION. IE NEAR MISSES. THIS CONDITION IS EXPERIENCED EVEN ON DRY EXCELLENT ROAD SURFACES IN NORMAL WEATHER CONDITIONS. SURPRISE, LONGER THAN EXPECTED STOPPING DISTANCES, QUESTIONING IF ALL THE BRAKES ARE FUNCTIONING OR IF ABS IS CUTTING IN PREMATURELY. OCCASIONAL LONG ROLLOUTS STOPS AND A COUPLE OF EXPERIENCES WHERE I HAD TO ALTER HEADING TO ALMOST PASS UP ALONG SIDE THE VEHICLE AHEAD, DURING A FREEWAY STOP AND GO, PANIC STOP HAS MADE ME SUSPECT THAT THERE MIGHT BE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE AXLE-WRAP (TACOMA) PHENOMENON. COULD THE EXCESSIVE BRAKE BIAS CAUSED ROTATION OF THE REAR AXLE HOUSING AND ABS SENSORS BE IMPARTING A PREMATURE FALSE, IMPENDING WHEEL LOCKUP SIGNAL, TO THE ABS COMPUTER TO UNNECESSARILY BYPASS FLUID UNDER PRESSURE BACK TO THE RESERVOIR AND THUS NOT MAINTAIN FULL BRAKE PRESSURE TO ALL FOUR BRAKES/WHEELS DURING MEDIUM TO HEAVY BRAKING ON GOOD ROAD CONDITIONS? NOT ALL STOPS PRODUCE BUMPING (AXLEWRAP) AND ONLY ON OCCASION IS REDUCED BRAKING A MAJOR FACTOR, HOWEVER THEY DO OCCUR AND USUALLY WHEN YOU ARE NOT EXPECTING IT. TOYOTA DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE A SOLUTION TO THE AXLE-WRAP RECURRING DISCREPANCY. DEALERSHIPS SEEM TO BELIEVE THAT IF THERE WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THEN TOYOTA WOULD TELL THEM ABOUT IT? UNUSUAL BRAKE SHOE WEAR PATTERNS EXIST. ON SUBJECT VEHICLE THE REAR SHOES AT LAST INSPECTION APPEARED TO BE ABOUT HALF WORN AWAY AND THE FRONT DISC PADS WERE RELATIVELY LITTLE WORN AND ONE COULD EXPECT THAT THE BACKS WOULD NEED CHANGING TWO TO THREE TIMES RELATIVE TO THE FRONT DISCS ONCE. THIS MAY SUPPORT THE THEORY THAT A SEVERE BRAKE BIAS EXISTS AND COULD BE DUE TO A MALFUNCTIONING ABS SYSTEM? TECHNICIANS FROM TOYOTA HAVE DRIVEN THE VEHICLE AND HAVE NOT RECOMMENDED ANY SOLUTIONS OR CORRECTIVE MAINTENANCE. 5/10 - 5/11. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT HEARD A RATTLING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THE FAILURE WAS WITHIN THE REAR AXLE RIGHT LEAF SPRING NEAR THE GAS LINE WHICH WAS CORRODED AND HAD BROKE IN HALF. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE FAILURE WAS NOT A RECALL FOR THE 2009 TACOMA AND WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILES WERE 78,700.