2005 TOYOTA TACOMA Complaints

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013: WHILE MANEUVERING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, AND THROUGH THE 90 DEGREE TURNS OUT OF A SUBURB IN WASHINGTON STATE ON THE WAY TO I-5 NORTHBOUND, THE STEERING OF MY WELL-MAINTAINED 6 SPEED MANUAL 2005 ACCESS CAB TOYOTA TACOMA TRD 4WD FELT ALTERNATELY STIFF AND LOOSE, AS THOUGH THE WHEEL WAS RATCHETING. THE WHEEL FAILED TO RETURN TO CENTER, REQUIRING CONSTANT EFFORT THROUGH ALL POINTS OF STEERING, WITH SPECIAL CARE REQUIRED TO OVERCOME THE HIGH AND LOW PEAKS IN RESISTANCE. NEGOTIATING TURNS HAS BECOME AN IMPRECISE, PHYSICALLY DEMANDING AND THEREFORE UNSAFE EXERCISE. WHILE I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE, AT MY OWN EXPENSE, THE ISSUE SEEMS TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT ON THE WWW.ARFC.ORG WEBSITE, AND IS LIKELY ASSOCIATED WITH A FAULTY UNIVERSAL JOINT IN THE STEERING ASSEMBLY. THE FAULTY PART HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS "STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT," PART# 45203-04020. THE REDESIGNED PART MEANT TO ADDRESS THE DEFECT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS PART# 45220-04020. THE REDESIGNED PART IS SAID TO INCLUDE A PROTECTIVE BOOT MEANT TO PROTECT "UNIVERSAL JOINT #2". THIS PROBLEM SOUNDS TO ME EVERY BIT AS SERIOUS AS THE GAS PEDAL/FLOOR MAT INTERFERENCE RECALL FOR WHICH I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN RECENT YEARS. THIS IS A LOSS-OF-CONTROL HAZARD THAT NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION, AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA DIRECTLY AS A SAFETY RECALL. LOYAL CUSTOMERS LIKE MYSELF SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES FOR THE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF FAULTY MATERIALS, POOR ENGINEERING, DEFECTIVE WORKMANSHIP OR THE UNSAFE CONDITIONS THAT RESULT FROM ANY OF THESE OVERSIGHTS. IGNORING THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM, (WHICH IS COMMONLY BEING MISDIAGNOSED AS POWER STEERING OR RACK AND PINION PROBLEMS ON MANY TOYOTA TACOMA FORUMS), COULD RESULT IN FATALITIES OR SERIOUS INJURY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION SHOCKS HAD BEEN REPLACED MORE THAN EIGHT TIMES DUE TO A RECURRING FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD WARRANTY THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMPONENT EACH TIME UNTIL THE CONTACT'S FACTORY WARRANTY HAD BECOME EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT BOTH SHOCKS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 172,180.

WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN TO THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THIS IS CAUSED BY A FAULTY DESIGN OF THE STEERING SHAFT UNIVERSAL JOINTS. THE FRAME IS ALSO RUSTING VERY BADLY AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. UPON INSPECTION, THE FRAME THAT HELD THE ENGINE WAS FOUND TO BE CRACKED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE ENGINE COULD FALL OUT FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.

NOTIFIED BY DEALER TRUCK WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION DUE TO FRAME BEING CRACKED AND RUSTED. TOYOTA WILL NOT COVER REPAIRS. IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE . SUB FRAME ISN'T DETERIATED LIKE FRAME .

I WAS TRAVELING DOWN AN INTERSTATE WHEN A REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. THE TIRE IS A TOYO CROSS COUNTRY A/T. HE TIRE SEPARATED COMPLETELY LEAVING THE SIDEWALLS ON THE RIM AND THE TREAD & BELTS & REST OF THE TIRE TORE OFF IN ONE PIECE. LUCKILY, THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT/ INJURY. I LOOKED UP RECALLS AND FOUND THERE IS A RECALL. I DID NOT RECEIVE A NOTICE. I HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT TOYO AND BEEN ON HOLD FOR OVER AN HOUR AT A TIME, LEFT MESSAGE WITHOUT RETURN CALL. THE TIRES HAVE LESS THAN 20,000 MILES ON THEM. I AM NOW VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE THREE REMAINING TIRES. THERE WAS ONLY MINOR PROPERTY DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK. *JB

SUN VISOR HAS BEEN SAGGING FOR A WHILE AND THEN FINALLY FELL OFF THE METAL POST THAT SLIDES INSIDE THE HEAVY VISOR. *TR

TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION, NOTIFIED THAT THE FRAME HAS EXCESSIVE CORROSION (RUST) ON THE ENTIRE FRAME WITH SIGNS OF METAL SEPARATION. A CRACK WAS ALSO NOTED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHERE THE FRONT AND BACK PARTS OF THE C-FRAME ARE WELDED TOGETHER. WHEN THE SURFACE RUST WAS GROUND AWAY, THE CRACK WAS 5" LONG AND THE BOTTOM OF THE C-FRAME HAD TWO LARGE PERFORATIONS. WITH THIS CONDITION, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS THE INSPECTION. THE DEALER CONTACTED REGIONAL REP AND OWNER CONTACTED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE - BOTH ADVISED NO ASSISTANCE AND THE FRAMES WERE OF A DIFFERENT PRODUCTION LOT THEN THE PRIOR RECALL (2ND GEN VS 1ST GEN). ALSO CITED AGE AND MILEAGE BEING A FACTOR. OTHER THAN THE FRAME, THE VEHICLE IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. 2005 TACOMA WITH 131000 MILES SHOULD STILL BE A PASSABLE VEHICLE. *TR

AFTER HAVING MY TRUCK INSPECTED, I WAS INFORMED BY MY MECHANIC THAT THE FRAME OF MY TRUCK WAS RUSTING AND IN THE FUTURE IT WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. TO ME THIS IS RIDICULOUS SINCE I ONLY HAVE 36000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE.TOYOTA RECALLED THE TACOMA TRUCKS BETWEEN 2000 AND 2004. EVIDENTLY SOME 2005 TACOMA'S SHOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. I HAVE READ ONLINE OF OTHER NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE A DEALERSHIP CHECK OUT THE PROBLEM AND THEN PAY FOR FIXING THIS PROBLEM IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. TOYOTA HAS JUST MADE A NON BUYER OF ME OF THEIR VEHICLES IN THE FUTURE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AS I WAS RIGHT UP THE STREET FROM THEM. THEY SCANNED FOR THE SERVICE CODE AND IT TOLD THEM THERE WAS A MIS-FIRE IN THE #6 CYLINDER. THEY CHECKED THE SPARK PLUG COIL AND SAID IT WAS FAULTY AND REPLACED IT. WHEN I PICKED UP THE TRUCK FROM THE DEALER THE CHECK ENGINE WAS STILL ON. THEY TOOK IT BACK INTO THE SERVICE BAY AND AFTER 20 MINUTES CALLED ME OVER TO TELL ME THERE WAS COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE #6 CYLINDER AND WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE BLOCK WAS CRACKED. THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER OVER-HEATED AND THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN IT. AFTER CHECKING THE INTERNET FOR OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, I FOUND THERE WERE A FEW OTHERS AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT HE HAS SEEN IT BEFORE IN THIS ENGINE BLOCK. I CAN'T AFFORD A NEW TRUCK, SO I AM STUCK WITH PAYING FOR NOT ONLY THE COIL REPLACEMENT BUT ALSO THE NEW OR REFURBISHED ENGINE BLOCK ($5,000+). IT WOULD BE GREAT IF THE NHTSA COULD LOOK INTO THE INTEGRITY AND ENGINEERING OF THE ENGINE BLOCK IN THE 2005 4.0L V6 ENGINE IN THE TOYOTA TACOMA. *TR