The Tacoma is putting a big dent in American automakers' truck sales but it's also putting a big ugly dent in Toyota's reputation for quality, reliability and service. The trucks are plagued by engine and transmission problems as well as an assortment of defects and quirks that we don't usually associate with Japanese cars and trucks.
Here are some of the more recent complaints:
Charles of Jacksonville, FL June 9, 2009
I purchased a new 2004 Toyota Tacoma, with tires for life at the above dealership. My tires are 6 years old, have dry rot and hydroplane on wet roads. The dealership was bought by someone else but still used the same name, same phone number. When I asked for the new tires, I was first lied to and was told that they still had to much tread to be replaced. Then I pointed out the dry rot issue and that i use the truck to haul my boat around and that the tires where unsafe.
The new owner refuses to replace them since he did not own the dealership when I purchased the truck. I was told by the owner that he stopped honoring the tires for life program a month ago, yet the service personnel told me they would probably change them out on my next service visit, which was a lie. They have no intention on replacing the tires.
What are my rights concerning this issue. I followed all the service agreements that was required. The safety of my life as well as others, and I will have to purchase tires when I should have them replaced by the dealership.
Robert of North Kingstown, RI May 22, 2009
2008 Tacoma has a terrible paint job and scratches easy etc..
William of Brandywine, MD April 26, 2009
I have/had a 5 speed 4x4 1998 Toyota Tacoma that started on it's on and did damage to my garage and some item within the garage. With the truck in the garage and smoking coming from under the hood we could only think that the truck was going to catch the house on fire! We manage to get the truck out of gear and release the emergency break, which we then pushed the truck out of the garage.
Once out of the garage we pop the hood and had to disconnect the cable from the battery because the truck was still trying to start. The fire department responded and ensured the vehicle was no longer a danger since the battery cables were disconnected. The truck has now been tow to a Toyota dealership who said the wiring harness shorted out and cause the vehicle to start and being that it was in gear it when forward. The issue is the truck should have never started and if I had left with a friend my house would have most likely been burnt down or received major fire damage.
Regardless of the age of the vehicle the vehicle should never be a life safety issue! I don't know who to contact because all the Toyota dealership wants is money to repair the vehicle and could care less about what could have happen to my family. I would think that Toyota at minimum would offer/give me a Toyota of my choice after what me and my family when through because of there faulty wiring. To have that vehicle repaired and put my family in it is a option that I don't want to think about.
My family will never feel safe riding in that vehicle and could never feel safe with the vehicle parked in front of the house again, let alone in the garage, which is a place that vehicle will never see again. Somewhere along the line Product Reliability should be an issue.
Greg of Sault Ste Marie, MI April 20, 2009
4x4 08 Tacoma Problem: 1.Both rear axle seals leaking 2.Speedometer reads higher by 6-8 mph Action: 1. Seals were replaced under warranty. Truck was returned with greasy rims and tires that had accumilated while leaking. (dealership should have cleaned up the tires and rims) 2. No work done. Service person told me Toyota allows up to 7mph variance.
I think this is totally unacceptable, todays technology allows for much better accuracy than this. My mileage is increasing faster than it should that reduces vehicle value and reduces warranty time. This is my 1st Toyota product, I will never buy a Toyota vehicle again. Not impressed with engineering or quality control if they build vehicles with misleading and inaccurate speedometers.
Darron of Merrimack, NH March 8, 2009
I own a 2002 Toyota Tacoma, 4WD double cab limited edition truck with just under 33,500 miles and Toyota failed the NH state inspection due to frame rot. Toyota found at least one hole in the frame and has only offered me a frame replacement. Toyota offered 150% Kelly blue book value in a buy back program for 1995-2000 Tacoma owners with this same problem but not to those of us with newer Tacomas. The following link from Toyota even states in most cases it may be determined that the best course of action will be to repurchase the vehicle. This is due to the invasive nature of reparing or replacing the frame.
Toyota is providing a 15 year extended warranty on the new frame and some other things touched during the frame replacement (nuts, bolts, etc..) but they aren't including anything else. I've been told if I drive off the lot and I have a problem with the 4 WD system it would have to be proven that the work done to my vehicle was the direct cause and Toyota would be the only one who could determine that. So, while the entire frame of my vehicle is rusted and Toyota is torching and smashing at the rusted parts to get it apart, they're taking no responsibility for any problem which may result from that invasive work.
I found documentation on the web from another Tacoma owner and he stated the final paperwork showed the frame replacment cost Toyota ~14,000.00 so I called my Toyota dealer and they confirmed it did cost that much. The trade in value on my Tacoma is 14,000.00 at best now that it's having a frame replacement and Toyota feels it's best to invest 14,000.00 into my vehicle and potentially cause many more problems down the road which they may not (most likely won't) cover.
The consequences of having my frame replaced will significantly devalue my truck. I've spoken with several people who are interested in purchasing a truck but none are willing to pay the KBB value on a truck that's had a frame replacement. Toyota should be offering the same buy back program to newer Tacoma owners that it offered to 1995-2000 Tacoma owners.
Toby of Beech Creek, PA March 6, 2009
Im an Owner of a 1999 Toyota Tacoma, Never had a problem with it. Im only 20 years old so as you can imagine it goes to the mountain and gets muddy! It has 2 1/2 sus. lift and 3 inch body lift. I have 3 friends that own tacomas and they have yet to have any problems. I love Toyotas and will never switch to another Make! Keep doing what your doing Toyota!
Erin of Soo, MI March 5, 2009
I also purchased my 2005 Tacoma in Nov 2005. I have had the dealer fix the leaf springs with pads 2Xs after I noticed it squeeking like an old truck...6 months after purchase! It still bottoms out on small frost heaves and bumps. It's very frustrating. Recently, one of the gas cap door hinges rusted totally through and broke off. I was extremely disappointed. Looking under this truck, you wouldn't know it is 3.5 years old. It squeeks and is just junk.
We have had to have the drivers seat repaired because of springs sticking through and we need to bring it back to the dealer again for the same issues because of a different spring puncturing the seat cover. My husband is so ready to get this thing off our hands before our extended warranty runs out. First and last Toyota EVER! Actually my father in law's truck was part of the recall. not impressed!
Clay of Waurika, OK February 27, 2009
I have a 2005 Toyota Tacoma and the motor mount frame has broken. They recalled the 2004. As of right now what toyota company has told me they will not recall the 2005 until they recieve multiple complaints for the same reason. I have called around to some people and they are having the same problems. I need some help with this problem, I dont seem to be getting anybody attention on this, and I have invested lost of money in this particular vehicle. Thank you
Kerry O'shea of Huntington Beach, CA February 24, 2009
I have received a letter from Toyota Motor Co. along with 814,000 other owners of Toyota Tacomas built between 1995-2000 stating that our frame rust warrany has been extended for 15 years from date of original purchase as a result of a frame rust because a process that was not done by the frame supplier to Toyota. (I am the original owner of this 1999 vehicle with 44,xxx miles and no accidents and a clean title.) If frame is found to have rust Toyota Motor Co. will buyback vehicle at 150% of highest KBB retail value. Toyota expects to buyback approx. 50% of vehicles still on the road. Most of these vehicles will be from the Central and Northeastern parts of the US but they have been bought back vehicles in all parts of the nation including California. This campaign began in mid-2008.
So now I have a vehicle that has some surface rust on the frame but not enough to warrant the buyback program at this time but in the mean time while the frame rusts into the Toyota buyback standards my KBB value decreases, I drive around a vehicle with compromised frame integerty in the event of an accident, and no one wants to buy my vehicle because it has this latent problem now well established/distributed throughout the media.
Safety issue. Fear of driving and me knowing there is a established problem per Toyoya putting myself and passengers in danger. I feel responsible if/when selling it to someone disclosing what I have learned about the defect and a potential buyer.
Dan of Lake Forest, CA February 5, 2009
I have a 99 Toyota Tacoma, I only had 1500 miles when the Trans cooler line on the radiator came off, it sprayed trans fluid all over the engine compartment and engine, they put a couple 2 clamps on both hoses and didnt even clean the engine or compartment. At 10000 I started having a rattling sound near the spark plugs, which was a thin metal cover for cooling and it heated so badly that it broke off of a couple bolts and started to rattle when I drove, I removed it and the sound was gone. At 15000 the little button on the drivers seatbelt came off and because of that it made the seat belt drop into the automatic recoiler to far and then some of the seat belt would stick outside of the door and get all hacked up and torn, which Toyota knew was a recall and wouldnt replace my seat belt because I didnt get into the service dept earlier for them.
It cost me 15o on ebay and I had to install myself. 25000 Miles my Front outside lights and front headlights discolored or started to look fogged up and Toyota said that was my fault because of continuous washing, which isnt correct because I only wash my truck when it rains. At the same mileage the Starter went out, I just changed it my self since I was tired of even trying to get help from Toyota. The brakes rotors and calipers are so wrong for this truck you have to change the brake pads and rotors every 10000 miles or remembers to at least change the pads every 6000.
Oh ya in the last couple years the over coating on the paint job from Toyota is now turning white and it is spreading like a new paint job over the whole truck. I havnt looked at the frame because I dont want to be disappointed at the Toyota operators information on the fact that they had a bad 2008 and they might have to wait until they have a better year to get to some of the problems with there vehicles.
Loss of time at work, Couldnt get a date to get into my truck, a good 4000.00 in repairs and out of pocket repairs. Oh and I only have 85000 miles on this truck, I would still buy a Tacoma if they give me enough on trade in on this one.
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