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Toyota Tacoma

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Toyota Tacoma • Consumer complaints • Transmission failure • Safety interlock failure • Spontaneous starting • Misc. failings --- News • Toyota Announces Recall to Fix Runaway Acceleration • NHTSA Ends Toyota Tacoma Investigation • Toyota Resists Possible Tacoma Recall

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:

Penny of Argyle NY (10/05/08)
I purchased a Certified 2001 Toyota Tacoma in February of 2007. A little over a year later I start to hear about frame rot on these vehicles and that there is a recall. I did some research and called Toyota Customer Experience and was given a case number and told to make an appt. with my dealer for a frame inspection. Of course, my frame failed. I was told I would hear something back in 30 days.

About 45 days later I called Toyota again to tell them that I had heard nothing and they told me I had to contact my dealer, so I called the dealer and they told me I had to contact Toyota. So I called Toyota again and was told I would be getting a call to have a representative meet me at my dealership to inspect the frame. The inspection obviously failed again.

Two months later after not hearing anything again I called my case worker and she notified me she would get back to me in a few days. A few days later she called and offered me just about enough to pay off on what I owe on the truck. As many of you know the recall is for 1995-2000 Toyotas which are receiving 150% KBB Excellent Value. I am being offered 100% KBB. Upon letting her know this was not acceptable to me as financially they were leaving me in a terrible position with no truck and no money to go and try to buy a new one with that did not have frame damage, she informed me this was a Goodwill Offer and was not negotiable and I needed to accept or decline.

When I asked to speak to a supervisor she told me there was nobody else that I could talk to. I told her I would not accept or decline that I would need to get back to her. I was furious and called my dealership and asked them to please help me as I was going to be out a vehicle and they told me they would look into it but they really have no say as to what the Toyota Corp. offers for these trucks. They have yet to call me back and it has been 4 days.

I have called the attorney general, my state senator and my lawyer regarding this matter. My lawyer has informed me that it is going to take more than one person to start a lawsuit against the Toyota Corp. If enough people have the same problem and come forward then we can start a case. I have been searching the internet for someone who has already started a suit against Toyota and can not find one that is already started.

Economically, Toyota is offering those of us that bought newer vehicles, less money for our trucks than those people with older vehicles and expecting us to be able to go out and buy a new truck. How are we supposed to find a truck for the same payment amount when we have no money to put down and the older trucks are not being sold due to frame problems?? It's a Catch 22 if you ask me!!!

Carmeta of Roxbury, VT September 19, 2008

Carmeta of Roxbury VT (09/19/08)
In 2007 I purchased an 2002 Toyota Tacoma for 16,000 at Handy Toyota in St. Albans VT. My reason for buying the Tacoma is it's noted reliability, my love for Toyota's in general as I had 2 Toyo vehicles of 80's model years that lasted 20 yrs and hundreds of thousands of miles before we sold them to someone else who drove them. I figured if I bought my truck with low miles I'd have a reliable vehicle for my job and one I could count on for years. HA! At the dealership my husband looked it over, the motor wasn't exactly clean, but the salesman, Mike Bussier said it was Washing the motor can sometimes make the electric connections foul out Hubby also noted that the rubberized undercoating was peeling off of the frame but that it was no biggie, that most of the factory undercoating will peel off eventually. The truck had about 52,000 miles on it when we bought it 9/2007 and we've not even made a dent in the 16,000 we owe on it. We fell on hard times this past spring. I had lost a well paying job (The one I bought the truck to get to safely and reliably) and I was counting on the good re-sale value of my truck to help us out of trouble. At that time the truck was still less than 70,000 miles and we were sure a 70K Toyota with a firm body would sell quite well. Especially since the poor folks who had to lose their 2000 or older Tacomas were getting some and looking for a newer truck of the same genre. Well, we had a few calls about our truck. One guy was seriously interested and had his mechanic inspect our truck for him. The independent mechanic said that the frame was so rusty, he wouldn't recommend that the guy purchase the truck for even the LOWEST book value! 12K at the time!! I still owed 15,000 and the payoff is higher than the loan balance! So I was mad and called toyota motors. They said to take it to my nearest dealer and get a rust inspection, they'd tell the service mgr to do it for FREE. Well my truck passed in Toyota's eyes, and I thought Good I'll have proof that my truck isn't a rust bucket so I can sell it for what it's worth' NOPE right on the invoice it says that they recommend that the truck be annually inspected as the rust is severe, but not rusted through!! GREAT selling point!! So here I have a truck which still has the original paint on the underbody, and a frame rotting out underneath. Worst of all, the brake lines took a hit from the rust off the frame and blew out on me while my 3yr old and I were driving down a hill in town! Good thing I passed Driver's ed with a A grade not a D! I downshifted to a soft stop and managed to limp home w/ the truck. There went 100 repair only 5 mos after i had the truck. Handy Toyota in Saint Albans probably KNEW of the rust and covered it up with undercoating, the rust was from the inside pushing the undercoating off. How can a pickup with less than 55K have THAT much rust on the frame and not a hint on the body? Don't blame it on the salty New England roads either, because my 1999 DODGE ram van has very minimal rust on the frame and over 110K miles!! The van has been in the northeast all of it's life according to carfax and looks just fine underneath.

Christopher of Parkland, FL September 17, 2008

Christopher of Parkland FL (09/17/08)
9/15/08 While driving on the highway in a recently leased 08 Toyota Tacoma I accelerated in order to get in the appropriate lane for my highway exchange. Once in front of the vehicle I let off the accelerator only to have the truck continue to accelerate on it's own. I went to the brake but it was like stepping on a brick, I then started to check the cruise control flipping it on and off while the truck continued to accelerate, I then started to try and shift the gears into a lower gear to decelerate. I maneuvered over to the far right lane looking for an opportunity to crash my truck if necessary vs entering a highway overpass at 100mph. Eventually something gave on the brake and the truck proceeded to a stop. The truck then proceeded to operate normally. I called my leasing rep and explained the problem he advised me to bring it in to a nearby dealership. I came home jumped on the internet to find that this is a documented complaint and also to find that it was looked into and dismissed by the NHTSB.

Christopher of Parkland, FL September 17, 2008

Christopher of Parkland FL (09/17/08)
9/15/08 While driving on the highway in my recently leased 08 Toyota Tacoma I accelerated in order to get in the appropriate lane for my highway exchange. Once in front of the vehicle I let off the accelerator only to have the truck continue to accelerate on it's own. I went to the brake but it was like stepping on a brick, I then started to check the cruise control flipping it on and off while the truck continued to accelerate. I maneuvered over to the far right lane looking for an opportunity to crash my truck if necessary vs entering a highway overpass at 100mph. Eventually something gave on the brake and the truck resumed to normal operation. I called my leasing rep and explained the problem he advised me to bring it in to a nearby dealership. I came home jumped on the internet to find that this is a documented complaint and also to find that it was looked into and dismissed by the NHTSB.

Lisa of Williamson, WV September 15, 2008

Lisa of Williamson WV (09/15/08)
On 09/15/08 I took my 07 toyota tacoma v6 double cab to mike ferrell b/c two days earlier the vehicle was accerating forward by itself. Check engine ligh came on. I asked if there was any recalls or bulletins.I was told there was no recall or bulletin on vehicle. they failed to inform me of 400 hundred other complaints of same problem. I was told selenoids part B and part D needed to be replaced. I feel they should of disclosed NHTSA investigation to me. Due to the acceration I have almost wrecked twice. Now at 26500 miles I am having selenoids replaced. This should not be happening. can I request for vehicle to be bought back?

Sidney of Charleston, SC September 9, 2008

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