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Toyota Tacoma

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Toyota Tacoma • Consumer complaints • Transmission failure • Safety interlock failure • Spontaneous starting • Misc. failings --- News • 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:

Jen of Rollinsford, NH July 3, 2008

Jen of Rollinsford NH (07/03/08)
In March 2008 I brought my Toyota Tacoma in for its annual inspection. The mechanic came back and said bad news - the frame is so rusted we can't even lift your truck on the lift and the damage is such that we can't attempt to repair it. Literally in tears at this point, I took the truck to a body shop and a frame specialist that day, and they both said the same thing - you need a new vehicle TODAY. I went straight to my local car dealership and purchased a new car that day. The dealership gave me 3,000 trade-in for the Tacoma. A couple of weeks later, I heard about the Tacoma 'recall.' I also received the letter from Toyota. I contacted Toyota and gathered all of the necessary proof of past ownership, as well as documentation from the place that inspected my truck and the body shop, frame specialist, and used car dealership.

Long story short, Toyota is only offering me 1x KBB Trade-In value minus the amount I got for the truck from the dealership. This comes to about 1,300. The amount I should be entitled to is the Retail value minus the trade-in, which is more like 9,000! Why? Toyota says, because I don't own the truck any more!!! Why don't I own the truck any more? Because of the frame rot! I should mention - I owned my Tacoma outright and expected it to last me for years to come. A new vehicle was not in my budget and because of the emergency situation I was in needing a new car on the spot, I now have a 12k car loan to pay, as well as increased insurance costs. Here's the kicker. The Toyota rep asked me what kind of vehicle I had purchased. When I said Subaru, she said, If you had bought a Toyota, we might have been able to increase your compensation amount. WE NEED TO START A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST TOYOTA. I will definitely be a part of it!!! Please contact me about this.

Don of Shrewsbury, MA July 2, 2008

Don of Shrewsbury MA (07/02/08)
I purchased a 2002 Tacoma pickup truck new in August of 2002. I have ~71,000 miles on it. I just discovered that the frame is rotted through completely in at least one area and showing signs of rotting/peeling/cracking in another area. The entire surface of the frame is covered in surface rust. The inside of the frame members are filled with chunks of rust. The frame is rotting from the inside and the outside. This appears to be a serious safety issue. I am just beginning the process of having Toyota represetitives inspect the truck.

Richard of Yuma, AZ July 1, 2008

Richard of Yuma AZ (07/01/08)
nothing has happened yet but I do want to express my feelings about what happens with my 2008 toyota tacoma. while stopped at a red light my truck tends to accelerate by itself while the brake is on. at times it moves up about a foot with the brake on and I'm afraid that I might hit someone. I've not taken my truck in and toyota of El Cajon does not have knowledge this. my truck has a automatic transmission.

Justin of Hull, MA June 27, 2008

Justin of Hull MA (06/27/08)
I have a 2000 Toyota Tacoma that has recently been rejected for the BUY BACK because the frame is not bad enough at this point?. I was very excited to here this because I love my truck, but then I got to thinking - Toyota gave me 15 years warranty on the frame and a free frame inspection once a year. This is great and all, but the frame is defective, usually a defective part merits a recall in which you take your car in and your manufacturer fixes the problem before the problem occurs and endangers you. Why wont Toyota do that for this incident? Other than feeling as if my life is being put in danger by one of the worlds biggest auto manufacturers, I feel that the value of my truck is going to take an enormous hit in the years to come. First, who wants to buy a truck with the baggage this frame issue has created? If you buy this truck, you have to get it inspected once a year to make sure it doesnt break in half on you? is not a great selling point. Second, the media has branded these trucks as lemons. That being said, the Tacomas that are not bad enough at this point? are the ones taking the biggest hit. They are not eligible for the buy back, they have lost their reliable image, and the resale value will soon be non-existent. The Kelley Blue Book value (which is what the Toyota Buy Back plan abides by) for 95-00 Tacomas will depreciate dramatically because of this negative connotation. There is no value in a car with an obvious issue. This Buy Back plan has left a lot of Tacoma owners over the barrel because their trucks are worth nothing to the general public (for secondhand sale) and when the truck frames do rot pass the point of no return, the KBB value will be so low that Toyota will get out of it cheap and easy.

Catherine of Shirley, MA June 25, 2008

Catherine of Shirley MA (06/25/08)
We have a 2001 toyota tacoma. the frame is rotted. no question when it was inspected. big holes in the frame. problem? toyota has a buy back program to pay owners of 95-2000 tacomas with frame rot 150% of kelley blue book. they have given us a free loaner and a rental car. it has been well a month and a half. they told us that we would probably only get 100% of kbb. that the 2001s are not in their buy back program. we actually saw a 2002 fail their inspection too. we have been on a couple of blogs and htere are several other 01 owners with the same problem. one person said they were offered 100% pluss 2000 for their 01 but haven't gotten paid and that was 3 wks prior. we haven't gotten an offer or heard of anyone else who has for a 2001. we have complained to the attorney general, nhtsa, center for car safety, tv stations and whoever will listen. we basically feel there is no recourse for the 01 and new owners. they say that the rot is due to excessive salt use. yes we are in the north east but if that were true than 1) half the vehicles up here would be falling apart and 2) they wouldn't be buying back our trucks. These instances are clearly not a coninsidence. why are they dealing with the newer models differently? surely they know exactly which models they put the inferior steel in the frames!

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