2004 Toyota Tacoma Fuel System Problems

While driving at 20 mph and turning right, your Tacoma suddenly lost power and stalled with no warning light. The vehicle wouldn't restart and had to be towed to the dealer. The dealer found that the Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) main fuse had blown due to a short circuit, likely caused by severe corrosion of the subframe and fuel system components. Even after replacing the fuse, the problem returned, and the dealer discovered extensive rust damage that made repair difficult.

FUEL TANK STRAP FAILED TANK DROPPED PUSHING SHIELD INTO DRIVESHAFT CAUSING METAL TO METAL GRINDING. THIS HAPPENED AFTER FILLING TANK AND DRIVING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL ODOR COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT DROVE HOME AND PARKED THE VEHICLE. THE FOLLOWING MORNING, THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK ONTO THE DRIVEWAY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ASHLAND HONDA TOYOTA (2301 LAKE SHORE DR E, ASHLAND, WI 54806, (715) 682-5252). THE DEALER ORDERED THE FUEL TANK AND SENT IT THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME AFTER ONE YEAR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.

MY PICKUP WAS JUST REFRAMED UNDER TOYOTA RECALL AT TOYOTA OF BEDFORD,OHIO. BUT,, THEY OMITTED THE SAFETY SHIELD UNDER THE FUEL TANK.. AKA ..GRAVEL SHIELD.. FIRST SAYING IT NEVER HAD ONE, THEN IT WAS MISSING, THEN IT DIDN'T COME IN THE KIT, I FILED A CASE WITH TOYOTA USA, CORPORATION # 1701033889 AS PER ALL SAFETY ITEMS WERE TO BE MAINTAINED OR REPLACED !! BUT I WAS DENIED BY TOYOTA CORP. SO I WILL HAVE TO PICK UP MY TRUCK UNDER PROTEST AS TOYOTA OF BEDFORD IS THREATENING ME WITH CALLING THE LOANER CAR IN AS STOLEN IF I DON'T TODAY ! SAID SHIELD WAS "RUSTY" BUT MOST WAS ON THE TRUCK WHEN IT WENT IN THERE, AND IM ON SOCIAL SECURITY (SMALL CHECK) WHICH OUR GREAT OBAMA CARE TAKES ALMOST FIVE EIGHTS OF & I REALLY CANT AFFORD THE $ 640.- THEY ARE ASKING JUST FOR THE PART ! I REALLY DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THE TRUCK WITHOUT THE SHIELD , SO IT WILL PROBABLY SIT TILL BETTER WEATHER & I CAN MAKE A SHIELD FOR IT..AND IT WILL BE STRONGER & LAST MUCH LONGER THAN THE PIECE OF "RUSTY TIN, " THAT THEY SAY FELL AWAY. SO AGAIN , IM PICKING IT UP UNDER PROTEST & WILL WRITE THAT ON THE BILLING STATEMENT TODAY 1/52017... [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

DRIVING AT 35 MPH, HEAR A DRAGGING NOISE AND PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR A SAW THAT THE METAL STRAPS HOLDING THE GAS TANK TO THE CAR HAD RUSTED THRU, ALLOWING THE TANK TO DROP DOWN TO ABOUT 3 INCHES ABOVE THE ROADWAY, CAUSING THE TANK TO DRAG THE GROUND

WHILE ON A SHORT SHOPPING TRIP I SUDDENLY HEARD A LOUD RATTLING/BUZZING NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. I DROVE TO MY LOCAL CAR REPAIR WHERE THEY NOTICED WHILE I WAS PULLING INTO THEIR DRIVEWAY THAT THE TRUCK FUEL TANK WAS BOUNCING DANGEROUSLY AND WAS ON THE VERGE OF FALLING OFF. BOTH THE FUEL TANK HOLDER ( A LARGE STEEL PLATE ) AND THE FUEL TANK STRAP HAD RUSTED THRU AND WERE NO LONGER SUPPORTING THE TANK. I SHUDDER TO THINK WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED IF THE TANK HAD FALLEN. ADDING INSULT TO INJURY, THIS VEHICLE WAS IN FOR A RECALL ON 2/13/12 FOR REPAIR OF RUST ON THE FRAME AT MILES 52449 ). ON 6/18/13 IT WAS IN FOR ANOTHER RECALL TO FIX RUST ON THE REAR TIRE CARRIER WHICH WAS REPLACED ( AT MILES 61103 ). AT NEITHER OF THESE RECALLS WAS I TOLD OF EXCESS RUST ON THE TANK HOLDER AND YET WITH ADDITIONAL MILEAGE OF 8612 MILES BOTH THE FUEL TANK STRAP AND HOLDER FAILED. THIS MISHAP COULD HAVE CAUSED A DISASTER. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ALONG I WOULD SOMETIMES HEAR AN UNUSUAL SOUND, A SLIGHT RINGING SOUND. WHEN I RETURNED HOME AND INSPECTED MY TRUCK I SAW THAT ONE OF THE METAL STRAPS THAT HOLDS THE GAS TANK IN PLACE HAD RUSTED APART, AND THE BRACKET WOULD RUB AGAINST THE DRIVE SHAFT, CREATING THE SOUND. THIS IS ONE OF THE TACOMA'S THAT WAS RE-FRAMED AS PART OF A RECALL. IT APPEARS THE SAME DEFECTIVE METAL USED IN THE FRAME THAT WAS REPLACED WAS ALSO USED IN OTHER COMPONENTS. THE GAS TANK COULD HAVE FALLEN, DROPPED ON TO THE ROAD, OR SIMPLY EXPLODED, NO DOUBT KILLING MYSELF AND MY WIFE. I HAD THE GAS TANK STRAPS REPLACED AT A LOCAL GARAGE. I ALSO HAVE PICTURES OF THE BROKEN STRAP IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, SHE NOTICED SOMETHING HAD BECOME DETACHED FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK PROTECTOR WAS CORRODED AND HAD CAUSED THE FUEL TANK TO BECOME DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,400...UPDATED 10/30/13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER FOUND THE VEHICLE HAD A PREFORATION. THE FRAME AND THE STRAPS FOR THE FUEL TANK WERE REPLACED. FREE OF CHARGE. *JS

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS MY TRUCK HAS COMPLETELY LOST POWER. A FEW TIMES IT HAPPENED WHILE PULLING INTO TRAFFIC RESULTING IN ME ALMOST BEING HUNG OUT IN A BUSY INTERSECTION. WHEN I PUSH THE GAS PEDAL, IT STARTS TO MOVE FORWARD, THEN SUDDENLY LOSES POWER. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS SOMEWHERE IN THE THROTTLE BODY. I ALSO GET SOME HESITATION WHEN LIGHTLY HITTING THE ACCELERATOR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, SHE NOTICED SOMETHING HAD BECOME DETACHED FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK PROTECTOR WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK PROTECTOR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. *TR

GAS TANK SHIELD CORRODING WHEN NOTIFIED BY TOYOTA ABOUT CORROSION PROBLEMS TO THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK, I INSPECTED THE UNDER NEATH OF THE TRUCK MYSELF AND ALSO NOTICED THE GAS TANK SHIELD HAD CORRODED AWAY. WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE FRAME CHECKED, I TOLD THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE GAS TANK SHIELD AND THEY TOLD ME THAT WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL.NOW A YEAR LATER, I JUST RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL FOR A DIFFERENT PROBLEM," EXCESSIVE CORROSION OF THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER PLATE". IF THE FRAMES AND SPARE TIRE CARRIER PLATES CORRODE DUE TO HIGH ROAD SALT USE IN COLD CLIMATE STATES, WHY ARE THE GAS TANK SHIELDS CORRODING ? THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE, THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

I BROUGHT MY TRUCK TO A TOYOTA DEALER TO LOCATE AN EMISSIONS SYSTEM LEAK. TWO OTHER MECHANICS HAD SPENT HOURS TRYING TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE LEAK. THE TOYOTA TECH FOUND THE LEAK IN LESS THAN 20 MINUTES. THAT WOULD LEAD ME TO BELIEVE HE HAD DEALT WITH THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. THE LEAK TURNED OUT TO BE CORROSION IN THE FUEL TANK, WHERE THE FILLER NECK MEETS THE TANK. I WOULD NOT EXPECT A RUSTED GAS TANK IN AN 8 YEAR OLD TRUCK. THE REPAIR ESTIMATE WAS OVER $1400, THE PART ALONE WAS $750. THIS IS A TRUCK THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN RECALLED FOR A RUSTED FRAME (WHICH TOYOTA REPLACED AT NO COST TO ME) AND IS SHOWING CORROSION IN THE REAR BUMPER AND TAILGATE. I SUSPECT TOYOTA SAVED MONEY BY BUILDING THE TRUCK WITH INFERIOR MATERIALS. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, A LEAKING FUEL TANK IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE, NOT COMMON IN A VEHICLE THIS RECENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA SR5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL FUMES WERE EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE FUEL TANK. AS A RESULT, THE FUEL TANK AND SENDING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 111,000.

AT A STOP, VEHICLE DOES NOT ACCELERATE AFTER DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. 2 OCCASIONS NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. ALSO, AT CRUISING SPEEDS (60-70 MPH) VEHICLE WILL DECELERATE WITHOUT ANY CHANGE IN PRESSURE TO THE GAS PEDAL. *NM

2004 TOYOTA TACOMA 4X4 WITH 3.4L ENGINE AND MANUAL TRANS. HAVING THROTTLE BODY ISSUES. THE ACCELERATOR POSITION SENSOR IS FAILING CAUSING THE TRUCK TO STALL FOR A SECOND AND THEN PICK BACK UP. TRUCK DOES NOT THROW A CHECK ENGINE CODE WHEN THIS OCCURS, SO DEALER HAS INFORMED ME ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THAT NOTHING IS WRONG. I WAS ALMOST RAN OVER THE OTHER DAY TRYING TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC WHEN THE THROTTLE BODY FAILED. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND TOYOTA NEEDS TO ADDRESS IT IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!!! WHAT'S IT GOING TO TAKE, SOMEONE GETTING SERIOUSLY INJURED OR A HEALTHY LOW SUIT FOR TOYOTA TO TAKE ACTION? *JB

SMALL ROCK WAS HIT ON A DIRT ROAD. IT PUNCTURED THE GAS TAKE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. GAS TANK WAS REPLACED. *NM

DT:THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL LINE CAUGHT ON FIRE O. WHILE STOPPING AT A RED-LIGHT HE NOTICED THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM BETWEEN THE CAB AND BED OF THE PICKUP TRUCK. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP HAD THE VEHICLE FOR NINE WEEKS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED, AND IS READY TO BE PICKED UP. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS FROM THE FUEL LINE AND THE SEAL OF THE FUEL TANK.*AK

AFTER RUNNING THE VEHICLE AND SHUTTING IT OFF FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS THE VEHICLE DID NOT WANT TO START, THERE WAS ONLY ABOUT 2,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK. THE STARTER IS CRANKING THE ENGINE, BUT THE ENGINE IS NOT STARTING UP. I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT, AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE SAME THING HAPPEND SEVERL TIMES AFTER I HAD TAKEN IT TO TOYOTA. THE ONLY WAY TO START THE VEHICLE WOULD BE TO CRANK IT UP FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES, THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD RUN ROUGH FOR ABOUT A MINUTE. I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT AGAIN AND THIS TIME THEY WORKED ON IT. THEY SAID THEY HAD TO CHANGE THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS, AND THE FUEL INJECTORS. NO OLD PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. PROBLEM HAS STILL NOT BEEN CORRECTED. VEHICLE NOW HAS ABOUT 6,000 MILES AND EVERY 3-4 DAYS IT STILL DOESN'T WANT TO START UP. *AK