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2004 Toyota Tacoma Other Problems

20 owner-reported other complaints from NHTSA data

20
Complaints
1
Crashes
Jan 2016Dec 2019
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (20)

criticalUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Nov 2024

Your 2004 Tacoma has developed severe rust damage on the frame that a Toyota dealership determined makes the truck unsafe to drive. Toyota previously issued a Customer Support Notice for rust issues on this model, but the program has expired and Toyota is refusing to help despite acknowledging the problem. Addressing this will likely require professional frame inspection, rust treatment or replacement, and structural repairs to restore the vehicle's safety.

NHTSA #: 11624320
criticalUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Sep 2022

Your truck developed a loud noise from underneath that turned out to be severe frame rust and failing leaf springs. A mechanic determined the vehicle is unsafe to drive due to these structural issues. You didn't receive the recall notice that ended in 2019, even though you've owned the truck since new and kept the same address. Fixing this issue will likely require frame repair or replacement and leaf spring replacement.

NHTSA #: 11487300
highUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Apr 2025

Your 2004 Tacoma has an expired safety recall that Toyota says is no longer active and won't be serviced. The vehicle also failed inspection due to frame rust, which could affect structural integrity and safety. You may need to contact Toyota again with documentation of the original recall, or have a mechanic assess whether the frame rust poses a safety risk.

NHTSA #: 11656088
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Jun 2021

My frame is rusting out where rear springs connect to the frame. Truck is non inspectable for Maine. There was a recall at some point and I never got recall paperwork.

NHTSA #: 11422761
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Jun 2021

The entire frame has rusted from front to rear. Gas and brake lines have also rusted out along with many other parts. Can not find where to find a recall notice.

NHTSA #: 11419725
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Nov 2020

HAD FRAME REPLACED DUE TO RECALL IN 2014 AND NOW THE FRAME IS CRACKED AGAIN. LOCAL TOYOTA WILL NOT REPLACE CLAIMED WARRANTY IS 15 YEARS FROM FIRST OWNERSHIP.

NHTSA #: 11376146
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Dec 2019

I FOUND A HOLE IN THE FRAME AND WAS ADVISED AS TO NOT DRIVE VEHICLE. I LEARNED THAT A RECALL HAD EXPIRED ONLY 6 MONTHS AGO AND WAS NOT GOING TO BE REPAIRED FROM TOYOTA. $12000 WAS ESTIMATE AND I COMPLAINED THAT I WAS NEVER CONTACTED. I AM THE SECOND OWNER BUT HAD MAINTAINED VEHICLE TO KEEP FOR MANY YEARS. I AM ON SOC SECURITY AND THIS HAS BEEN A HARDSHIP ON ME. I HOPE THERE IS A WAY OF COMPENSATING ME OR HELPING ME AS THE DEALER OFFERED HALF OF BLUE BOOK FOR A TRADE IN. THANK YOU

NHTSA #: 11288898
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Nov 2019

THIS VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE FRAME ROT LIKE OTHER TACOMAS THAT WERE RECALLED.

NHTSA #: 11279964
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Jun 2019

MY 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA WAS "RECALLED FOR UNDERCOATINHG" WHICH WAS DONE 02/11. IN 2017, ON ADVICE FROM MY PRIVATE, PROFESSIONAL MECHANIC HE INFORMED ME TO CONTACT TOYOTA ABOUT CORROSIVE RUSTING OF FRAME. IT WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALERSHIP, I PURCHASED IT FROM. IN 2018, IT WAS INSPECTED AND, PASSED, AGAIN. 2 WEEKS AGO, I FOUND A CRACK IN MY FRAME, SLIGTLY IN FRONT OF LEFT REAR, TIRE WELL, BY GAS TANK. I WILL BE TAKING IT TO A DEALERSHIP, FOR FRAME INSPECTION TOMORROW. I DON'T FEEL SAFE, DRIVING IT. I'M DISABLED AND, I AM THE TRUCKS 2ND OWNER. I PURCHASED MY 04 IN, 2006. IT IS IN GREAT CONDITION. MILEAGE, 122,500. IRONICALLY, THE TIRE HANGER PLATE HAS BEEN RECALLED AND, REPLACED AROUND 2014. IN 2017 MY PROTECTIVE PLATE, FELL AND, DROPPED THE GAS TANK. IT WAS, BROKEN IN 1/2. MY MECHANIC SECURED IT AND, UPON INSPECTION IT PASSED AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. I ASKED IF IT WAS POSSIBLE TO REPLACE THE PROTECTIVE PLATE AND, I WAS TOLD "NO." I ASKED FOR AN EXPLANATION AND, WASN'T GIVEN ONE. IT WAS THE SAME DEALERSHIP THAT "UNDERCOATED," MY TRUCK. THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED MY TRUCK PERFORMED A 2+HR INSPECTION ON THE FRAME IN 2017. THE DEALERSHIP THAT "UNDERCOATED," MY TRUCK ONLY HAD IT IN THE REPAIR AREA, FOR 15MINS AND, BROUGHT IT BACK OUT, STATING THEY "HAMMER-TESTED" IT AND, IT WAS IN GREAT SHAPE? I'M WORRIED SICK OVER MY OUTCOME, TOMORROW. I'M IN NO FINANCIAL POSTION TO REPLACE MY TRUCK. A TRUCK I WAS TOLD WOULD LAST UP TO 300,000'MILES. I DID COMPLAIN TO TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS IN 2018, WAS GIVEN A CLAIM NUMBER I CALLED THEM WHEN I FOUND THE CRACK, IN THE LEFT-SIDE, REAR OF MY FRAME, THIS, PAST FRIDAY. I HAD BEEN HEARING A "RATTLE," FROM BENEATH MY TRUCK, THE LAST FEW TIMES, I HAD DRIVEN IT. I BARELY HAD TO BEND OVER, TO SEE THE CRACK IN MY FRAME! THIS IS A HORRIFICLY, DANGEROUS CONDITION. (IT WAS PARKED AND, NOT RUNNING, WHEN I FOUND THE CRACK, IN THE FRAME.

NHTSA #: 11219647
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Oct 2017

MY 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA FRAMES IS RUSTED AND CRACKED. I WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION STICK IN MA THIS YEAR. 2005 -2009 TACOMA VEHICLE ARE HAVING THE FRAME REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP AT TOYOTA'S EXPENSE. WHY THE CUT OFF WITH ONE YEAR IN DIFFERENCE. I WOULD LIKE SOME HELP TO GET THIS FRAME REPLACED LIKE OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS/

NHTSA #: 11032584
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Jun 2017

FRAME RUSTED THROUGH STATIONARY

NHTSA #: 11001456
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Jun 2017

JUST GOT MY TRUCK BACK FROM THE MECHANIC TODAY, 6/7/2017, FOR THE ANNUAL STATE INSPECTION AND HE INDICATED THE FRAME IS NOT LOOKING GOOD AND SAFETY WILL BE A CONCERN SOON. THE TRUCK WAS UNDERCOATED ON THE RECALL, APPLIED DIRECTLY OVER THE EXISTING RUSTED FRAME BACK THEN. I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALER WHO DID THE UNDERCOATING AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME TOYOTA HAS NO FURTHER OBLIGATIONS SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERCOATED. THIS WAS NOT AN AMPLE RESOLUTION TO AN ONGOING DEFECT.I WAS ALSO TOLD AT THE TIME, I HAD NO CHOICE OR SAY IN THE MATTER. I'M HAVING CONCERNS NOW FOR MY SAFETY AND TOYOTA SHOULD RESOLVE THIS RESPONSIBLY. I'M THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER OF THE VEHICLE, IT HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED WITH ABOUT 101,000 CURRENT MILES ON THE ODOMETER.

NHTSA #: 10993812
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Apr 2017

REMOTE KEY UNLOCK IS INOP. I'VE ORDERED A NEW REMOTE - 2 IN FACT- NEITHER WILL PROGRAM. VENDOR IS SAYING THAT THERE MUST BE SOMETHING INOPERATIVE INTERNALLY IN THE TACOMA ELECTRONICS. THE LOCK WORKS; HOWEVER THE UNLOCK WILL NOT WORK. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, PARKED IN BOTH OCCASSIONS TESTING THE NEW REMOTE.

NHTSA #: 10979957
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Aug 2016

THE FRAME OF MY TRUCK HAS RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND IS NO LONGER STABLE TO HOLD THE TRUCK TOGETHER. WHEN HAVING TIRES PUT ON THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THE TRUCK IS TO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. SINCE THEN I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT MANY OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM AND THE COMPANY IS UNWILLING TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT.

NHTSA #: 10895901
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Mar 2016

FRAME ROT NOT COVERED BY TOYOTA

NHTSA #: 10839239
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Jan 2016

I BOUGHT MY 2004 TACOMA FROM A USED CAR DEALER IN MAY OF 2014 AND WAS UNAWARE OF AN EARLIER RECALL FOR POSSIBLE EXCESSIVE FRAME CORROSION. MY CURRENT SERVICING TOYOTA DEALER SAID THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED AND COULDN'T HELP ME, BUT REFERRED ME TO TOYOTA, WHO ALSO OFFERED NO HELP. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, SINCE IF THE FRAME FAILS IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS TO MYSELF AND OTHER MOTORISTS ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA #: 10818516
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Jun 2015

RECALL ON FRAME AND I BROUGHT IT TO DEAL WHERE THEY SAID FRAME WAS NOT DEFECTED. ONE YEAR LATER FRAME IS CORRODED AND RUSTED OUT. CALL DEALER AND SAID IT WAS MY PROBLEM RECALL ENDED 6 MONTHS AGO. HOW CAN THEY GET AWAY WITH THIS!!!

NHTSA #: 10726733
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Aug 2014

VEHICLE WAS AT DEALER FOR RECALL "EXCESSIVE CORROSION OF THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER LIFT PLATE" SERVICE TECH. NOTED "FRAME HAS A HOLE, WOULD NOT PASS NYSI". IN RESEARCHING THE ISSUE TOYOTA ADMITTED THAT THE FRAME, MANUFACTURED BY [XXX] DID NOT RECEIVE PROPER CORROSION PROTECTION. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA #: 10628065
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Sep 2013

THIS IS A STORY ABOUT THE PURCHASE OF A BRAND NEW TOYOTA TACOMA IN 2004 THAT I PAID CASH FOR. ON OR ABOUT JANUARY OF 2012 I CALLED TOYOTA TO FIND OUT IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE JUST CHECKING. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL FOR A FRAME RUSTING WHEN WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR ANOTHER SERVICE MATTER WE WERE TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE FRAME (THERE WAS NO RECORD OF OUR HAVING BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE RECALL JUST THE SERVICE THAT WAS PERFORMED). WE NEVER RECEIVED OFFICIAL NOTICE OF THE RECALL BUT NOW WE HAVE A FRAME RUSTING ISSUE WITH SOME AREAS THAT ARE ROTTING THROUGH THE FRAME! WHEN I CONTACTED TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS I WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED SEVEN DAYS PRIOR AND THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME! HOW CAN THIS BE? IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE PRODUCT AND THE VEHICLE IS SHOWING THE DEFECT FROM THE RECALL HOW CAN IT EXPIRE? TOYOTA HAS RECOMMENDED WE RETAIN A LAWYER FOR THIS ISSUE. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I HAVE A TRUCK WORTH NEXT TO NOTHING THAT I DEPEND ON FOR MY LIVING AND THEY TELL ME TO GET A LAWYER? FRANKLY, I AM VERY SURPRISED AT TOYOTA A COMPANY WITH AN EXCELLENT REPUTATION, THAT I THOUGHT MAKES GOOD CARS AND TRUCKS NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR DEFECTIVE MERCHANDISE. I WILL NEVER EVER BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM TOYOTA AND TO ME THEIR REPUTATION IS NOW TARNISHED.

NHTSA #: 10544857
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
CrashFiled: Apr 2010

2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. CONSUMER WRITES TO SHARE THAT HE WAS IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND PRAISES TOYOTA FOR HOW THIS VEHICLE HELD UP. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN, WHEN ANOTHER MOTORIST RAN A LIGHT AND HIT HIM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE IMPACT CAUSED HIS VEHICLE TO FLIP IN THE AIR WHILE DOING A 180 DEGREE TURN. HE THEN LANDED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, THEN ROLLED BACK ON ALL FOUR TIRES. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE . THE CONSUMER ONLY HAD A SMALL SCRATCH WHERE THE SEAT BELT HELD HIM IN PLACE.

NHTSA #: 10324242

Other 2004 Toyota Tacoma Issues