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2004 Toyota Tacoma

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Toyota Tacoma do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 228.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

315 reports with mileage · 99 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Structure. Review the 203 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 84 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

27 crash reports3 fire reports15 injury reports

Structure complaints

203 reports
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161,000 miles · May 17, 2016
Structure

THE FRAME HAS RUSTED SO BAD THAT YOU CAN POKE YOUR FINGERS THROUGH IT. ALSO THE FRAME IS RUSTED AROUND WHERE REAR SHOCKS MOUNT CAUSING THE PASSENGER REAR SHOCK TO COME APART. VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. CONTACTED TOYOTA ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING EVEN THOUGH THIS VEHICLE WAS PART OF A RECALL DUE TO RUST…

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THE FRAME HAS RUSTED SO BAD THAT YOU CAN POKE YOUR FINGERS THROUGH IT. ALSO THE FRAME IS RUSTED AROUND WHERE REAR SHOCKS MOUNT CAUSING THE PASSENGER REAR SHOCK TO COME APART. VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. CONTACTED TOYOTA ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING EVEN THOUGH THIS VEHICLE WAS PART OF A RECALL DUE TO RUST ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI #10865447

190,000 miles · May 9, 2016
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE INSPECTING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS SEVERE CORROSION THAT CAUSED A HOLE ON THE REAR BUMPER. ALSO, THE BRAKE CABLE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE INSPECTING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS SEVERE CORROSION THAT CAUSED A HOLE ON THE REAR BUMPER. ALSO, THE BRAKE CABLE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER A RECALL BACK IN 2010, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE SPECIFICS OF THE RECALL WERE NOT PROVIDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

NHTSA ODI #10863862

117,000 miles · Apr 28, 2016
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING A STATE INSPECTION, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE HOLES IN THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

NHTSA ODI #10862036

170,000 miles · Apr 22, 2016
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ODI #10860945

108,000 miles · Apr 13, 2016
Structure

FRAME IS COMPLETELY ROTTEN 108000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #10855366

206,370 miles · Apr 5, 2016
Structure

FRAME RUST. THE FRAME IS ALMOST COMPLETELY RUSTED IN HALF. THE LEAF SPRINGS WHERE THEY CONNECT TO THE FRAME HAS SUNK INTO THE FRAME FROM THE ROTTING OF THE FRAME. THE TRUCK WAS GOING 75 MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT HAPPENED. A LOUD BANG AND TERRIBLE JERK BACK.

NHTSA ODI #10853517

115,000 miles · Mar 10, 2016
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE INSPECTING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS SEVERE CORROSION THAT CAUSED A HOLE ON THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE.…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE INSPECTING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS SEVERE CORROSION THAT CAUSED A HOLE ON THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000.

NHTSA ODI #10845969

174,000 miles · Feb 25, 2016
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN PARK, THE CONTACT NOTICED CORROSION UNDERNEATH THE RAIL OF THE SUB FRAME AROUND THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 174,000.

NHTSA ODI #10838124

200,000 miles · Feb 9, 2016
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AFTER IDENTIFYING THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V542000 (STRUCTURE). UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REMEDY COULD NOT BE PERFORMED DUE TO EXTREMELY SEVERE RUSTING OF THE SUBFRAME. THE MANUF…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AFTER IDENTIFYING THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V542000 (STRUCTURE). UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REMEDY COULD NOT BE PERFORMED DUE TO EXTREMELY SEVERE RUSTING OF THE SUBFRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ODI #10825176

250,000 miles · Jan 27, 2016
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND EXHIBITED FRACTURES AT THE REAR WHEELS. THE SUBFRAME WAS PREVIOUSLY TREATED FOR CORROSION UNDER A VOLUNTARY MANUFACTURED RECALL; HOWEVER, THE TREATMENT DID NOT PROVIDE A PERMANENT PROTECTION AGAINST CORROSION. THE MANUFACTUR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND EXHIBITED FRACTURES AT THE REAR WHEELS. THE SUBFRAME WAS PREVIOUSLY TREATED FOR CORROSION UNDER A VOLUNTARY MANUFACTURED RECALL; HOWEVER, THE TREATMENT DID NOT PROVIDE A PERMANENT PROTECTION AGAINST CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE CORROSION RECALL EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250,000.

NHTSA ODI #10822585

Official recalls

3

12V542000 · Tires:temporary/emergency Spare Tire

Nov 23, 2012

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2004 Tacoma light trucks manufactured from August 28, 2000, through August 27, 2004, and originally sold, or currently registered, in the following cold climate states with high road salt usage: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. The spare tire in the subject vehicles is located underneath the rear of the vehicle and held by a spare tire carrier. A lift plate on the carrier is used to help raise, lower and retain the tire. During its manufacture, the lift plate may not have been sufficiently coated with anti-corrosion materials. If the plate is insufficiently coated and the vehicle is operated in cold climate regions where road salts are frequently used, road spray can reach the carrier assembly and corrode the lift plate.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Corrosion of the plate could cause it to break, which could result in detachment of the spare tire from the vehicle. Detachment of the spare tire could result in a road hazard which may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace the spare tire carrier lift plate as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in February 2013. Owners may contact their Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.

05V225000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint

May 17, 2005

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, DUE TO A MANUFACTURING ISSUE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE SURFACE OF THE BALL OF THE JOINT MAY HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED. THE BALL JOINT MAY EVENTUALLY EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE WEAR AND LOOSENESS, RESULTING IN INCREASED STEERING EFFORT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE LOWER BALL JOINT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 5, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

04V214000 · Seat Belts:front

May 5, 2004

CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, 'SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES.' THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT HAS INCORRECT MARKINGS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD.

Remedy: DEALERS HAVE REPLACED THE SEAT BELTS. NO VEHICLES WERE SOLD TO CONSUMERS.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.