IllustrationTHE FRAME OF THE TACOMA IS SEVERELY RUSTED. RUST EASILY FALLS OFF THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK. TACOMA MODELS AFTER 2005 RECEIVED RECALL NOTIFICATIONS AND FIXES FROM TOYOTA, BUT THE 2004 MODELS HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTICE EVEN THOUGH THEY EXHIBIT MORE FRAME ROT AND RUSTING.
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Tacoma years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
420–25K
2625–50K
3250–75K
3975–100K
100100–150K
76150K+
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
What owners actually said
414 reportsTHE FRAME HAS RUSTED AND THE DEALERSHIP IS UNWILLING TO REPLACE EVEN THOUGH THERE CONTINUES TO BE RECALLS ON MORE MODERN VEHICLES AND ANOTHER WILL BE BEGINNING SOON FOR NEWER MODELS. NO NOTICE WAS RECEIVED BY ME ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. NOT SURE IF THIS WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN OR A FULL RECALL, BUT I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HO…
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THE FRAME HAS RUSTED AND THE DEALERSHIP IS UNWILLING TO REPLACE EVEN THOUGH THERE CONTINUES TO BE RECALLS ON MORE MODERN VEHICLES AND ANOTHER WILL BE BEGINNING SOON FOR NEWER MODELS. NO NOTICE WAS RECEIVED BY ME ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. NOT SURE IF THIS WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN OR A FULL RECALL, BUT I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE FRAME WOULD NOT QUALIFY FOR A FULL RECALL. THE TRUCK WAS SOLD BY TOYOTA SUGGESTING 300,000 MILES EASILY. I HAVE LESS THAN HALF OF THAT AND THE TRUCK WILL SOON BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF A FAULTY FRAME.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE PAINTED, THE TECHNICIAN FOUND THAT THE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED FOR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE, THE MECHANIC FOUND SEVERE RUST ON THE FRAME AND OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,616.
THE FRAME IS ROTTING, THE CROSS BAR IS ROTTING, THERE ARE HOLES THROUGHOUT, AND THERE ARE AREAS WHERE YOU CAN LITERALLY PUSH YOUR FINGER THROUGH! I DISCOVER THE ISSUES WITH THE FRAME BACK IN 2014. THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. THE FRAME CAN BE PROBABLY COMPARED WITH SOMETHING TH…
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THE FRAME IS ROTTING, THE CROSS BAR IS ROTTING, THERE ARE HOLES THROUGHOUT, AND THERE ARE AREAS WHERE YOU CAN LITERALLY PUSH YOUR FINGER THROUGH! I DISCOVER THE ISSUES WITH THE FRAME BACK IN 2014. THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. THE FRAME CAN BE PROBABLY COMPARED WITH SOMETHING THAT SAT UNDER THE SALT WATER FOR A LONG TIME.
THE LOWER BALL-JOINT ON THE DRIVERS FRONT FAILED WHILE DRIVING (APPROX 20MPH ON A STRAIGHT, SMOOTH RESIDENTIAL ROAD (FORTUNATELY UNLOADED TRUCK AND AT LOW SPEEDS) SENDING THE WHEEL SIDEWAYS AND SLAMMING THE SUSPENSION ARM INTO THE GROUND, WHERE I SKIDDED FOR ABOUT 40-50 FEET. THERE IS A RECALL IN EFFECT FOR THIS PROBLEM, YEAR, …
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THE LOWER BALL-JOINT ON THE DRIVERS FRONT FAILED WHILE DRIVING (APPROX 20MPH ON A STRAIGHT, SMOOTH RESIDENTIAL ROAD (FORTUNATELY UNLOADED TRUCK AND AT LOW SPEEDS) SENDING THE WHEEL SIDEWAYS AND SLAMMING THE SUSPENSION ARM INTO THE GROUND, WHERE I SKIDDED FOR ABOUT 40-50 FEET. THERE IS A RECALL IN EFFECT FOR THIS PROBLEM, YEAR, MAKE, MODEL, MILEAGE RANGE, BUT ONLY THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE MODELS AND 4 RUNNERS. IT NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED TO THE 2 WHEEL DRIVE MODELS AS WELL. I HAD VERY LITTLE INDICATION THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG. IT STARTED FEELING ODD, LIKE THE ALIGNMENT WAS OFF, AND I WAS DRIVING ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILE TO SAFELY PARK IT UNTIL IT COULD BE LOOKED AT, WHEN IT SUDDENLY FAILED.
FRAME BEGAN TO RUST IN REAR OF THE TRUCK.
PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL ON ACCELERATION, THE THROTTLE DROPS OFF LIKE I LET MY FOOT OFF THE PEDAL, THE DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY PER CUSTOMER REQUEST (ME) AND IT FIXED THE PROBLEM, ONLY TO HAPPEN AGAIN SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, THIS HAPPENED ONE TIME AGAIN, A TOTAL OF 2 NEW THROTTLE BODYS WERE REPLACED,…
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PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL ON ACCELERATION, THE THROTTLE DROPS OFF LIKE I LET MY FOOT OFF THE PEDAL, THE DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY PER CUSTOMER REQUEST (ME) AND IT FIXED THE PROBLEM, ONLY TO HAPPEN AGAIN SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, THIS HAPPENED ONE TIME AGAIN, A TOTAL OF 2 NEW THROTTLE BODYS WERE REPLACED, NOW A FEW YEARS LATER IT FAILED AGAIN TRYING TO PASS A CAR AND I ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE THROTTLE FAILED.
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.
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.
Official recalls
312V542000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.