2005 Toyota Tacoma

In May of 2018, I purchased a 2005 Toyota Tacoma. After arrival of new title, I received a safety recall notice from Toyota in regards to possible abnormal frame rust. I was instructed to take my Tacoma to nearest Toyota dealership for frame inspection. Prior to taking Tacoma in for frame inspection, I scoped the frame myself, and noticed abnormal rust forming throughout both sides of the frame. Therefore, I took my Tacoma to Berge Toyota in Mesa AZ. for further inspection and to have some other repairs done. Upon my arrival to Berge Toyota, l informed the service writer of the repairs that were needed done and showed him the request from Toyota for the frame inspection. My vehicle was taken to a lift, where a brief frame inspection was performed with a flashlight only and I was told the frame was fine, and the rust I had witnessed during my personal inspection was within a standard tolerance of "normal". On September 12, 2022 my frame cracked in a horseshoe formation around the driver side motor mount, causing the engine to shift and sink approx. 3/4" towards the driver side. This frame failure has caused numerous problems to occur, such as the fan to continuously rub against the shroud, abnormal shifting of the transmission, ramping up and down of RPM's, vehicle's steering locks up and cannot be safely driven, leaving me without transportation After detailed inspection was performed on my Tacoma, the horseshoe crack around the motor mount was found and it was determined this was the source of all the problems. I contacted Berge Toyota where I was informed by their service manager that Berge Toyota was not certified to do the frame inspection or repair, and further explained the safety recall had expired and instructed me to contact Toyota to see what could be done. The question I had for the Berge Toyota service manager, was if they were not certified to do the frame inspection, or repair why did they inspect my frame and inform me it was fine, when it wasn't?

The differential drive housing failed due to corrosion resulting in the differential oil leaking out at a significant rate and in loss of lubrication of the differential gears. The condition was detected before any significant loss of material condition or function but could have lead to a loss of vehicle control if the differential had failed. The local Toyota Dealer has not reviewed the condition as of yet. A review of several Tacoma internet forum sights finds similar corrosion failures described (oil leaking from differential housing). There is no monitoring/warning indicator for the oil level condition in the differential housing in this vehicle.

SQUIRK-LIKE SOUND AT THE BEGINNING OF A TRIP, SPECIFICALLY WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHES 5 MPH. THIS NOISE PREVAILS AS LONG AS THE SPEED IS INCREASED, SPECIFICALLY ALONG THE RANGE OF 5 TO 15 MPH. FROM 16 MPH IT STARTS A VIBRATION ALONG THE ENTIRE VEHICLE BODY, WHICH AUGMENTS AS LONG AS THE SPEED IS INCREASED. THESE SYMPTOMS APPEARED FOR FIRST TIME 5 YEARS AGO, APPROXIMATELY. ON THAT FIRST EVENT THE PROPELLER SHAFT SPIDER ANT THEIR BEARINGS WERE REPLACED BY THE TECHNICIAN WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT. NOWADAYS I JUST SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER TOYOTA AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER FOR PROPER DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. IT IS NECESSARY TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS AUTOMOTIVE UNIT PRESENTED SYMPTOMS OF VIBRATION AT CRUISE SPEED (55 MPH), SINCE THE VERY FIRST TIME IT WAS DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY, FOR THE YEAR OF 2005. WHEN THAT OCCURRED, THIS DRIVER BROUGHT THE UNIT TO THE DEALER. THE RESPONSE WAS THAT THE VIBRATION DESCRIBED IS "NORMAL". THIS STRANGE "SHAKING" AT CRUISE SPEED HAS NOT DISAPPEARED. IT THINK IT IS A DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING DEFECT OF THE PROPELLER SHAFTS AND THEIR JOINTS, WHICH CAUSE A DYSFUNCTIONAL PROPELLER SHAFT RUNOUT (GREATER THAN 0.6MM [0.024 IN.]). OTHER TACOMA 2005 OWNERS HAVE LET ME KNOW THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME SITUATION IN THEIR VEHICLES. THIS COULD REPRESENT A POTENTIAL SAFETY RISK FOR ALL VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG VIBRATION COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, THE SERVICE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, AND THE U-JOINTS HAD NOT BEEN PROPERLY LUBRICATED FROM THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS. THE DEALER (LEGACY TOYOTA, 3800 W TENNESSEE ST, TALLAHASSEE, FL 32304, (850) 688-9264) DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRES WERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. THE DEALER DID NOT REPLACE THE DRIVETRAIN AND THE U-JOINTS. THE CONTACT CONSTANTLY HAD TO LUBE THE U-JOINTS TO PREVENT DRYNESS, WHICH WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE DRIVETRAIN TO FRACTURE. THE CONTACT, A MECHANIC, REPLACED THE U-JOINTS AND TOOK THE DRIVESHAFT TO THE DEALER TO INSPECT THE PART, BUT NO REMEDY WAS PROVIDED. THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED A SERVICE CAMPAIGN AND INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED; THEREFORE, THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE U-JOINTS AND THE DRIVESHAFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

I HAVE HAD THE REAR END ON MY VEHICLE REPLACED 2X. NO HARD DRIVING. NO SIGNS OF ABUSE OR REGULAR WEAR BUT HAS COST ME OVER 2200 EACH TIME. THE HEAD GASKET HAVE NOW FAILED AND IN READING MANY ONLINE SITES THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED AND NEVER OVER HEATED. THIS JOB IS NOW GOING TO COST ME 2500. IT STARTED A GURGLING NOISE IN THE DASH AND GOT WARM ONE DAY. THE ENGINE THEN THREW A MISFIRE IN CYLINDER 4 A PRESSURE CHECK CONFIRMED THE HEAD GASKET. THE REAR END IS A CONCERN ALONG WITH THE HEAD GASKETS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS SOFT. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL TURN SPRING WAS DEFECTIVE. AS A RESULT, THE CLUTCH PEDAL CAUSED THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER ROD TO BEND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER ROD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT OFFER ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRACTION RE-ENGAGED ON ITS OWN AND THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED TO THE LEFT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED INTO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL WAS DISABLED, AND WHEN DRIVING OVER ICE, SNOW, AND/OR SAND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. UPDATED 04/05/17 LJ *CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD A THUD COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SLOWED TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V604000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DRIVESHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 08/17/16*LJ THE CONSUMER CHECKED THERE WAS A CRASH AND IT WAS REPORTED TO THE POLICE. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED. UPDATED 08/22/16.*JB

I HAD COMPLETE FAILURE TO MY RACK AND PINION STEERING DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION TO THE COMPONENT. I WAS PULLING INTO A BUSINESS DOING ABOUT 10 MPH AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP COMPLETELY. I CHECKED THE POWER STEERING FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR AND IT WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY. I CHECKED UNDER THE TRUCK AND ON THE GROUND WAS A PUDDLE OF STEERING FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL GARAGE AND WHEN HE EXAMINED THE TRUCK TO SEE WHAT HAD HAPPENED, HE STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION HAD COMPLETED ROTTED OUT AND BROKE. I ALSO HAD HIM CHECK THE FRAME ON MY TRUCK, SINCE I RECEIVED A TSB BULLETIN ABOUT THE EXCESSIVE CORROSION DUE TO NOT ENOUGH FRAME UNDERCOATING BEING APPLIED IN COLD STATES. HE FOUND A LARGE HOLE BEHIND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IN THE FRAME. THE MECHANIC CHECKED THE REST OF THE FRAME AND FOUND SOME SMALLER PERFORATIONS AS WELL. MY QUESTIONS IS IF THE FRAME IS BEGINNING TO ROT AND THEY ARE SELECTIVELY REPLACING THE FRAMES OR VEHICLE IF THEY ARE A DANGER, WHY ARE NO OTHER COMPONENTS THAT ARE ATTACHED TO THESE FAILING PARTS COVERED AS WELL AND FAILING DUE TO EXCESSIVE ROT OR RUSTING. IF ANY OF THESE COMPONENTS FAILED DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS ON THE HIGHWAY AT NORMAL SPEED THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN DEVASTATING TO ALL INVOLVED, POSSIBLY LEADING TO SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH. SOMETHING MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE TOYOTA MOTOR COMPANY NOT STANDING BEHIND THEIR VEHICLES THEY PRODUCE AND THE SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE WHO OWN AND OPERATE THEM. TOYOTA NEEDS TO STOP PLAYING THE "ITS NOT COVERED OR APPLICABLE" GAME AND TAKE OWNERSHIP AND FIX IT BEFORE SOMEONE DOES GET KILLED. I HAVE OWNED 5 TOYOTA'S PREVIOUSLY AND FELT VERY SAFE UP UNTIL NOW, NOW I AM NOT TO SURE!