2004 Toyota Tacoma Engine Problems

VEHICLE HAS 113,000 MILES ON IT BUT IS UNDRIVEABLE BECAUSE FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH.

NHTSA ID

11078860

Incident

Feb 28, 2018

Mileage

113,000 mi

I HAVE READ MANY, MANY OTHER PEOPLE ONLINE ARE HAVING THIS IDENTICAL ISSUE AND IS CAUSING CARS TO STALL OUT AND HAVE TO NEARLY REBUILD THE ENGINE. CYLINDER NUMBER 6 IS MISFIRING CONSISTENTLY AFTER 175,000 MILES AND TO FIX IT, THE HEADS HAVE TO BE SHAVED AND IS COSTING THE CONSUMER AROUND $4500 MINIMUM TO FIX THE ISSUE. THE STALLING OF THE ENGINE PUT MYSELF IN DANGER ON A PUBLIC ROAD WHEN IT HAPPENED.

NHTSA ID

10971455

Incident

Nov 1, 2016

Mileage

210,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10870273

Incident

May 22, 2016

Mileage

190,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE PARKED, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED A HOLE ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE LEAF SPRING AND IT WAS NOT CONNECTED TO THE FRAME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME HAD RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.

NHTSA ID

10782955

Incident

Oct 15, 2015

Mileage

162,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE LOSES PEDAL RESPONSE DUE TO THE THROTTLE CONTROL MOTOR SHUTTING DOWN AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. THE ENGINE EITHER SHUTS DOWN COMPLETELY OR THE BECOMES VERY JERKY AND CANNOT SUSTAIN AN IDLE. INCIDENTS BEGAN TO OCCUR AROUND 95,000 MILES ODO BUT STOPPED FOR SEVERAL YEARS AFTER A MECHANIC WORKED ON THE VEHICLE AND SAID THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. MORE RECENTLY THE TRUCK HAS AGAIN BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AS BEFORE: LOSS OF PEDAL RESPONSE, AND IN ADDITION IT NOW SHUTS THE ENGINE DOWN AND THE GAUGES SHOOT UP TO THE TOP OF THE CHARTS AND TICK UNRESPONSIVELY UNTIL THE KEY IS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THIS HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES NOW IN TRAFFIC AND ALONG THE ROADWAY WHERE THE TRUCK BECOMES UNRESPONSIVE AND IS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE SAFELY OFF OF THE ROADWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10679137

Incident

Dec 21, 2014

Mileage

137,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING AT A NORMAL SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY. THE GAS PEDAL BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. I HAD TO PUSH THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR IN ORDER TO GET UP TO SPEED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD TROUBLE SWITCHING BETWEEN GEARS. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. THE CODE THAT HAS COME UP IS TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY, WHICH I HAVE TWO SEPARATE TIMES, BUT AGAIN THE NEW REPLACEMENT PART IS QUOTED AT $1000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10670243

Incident

Oct 30, 2014

Mileage

115,000 mi

WAS IN PARKING LOT OF STORE. STARTED ENGINE AND PUT IN GEAR AND VEHICLE SHOT FORWARD AND IT SEEMED AS IF I HAD NO CONTROL OF IT SIDESWIPING ANOTHER VEHICLE AND HEADED FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT I WAS ABOUT TO BROADSIDE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO STOP MY VEHICLE. WAS ABLE TO GET VEHICLE HOME WHICH WAS A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY BUT AM NOW TERRIFIED TO DRIVE IT. NOTIFIED INSURANCE COMPANY. I CALLED DEALERSHIP WHERE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BUT UNABLE TO SPEAK TO ANYONE. LEFT MESSAGE BUT NO ONE HAS RETURNED MY CALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10667866

Incident

Dec 15, 2014

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY ABOUT 55MPH MY TRUCK STALLED ON ME TWICE DOE A SECOND. ALSO PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVE I HAD A HESITATION IN ACCELERATION AND ALMOST GOT HIT FROM A ONCOMING VEHICLE. THEY ARE NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT COMES ON. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY COULDN'T FIN A ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10650519

Incident

Jul 10, 2014

Mileage

12,000 mi

2004 TOYOTA TACOMA V6 3.4L 5VZ-FE WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. TOYOTA ORIGINALLY EQUIPPED THIS VEHICLE WITH A THROTTLE BY WIRE SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY DOES NOT RESPOND TO ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION. TOYOTA ON BOARD DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM DOES NOT DETECT FAULT THUS DOES NOT LOG ANY ERROR CODES OR ILLUMINATE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. OCCURRENCE RATE AND DURATION OF EVENTS IS INTERMITTENT AND INCONSISTENT. VELOCITY OF THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY DECREASES UNEXPECTEDLY AND MOMENTARILY AS IF FOOT WAS TEMPORARILY REMOVED FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. VEHICLE ALSO UNEXPECTEDLY AND MOMENTARILY DOES NOT RESPOND WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED TO BEGIN MOVING OR SUDDENLY DECREASES SPEED WHEN ACCELERATING. THIS IS A POTENTIAL HAZARD IN SITUATIONS SUCH AS CRUISING IN TRAFFIC, CLEARING AN INTERSECTION, CROSSING RAILROAD TRACKS, ETC... OCCURRENCE RATE AND DURATION OF PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WORSENING OVER TIME OR WITH INCREASED AMBIENT TEMPERATURES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10630137

Incident

Jul 1, 2013

Mileage

45,000 mi

CRANKSHAFT PULLEY THAT DRIVES ALTERNATOR HAS BECOME LOOSE AND MAKES SQUEAKING SOUNDS.. CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY COULDN'T HELP....WHAT SHOULD I DO SINCE A RECALL OF 4000+ HAS BEEN INITIATED FOR THIS FAILURE AND MY VIN NUMBER ISN'T INCLUDED?? *TR

NHTSA ID

10546204

Incident

Sep 28, 2013

Mileage

120,000 mi

LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE (V6 3.4) LEFT BANK HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING AND REQUIRES A REPLACEMENT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET, WITH A VALVE RECONFIGURATION, AT THE ESTIMATED COST OF $2,762.00. SINCE TOYOTA HAS HAD PREVIOUS VEHICLE RECALLS FOR V6 SERIES ENGINE/GASKET RELIABILITY ISSUES AND THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION ONLY HAS 51,559 MILES, WITH EXCELLENT MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE, THAT THE CYLINDER GASKET HEAD LEAK MAY BE A PRODUCTION DEFECT AND OTHER OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS SAME ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10533129

Incident

Jul 31, 2013

Mileage

51,559 mi

AFTER THE TRUCK HAS REACHED OPERATING TEMPERATURE, OR AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE AFTER IT HAS BEEN PARKED AND THE ENGINE IS STILL WARM, THE ENGINE LOSES POWER RANDOMLY WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. IT HAPPENS EITHER FROM A STANDSTILL, IN TRAFFIC, OR REACCELERATING AFTER CRUISING. MOST PREVALENT IN 4TH AND 5TH GEAR. NEED TO JOCKEY THE THROTTLE TO GET IT MOVING AGAIN. FLOORING WILL CAUSE THE ENGINE TO "BUCK" WHEN ENGINE REGAINS POWER. IT'S NOT DRIVABLE FOR ANYONE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THIS ISSUE AND I'M THEREFORE THE ONLY DRIVER OF THE TRUCK. I'M ATTEMPTING A REPAIR AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR THE SECOND TIME SINCE I COULDN'T RECREATE THE FIRST TIME. I SUSPECT WE TEST DROVE IT AND ENGINE DIAGNOSTICS WERE PERFORMED WITH A COLD ENGINE AND IT DOESN'T DO IT THEN. THE CONDITION IS GETTING WORSE SINCE IT STARTED DISPLAYING THESE SYMPTOMS TODAY WITH A COLD ENGINE FOR THE FIRST TIME. I CAN NO LONGER SIMPLY PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC LIKE I USED TO AND CONSTANTLY HAVE TO JOCKEY THE THROTTLE TO NOT GET REAR ENDED, SINCE THE SPEED DECREASE IS SIGNIFICANT WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT SEEMS CURIOUS TO ME THAT THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS NOT TO HAVE HEARD OF THIS ISSUE BEFORE, YET IT SEEMS PRETTY COMMON SEARCHING FOR "TACOMA THROTTLE PROBLEMS." *TR

NHTSA ID

10523893

Incident

Jun 1, 2010

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL FOR THE FRAME. AFTER HAVING THE REPAIRS COMPLETED, HE NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS SEPARATING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. *TR UPDATED 6/17/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE 02 SENSOR WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS ALSO REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE SHROUD THAT COVERED THE GAS TANK, ROTTED AND FELL OF THE TRUCK, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED SEVERAL TIMES. UPDATED 06/25/13

NHTSA ID

10503554

Incident

Mar 1, 2006

Mileage

40,000 mi

MY 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA HAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH A LOSS OF POWER, I.E. WHEN I STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR, IT FAILS TO RESPOND FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME. IT IS A PROBLEM WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC, AS THE LOSS OF POWER HAS LED TO SEVERAL NEAR COLLISIONS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER TWICE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, WITHOUT A CLEAR CAUSE, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. RESEARCH THROUGH AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE SHOP POINTS TO A PROBLEM WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR. RESEARCH ON TOYOTA TACOMA FORUMS ONLINE ALSO SEEM TO SUPPORT THIS. THE ONLY VIABLE FIX SEEMS TO BE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE THROTTLE BODY, SINCE THE SENSORS ARE NOT AVAILABLE SEPARATELY. THIS COST IS OVER $1200, AS OPPOSED TO A $70 SENSOR. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, AND CAN HAPPEN MANY TIMES A DAY, OR BE ABSENT FOR WEEKS AT A TIME. THREE TIMES IT HAS RESULTED IN A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, WITH A TPS FAULT RECORDED (THE TPS AND APPS ARE READ AS A UNIT BY THE ECU). THE PROBLEM HAS NOT YET BEEN ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10297830

Incident

Oct 20, 2009

Mileage

67,000 mi

I PURCHASED MY TACOMA IN 2004 WITH 6000 MILES ON IT. EVERY SINCE I BOUGHT IT, IT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY HIGH ON GAS, ONLY GETTING BETWEEN 240-260 MILES ON A TANK. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. IT FEELS AS IF IT HAS A SKIP IN IT. I NOW HAVE 20,789 MILES ON IT AND WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY RECOMMENDED A FUEL INJECTION FLUSH SO I HAD THAT DONE BUT IT STILL FEELS AS THOUGH IT STILL HAS A SKIP. THIS IS ONLY A 4 CYLINDER MOTOR SHOULDN'T I BE GETTING BETTER GAS MILEAGE? *NM

NHTSA ID

10158584

Incident

May 30, 2005

Mileage

6,000 mi

HARD START WITH 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. THIS PROBLEM BEGAN THE DAY I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE STARTS RIGHT UP AND OTHER TIMES IT TAKES 3-5 ATTEMPTS AT STARTING. THIS NONCONFORMITY USUALLY HAPPENS AFTER ITS BEEN DRIVEN AND SITS FOR 1-2 HOURS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN FOR THIS INTERMITTENT STARTING PROBLEM 5 TIMES. WITH 870 MILES ON THE VEHICLE I BROUGHT IT IN AND TOYOTA SAID THE SPARK PLUGS WERE FOULED AND CHANGED THEM. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO OCCUR 2-3 TIMES PER WEEK. WITH 1500 MILES WE BROUGHT IT IN AGAIN AND TOYOTA SAID THE PROBLEM WAS THE ELECTRO MAGNETIC CURRENT INTERFERING WITH THE INJECTOR CIRCUIT. THEY REMOVED THE GROUND WIRE CABLE OUT OF THE WIRE HARNESS AND SAID THE ENGINE STARTED JUST FINE. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE THIRD TIME I BROUGHT IT IN WITH 9087 MILES. THEY PERFORMED A TSB EG042-04 FPN-8122-04052, 0P EG4016. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE FOURTH TIME I BROUGHT IT IN WITH 9901 MILES THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND SAID EVERYTHING WAS IN SPECIFICATIONS. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE FIFTH TIME I BROUGHT IT IN IT HAD 11.700 MILES. TOYOTA REPLACED THE UBE SUB-ASSMBLY E. THE ENGINE STILL HAS PROBLEMS STARTING.*AK

NHTSA ID

10114558

Incident

Feb 29, 2004

Mileage

8 mi