RoadVitals

2005 Toyota Tacoma Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
20
Latest Aug 25, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 707 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Toyota Tacoma submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 20 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Electrical
Filed Aug 25, 2025

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2005 Toyota Tacoma. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale through OfferUp. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 139,900. It was later discovered that the mileage on the Title was 339,740.

NHTSA ID
11682911
Incident
Aug 22, 2025
Mileage
339,740 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Jan 8, 2022

My problem was associated with the air bag warning light. It came on and so I took my truck to Big Two Toyota in Chandler AZ. Dealer said I had a faulty clock spring assembly that will prevent the air bag system from functioning properly and was a major safety risk.... So I let Dealer remove and replace it for $511.82. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN SAFETY RECALL.... Please look into this issue for me and other Toyota Tacoma truck owners. Thank you.

NHTSA ID
11446714
Incident
Jan 7, 2022
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed May 3, 2019

BLOWER MOTOR ONLY WORKS ON HIGH. SOMETIMES SPEED OD. DOESN'T WORK, SOMETIMES IT DOES. SPEED OD. READS ABOUT 5 MILES PER HOUR FAST. GAUGES PAUSE FOR ABOUT 10 SEC. BEFORE WORKING WHEN I FIRST START TRUCK. ALL STARTED AROUND 120,000 MILES.

NHTSA ID
11205577
Incident
May 15, 2017
Mileage
120,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 15, 2018

AROUND 150,000MI THE FAN BLOWER ONLY WORKS ON HIGH SPEED (LOW AND MEDIUM DON'T WORK). ON VERY RARE OCCASIONS, ALL FAN SPEEDS WORK FINE. TRIED CHANGING THE FAN RESISTOR BUT IT DIDN'T HELP.

NHTSA ID
11079654
Incident
Mar 12, 2014
Mileage
150,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 13, 2017

EVERY TIME I TURN THE IGNITION TO START MY ENGINE THE GAS GAUGE TAKES ABOUT 15 SECONDS TO RESPOND. MOST FREQUENTLY THAN NOT, THE SPEEDOMETER AND THE COOLANT GAUGE DO NOT WORK WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. WHEN I GET TO MY DESTINATION AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE, AND RESTART, THE GAUGES WORK (SOMETIMES). I ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT IT, AND THEY CLAIM THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND IT WOULD COST $1000.00 TO REPLACE THE MAIN HARNESS THAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. THE TACHOMETER, AND THE ODOMETER WORK JUST FINE. I DO FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, CONSIDERING SOMETIMES I DO NOT KNOW WHAT MY SPEED IS, OR IF MY ENGINE IS GETTING TO HOT, AND OVER HEATING, CAUSING DAMAGE TO IT. I'VE BEEN A TOYOTA TRUCK OWNER SINCE 1987, AND THIS IS MY SECOND TRUCK. YOUR VEHICLES ARE VERY DEPENDABLE, AND I HOPE YOU CAN RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE KEEP INFORMED ON THIS MATTER, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. DON

NHTSA ID
11014940
Incident
Oct 7, 2016
Mileage
120,000 mi
Electrical
Filed May 8, 2017

WHEN USING AIR CONDITION OR HEATING IT DOES NOT GO ON UNLESS YOU STEP ON A BUTTON LOCATED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR WHICH THEN THE UNIT WILL REGULATE AND TURN ON. YOU CAN FEEL A CLICK WHEN YOU PRESS IT ON THE FLOOR DON'T KNOW WHY THIS IS.

NHTSA ID
10984245
Incident
Sep 30, 2016
Electrical
Filed Jan 19, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING LOW SPEEDS, VARIOUS ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS, INCLUDING THE AIR CONDITIONER, STOPPED WORKING. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTERIOR LONG WIRE OVERHEATED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.

NHTSA ID
10821016
Incident
Aug 19, 2015
Mileage
150,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Dec 31, 2015

MY STEREO CHANGES STATIONS ON ITS OWN I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S IN THE BUTTONS IN THE STEERING WHEEL OR THE ACTUAL STEREO ITSELF.

NHTSA ID
10817215
Incident
Jul 8, 2010
Mileage
91,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Dec 31, 2015

SHORT IN THE BUTTON TO TURN THE CRUSE CONTROL ON SOMETIMES IT WORKS BUT I HAVE TO PUSH IT AT LEAST 200 TIMES. THE SECOND THING IS A SHORT IN THE OVER HEAD COMPAS/TEMPERATURE GAUGE IT JUST DOES NOT WORK ANY MORE.

NHTSA ID
10817210
Incident
Jun 1, 2010
Mileage
90,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Nov 10, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START OCCASIONALLY. THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER AND FAIL TO ACCELERATE WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRE HARNESS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000....UPDATED 02/08/16 *BF *TR

NHTSA ID
10789672
Incident
Sep 27, 2015
Mileage
138,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 21, 2015
Fire reported

I WAS DRIVING, FROM MY WORK TRY TO OPEN THE WINDOW AND I CAN NOT OPEN I STOP, SOMETHING SMELL BURN, WAS MY DRIVING SIDE DOOR, WINDOWS WERE LOCK, MY TRUCK WERE LOOKED , I CAN NOT OPEN DOORS, I DROVE TO MY MECANIC HE BROKE THE WINDOW, A LOT SMOKE INSIDE MY TRUCK, OK, I WENT OUT, AND IT COST ME $1200.00.- TO FIX, WELL CHANGE EVERYTHING INSIDE. THANKS I LIVE IN LOMITA CA.

NHTSA ID
10785099
Incident
Sep 21, 2015
Mileage
165,339 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 19, 2014

TOOK OUR 2005 TOYOTA TRUCK INTO THE TOYOTA DEALER FOR A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT P0333. THEY SAID THAT IT WAS A CABLE THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED BY ANOTHER TOYOTA DEALER DUE TO RODENT DAMAGE. SINCE THE CAR ONLY HAS 2000 MILES SINCE THAT REPAIR AND A TOTAL MILEAGE OF 12,000 MILES WE FOUND IT UNBELIEVABLE THAT THEY WOULD QUOTE US A "DISCOUNTED" RATE OF 2,318.00 TO REPAIR THE CABLE AGAIN. WE TOLD THEM THAT WE DID NOT WANT TO SPEND THIS MUCH MONEY ON A CAR THAT ONLY HAD 12,000 MILES.THE CAR GOT REPAIRED AT A FRACTION OF THE COST THEY WANTED AND IT TURNED OUT THAT THEY HAD NOT TIGHTENED DOWN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND UNPLUGGED A SENSOR ON STARTUP. THEIR COST TO REPAIR WITH A SUPPOSED 8 HOUR DISCOUNT WAS 2318.00. THE EVENTUAL COST FROM A NORMAL MECHANIC WAS 374.00. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN LESS BUT THE EXTRA TIME TO CORRECT THEIR ERRORS COST MORE MONEY. ON THE INTERNET THERE ARE MANY OWNERS OF THIS SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS TYPE OF DAMAGE BEING CAUSED BY RODENTS EATING INTO CRITICAL WIRING. WIRING THAT CANNOT BE REPAIRED WITHOUT THE TOYOTA DEALER CHARGING 3000.00 PLUS FOR LABOR. THIS IS A SCAM. IT WOULD BE EASY FOR THE TOYOTA ENGINEERS TO FIX THIS CABLE SO THAT IT COULD NEVER BE EATEN BY ANYTHING AGAIN. ALSO MY MECHANIC AND OTHERS HAVE ASKED "WHY DO THEY EAT THIS CABLE AND NO OTHERS IN THE SAME AREA"? THEY ARE OBVIOUSLY MAKING THE WIRE COATING OUT OF MATERIALS THAT ATTRACT THE RODENTS TO IT. THIS IS A CASH COW REPAIR FOR THEM AND THEY ARE NOT ABOUT TO MAKE IT SO THAT THE RODENTS DO NOT EAT IT. A NORMAL MECHANIC CHARGES 374.00 TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM VERSUS 3000.00 FOR THE DEALER! THIS IS PROFESSIONAL ROBBERY THROUGH DESIGN AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FROM A FEDERAL STAND POINT. I HAVE ALL OF THE PAPERWORK AND THE CABLE THAT IS IN PRISTINE CONDITION EXCEPT FOR THE EATEN AWAY END IF YOUR DEPARTMENT WOULD LIKE TO EXAMINE IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10626222
Incident
Jun 27, 2014
Mileage
12,098 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 6, 2011

SPIRAL CABLE, AIR BAG, STEERING COLUMN, CHARGED $609.82 BY DEALER TO REPAIR, WAS IN OTHER REPAIR SHOP THIS WEEK, HEARD ANOTHER CUTOMER COMPLAIN OF SAME PROBLEM, ALSO HAD 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA. EVERY SINGLE LIGHT CAME ON, ON THE DASH, SCARED THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF ME. MANUAL SAYS TAKE IMMEDIATELY TO DEALER. WHAT A RIP OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID
10434383
Incident
Jul 13, 2011
Mileage
105,711 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 26, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH AND CABLES WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID
10397476
Incident
Apr 24, 2011
Mileage
70,000 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Feb 12, 2010

BLOWER MOTOR FAN SPEED SELECTOR SWITCH ILLUMINATION HAS QUIT WORKING AND ALSO THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE DISPLAY ON THE FRONT PASSENGER ROOF HAS QUIT WORKING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10310115
Incident
Feb 12, 2010
Mileage
79,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalTransmission
Filed Mar 27, 2009

I BOUGHT MY 2005 TACOMA ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM THREE TIMES NOW. THE LAST TIME BEING TONIGHT AFTER PICKING UP MY DAUGHTER AT WORK. THE TRUCK WAS ACCELERATING AND I WAS LITERALLY STANDING ON THE BRAKE AND THE ENGINE WAS RACING AND WOULD NOT STOP. I THROUGH IT INTO NEUTRAL AND IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO EXPLODE! I HAVE NO RUGS IN MY VEHICLE, IT DID NOT COME WITH ANY, AND I WAS GOING TO GET THE ALL WEATHER MATS, BUT HAVE NOT BOUGHT THEM YET. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ENGAGED. I DO CONSIDER MYSELF TO BE A FAIRLY EXPERIENCED DRIVER, I USE TO RACE A 70 CHEVELLE IN THE 1/4 MILE (THIS WAS MANY YEARS AGO.), IF I DID NOT HAVE SUCH EXPERIENCE I AM SURE I WOULD HAVE RAN THE CAR UP A TREE OR SOMETHING. I AM SCARED, I HAVE BEAT CANCER TWICE AND I'LL BE '!@#$% IF I AM GOING TO LET A FAULTY TACOMA TAKE ME OUT! *TR

NHTSA ID
10263227
Incident
Mar 26, 2009
Mileage
98,146 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Jul 10, 2006

WHILE PASSING SEVERAL RADAR SIGNS, I NOTICED MY TRUCKS SPEEDOMETER WAS READING ABOUT 8% ABOVE THE ACTUAL SPEED I WAS TRAVELING. A CHECK AT A "SPEEDOMETER CHECK" WHERE THEY HAVE MILEAGE SIGNS EVERY MILE FOR SEVERAL MILES ALSO CONFIRMED THIS. A TRIP WITH MY GPS ALSO SHOWED THE SPEEDOMETER WAS INACCURATE. THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED MY TRUCK ON THEIR SMOG DYNO AND SAID MY SPEEDOMETER WAS ONLY 1 MPH OFF AT 40 MPH. THEY INFERRED THAT SATELLITES, POLICE RADAR AND MY WRIST WATCH ARE LESS ACCURATE THAN THEIR SMOG TEST DYNO, NOT LIKELY. I'M GETTING RIPPED OFF FOR 8% OF MY WARRANTY! *JB

NHTSA ID
10161985
Incident
Sep 19, 2005
Mileage
4,501 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 6, 2006

I JUST READ A SIMILAR COMPLAINT AND I WANTED TO FILE MY STORY. MY 2005 TACOMA'S SPEEDOMETER HAS BEEN READING APPROXIMATELY 7 MILES PER HOUR FASTER THAN ACTUAL. I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY SO MANY CARS WERE PASSING ME ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I WAS DOING AROUND 65! I CHECKED IT BY FOLLOWING MY WIFE IN HER CAR AND ALSO COMPARED AGAINST MILE MARKERS. I TOOK TO THE DEALER AND THEY HOOKED IT UP TO THE DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG - THEY SAID THERE WAS NO FIX. IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW HOW FAST YOU ARE REALLY GOING PLUS THE CONDITION SHORTENS THE LIFE OF THE FACTORY WARRANTY (36,000 MILES) BECAUSE THE ODOMETER IS RECORDING MORE MILES THAN ACTUAL. *NM

NHTSA ID
10159150
Incident
May 1, 2006
Mileage
10 mi
ElectricalTires & wheels
Filed Mar 3, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WAS SHIFTED FROM FOUR WHEEL DRIVE HIGH OR LOW, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ALWAYS SHIFT. THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE AUDIBLE ALARM STATING THE VEHICLE HAS NOT SHIFTED CAME ON. AN ADDITIONAL 5 ATTEMPTS WERE NEEDED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED. THE TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE MANUFACTURER DROVE THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THIS WAS NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS. ALSO, WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES WERE BELOW ZERO DEGREES THE KEYLESS ENTRY WOULD NOT UNLOCK THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP TESTED THE KEY FOB AND REPLACED THE BATTERY, BUT THIS DID NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 3/22/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID
10151695
Incident
Mar 3, 2006
Mileage
15,400 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 24, 2005

WHILE PERFORMING A NORMAL REVIEW UNDER THE HOOD, I DISCOVERED THE OEM DELPHI BATTERY HAD SPRAYED ACID ON THE UNDER SIDE OF THE HOOD WHICH RAN DOWN THE FENDER WELL (REMOVING THE PAINT ON BOTH) AND CONTINUED RUNNING DOWN TO THE FRAME AND AC LINE.

NHTSA ID
10126431
Incident
Jun 23, 2005
Mileage
7,965 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .