2008 Toyota Tacoma Engine Problems

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the steering wheel failed to move as intended and the vehicle became difficult to maneuver. An unknown warning light was illuminated. The contact continued driving at a slow speed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the pinion steering gear failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that on a separate occasion while driving 40 MPH, there was an abnormal revving sound coming from the engine. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the engine was leaking oil and the entire braking system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

NHTSA ID

11639479

Incident

Sep 9, 2024

Mileage

150,000 mi

WHILE MOVING AT IDLE IN A PARKING LOT, LOOKING FOR SPACE TO PARK, A/C COMPRESSOR TURNED ON. ECU RAISED ENGINE RPMS THE NORMAL 200+- RPMS. IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS, ENGINE WENT TO FULL THROTTLE. STOOD UP ON BRAKE PEDAL WITH BOTH FEET. REAR TIRES WERE SPINNING AND SMOKING. BEGAN TO MOVE FASTER THAN ORIGINALLY. TURNED OFF IGNITION SWITCH, PUT IN PARK. RESTARTED AND NO PROBLEMS SINCE THEN. BELIEVE SOMETHING CONFUSED ECU WHEN RPMS WERE RAISED TO COMPENSATE A/C COMPRESSOR ENGAGING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10695332

Incident

Mar 17, 2015

Mileage

134,125 mi

I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT AND THE TACOMA TRUCK STARTED ACCELERATING REDLINING THE BRAKES HELD BUT FELT MUSHY I TURNED CAR OFF. I TURNED ON HEATER COMPRESSOR BUTTON WAS ON. I HAD IT TOWED TO TOYOTA FORT WORTH WHERE THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AS IT STARTED ACCELERATING WHILE BRAKING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10672602

Incident

Jan 10, 2015

Mileage

87,000 mi

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD A KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD. TOOK IT INTO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT. AT FIRST IT WAS JUST THE CAM THAT HAD BROKEN ON THE LEFT SIDE. AND THEY WERE CHARGING $6,000 A WEEK LATER THEY CALLED AND SAID THE ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE OVERHAULED AND IT WOULD COST $12,000. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND THEY WOULD CONTACT TOYOTA FOR HELP. TOYOTA IS STATING SINCE I DO MY OWN OIL CHANGES THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO HELP ME AND THAT IT HASN'T HAPPENED TO ANYONE ELSE SO I AM OUT OF LUCK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10584347

Incident

Apr 4, 2014

Mileage

48,186 mi

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN FRONTAL CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10561687

Incident

Jan 26, 2014

Mileage

263,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE ERRONEOUSLY BEGAN TO RACE AS THE RPMS INCREASED WITHOUT THE CONTACT DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FLAMES WERE ALSO SEEN COMING FROM UNDER THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT USED SNOW TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ID

10556418

Incident

Dec 15, 2013

Mileage

85,000 mi

I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE WAY THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS ARE CONFIGURED I FREQUENTLY HIT THE GAS PEDAL ALONG WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN DEPRESSED GOES ALMOST TO THE FLOOR. THE PEDALS ARE SO CLOSE TOGETHER THAT THE GAS PEDAL IS SOMETIMES CAUGHT BY THE EDGE OF MY SHOE WHILE BRAKING CAUSING THE ENGINE TO RACE. THIS ESPECIALLY HAPPENS WHEN BACKING UP AND MY BODY IS CONTORTED TO SEE OUT THE REAR WINDSHIELD. BUT IT ALSO HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY WHEN DRIVING FORWARD AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE AND HAD NUMEROUS CLOSE CALLS ALMOST RUNNING INTO CARS OR OBJECT IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE REFERRED THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALER. THEY SAY THEY HAVE NO REMEDY FOR THE PROBLEM. I WAS REFERRED TO TOYOTA CORPORATE NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS PHONE # 1-800-331-4331 AND HAD AN INVESTIGATION CASE OPEN, CASE NUMBER 1307222061. AFTER THE INSPECTION OF MY VEHICLE THEY SAID THAT MY TRUCK IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. I STILL FEEL THAT THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT. ANOTHER SIDE NOTE IS THAT WHENEVER I BROUGHT MY TRUCK IN TO THE DEALER JUST ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THEY WOULDN'T CHARGE FOR THE INSPECTION OR BRAKE ADJUSTMENTS AND SO NO PAPERWORK WAS WRITTEN UP OF MY COMPLAINTS WHICH HAS HAPPEN TWO OR THREE TIMES. SO YOU PROBABLY WON'T SEE MUCH OF ANY HISTORY ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WAS BY DESIGN TO NOT HAVE A PAPER RECORD TO AVOID RECALLS OR HAVING CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS DOCUMENTED. I HAVE ALSO MENTIONED THIS TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS DURING ROUTINE SERVICE VISITS BUT IT WAS NEVER REALLY WRITTEN UP. I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT OTHER TACOMA OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE LAST INCIDENT THAT I HAD A MONTH AGO I ALMOST WENT OF A CLIFF BECAUSE MY FOOT CAUGHT ON THE GAS PEDAL WHILE BRAKING. IT'S A POOR DESIGN TO HAVE THE BRAKE PEDAL GO BELOW THE LEVEL OF THE GAS PEDAL AT ANY TIME WHEN THEY ARE SO CLOSE TO EACH OTHER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10535798

Incident

Aug 20, 2008

Mileage

5,000 mi

THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE ISSUES WHICH MAKE A DEADLY COMBINATION. WHEN I STOP IN TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY THEN ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR WILL REV AT A HIGH RPM WHILE FAILING TO ACCELERATE AS IT WOULD UNDER NORMAL OPERATIONS. NOW THIS IS WHERE IT IS SCARY FOR ME. WHEN I LET OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL UNDER THESE CONDITIONS, SOMETIMES THE RPM'S WILL GO DOWN AS YOU WOULD EXPECT BUT SOMETIMES THE RPM'S WILL STAY VERY HIGH EVEN AFTER I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL. AT THAT POINT I STEP ON THE BRAKE, TURN ON MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS, PUT THE CAR INTO PARK AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE THEN TURN IT ON AGAIN. THIS IS ALL TOO REMINISCENT OF THE PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA CARS THAT ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. LUCKILY, THE FIRST ISSUE I MENTIONED, WHERE THE CAR DOESN'T ACCELERATE PROPERLY AFTER STOPPING, IS STOPPING THIS CAR FROM ACCELERATING AT A HIGH SPEED AND CAUSING INJURY TO ME AND ANYONE IN MY PATH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10463474

Incident

May 21, 2012

Mileage

103,893 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE BALANCED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

NHTSA ID

10458869

Incident

Jan 11, 2012

Mileage

30,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED HIS VEHICLE RESPONDED WITH MINIMAL POWER. WHENEVER HE MADE A TURN THE VEHICLE WOULD IDLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD FOR ABOUT TWO TO THREE SECONDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FOUR TOYOTA DEALERS WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND A CLAIM WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO INFORMED HIM THEY WOULD SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE BUT NO ONE NOTIFIED HIM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

NHTSA ID

10399102

Incident

May 4, 2011

Mileage

98,000 mi

2008 TOYOTA TACOMA. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE EXPERIENCES LACK OF RETURN TO IDLE IN 4TH AND 5TH GEAR. *TGW THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN AT RANDOM TIMES. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS UNABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO ACHIEVE A STEADY SPEED. HE STATED HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO DO THE SPEED LIMIT OF 55 MPH. HOWEVER, THE SPEED WENT TO 56 MPH INSTEAD. UPDATED 08/10/10. UPDATED 05/10/11 THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE DOESN'T RETURN TO IDLE AND CONTINUES TO GO AT THE SAME RPM WHEN TRYING TO STOP. UPDATED 08/23/11 .*JB THE CONSUMER STATED THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY A NON-REINFORCED VACUUM TUBE. THE LINE FROM THE TOP OF THE ENGINE TO A SENSOR COLLAPSED. IT THEN LOCKED THE SENSOR WITH OBSOLETE INFORMATION. THE CONSUMER REPLACED BOTH LINES WITH A SEMI-RIGID HIGH TEMP EMISSION VACUUM LINE. UPDATED 10/14/11

NHTSA ID

10342269

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLES RPM LEVELS INCREASED ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN GEAR. WHEN THE VEHICLE SPEED WAS 70 MPH AND THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO 5TH GEAR, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 95 MPH WITHOUT HIM PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,000. UPDATED 03/30/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND THE VEHICLE DOESN'T GO BACK TO IDLE IN BETWEEN GEARS; ESPECIALLY BETWEEN 4TH AND 5TH GEAR. AND A SLIGHT TO MODERATE DOWN HILL THE RPM'S DON'T GO TO IDLE. UPDATED 08/18/10

NHTSA ID

10313832

Incident

Nov 8, 2008

Mileage

26,000 mi

FUEL FILLER NECK FLAP BROKE OFF AND FELL INTO THE TANK.GAS MILEAGE IS TERRIBLE. LEFT TURN SIGNAL STAYED ON AND AIR CONDITIONER WAS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. TOOK VEHICLE TO CHAMPION TOYOTA ON 10-15-09. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT FLAP INSIDE TANK IS NORMAL... THEY REPAIRED TURN SIGNAL AND STATED THAT THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED THE A/C TO NOT WORK PROPERLY. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT WIRES WERE BURNT TOGETHER CAUSING THE TURN SIGNAL TO STAY ON. RECEIVED VEHICLE BACK ON 10-20-09. ALSO, I HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP A FEW MONTHS PRIOR TO THE 10-15-09 INCIDENT CONCERNING A/C NOT WORKING, THEY SAID THEY CORRECTED PROBLEM. ALSO, TAILGATE HAS BOWED AFTER MOVING A LIGHT DRYER. DEALER STATES THAT TAILGATE IS NOT RATED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10308499

Incident

Oct 15, 2009

Mileage

10,237 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE RPMS INCREASED RAPIDLY. THE CONTACT WAS NOT DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AT THE TIME. THE VEHICLE ACTED AS IF IT WAS GOING TO LUNGE FORWARD. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AT LEAST FOUR TIMES AND THEY STATED THAT THE MANNER IN WHICH THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN CAUSED THE SURGES AND INCREASED RPMS. THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 100 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,515. UPDATED 4/6/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SURGE ON ITS OWN. EVEN WHEN HE SHIFTED GEARS THE TRUCK WOULD MAKE A LOUD NOISE AS WELL. UPDATED 06/09/09.*JB UPDATED 03/19/10.*JB

NHTSA ID

10262528

Incident

Apr 27, 2008

Mileage

100 mi

THE TRUCK WILL SUDDENLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT ANY PRESSURE ON THE GAS PEDAL. IT PRIMARILY OCCURS WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR SITTING STILL. MOST OF THE TIME IT IS SUBTLE (APPROXIMATELY 200-400 RPM) BUT HAS GONE OVER 1200 RPM ON OCCASION. I AM NOW DRIVING WITH ONE HAND ON THE GEAR SHIFT SO I CAN SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL WHEN THIS OCCURS AND AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A RECURRING CONDITION THAT TOYOTA SAYS IS NOT A PROBLEM BUT THEY HAVE OFFERED NO HELP IN RESOLVING THE ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10257549

Incident

May 2, 2008

Mileage

602 mi

WHILE ENTERING AN ON RAMP THE TRUCK ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN GOING OUT OF CONTROL, CRASHING SIDEWAYS INTO A GUARD RAIL...ONCE IT TOOK OFF ON ITS OWN IT KEPT INCREASING SPEED ON ITS OWN, APPLYING THE BRAKE HAD NO AFFECT ON GETTING IT UNDER CONTROL...DAMAGE $8,000.00....TOOK TO DEALER NEXT DAY TO WHICH THEY FOUND NO PROBLEM...WE HAVE FOUND MANY INSTANCES AS THIS ONE WITH THIS SAME TRUCK AND MODEL ON THE INTERNET. *TR

NHTSA ID

10247673

Incident

Sep 11, 2008

Mileage

10,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE THROTTLE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY WENT WIDE OPEN WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE UNEXPECTEDLY. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND AVOID ANY CRASHES. WHEN THE VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AND NO FAILURE OR CODES SHOWED UP ON THE DEALER'S SYSTEM. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 13,000.

NHTSA ID

10236834

Incident

Jul 16, 2008

Mileage

13,000 mi

2008 TOYOTA TACOMA, JUNE 16, 2008 I TOOK MY TRUCK TO THE DEALERS GARAGE AND TOLD THEM THAT THE PICKUP MOTOR WAS ENGINE SPEED WOULD RACE WHEN I WAS AS A STOP, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, AND THAT MY FUEL MILES HAD DROP 5 MILES A GALLON. ALSO THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLAM IN AND OUT OF LOW GEAR GOING UP AND DOWN A HILL. THEY CLAIM THEY PUT IT ON THE COMPUTER AND IT DID NOT SHOW ANY ERROR. SO THAT THE TRUCK IS FINE, THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS PROBABLY FROM WHEN MY AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON I TOLD THEM I DON'T RUN MY AIR CONDITIONER. BUT THE TOLD ME TO JUST WATCH IT BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG.

NHTSA ID

10232477

Incident

Jun 16, 2008

Mileage

10,900 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE PREPARING TO MAKE A TURN AT A STOP LIGHT, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE RPM'S INCREASED. THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WOULD SURGE. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, SHIFTED INTO PARK, AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. WHEN HE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, IT OPERATED NORMALLY. THE CONTACT HAS SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 6,900.

NHTSA ID

10216327

Incident

Jan 28, 2008

Mileage

6,900 mi