2008 Toyota Tacoma Exterior lighting Problems

Some of the interior door light switches don't light @ night. I can probably take the door panel off & fix it... (buy bulbs)...? Door hinge on the gas cap breaks way to easily. Could fly off & hit someone\thing... Clunking sound coming from the rear end & I can't find where it's coming from... Gas cap gets loose & throws a p0333 code knock sensor bank 1 or 2 or both. Who put them under the manifold... ? Scary to get the code. That's a hr+ job that's doing it myself.$ Expensive from a shop $ Nothing to serious. 2nd Owner. Runs strong for the miles on it. Thank you, [XXX] , INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11624192

Incident

Nov 3, 2024

UPON ARRIVAL AT THE LOCAL LAUNDRY MAT I HEARD WHAT ALMOST SOUNDED LIKE A LOW CALIBER GIUN SHOR SECONDS LATER THERE WAS HEAVY BROWN SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THEN SECONDS AFTER THAT TWO FOOT FLAMES CONSUMED THE FRONT BUMPER. THE FOG LIGHT WIRING HARNESS MELTED AND THE HEAT WAS SO INTENSE IT CAUSED THE BUMPER TO CATCH FIRE. CALLED TOYOTA AND WAS HOPEFUL THEY WOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR NEGLIGENCE. BUT AFTER SENDING AN OVER PAID INVESTIGATOR WHO FLAT OUT LIED ABOUT MODIFICATIONS DONE ON THE TRUCK( WRONG) TOYOTA THEN TRIE TO TELL NE I WAS THE SECOND OWNER ON THE VEHICLE SO THAT ON TOP OF PHANTOM MODS PRECLUDES TOYOTA OF ANY RESPONSIBILITY. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TOYOTA YOU'VE DONE NOTHING BUT LIE ABOUT THIS INCIDENT THAT COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY BEEN A DEATH TRAP!*DT *AS

NHTSA ID

11361225

Incident

Apr 1, 2018

HEAD LIGHT LENS HAVE STRESS CRACKS, HOLD MOISTURE AND ARE NOT CLEAR AND DIMINISHES THE VISIBILITY FOR THE BULB TO WORK PROPERLY AND DRIVER TO BE ABLE TO SEE AT NIGHT. THE LENS ARE NOT CLEAR AND HAVE TURNED TO A YELLOWISH COLOR. THIS STARTED HAPPENING WITHIN TWO YEARS AFTER I PURCHASED THE TRUCK NEW IN 2008 LUG NUTS. TUSCALOOSA TOYOTA TELLS ME OVER A YEAR AGO THAT I HAVE SWOLLEN LUG NUTS. TUSCALOOSA TOYOTA HAS DONE ALL OF MY SERVICE WORK AND THE ONLY ONES THAT HAVE TOUCHED THESE LUG NUTS. THEY HAVE CAUSE THE PROBLEM BY NOT USING THE CORRECT SOCKET BUT THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT. THEY SHOULD REPLACE THEM BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE HAS TOUCHED THEM. I AM HAPPY WITH MY TRUCK BUT VERY UNSATISFIED WITH THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP NOT TAKING CARE OF THESE TWO DEFECTIVE PARTS THAT HAS TO DO WITH SAFETY.

NHTSA ID

11319634

Incident

Jan 1, 2010

HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY INNER LENS DISTORTION. TOYOTA NEVER SENT ME THE EXTENSION OF WARRANTY NOTICE FOR THIS DEFECT, MY DEALERSHIP DID NOT MENTION IT TO ME AND NOW NEITHER WILL COVER THIS OBVIOUS AND RECOGNIZED SAFETY DEFECT EVEN THOUGH I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE SINCE 2010 WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY 8000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ID

10972026

Incident

Apr 7, 2017

Mileage

160,000 mi

FRONT RUNNING LIGHTS MELTED THE PLASTIC CAUSING CHARRING AND A FIRE. PICTURES WERE SENT TO TOYOTA NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS SAFETY PERSONNEL UNDER FILE # [XXX], INCIDENT [XXX]. TOYOTA ACKNOWLEDGES THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH 2005-2011 TACOMAS AND STATED THIS CONDITION WAS COVERED UNDER A "WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM" AND THE DEAL WOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD MY VIN NUMBER DOES NOT QUALIFY. I INQUIRED PROFUSELY AS TO THE PROCESS USED TO DETERMINE THE VIN NUMBER RANGE, HOW THIS PROBLEM IS BEING FIXED AND WAS TOLD THESE ARE NOT PUBLICLY RELEASED DOCUMENTS. I WAS NOT OFFERED A METHOD TO FIX THIS CONDITION TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN -- "WE APOLOGIZE BUT ARE NOT IN A POSITION TO AVAIL A POINT OF CONTACT IN TOYOTA SAFETY MANAGEMENT TO DISCUSS YOUR CASE. AS WE HAVE PROVIDED OUR POSITION ON THESE MATTERS, WE DO NOT HAVE FURTHER INFORMATION TO OFFER IN THIS REGARD." ROBERT BROWNING TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE. I HAVE SEARCHED THE NHTSA DATA BASE AND SEE OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS UNDER NHTSA ID: 10523691, 10510776, 10457435, 10448124, 10427052, 10405463. I ASK THAT TOYOTA BE RESPONSIBLE TO VEHICLE OWNERS AND BE REQUIRED TO RE-EXAMINE THEIR VIN RANGE ON THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM. THE FRONT TURN SIGNALS ARE CHARRED AND MELTED SO BADLY THEY ARE EXTREMELY HARD TO SEE AND WILL LEAD TO FUTURE ACCIDENTS. THE PLASTIC ALSO HEATS UP ENOUGH TO CAUSE MELTING AND FIRE POTENTIAL IN THESE VEHICLES. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10629032

Incident

Aug 1, 2014

Mileage

88,000 mi

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN FRONTAL CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10561687

Incident

Jan 26, 2014

Mileage

263,000 mi

DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS LENS IS MELTING AND CRACKING, THIS LOOKS LIKE IT COULD START A FIRE. TOYOTA DEALER HAS RECOGNIZED THIS AS A DEFECT, INFORMED THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED, BUT NOT COVERED BY TOYOTA. TOYOTA AND DEALER HAS OFFERED TO PAY HALF OF THE REPLACEMENT, BUT STILL VERY COSTLY, FOR A TOYOTA DEFECT! *TR

NHTSA ID

10523691

Incident

Mar 29, 2010

Mileage

87,121 mi

2008 TOYOTA TACOMA, 4X4, DOUBLE CAB, 6 CYL NOTICED THAT THE EXTERIOR FRONT RUNNING-TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS ARE BROWN & ONE IS CRACKED. ORIGINAL LIGHT BULBS IN PLACE. FIRE HAZARD???? RUNNING HOT. REPORTED TO BEAVERTON TOYOTA IN OREGON THIS AM. PLEASE ADVISE. [XXX] OR [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10510776

Incident

Apr 24, 2013

Mileage

78,840 mi

MY LIGHTS BEGAN GOING OFF AT NIGHT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ABOUT 2 YEARS OLD. NOT THAT FREQUENTLY, USUALLY RELATED TO MOISTURE OR MAYBE THE WIPERS DRAWING POWER TO CLEAR MOISTURE. TOYOTA SENT THIS VEHICLE HOME TWICE, PUTTING IT BACK ON THE ROAD WITHOUT RESOLVING THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE NOW FOUND THE ECU UNIT, OR ESSENTIALLY THE ELECTRICAL SWITCHBOARD HAS MALFUNCTIONED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10501397

Incident

Mar 3, 2010

Mileage

25,000 mi

ON 5/2/12 ONE OF THE RIGHT TURN SIGNALS STOPPED WORKING. WHILE INSPECTING THE LIGHTS TO DETERMINE WHICH BULB TO REPLACE, I NOTICED THAT THE PLASTIC LENS IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF THE TURN SIGNAL BULBS ON BOTH SIDES IN THE FRONT IS BLACKENED AND MELTING FROM THE HEAT OF THE BULB. ADDITIONALLY, THE LENS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT IS CRACKED ON THE INSIDE WHERE THE BULB HAS OVERHEATED THE LENS. FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE LAMP SOCKET SHOWS HEAT FATIGUE AND DISCOLORATION DUE TO OVERHEATING. IT APPEARS AS IF THE LIGHT BULB IS TOO CLOSE THE LENS AND THERE IS INADEQUATE VENTILATION FOR THE HEAT. I AM CONCERNED THAT CONTINUAL HEATING OF THE LENS AND THE SOCKET MAY LEAD TO AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE OF THAT COMPONENT, CAUSING A FIRE. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THIS TRUCK MODEL'S RUNNING LIGHTS (WHICH ARE ALSO THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS) ARE ALWAYS ON WHENEVER THE HEADLIGHTS ARE OFF, THERE IS NO WAY OF SHUTTING THESE LIGHTS OFF. FYI: INTERNET SEARCHES HAVE TURNED UP NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE. MANY CONCERNED CUSTOMERS HAVE REPORTED THE ISSUE TO TOYOTA (MYSELF INCLUDED), HOWEVER, TOYOTA WILL NOT FIX OR EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE. I HAVE TAKEN THE LIBERTY OF LOOKING AT THE TURN SIGNAL LENSES OF PARKED TACOMA TRUCKS JUST TO SEE IF THEY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AS MINE. AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE TRUCKS SHOW THE SAME TYPE OF DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10457435

Incident

May 2, 2012

Mileage

77,014 mi

MY 08 TOYOTA TACOMA DRL (DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHT/TURN SIGNAL) LENS BURNED/MELTED/CRACKED THE LENS BUT THE BULB IS STILL WORKING SO CHANCES ARE IT COULD CATCH ON FIRE. I HAVE EXCEEDED MY WARRANTY BUT I FEEL TOYOTA SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND REPLACE MY LIGHT LENS. LIGHT LENS SHOULD NEVER BURN/MELT/BREAK REGARDLESS OF HOW OLD OR HOW MANY MILES THE VEHICLE HAS ON IT. NOT ALL TACOMA'S HAVE DRL , THIS IS A SAFETY OPTION, NOT SO SAFE. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD TOYOTA WOULD NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT BECAUSE I HAD EXCEEDED MY WARRANTY. NICE CUSTOMER SERVICE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10448124

Incident

Jan 24, 2012

Mileage

60,000 mi

MY DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE TOO HOT AND MELTING THE HOUSING PLASTIC. DRIVER SIDE NOW HAS A CRACK FROM THE EXTREME HEAT OF THE STOCK BULB. VERY POOR DESIGN BY THE MANUFACTURER. POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. PLEASE RECALL MY VEHICLE!!!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10427052

Incident

Sep 24, 2011

I PURCHASED A 2008 TOYOTA TACOMA PICKUP BRAND NEW IN 10/2008. I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE HEADLIGHTS STAYING ON HIGH BEAM. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP HAS CHANGED THE SWITCH, CHANGED THE ECM, AND MULTIPLE OTHER THINGS. MY VEHICLE IS IN THE SHOP AGAIN FOR THE 5TH TIME IN 32 MONTHS. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP THIS TIME FOR 6 DAYS AS OF TODAY. THEY CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. ON EVERY OCCASION, I HAVE LEFT WITH THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AND THEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN. THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE LIGHTS WILL GO ON HIGHBEAM OR GO OUT COMPLETELY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10405466

Incident

Jun 2, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHT LENS AND HEADLIGHT HOUSING WIRES MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. AN ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATION WAS PERFORMED BY THE DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE DEFECT WAS ABNORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ID

10405463

Incident

Apr 5, 2011

Mileage

20,000 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