2019 Toyota Tacoma Electrical Problems

Water leaked through the third brake light assembly into the cab roof, soaking the ceiling, seats, and carpet. This caused extensive mold growth and electrical corrosion near the control modules. The affected systems include the third brake light seal, cab roof, interior materials, and ECM (documentation attached). The truck remains at the dealer and is available for inspection upon request. The entire interior is contaminated with mold, creating a serious health hazard, and the vehicle cannot be safely driven or occupied. The leak also damaged electrical components, posing a risk of malfunction or short-circuit while operating the vehicle, and it is currently undrivable due to this damage. The problem was confirmed by Toyota of Clermont, which inspected the truck, documented the damage, and provided a written estimate exceeding $8,000 for repairs (copy attached). The vehicle was at the dealership while the manufacturer’s Limited Service Campaign 21TD03—issued to address this same defect—was still active, but the required inspection and seal repair were not performed. The failure of Toyota of Clermont to perform the mandated remedy under Campaign 21TD03 while the vehicle was in its possession resulted in a serious safety hazard. The entire interior of the cab—including the seats, ceiling, and carpet—is covered in mold, and the vehicle is undrivable due to water intrusion and electrical damage. There were no warning lamps or error messages before the failure, only a strong musty smell inside the cab shortly before the leak became visible. Toyota Motor North America was notified but declined responsibility. This case represents a potential noncompliance with federal defect-remedy obligations under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (49 U.S.C. § 30120) and should be investigated as such.

NHTSA ID

11691503

Incident

Sep 18, 2025

Truck has 33,XXX miles. Was driving and the fuel gauge needle dropped to E. Dash screen stated 225 miles till empty please refuel. I tried turning it on and off, no change. Filled the gas tank numerous times, no change. Needle remains on E with warning message to please refuel. Mechanic checked and there are no codes or CELs.

NHTSA ID

11670295

Incident

Jun 8, 2025

My check engine light came on when I was traveling in Oregon. I didn't notice any major changes in my vehicle's performance. Drove it all the way back to Colorado without issues. It went off and came back on several times. I replaced the cabin air filter, engine air filter and put fuel injector cleaner in the vehicle. Finally I took it in to the Toyota dealership to get an oil change and then the check engine light came back on. I paid for them to do a diagnostic test and they stated they were almost certain it was the 2nd fuel injector running rich. Brought it back a week later for the repair. Fyi...I was still getting 20 mpg in fuel and I wasn't noticing anything major in performance. They replaced the fuel injector and then the check engine light came back on with a different code. They are now running "another" more expensive diagnostic test and I still don't have my truck. They are saying it could be the 2nd cylinder or the engine and claiming it has 150,000 miles so I should expect these issues (and conveniently my warranty has run out).

NHTSA ID

11666121

Incident

Jun 10, 2025

I currently own a 2019 Tacoma with around 70,000 miles on it. I keep up with all the Toyota recommended maintenance services to make sure my vehicle is well taken care of. So, while driving the vehicle on the interstate it drastically slowed down on its own and I could not get the gas pedal to engage almost causing a rear end collision. This also happened on two other occasions at lower speeds. My display stated I was having issues with ABS, Collision, and that I was pressing the gas pedal and break at the same time. My vehicle has been at the dealership for 4 days now with no resolve or any answers to why the vehicle is slowing down on its own. I feel the vehicle is a health/safety issue and I will not drive it until the issue is resolved. The computer was also flashed by Toyota a year earlier as I was experiencing a lag in engine engagement and high rpm's when the vehicle shifted from first to second gear. Something the tech noted he experienced driving it. It's also an issue I've had since purchasing the vehicle. I had to bring the vehicle back a month later as it started doing the same thing but was told they could not find any issues. I have found many other forums and spoke with other Tacoma owners who have had similar issues. I feel Toyota is definitely aware of the issues but not addressing them! I hope to get some answers soon!

NHTSA ID

11548974

Incident

Sep 29, 2023

Full tank of fuel and dashboard is showing 30 miles until empty warning. I have received the engine warning ⚠️ sign on my dashboard as well when this happens. This issue also affects me on the road when I am pressing the accelerator and the engine will not respond, this gas been an issue since they did the fuel pup recall. With a delay in acceleration comes a delay on the brake system as well, two intenses that I've had to press my foot as hard as possible on the brake to avoid a collusion with another vehicle. The last time this happened was on 4/17/2022

NHTSA ID

11461180

Incident

Apr 17, 2022

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to accelerate. The contact stated that the traction control, collision control, and LSD warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to continue driving and the warning light turned off independently. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer where the vehicle was currently being serviced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 42,600.

NHTSA ID

11450734

Incident

Sep 3, 2021

Mileage

42,600 mi

I was driving my truck a 2019 TRD off road Tacoma from San Diego to LA I was on the 605 freeway in the fast lane when I noticed smoke smell and then I noticed fire flames by the air conditioner and the phone charging plate I proceed to Exit the freeway thankfully I did not get in a car accident with any other vehicles however I was unable to stop and put out the fire. It's very upsetting because at no fault of my own I am now lob obligated to find another vehicle and I am not in the financial or credit position that I was when I bought my truck that is now a total loss by my insurance it covers my loan but not much after that so the fact that I've heard that this has been an issue for a few other Tacoma's And it's not even listed yet there's a problem the fact that this is not within my control as to what happened and there's nothing but oh well good luck getting another car Something needs to change.

NHTSA ID

11419291

Incident

May 19, 2021

APPLE IPHONE XR WILL NOT STAY CONNECTED VIS BLUETOOTH. UNABLE TO USE HANDS FREE. I HAVE TO USE MY PHONE AND VEHICLE FOR WORK. TOYOTA CARE REP SAYS ' WE'LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN WE FIND A FIX'

NHTSA ID

11402716

Incident

Aug 1, 2020

IPHONE WILL NOT STAY CONNECTED WITH MY BLUETOOTH RADIO MAKING IT ABLE TO HAVE HANDS FREE CALLING. I AM USING A IPHONE 11PRO MAX.

NHTSA ID

11363982

Incident

Sep 1, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CENTER CONSOLE BY THE AUXILIARY PORTS BECAME OVERHEATED AND A BUBBLE WAS FORMED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT A POSSIBLE CAR FIRE DUE TO THE HEAT DISCHARGED FROM THE CHARGING PORTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED NOR NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ID

11362994

Incident

Jul 1, 2020

Mileage

10,000 mi

BLUETOOTH HANDSFREE DOESN'T WORK WITH TRUCK AND IPHONE. TALKING TO TACOMA, THEY SAID THAT THEIR SYSTEM CANT KEEP UP WITH APPLY AND THEIR TECHNOLOGY. THIS DOESN'T WORK FOR BEING HANDSFREE ON THE ROAD WHICH IS WHAT TOYOTA ADVERTISES AND IS THE LAW. *TR

NHTSA ID

11330150

Incident

Jun 1, 2020

DUE TO THE FACT THAT WE NEVER TEST DROVE THE 2019 TOYOTA TACOMA THAT WE WERE GIVEN TO PURCHASE, AND MY HUSBAND DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME I DID NOT HAVE THE CHANCE TO TRY THE VEHICLE UNTIL WE ARRIVED HOME. THE FIRST TIME THAT I SAT IN THE VEHICLE, I FELT EXTREME DISCOMFORT AND ELECTRIC SHOCKS FROM THE VEHICLE, VERY SIMILAR TO THE ELECTRIC SHOCKS THAT I RECEIVED FROM THE 2017 TOYOTA PRIUS. MY HUSBAND THOUGHT THAT IT WAS CAUSED FROM MY HEALTH CONDITION FROM MY CAR ACCIDENT AND HE AGREED THAT, SINCE I DID NOT FEEL ANY DISCOMFORT DRIVING THE SIENNA, HE WOULD BE THE ONLY THAT WOULD DRIVE THE TACOMA AND THAT I WOULD PRIMARILY DRIVE THE SIENNA. WHEN WE TOOK THE 2019 TOYOTA SIENNA BACK TO DEALERSHIP ON FEBRUARY 13, 2020, I WAS FORCED TO DRIVE THE 2019 TOYOTA TACOMA AND WHILE DOING SO I FELT THE SAME ELECTRIC SHOCKS AND THEY WERE MORE INTENSE AND STRONGER TO EXTENT THAT IT CAUSED EXTREME PAIN IN MY STOMACH AND BRUISES ON MY BODY. IN THE CASE OF THE SEATBELT, IT DID NOT REST ON MY NECK LIKE THE IN THE SIENNA, BUT IT RESTED ON MY ARM WHERE I RECEIVED BRUISES FROM THE SEATBELT.

NHTSA ID

11319902

Incident

Feb 17, 2020

Mileage

17,000 mi

IT STARTED WITH MY CSAE FILE AT TOYOTA#2003022885 THEN WENT TO THE CONUSMER PROTECTION AGENCY CASE#2020-03344 THEY SENT ME TO LEMON LAW GOT YOU EMAIL OFF RECALL NOTICE.BASICALY THEY TOLD ME AT FIRST NOT TO DRIVE TRUCK FAST[COULN'T TELL ME HOW FAST]BECAUSE TRUCK COULD SHUT DOWN.I GOT THE FORMAL RECALL IN THE MAIL 3/20/20 I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THE DEALERSHIP OR TOYOTA SINCE. THE TRUCK MAKES ME VERY NERVOUS DRIVING IT BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW FAST I CAN DRIVE IT WITHOUT HAVING A WRECK.IT'S A LEASE VEHICLE I THINK THEY SHOULD EITHER FIX IT OR TERMINATE THE LEASE

NHTSA ID

11319252

Incident

Feb 29, 2020

Mileage

2,200 mi

FUEL GAUGE SHOWS FULL AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 115 MILES AND DISTANCE TO EMPTY IS OFF ABOUT 10 MILES AND ODOMETER MIGHT BE DIS FUNCTIONING AS WELL. *JS

NHTSA ID

11317079

Incident

Mar 4, 2020

THE HEAD UNIT IS INOPERABLE WHEN CONNECTED TO BLUETOOTH AND HANDSFREE DRIVING FUNCTION IS INOPERABLE. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND HAS NO RESOLUTIONS, BUT TO BLAME PANASONIC. PANASONIC HAS A BACKORDER WITH NO END INSIGHT AND CANNOT REPLACE THE UNIT WITH ANOTHER MODEL WITHOUT AFFECTING THE WARRANTY.

NHTSA ID

11307307

Incident

Dec 6, 2019

BLUETOOTH RANDOMLY DISCONNECTS DURING A PHONE CALL. HAPPENED ABOUT 5 TIMES ON MY WAY TO WORK. USED ANOTHER PHONE AND DID SAME THING. DEALERSHIP SAID THEY NEED MORE COMPLAINTS BEFORE A RECALL IS ISSUED.

NHTSA ID

11290736

Incident

Dec 19, 2019

Mileage

16,890 mi

RADIO/HEAD UNIT KEEPS REBOOTING. EVEN WHEN NO BLUETOOTH IS CONNECTED.

NHTSA ID

11288165

Incident

Dec 10, 2019

Mileage

7,800 mi

ON ENTERING AN INTERSECTION THE VEHICLE APPLIED BRAKES AUTOMATICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. AT THAT TIME THE PATH FORWARD OF THE VEHICLE WAS CLEAR. THIS ACTION CAUSED A SAFETY HAZARD BY STALLING THE VEHICLE IN THE INTERSECTION. APPLYING GAS RESULTED IN NO FORWARD MOVEMENT. ONCOMING TRAFFIC HAD TO STOP ABRUPTLY TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH MY VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TWO TIMES TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED TO NO AVAIL. THE LAST COMMUNICATION FROM TOYOTA CONCERNING MY COMPLAINT WAS A PHONE CALL FROM A FACTORY REP ADVISING ME THAT I NEEDED TO READ MY OWNERS MANUAL REGARDING THIS ISSUE. AT THIS POINT I AN AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. PLEASE HELP. NHTSA REF# 247577.

NHTSA ID

11287261

Incident

Nov 7, 2019

Mileage

10,000 mi

A LOT OF US TACOMA OWNERS ARE HAVING TROUBLE WITH OUR BLUE TOOTH DROPPING OUT DURING PHONE CALLS. I LIVE IN MASSACHUSETTS AND THEY FROWN US FROM HOLDING YOUR CELL PHONE TO TALK TO SOMEONE. I PURCHASED A 2019 AND IT HAS 900 MILES AND DID NOT EVER THINK THIS WOULD BE A PROBLEM WITH A BRAND NEW TRUCK. TO THIS DAY, IT'S STILL A PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11281462

Incident

Nov 5, 2019

Mileage

200 mi

ENTUNE RADIO/HEADUNIT (HU) REBOOT ITSELF WHILE IN A CALL. REBOOT OCCURS WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AT ANY SPEED, DURING ANY DRIVING CONDITION. AS THE HU REBOOTS, DRIVER IS UNABLE TO USE REAR-VIEW CAMERA AND ANY OTHER FEATURE DISPLAYED IN HU. ROAD ATTENTION IS AFFECTED SINCE DRIVER IS DISTRACTED BY THE SCREEN GOING BLACK AND ON AGAIN. ALSO IF DRIVER IS IN A CALL HAS TO END CALL FROM THE PHONE AND CALL AGAIN USING THE PHONE. NO MESSAGE OR ERROR CODE WAS DISPLAYED ON HU. DEALER ASKED TO FILM THE ISSUE WITH THE CELLPHONE IN ORDER TO SERVICE THE HU. DEALER IS ENCOURAGING THE USE OF PHONE WHILE DRIVING TO FILM AN ISSUE THAT THEY SHOULD CHECK BY LOOKING FOR THE HU ERROR LOG. MOREOVER, I FOUND IN FORUMS AND YOUTUBE PEOPLE REPORTING THIS REBOOTING ISSUE IN ENTUNE HU SINCE 2016. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAVE 2K MILES AND 3 MONTH FROM BOUGHT AND HU HAVE SHOWN REBOOT ISSUE AT LEAST 20 TIMES WHILE CONNECTED TO CELLPHONE VIA BLUETHOOTH.

NHTSA ID

11277175

Incident

Oct 29, 2019

Mileage

500 mi

WHILE STATIONARY UNDER THE WATER FLOW OF A CARWASH WATER BEGAN POURING FROM UNDER THE DASH BOARD ON TO THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD. TOYOTA STATES IT IS THE WAY THE VEHICLE IS DESIGNED, CANNOT BE REPAIRED AND IS NOT A " WARRANTABLE DEFECT".

NHTSA ID

11240154

Incident

May 1, 2019

Mileage

4,000 mi