10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
55,373 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #13

Jun 052023

Tacoma

  • miles
My 2009 Toyota Tacoma is experiencing the same technical problems as recall 14V168000 and 12V092000. I call Toyota headquarters and they refused to examine my vehicle without paying the diagnostic fee even though my vehicle is exhibiting the exact same issue Toyota is recalling the truck. A mechanic examined the truck and stated the airbag is not active and will not deploy and advised to reach out to Toyota to have them examine it. Even though my truck is not on the recall list however it is exhibiting exactly what the recall is calling for and Toyota is failing to acknowledge it.

- Staten Island , NY, USA

problem #12

Dec 302022

Tacoma 4-cyl

  • miles
Vehicle was involved in an accident while starting to turn left onto a side street. The Tacoma was struck in both driver side doors by a 2005 Chevrolet Silverado K3000 driven by an 85 year old who either ran the stop sign or did not see her even though she was signaling and the truck had the option driving lights that are on all the time. The Tacomas doors were pushing in almost a foot and the truck was pushed sideways several feet. Tacoma driver injured her side and has a probable concussion. This Tacoma is equipped with side seat and side curtain airbags but neither deployed. The insurance claims adjuster stated that based on the damage, the airbags should have deployed.

- North Branford, CT, USA

problem #11

Oct 162020

Tacoma

  • 155,500 miles
Cruise control became finicky spring/summer 2019. I found articles stating that it could be the clockspring/spiral cable. I replaced the clockspring and that fixed the cruise control issue, but it caused my airbag light to turn on. I have been driving around with the airbag light on for the last year and a half. Over that time, the radio controls on the steering wheel have quit working (first the volume, then the channel, and the mode buttons). These haven't been working for at least 3 months now. Just yesterday, the cruise control went out completely. No warning signs or acting up. It just quit. From what research I have done, this issue was handled under a recall, but the recall only applies to the Tacoma models without audio controls on the steering wheel. Has that changed at all" why were not all versions/configurations covered"

- Glendale, AZ, USA

problem #10

Sep 212012

Tacoma

  • miles
Takata recall. I was notified about the takata recall and when I call Toyota. I was told that I would be notified when I could get it replaced. I was never notified! I heard that there were so many to be replaced. That it would be some time before it would be replaced. Toyota motor company never contacted me. I need a replacement. I bought this Tacoma in Texas I am now living near cleveland Ohio now. As of this date 9/17/2019 I have less than 30,000 original miles.please help me get this fixed! my phone # is [xxx]. my name is [xxx]. address is [xxx]. information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Masedonia, OH, USA

problem #9

Jul 042016

Tacoma 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 82,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that the SRS light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 12V092000 (air bags). The failure mileage was approximately 82,000. Updated 09/19/17

- Naples, FL, USA

problem #8

Apr 122012

Tacoma

  • 26,000 miles
I have exactly the same problem with read leaf springs as everybody else- the rear is sagging and and the front end is starting to rise(excessive tire wear) my truck has 66,000 miles and it only carries a 210lb vintage dirtbike 5 or 6 times a year. Do people have to start dying like GM's ignition switch before someone in the federal govt gets off their rear end and actually does their job? also spiral cable recall that could damage driver's airbag(cob (C1B) I have paperwork from Toyota and dealer stating the recall and now they are denying that one exists or ever existed. Also, when transmission shifts at low speeds(usually downshifting, clunk is heard in drive shaft) too much lash in rearend or junk U-joints. I have an aas in automotive technolgy and over 105 credits in automotive engineering. I'm not just blowing smoke. When I lived in nys, I had a vehicle inspection license and I would definitely fail many Toyota with these problems. No inspection sticker-no driving of vehicle.

- Richland, MI, USA

problem #7

Oct 262015

Tacoma

  • 76,000 miles
The driver's side rear air bag caught fire while the vehicle was parked in our driveway and not being used. The passenger compartment was completely destroyed from fire damage, smoke and soot. The vehicle has been totaled by our insurance company. The vehicle had approximately 76,000 miles and was otherwise in perfect condition.

- Plano, TX, USA

problem #6

Jul 022014

Tacoma 6-cyl

  • 55,046 miles
Air bag light on, Toyota found dtc S B1785 occupant classification sensor front left collision detection, B1650 occupant system malfunction, zero point calibration and sensitivity check done but Toyota Hawaii says we need to replace front right seat sensor mat assy. Is that a safety issue and is this a manufacture defect? took to Toyota 3 times now for the same issue of the air bag light coming on. Please advise, thank you! both lens bulbs melt inner side of plastic parts on the headlights. Please advise if this is also a recall/defect.

- Waianae, HI, USA

problem #5

Jan 312013

Tacoma 6-cyl

  • 76,000 miles
Airbag warning light on and horn does not work. After researching, learned this is an airbag clock spring (otherwise known as a spiral cable) issue that has a related recall for 2005-2009 Toyota Tacoma under campaign number 12V-092. That recall applies only to 7 channel circuit spiral cables and not the 16 channel ones. The 7 channel circuits are steering wheels without the audio controls, where the 16 channel circuits have steering wheel audio controls. Toyota dealer wants to charge $400 for part, plus labor. Absolutely ridiculous when this is an obvious problem that is occurring regardless of the channel circuit type. My daughter has a 2008 Toyota Tundra with exact same problem.

- Rifle, CO, USA

problem #4

Nov 082013

Tacoma 4WD 4-cyl

  • 83,000 miles
The air bag sensor came on in my '09 Toyota Tacoma. The vehicle was brought to a mechanic and a diagnostic test was run. The diagnosis was a faulty air bag spiral cable. This identical issue forced a recall of 481,000 Tacoma, including '09 vehicles. However, I was told that my truck did not fall within the VIN # database that is covered by the recall. This is resulting in an out of pocket repair costing $500. I find it hardly coincidental the exact same design flaw that affected nearly 500,000 vehicles just popped up in my vehicle. Without spending the $500, my barely 4 year old truck will not pass inspection in the state of MA. I bought a Tacoma based on it's reputation for reliability. Currently I am breaking the bank just to make it legal to drive on the road.

- Springfield, MA, USA

problem #3

Sep 162013

Tacoma

  • 155,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was found that the clock spring had failed. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number 12V092000 (air bags). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 155,000.

- Oxford, OH, USA

problem #2

Dec 142009

Tacoma 4WD 4-cyl

  • 4,000 miles
The radio acts erratically and unpredictably. It changes stations, turns itself off and on, etc. Sometimes the controls, such as the volume, are non-responsive, so the radio cannot be turned down or off when needed. Since fiddling with the radio usually makes it eventually start working again, it is a distraction hazard. I have drifted over the yellow line trying to get it working again. The dealer has acknowledged the defect but refused to repair it. It is an ongoing problem. The dealer said it is a very common problem but Toyota will not provide replacement parts. I believe few people report it because the radio is not seen as a safety issue, but it is a serious distraction. The consumer stated the air bag light has been on for two years. Also, one of the leaf springs had broken in half.

- Juneau, AK, USA

problem #1

Oct 312009

Tacoma 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 7,300 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Tacoma. In October 2009 while he was driving approximately 15 mph he lost control of the vehicle crash into a wall and the driver frontal air bag did not deploy. He didn't receive any injuries. The police report number is 9-13-02205886. On December 17, 2009 while driving approximately 15 mph the side air bag deployed without warning. He was not involved in an collision on that date. The has been diagnosing the vehicle since December 17, 2009. The dealer stated the air bag is not covered under the warranty. The estimated cost for repair was $6,000. He will contact the manufacturer. The current and the failure mileage were 7,300. Updated 02/17/10. Updated 02/18/10

- Coamo, PR, USA