KnownCarProblems2005 Toyota Tacoma Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 707 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Toyota Tacoma, most often about the body and structure (37% of complaints, typically around 109,500 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about Tacoma model year since 2000 and has 10 recalls.
Most common 2005 Toyota Tacoma problems
Body and structure
260 complaints · 37%Half of these problems showed up before 109,500 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
Where do I even begin? Took the truck in because it was having all sorts of problems and Toyota said it had a bent frame. From what? Normal driving after 3 years / 112,000mi? The truck has never been in an accident. First the bed side body panels started cracking then a panel inside the front tire well started to…
The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that when driving at various speeds, he would hear a loud dragging noise from the vehicle. The vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic and they advised him that the frame was fractured and referred him to the dealer. The dealer advised that they would…
Suspension
137 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 102,000 miles. Parts named most often: front, rear.
2005 Toyota Tacoma, operated for approximately 7 years in a cold weather, high salt-use area. Frame now has large areas of excessive rust & frame de-lamination, potentially reducing frame strength and integrity.
Sudden onset of steering intermediate shaft u-joint seizing making steering difficult. Also lost return-to-center of steering. This could pose a serious risk of over-steering into oncoming traffic when making a left hand turn at a tee intersection. The unprotected u-joint is exposed to striking of road debris and salt…
Speed control
93 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 56,500 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal, linkages, cruise control.
2005 Toyota Tacoma. At low speed (25 MPH) using cruise control, the vehicle over-accelerates when it approaches a hill or incline. Disengaging the cruise control once the over-acceleration starts seems to fix the problem.
The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Tacoma. While attempting to accelerate past another vehicle, the accelerator became stuck to the floor-board. He had to turn the ignition to accessory, which caused the engine to stall. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealership. The current and failure mileages were 53995.
Steering
61 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 100,000 miles. Parts named most often: hydraulic power assist system, linkages, column.
Steering suddenly becomes difficult while driving, all of a sudden hard to turn. Investigation appears to be failed bearings in lower intermediate shaft.
Sudden onset of steering intermediate shaft u-joint seizing making steering difficult. Also lost return-to-center of steering. This could pose a serious risk of over-steering into oncoming traffic when making a left hand turn at a tee intersection. The unprotected u-joint is exposed to striking of road debris and salt…
Transmission
57 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 26,500 miles. Parts named most often: manual transmission, automatic transmission, driveline, clutch assembly.
2005 Tacoma, trd sport pkg, 6 speed manual behind a v6. At about 27k the clutch pedal started making this horrendous squeak. The dealer performed a tsb to replace the clutch pedal assembly. Squeak was gone for about 6k miles but the pedal sticks. Since that first replacement of the pedal assembly, the dealer greases…
My 2005 Toyota Tacoma engine suddenly accelerated. The pedal moved to floor and stayed there. I immediately pushed in the clutch. I checked to make sure there was no interference from the rubber mat and pumped the pedal several times while coasting. After about five seconds, the engine dropped from redline and resumed…
Air bags
46 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 80,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, side/window.
The airbag warning light came on and has mostly stayed on for quite a while. Toyota issued a recall for the spiral/clockspring cable on my vehicle in march 2012, which addressed this problem. However, my VIN was not included in the recall. The problem on my vehicle has gotten worse. I took it to a Toyota dealer shop…
Air bag light stays on. Taken to dealership to have checked out and it was a defective spiral cable. 81,000 miles and 787.00 repair bill not under a warrenty. I had to pay and then the service tech tells me this has been a very common problem with tacomas lately.
Other or unspecified
42 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 119,500 miles.
Noise and vibration present towards front of vehicle, consistent with front, sealed wheel bearing failure, that increased over time and with increased speed. With total failure, the problem could have resulting in loss of control of the vehicle. Currently the vehicle is in the shop for necessary replacement of the…
My truck frame is rusting abnormally. Toyotas official inspection found no holes >10mm.- no further action. The frame is bad. The corrosion I would guess is secondary to bad steel-not enough nickel? Is there a standard for steel in this application? I need your help. I cant get Toyota to do the right thing on my own.…
Wheels and tires
33 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 15,000 miles. Parts named most often: tread/belt, lugs/nuts/bolts/studs, temporary/emergency spare tire, pressure monitoring and regulating systems.
I have cracking/splitting horizontally across 2 tires. Other 2005 Toyota Tacoma xrunner owners are having the same problem with their factory installed bridgestone potenza re050a tires.
: the contact stated while driving at 40 MPH, the front passenger wheel came off the vehicle, causing the vehicle to leave the road and strike other vehicles parked on the side of the road. The police filed a report at the scene. Both the driver and passenger received injuries, although both were wearing seat belts.…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2005 Toyota Tacoma recalls
Suspension: leaf
Risk: If the fuel tank leaks fuel from being punctured, there is an increased risk of a fire.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners and dealers will install new rear leaf spring assemblies. The recall began on january 29, 2016. Owners may contact toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 toyota tacoma pre-runner and 4x4 vehicles manufactured september 14, 2009, to october 11, 2010. In the affected vehicles, one of the leaf springs may fracture due to stress or corrosion. While being driven, the broken leaf could move out of position and contact surrounding components including the fuel tank, possibly puncturing the tank and causing a fuel leak.
Seat belts
Risk: If the seat belt pre-tensioner detaches from the seat belt assembly, the seat belt pre-tensioner will not perform as designed, increasing the risk of injury in a severe crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat belt assemblies. Based on the inspection, the seat belt assembly will be replaced or new pre-tensioner screws will be installed with thread-locking sealant and a retractor spring cover with stopper ribs to prevent loosening of the screws. These services will be provided at no cost to the owner. The recall began during february 2014. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 tacoma access cab vehicles manufactured september 14, 2004, through march 29, 2010; and model year 2011 tacoma access cab vehicles manufactured july 1, 2010, through september 7, 2011. If the access doors are repeatedly and forcefully closed, the screws that attach the seat belt pre-tensioner to the seat belt retractor can loosen over time. If the screws loosen completely, the seat belt pre-tensioner and the retractor spring cover could detach from the seat belt retractor.
Air bags: frontal
Risk: In the event of a crash, the driverâs side air bag may not deploy, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the spiral cable assembly, free of charge. An interim letter is expected to be mailed to owners during april 2012. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 tacoma vehicles, manufactured from september 14, 2004, through august 29, 2008. Over time, steering wheel vibration may damage the spiral cable assembly (clockspring) that powers the driverâs air bag module. If damage occurs, the air bag warning lamp will illuminate and the air bag may become deactivated.
Equipment: labels
Risk: This does not meet the standard requirements.
Fix: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. Dealers will also correct the owner's manual. The safety recall began on may 27, 2010. Owners may contact gulf states toyota at 713-580-3300.
Full defect summary
Gulf states toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold between september 1, 2005 and june 2, 2008 without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
Equipment: labels
Risk: A driver may overload a vehicle which may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. The safety recall began on may 27, 2010. Owners may contact southeast toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
Full defect summary
Southeast toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 passenger vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
Speed control: accelerator pedal
Risk: A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota filed an amended defect report on november 25, 2009, stating that dealers will modify the accelerator pedal and, on certain vehicles, alter the shape of the floor surface under the pedal. These changes address the risk of pedal entrapment due to interference with the floor mat. Redesigned accelerator pedals will become available beginning in april 2010 and dealers will replace any modified pedal with the new pedal if desired. Also, dealers will replace any genuine toyota or lexus all-weather floor mats with redesigned all-weather mats, or repurchase the previous mats from owners who do
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2010 passenger vehicles. The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat.
Equipment: labels
Risk: Incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels could result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners and provide them with a new, accurate label to be installed over the inaccurate label free of charge. The safety recall began on august 18, 2009. Owners may contact toyota at 1-888-270-9371.
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling 27,080 model year 2005 through 2010 passenger cars built from september 1, 2005 to may 4, 2009. These vehicles were not equipped with load carrying capacity modification labels which fails to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims."
Air bags
Risk: This may increase the risk of injury to the occupant in the involved seating position in the event of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the specific SRS air bag. The recall began on april 6, 2006. Owners may contact toyota at 1-888-270-9371, scion at 1-866-548-1851, or lexus at 1-800-255-3987.
Full defect summary
On certain vehicles, due to improper assembly of the air bag inflator, which is used in the side air bag, the curtain shield air bag, and the knee air bag assembly, some inflators were produced with an insufficient amount of the heating agents necessary for proper air bag deployment. In this condition, the expansion force of the gas may be insufficient to properly inflate the air bag when the SRS system is activated during a crash.
Air bags
Risk: In this condition, the seat position and seat belt buckle sensor may not function as designed, affecting the adaptive air bag deployment, which if the vehicle is involved in a crash, could result in improper occupant restraint.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the seat position and seat belt fastening condition sensor connector. An additional sub-wire harness will be installed to correct the connector pin manufacturing error, if necessary. The recall began on july 25, 2005. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-431-4331.
Full defect summary
On certain regular cab pickup trucks equipped with a bench seat, the seat position and seat belt buckle sensor connector pins are incorrectly positioned due to a wire harness manufacturing process error.
Brakes: parking brake
Risk: This condition could allow the vehicle to roll if the transmission is not placed into the "park" position and the vehicle is parked on a slope, thus raising the possibility of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten the parking brake pedal cable lock nut to the proper torque specification free of charge. The recall began on march 3, 2005. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Full defect summary
On certain pickup trucks equipped with an automatic transmission, there is a possibility that the parking brake pedal cable lock nut may not have been tightened to the proper torque specification. In this condition, the lock nut may loosen and come off, which will reduce the effectiveness of the parking brake.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2005 Toyota Tacoma
- What are the most common problems with the 2005 Toyota Tacoma?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: body and structure (260 complaints, typically around 109,500 miles); suspension (137 complaints, typically around 102,000 miles); speed control (93 complaints, typically around 56,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2005 Toyota Tacoma have?
- 10 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 29, 2014 (suspension). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2005 a bad year for the Toyota Tacoma?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about Tacoma model year since 2000, with 707 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.