IllustrationTHE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATBELTS HAVE LOST ITS TENSION TO RETRACT. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT IS LOCKED AND WILL NOT RELEASE.
2004 Toyota Tacoma
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2004 Toyota Tacoma do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 228.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Tacoma years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
420–25K
2625–50K
3250–75K
3975–100K
100100–150K
76150K+
315 reports with mileage · 99 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Structure. Review the 203 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 84 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
27 crash reports3 fire reports15 injury reports
Seat Belts complaints
6 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAL BELT RETRACTORS ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, I WAS REAR-ENDED BY A VEHICLE. I HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AND THAT VEHICLE HIT THE ONE IN FRONT OF IT. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY PASSENGER'S HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS WEARING A SEATBELT (THE INTERIOR DESIGN REQUIRED ME TO HAVE THE SEAT POSITIONED QUITE CLOSE TO THE WINDSHI…
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WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, I WAS REAR-ENDED BY A VEHICLE. I HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AND THAT VEHICLE HIT THE ONE IN FRONT OF IT. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY PASSENGER'S HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS WEARING A SEATBELT (THE INTERIOR DESIGN REQUIRED ME TO HAVE THE SEAT POSITIONED QUITE CLOSE TO THE WINDSHIELD). *TR
DECEMBER 26, 2013- GOING EAST ON WARNER RD. AT 45 MILES PER HOUR FROM KYRENE AND WARNER. MINIMAL TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD. AT WARNER AND BULLMOOSE A CAR DID NOT STOP AT THE STOP SIGN AT BULLMOOSE TO PULL OUT ONTO WARNER. I HIT THE CAMARO, T-BONED HIM. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF, MY SEAT BELT TIGHTENED, THEN POPPED OFF OF ME AT SO…
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DECEMBER 26, 2013- GOING EAST ON WARNER RD. AT 45 MILES PER HOUR FROM KYRENE AND WARNER. MINIMAL TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD. AT WARNER AND BULLMOOSE A CAR DID NOT STOP AT THE STOP SIGN AT BULLMOOSE TO PULL OUT ONTO WARNER. I HIT THE CAMARO, T-BONED HIM. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF, MY SEAT BELT TIGHTENED, THEN POPPED OFF OF ME AT SOME POINT DURING THE CRASH. I JUST KNOW THAT WHEN I STOPPED AND PULLED OVER MY SEAT BELT WAS OFF. THAT CONCERNED ME A LOT. THAT WAS THE FIRST THING I NOTICED WHEN I CAME TO A STOP! THE GENTLEMAN THAT I HIT SAID IT WAS HIS FAULT AND HE HAD A BROKEN RIB, BUT OTHER THAN THAT SAID HE WAS OKAY. I HURT AND WAS BRUISED ACROSS MY SHOULDER BLADE, AND CHEST. I HAD MY TOYOTA TACOMA TOWED TO POWER COLLISION CENTER THAT TOYOTA USES. I WENT INTO TO THEM AND TOLD THEM MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE SEAT BELT POPPING. THEY SAID THEY DID NOT SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT, THAT MAYBE MY SWEATER WAS CAUGHT UP IN IT. FIRST OF ALL, I WAS NOT WEARING A SWEATER! AND I AM VERY STRICT ABOUT MY SEAT BELT AND OTHERS IN MY VEHICLE THAT THEY ARE PROPERLY SEAT BELTED! AT TIMES THE SEAT BELT DID NOT TIGHTEN WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES. I THINK JUST TO HUMOR ME THEY REPLACED THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT. THEN HE SAID THEY GET WORN WITH BEING CONNECTED AND UNCONNECTED MANY TIMES. MY QUESTION IS WHY DO WE NOT KNOW THAT WE SHOULD REPLACE OUR SEAT BELTS, LIKE WE DO OUR TIRES. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MY SEAT BELTS IN MY TOYOTA TACOMA. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS DEFECTIVE BECAUSE HE WAS UNABLE TO LATCH THE BELT. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO WARRANTIES ON THE VEHICLE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. TH…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS DEFECTIVE BECAUSE HE WAS UNABLE TO LATCH THE BELT. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO WARRANTIES ON THE VEHICLE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 22,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE SEAT BELTS WERE OPERATING AS DESIGNED. *JB WHEN ATTEMPTING TO LATCH THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER SHOULDER SEAT BELT, THE SEAT BELTS WOULD HAVE TO BE CROSSED OVER THE CENTER SEAT BELT TO BE USED. THIS APPLIED TO ALL OF THE REAR SEAT BELTS. IN ORDER TO USE THE LEFT REAR SHOULDER BELT, …
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THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE SEAT BELTS WERE OPERATING AS DESIGNED. *JB WHEN ATTEMPTING TO LATCH THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER SHOULDER SEAT BELT, THE SEAT BELTS WOULD HAVE TO BE CROSSED OVER THE CENTER SEAT BELT TO BE USED. THIS APPLIED TO ALL OF THE REAR SEAT BELTS. IN ORDER TO USE THE LEFT REAR SHOULDER BELT, IT WOULD HAVE TO GO OVER OR UNDER THE CENTER BELT TO BE USED. *SC *JB
Official recalls
312V542000 · Tires:temporary/emergency Spare Tire
Nov 23, 2012
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2004 Tacoma light trucks manufactured from August 28, 2000, through August 27, 2004, and originally sold, or currently registered, in the following cold climate states with high road salt usage: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. The spare tire in the subject vehicles is located underneath the rear of the vehicle and held by a spare tire carrier. A lift plate on the carrier is used to help raise, lower and retain the tire. During its manufacture, the lift plate may not have been sufficiently coated with anti-corrosion materials. If the plate is insufficiently coated and the vehicle is operated in cold climate regions where road salts are frequently used, road spray can reach the carrier assembly and corrode the lift plate.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Corrosion of the plate could cause it to break, which could result in detachment of the spare tire from the vehicle. Detachment of the spare tire could result in a road hazard which may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace the spare tire carrier lift plate as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in February 2013. Owners may contact their Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.
05V225000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint
May 17, 2005
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, DUE TO A MANUFACTURING ISSUE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE SURFACE OF THE BALL OF THE JOINT MAY HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED. THE BALL JOINT MAY EVENTUALLY EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE WEAR AND LOOSENESS, RESULTING IN INCREASED STEERING EFFORT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE LOWER BALL JOINT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 5, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
04V214000 · Seat Belts:front
May 5, 2004
CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, 'SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES.' THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT HAS INCORRECT MARKINGS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD.
Remedy: DEALERS HAVE REPLACED THE SEAT BELTS. NO VEHICLES WERE SOLD TO CONSUMERS.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.