ATTEMPTED TO TRADE VEHICLE IN. INSPECTION BY DEALER REPORTED HOLE IN FRAME. DEALER REFUSED TO TAKE MY TRUCK. ESTIMATED COST TO REPLACE FRAME AT $9,000-$10,000. *JS
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
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.
What owners actually said
414 reportsI WAS DRIVING AT AROUND 15-20 MPH WHEN THE LOWER BALL JOINT ON MY 2004 TACOMA SNAPPED, CAUSING THE UPPER BALL JOINT TO SNAP, PULLING OUT THE AXLE, AND CAUSING SOME OTHER DAMAGE. TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACCEPT THE CLAIM, DENYING THAT MY TRUCK WAS AFFECTED BY THE RECALL (TOYOTA RECALL 50J). I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICE FROM THEM, AND T…
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I WAS DRIVING AT AROUND 15-20 MPH WHEN THE LOWER BALL JOINT ON MY 2004 TACOMA SNAPPED, CAUSING THE UPPER BALL JOINT TO SNAP, PULLING OUT THE AXLE, AND CAUSING SOME OTHER DAMAGE. TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACCEPT THE CLAIM, DENYING THAT MY TRUCK WAS AFFECTED BY THE RECALL (TOYOTA RECALL 50J). I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICE FROM THEM, AND THE TRUCK WAS IN SEVERAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS OVER THE YEARS. THIS COULD HAVE KILLED ME, AND TOYOTA IS DISMISSIVE OF EVERYTHING. DESPITE THE EVIDENCE, THEY CONTINUE TO DENY THAT ANYTHING IS WRONG AND REFUSE TO PAY FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR TO FIX THEIR DEFECT. *TR
I PURCHASED MY 2004 TACOMA AS THE SECOND OWNER. THE VEHICLE HAD THE FRAME REPLACED. UPON MY INITIAL INSPECTION PRIOR TO THE PURCHASE, EVERYTHING UNDERNEATH LOOKED FINE ASIDE FROM WHAT I CONSIDERED NORMAL RUST ON OTHER PARTS SUCH AS THE SKID PLATES. TODAY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE GAS TANK FELL OUT OF THE BOTTOM, RAN INTO …
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I PURCHASED MY 2004 TACOMA AS THE SECOND OWNER. THE VEHICLE HAD THE FRAME REPLACED. UPON MY INITIAL INSPECTION PRIOR TO THE PURCHASE, EVERYTHING UNDERNEATH LOOKED FINE ASIDE FROM WHAT I CONSIDERED NORMAL RUST ON OTHER PARTS SUCH AS THE SKID PLATES. TODAY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE GAS TANK FELL OUT OF THE BOTTOM, RAN INTO AND DRIVE-SHAFT, AND CAME 3 INCHES FROM SCRAPING ACROSS THE PAVEMENT. A LINE SPLIT ON THE TOP OF MY TANK, LEAKING GAS ALL OVER. I'VE CONTACTED TOYOTA, AND THEY SET ME UP WITH A CASE NUMBER, INFORMING ME THAT SOMEONE WILL BE IN TOUCH TOMORROW TO DISCUSS FURTHER. *TR
OIL CHANGED AT TOYOTA DEALER, MECHANIC DISCOVERED REAR DIFFERENTIAL LEAK. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO PRIVATE MECHANIC AND DISCOVERED THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL LEAK WAS CAUSED BY RUST TO THE BODY. THE 2004 TACOMA HAD ONLY 27,000 ORIGINAL MILES WHICH WAS BROUGHT NEW. WEB SEARCH DISCOVERED 20 COMPLAINTS AT LEAST ON THE DIFFERENTIAL RUSTING…
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OIL CHANGED AT TOYOTA DEALER, MECHANIC DISCOVERED REAR DIFFERENTIAL LEAK. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO PRIVATE MECHANIC AND DISCOVERED THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL LEAK WAS CAUSED BY RUST TO THE BODY. THE 2004 TACOMA HAD ONLY 27,000 ORIGINAL MILES WHICH WAS BROUGHT NEW. WEB SEARCH DISCOVERED 20 COMPLAINTS AT LEAST ON THE DIFFERENTIAL RUSTING THRU. TALKING TO THE MECHANIC REVEAL THIS CAN BE A CATASTROPHIC EVENT ON A HIGHWAY WITH THE WHEELS LOCKING UP CAUSING FATALITIES. TOYOTA DEALERS CONTACTED PROVIDED NO HELP OR DID NOT RETURN PHONE CALLS. *TR
I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA PICKUP TRUCK. THIS HAS HAD A VERY BAD FOR A YEAR. THE OTHER DAY THE MOUNT FOR THE RIGHT REAR BROKE AND THE FRONT END OF THE REAR SPRING WAS RUSTED AWAY FROM THE FRAME. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM MY 1996 TOYOTA PICKUP HAD. THAT ONE THE BOUGHT BACK AND I NOW HAVE THIS ONE. THE REST OF THE TRUCK IS PRETT…
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I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA PICKUP TRUCK. THIS HAS HAD A VERY BAD FOR A YEAR. THE OTHER DAY THE MOUNT FOR THE RIGHT REAR BROKE AND THE FRONT END OF THE REAR SPRING WAS RUSTED AWAY FROM THE FRAME. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM MY 1996 TOYOTA PICKUP HAD. THAT ONE THE BOUGHT BACK AND I NOW HAVE THIS ONE. THE REST OF THE TRUCK IS PRETTY GOOD. THE RACK AND PINION STEERING ALSO RUSTED AWAY AND STARTED TO LEAK FLUID. THIS LEAK WAS UNDER THE RIGHT MOUNT OF THE RACK. THIS WAS ALSO FIXED BY ME. THIS IS MY WORK TRUCK AND PERSONAL WAY OF GETTING AROUND. THESE ARE BOTH VERY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEMS !!! I CONTACTED THE CEO OF TOYOTA, TOYOTA SALES IN CALIFORINA AND GIRARD TOYOTA. THEY SAID I SLIPPED THROUGH THE CRACKS AND I DID NOT GET ANY NOTICES !!! THEY ARE PUTTING TONS OF FRAMES ON FOR OTHER PEOPLES BUT I HAVE BEEN SINGLED OUT SOME HOW AND I CANNOT GET ONE. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 20 YEARS !!! THIS WITH OUT QUESTION SHOULD BE A RECALL AND ALL ITEMS CONCERNED SHOULD BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. PLEASE HELP WITH THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *TR
2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FRAME RUST RECALL. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE RECALL, WHEN HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. AN INSPECTION REVEALED, SEVERE RUST ON THE BOTTOM PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE FRAME RAIL. ALSO, HOLES WERE FOUND IN THE FRAME. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, THE RECALL HAD …
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2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FRAME RUST RECALL. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE RECALL, WHEN HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. AN INSPECTION REVEALED, SEVERE RUST ON THE BOTTOM PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE FRAME RAIL. ALSO, HOLES WERE FOUND IN THE FRAME. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO VERIFIED THAT THE FRAME WAS PERFORATED DUE TO CORROSION ON THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO VERIFIED THAT THE FRAME WAS PERFORATED DUE TO CORROSION ON THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND HIT A POTHOLE. THE TRUCK MADE A VERY LOUD METALLIC CRUNCHING SOUND UNDER THE CAB BEHIND ME. AFTER THAT, WHEN I HIT A BUMP, A SIMILAR LOUD METALLIC CRUNCHING SOUND OCCURS. I WENT TO MY MECHANIC, AND HE SAID THAT A BODY-FRAME MOUNT HAD RUSTED THROUGH, AND THAT THERE WAS ALSO EXCESSIVE RUST IN MANY OTHER PLA…
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I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND HIT A POTHOLE. THE TRUCK MADE A VERY LOUD METALLIC CRUNCHING SOUND UNDER THE CAB BEHIND ME. AFTER THAT, WHEN I HIT A BUMP, A SIMILAR LOUD METALLIC CRUNCHING SOUND OCCURS. I WENT TO MY MECHANIC, AND HE SAID THAT A BODY-FRAME MOUNT HAD RUSTED THROUGH, AND THAT THERE WAS ALSO EXCESSIVE RUST IN MANY OTHER PLACES. I HAD EARLIER REPLACED A SHIELD OVER THE GAS TANK THAT HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY AND WAS BANGING AGAINST THE DRIVE SHAFT. I CHECKED WITH TOYOTA ON MY MECHANIC'S ADVICE, AND THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL ON MY TRUCK FOR EXACTLY THIS PROBLEM (EXCESSIVE FRAME RUST), BUT IT HAD EXPIRED IN DECEMBER OF 1012. MY MECHANIC SAYS THAT MY TRUCK MAY BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK IN JULY, 2012 FROM A SUBARU DEALER, RUGE'S IN RHINEBECK, NY. I WAS NOT TOLD ABOUT THE RUST CONDITION, OR ABOUT A RECALL. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY COMMUNICATION FROM TOYOTA ABOUT THIS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IF ANY OPTIONS I HAVE HERE. *TR
POWER RACK AND PINION SYSTEM FAILURE, BAD SEALS IN UNIT, UNIT REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, FAILED AGAIN, AT 10K MILES ON JANUARY 14, 2014. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHEN THEY DETECTED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL HOWEV…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHEN THEY DETECTED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL HOWEVER, THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,223.
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.
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