Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | |||||
| 00504 | 09/09/2004 | 10010043 | Vsc steering angle sensor initialization during pre-delivery service or after repair. *tt | 11/03/2004 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | |||
| 10/04/2012 | |||
| I just traded my harley davidson e-glide for a 2004 toyota tacoma. unfortunately i didn't know about the frame issues! the frame and everything is rusted beyond repair. i called my local toyota dealer and they said that the recall for the frame issues was over. in my opinion toyota should honor the recall as long as their product is out to the public! i love the truck but just don't want to drive because of the safety issues of how bad the frame and all components are! i would appreciate all the help i can get. | |||
| 01/19/2011 | 120000 | ||
| On january 19, 2011 at approximately 7:15 am, i was driving approximately 15 mph on a dirt road, came around an approximate 90 degree right hand turn heading down hill, slid on mud or ice and hit a rut. after all wheels had passed through the rut the vehicle drove up and over a small rise (bump) in the road. after coming over the rise, the right front of the vehicle dove into the dirt and the truck came to an abrubt stop. i turned off the truck and got out of the vehicle to inspect the front end. the right front ball joint had completely separated from ... ??? ... what ever it is suppossed to be attached to. the right front wheel was perpendicular to the wheel well with the inside leaning toward the front of the vehicle. i have several photographs of the vehicle taken moments after the equipment failure. i'm glad this happend where it did because only a few miles further into my trip to work, i would have been traveling 75 mph on the interstate. amen! i had never received any notification from toyota concerning recall no. 50j. i only accidently came across the information while surfing the web within the past week. | |||
| 03/03/2011 | |||
| Loose steering on 2004 toyota tacoma 4x4. isolated loosness to upper steering shaft spline connection. tack welded spline to fix play in steering shaft. my steering had gotten progressively worse so after a lot of examination i found what appears to be the problem. i would like toyota to come out with a redesigned steering column. i have taken vehicle to the dealer about this with no resolution from them. | |||
| 08/19/2010 | |||
| My 2004 tacoma has very low mileage (around 64,000 miles). the steering wheel feels very loose and has alot of abnormal play. driving down the road, the steering wheel shakes, viberates, and rattles around all the time and becomes really bad on rough roads. when there is a slight bump in the road, turning a corner, being blown around in a little wind, or trying to avoid other cars, the trucks steering is so loose that i consider it a major safety hazard. i've done my research online and have found no recalls or tsb's for this problem from toyota, but i have found multiple solutions to the problem which all relate to a poorly designed steering shaft on the column which wears out and results in loose steering. we shouldn't have to resort to the only known fix of welding the two parts of the shaft together. someone should really be concerned about this as it's a major saftey hazard. | |||
| 05/20/2010 | 84000 | ||
| I own a 2004 toyoyta tacoma, all factory standard, very clean, with about 80,000 miles on it. the steering wheel has a very noticeable amount of play in it (about 0.5 to 1 at the rim). the play causes rattling on rough roads, and reduced control on smooth highways. the source of the problem has been narrowed down to the steering shaft. i just researched the issue on line and found a large number of mentions of that very same issue on tacomas and 4-runners. i consider this a manufacturing defect and want toyota to repair it. i assume it could also be a safety issue as it relates to steering. what are my options? | |||
| 08/28/2009 | 179698 | 1 | |
| Complete loss of steering. *tr | |||
| 01/01/2009 | 34000 | 1 | |
| I have a 2004 completely stock toyota tacoma that has never been off road with 36000 miles on it. the steering column upper shaft at the slip joint below the tilt ball joint has become loose. there is play in the steering now causing control of the truck to become less and less precise. i am not the only one with this problem as many people have complained about it on many different toyota tacoma forums. people have had to replace the upper steering shafts but the problem comes back within a few thousand miles usually. toyota needs to recall and redesign a much sturdier part that keeps the steering play at original specs for control and safety. *tr | |||
| 12/12/2008 | 51000 | 1 | |
| 2004 toyota tacoma x-tra cab, 4cyl. with a/t developed power steering leak at 51k. the dealer diagnosed the problem as bad seals in the rack and pinion. when i replaced the rack and pinion, i discovered that a pinch bolt in the steering column had rubbed a hole in the metal power steering feed line going to the rack and pinion. this issue was brought to the dealers attention but the dealer refused to acknowledge the problem and i have been without the use of my '04 toyota truck for 5 months. *tr | |||
| 01/10/2009 | 51000 | 1 | |
| 1) power steering fluid began to leak from area of rack and pinion. 2) toyota dealer mis-diagnosed problem as leaking seals in rack and pinion. 3) leak occurred in metal power steering line (routed too close to steering gear) , where friction from pinch bolt in steering gear has worn a hole in metal power steering line. 4) this causes all fluid to leak from power steering system. 5) 2004 tacoma sr-5 xtra cab, 2.4 litre 4cyl./auto trans, 51k. *tr | |||
| 03/01/2006 | 31846 | 2 | 03/27/2004 |
| 2004 tacoma rack and pinion system was replaced twice per the suggestion of the mechanic. mechanic informed consumer that the steering rod was also broken. although this part was broken the dealer returned the vehicle back to the consumer because they didn't have the part available to repair it. the dealer said there was no danger in driving the vehicle with a steering broken rod. *ts *nm | |||
| 10/15/2005 | 1 | 03/07/2004 | |
| Dt*: the contact stated the rack and pinion steering has been replaced twice due to cracks. the vehicle has been taken to a service dealer who determined that there was a faulty bushing. after the second repair, there was a lot of play in the steering, causing reduced control. the steering rod also failed. updated 04/11/06. *jb | |||
| STEERING - COLUMN | |||
| 01/30/2008 | 69000 | 4 | 06/30/2006 |
| Purchased 2004 tacoma for $18,000, from right toyota in scottsdale, az in june 2006, received bill for $25,000+!! so much for agreeing on a price! i also purchased an extended warranty for $2200 (included in the $25,000). weeks after getting the truck i noticed the rear passenger side seemed to give when turning corners. i assumed i needed to adjust to driving a truck with hard suspension. unfortunately it persisted so i took it into camelback toyota and had them check it out. they assured me that everything was in tip top shape, i got the feeling they never really checked anything out. they just assumed that it would be unusual to see this stuff breakdown, a valid thought, but they were of no help. here it is now, a year and a half later, and its just getting worse! so i took it into earnhardt toyota and the first 2 visits they performed needed front end alignments and tire balancing. they looked at it recently after me yelling at them, and told me that my entire suspension system needs to be replaced. apparently my leaf springs are bad ($1700 purchase and install), and front struts ($650), and rear shocks ($450) as well! so $2800 to repair a truck that i purchased directly from toyota not 1.5 years ago, and even purchased a warranty. they assured me that everything was covered under the warranty. they lied. now i owe $18000 on a $14000 truck! steer clear of right toyota, they totally scammed me. *tr | |||
| 08/20/2005 | 22000 | 1 | 08/29/2004 |
| Noise and excess play in steering wheel when driving over bumpy surfaces. found upper steering shaft slip joint improperly machined /crimped resulting in abnormal noise and excess play when driving under certain conditions. dealer replaced upper steering shaft with and identical part. this part has not been redesigned and will fail again. part is not available as it was replaced under warranty and the dealer kept the old part. have found from others through the internet that this play and noise is very common but no one knew the cause until recently. *nm | |||
| 09/28/2005 | 15000 | 0 | 12/20/2003 |
| 1) normal driving, on road and off of highway on dirt roads 2) loose steering shaft, rattles on rough roads or when hitting obstacles in road. 3) dealer claims suspension modifications have voided my warranty on steering components. dealer refuses to do warranty work on vehicle for non related components. | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST - PUMP | |||
| 09/19/2006 | 57000 | 1 | 03/30/2004 |
| Power steering pump seal failed at 57000 miles. failure noticed by (low fluid) pump noise on 09/19/06. pump replaced by dealer on 09/23/06 under extended warranty. dealer stated that they had seen several power steering pump failures with less mileage. *jb | |||
| STEERING - RACK AND PINION - RACK | |||
| 04/20/2006 | 38000 | 1 | 05/07/2004 |
| 2004 toyota tacoma will not pass inspection due to worn steering rack bushings. according to my mechanic (and confirmed as plausible by dealership service dept), this was caused by defective lower ball joints. also, there is a current service/recall bulletin for just this problem. however, dealership and manufacturer representatives both insist the bulletin does not apply to my vehicle. this makes no sense as the problem exists. the bumper to bumper does not apply as the vehicle is currently 2k over. *jb | |||
| STEERING - WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR | |||
| 03/22/2011 | 78210 | ||
| Upon inspection from toyota ,from the dealer bert wolfe toyota in charleston, wv, the frame on my tacoma was failed. the result was perforations from rust. i had previously received a letter stating the there was a recall on my truck. the letter stated that it necessary to be inspected for frame corrosion, and that three possible outcomes would arise: 1) upon the passing of the corrosion test an anti-corrosion treatment would be applied and a replacement vehicle would be extended until the treatment was complete. 2) upon the failure of the test (meaning the frame had corrosion) the frame would be replaced, and a replacement vehicle would be rendered. 3) upon failure of the test toyota may repurchase my vehicle at a price of 150% of the kelly blue book value. none of these outcomes were instituted upon failure of my frame corrosion test. bert wolfe toyota failed the frame, stated they would replace the frame , but it would take six months. they placed me back in my truck which failed the test, without a temporary replacement. my complaint is that a) my truck will never be the equivalent, all of the parts that will be taken off and/or replaced and then reinstalled on the new frame, causes for safety concerns. there is a high probability that something will be overlooked in the process of reinstallation. b) that the parts that connect to the frame or located in it's vicinity will corrode eventually causing safety concerns. c) my vehicle failed a test in which the frame is considered unsafe, and i was sent off in that same vehicle without a provisional replacement. | |||