Worst 2004 Toyota Tacoma Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Body Structure
Suspension Failures
Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2004 Toyota Tacoma.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body Structure | 128 | 2 | — | 133,102 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 71 | 5 | — | 129,139 mi | |
| Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields | 39 | — | 1 | 119,118 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 25 | 4 | — | 74,601 mi | |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 24 | 1 | — | 91,558 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 23 | 1 | — | 100,061 mi | |
| Fuel System | 15 | — | — | 99,102 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 14 | — | — | 97,309 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 14 | — | — | 75,517 mi | |
| Structural Problems | 13 | 2 | — | 69,799 mi | |
| Airbags | 12 | 7 | — | 118,953 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 11 | — | — | 111,414 mi | |
| Brakes | 10 | 1 | — | 103,075 mi | |
| Wheel Issues | 10 | 2 | — | 136,744 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 6 | — | — | 56,575 mi | |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | 5 | — | — | 88,912 mi | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 4 | 2 | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 | 3 | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Steering:Column | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Parking-Brake Issues | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Floor Shift | 2 | — | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2004 Toyota Tacoma. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2004 Toyota Tacoma
1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~150,000 vehicles.
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.
Other Toyota Tacoma Years
2004 Toyota Tacoma — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2004 Toyota Tacoma reliable?
What are common problems with the 2004 Toyota Tacoma?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2004 Toyota Tacoma?
How safe is the 2004 Toyota Tacoma?
Does the 2004 Toyota Tacoma have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2004 Toyota Tacoma?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Toyota Tacoma reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2004 Toyota Tacoma
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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