Toyota Tacoma Complaints (1996)

253 consumer complaints on file.

#10191921May 29, 2007
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR DOES NOT HAVE A SAFETY CRASH BAR. WHEN REPAIRING A BROKEN LOCK, THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NO SAFETY CRASH BAR INSTALLED IN THE DOOR. PRESENTLY, NO FAILURE HAS OCCURRED. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 190,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS INAPPLICABLE. UPDATED 02-01-08. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140185October 25, 2005
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
INITIALLY FELT A VIBRATION IN MY STEERING WHEEL AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL. WAS TRYING TO DECIDE FROM WHERE THE PROBLEM CAME WHEN MY LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW IT'S ENTIRE TREAD, WHICH THEN WRAPPED AROUND MY AXLE, CAUSING ME TO SPIN 360 DEGREES AND OFF THE HIGHWAY AND DOWN A GRASSY SLOPE, WHICH, FORTUNATELY, WAS SOFT ENOUGH TO STOP ME WITHOUT MAKING ME FLIP OVER. DAMAGE: WHEEL RIM AND COVER, WHEEL WELL LINER RIPPED OFF, THEREBY BENDING IT'S REAR BRACKET, WHICH IN TURN PULLED MY FENDER IN. TREAD WRAPPED AROUND AXLE BENT, BUT DID NOT CRIMP, MY HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE. I MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE ASPHALT TO CHANGE THE TIRE, BUT IT CAME TO A HALT BECAUSE OF THE AXLE BEING WRAPPED. WAS UNABLE TO PUT ON SAFETY BRAKE UNTIL I LIFTED THE VEHICLE ENOUGH TO UNWRAP THE TREAD FROM THE AXLE. HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH FIRESTONE AND EXPECT THEM TO PAY FOR MY DAMAGES. THEIR POLICY IS TO DEMAND THE OLD TIRE BACK BEFORE ANY PAYOUT CAN BE MADE AND I INTEND TO FIGHT THAT, SINCE THE DEALER HAS ALREADY DISPOSED OF THE EVIDENCE. MY FEELING IS THAT THE DEALER WAS EITHER IGNORANT OF THAT POLICY OR NEGLIGENT IN TELLING ME OF IT OR THAT FIRESTONE INSTRUCTED THEM NOT TO TELL CUSTOMERS OF THAT REQUIREMENT. I DID TELL THE DEALER THAT I INTENDED TO FILE A CLAIM WITH FIRESTONE. DEALER AS MUCH AS ADMITTED A FAULTY PRODUCT SINCE THEY DID NOT CHARGE ME FOR A NEW TIRE. THEY DID, HOWEVER, CHARGE ME LABOR. ROTATION AND COURTESY CHECK WERE PERFORMED BY DEALER ON 20 JULY 2005 AND THEY STATED THEY HAD CHECKED TIRE PRESSURE. *NM *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131121August 2, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY VEHICLES ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH A FEW DAYS AGO AND WE BEGAN TROUBLE SHOOTING TO FIND THE CAUSE. WE PULLED THE SPARK PLUGS AND FOUND RUST AND WATER ON ONE PLUG. WE CLEANED THE PLUG UP AND REINSTALLED IT AND RAN THE VEHICLE TO TEST IT. IT RAN SMOOTH FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES THEN BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH AGAIN. WE HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAS FAILED. WE WENT ON THE INTERNET AND LEARNED THAT TOYOTA HAD ISSUED A SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN FOR OUR VEHICLE BACK IN 1999 AND AGAIN IN 2001. THE LAST ONE HAD AN EXPIRATION DATE OF NOVEMBER 30, 2004. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2002 AND WAS NOT AWARE OF THE SERVICE CAMPAIGN UNTIL WE FOUND IT ON THE INTERNET YESTERDAY. WE NOTIFIED TOYOTA AND THEY TOLD US THERE WAS NO RECALL OR CAMPAIGN FOR OUR VEHICLE. WE HAVE DOUBLE CHECKED THE VIN NUMBER WITH THEIR CAMPAIGN NOTICE AND IT IS A MATCH. WE HAVE NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AS WE FEEL THAT TOYOTA SHOULD MAKE IT RIGHT DUE TO NO NOTIFICATION WHEN THE CAMPAIGN WAS ONGOING.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117348March 30, 2005
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE), EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
1996 TOYOTA TACOMA HAS UNDERGONE NUMEROUS REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES VARYING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER,WHEEL REPLACEMENT, 4WD BEING INOPERATIVE AND LEAKAGE ON THE PULLEY.*MR THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE WIPER INSERTS WERE REPLACED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108429February 2, 2005
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:LEAF
BROKEN REAR DRIVER SIDE LEAF SPRINGS ON 1996 TOYOTA TACOMA 4WD EXTENDED CAB LED TO POOR VEHICULAR CONTROL AND TIRE DAMAGE*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10092197September 15, 2004
SUSPENSION
THERE REAR OF THE VEHICLE MADE NOISE. *JB THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE NOISE COULD NOT BE RESOLVED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE DEALER RESOLD THE VEHICLE WITHOUT IT BEING REPAIRED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080965July 13, 2004
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
WHILE STOPPING AT A STORE THE SEATBELT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE LOCKED UP AND WILL NOT RETRACT. HAVING HARD TIME GETTING IT FIXED AT THE DEALER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10076129June 11, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THEY LOCKED UP. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO COLLIDE WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DRIVER'S RESIDENCE. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10066029April 13, 2004
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY
RIGHT SIDE REAR LEAF SPRING BROKE IN HALF AT 79,000 MILES. RODLAND TOYOTA IN EVERETT, WA. STATED THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT DID NOT MENTION THIS AS A KNOWN PROBLEM. NO OFFERS WERE EXTENDED TO CORRECT THE DEFECT. NO MENTION WAS MADE WHEN I PURCHASED THE TRUCK 6 MONTHS AGO (OCT. 03). TRUCK WAS SAID TO BE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10039415September 23, 2003
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE - TREAD SEPARATED ON FREEWAY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10040029September 16, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VEHICLE WHEN REACHING HIGH TEMPERATURE WOULD MISFIRE AND STALL, AND WILL BE DIFFICULT TO RESTART. DEALER STATED CALLED NHTSA.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10033425August 25, 2003
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:LEAF
BAD REAR LEAF SPRINGS, CAUSING EXTREME INSTABILITY. VEHICLE: 1996 TOYOTA TACOMA 4X4 REGULAR CAB, REGULAR BED, 4CYLINDER. THE MIDDLE REAR LEAF SPRING HAS A TENDANCY TO BREAK, EVEN UNDER LIGHT LOADS.*AK ON MY TRUCK, THE DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE AT AROUND 100,000 MILES, THE PASSENGER SIDE BROKE AT ABOUT 110,000 MILES. THIS CREATED TWO PROBLEMS: 1) THE REAR OF THE TRUCK TENDS TO LEAVE THE GROUND ON EVEN SMALL BUMPS. 2) THERE IS LESS WEIGHT TOWARDS THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING A SERIOUS DEGRADATION IN STEERING CONTROL. MY SPRINGS BROKE WITH NO LOAD, I HEARD IT HAPPEN EACH TIME. I CONTACTED A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP EXPECTING THERE IS SOME SORT OF RECALL ON THESE SPRINGS, THEY SAID NO, BUT THERE WAS A 'TECHNICAL BULLETIN' FOR REPLACEMENT OF THESE SPRINGS. TOYOTA WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT, EXCEPT IF UNDER WARRANTY. (MY WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 100,000 MILES) THEY WANTED $345 EACH SIDE, PLUS LABOR TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED. THERE WAS NO WAY I COULD AFFORD IT. I DROVE AROUND WITH FOR A YEAR AND A HALF WITH A BROKEN LEAF SPRING ON EACH SIDE, WONDERING WHEN I WOULD GET IN A CRASH. HOW MANY OTHER TACOMA'S OUT THERE HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM? MANY! I DID SOME RESEARCH INTO FIXING THE PROBLEM MYSELF. I CALLED A LOCAL TOYOTA REPAIR SHOP (NOT THE DEALERSHIP), THEY STATED THAT THIS IS A MAJOR AND VERY VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 1996 TACOMA'S, THAT I WAS THE FOURTH CALLER FOR THAT DAY ALONE ASKING ABOUT THE SPRINGS. DOING MORE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I LEARNED ABOUT COUNTLESS CASES OF BOTH LEAF SPRINGS BREAKING, WITH AND WITHOUT A LOAD. THIS NEEDS TO BE A SAFETY RECALL BECAUSE THE SPRINGS ARE PRONE TO FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY UNSTABLE WHEN THEY ARE BROKEN. I HAVE HIGH QUALITY DIGITAL PHOTO'S AVAILABLE, THE WEB SITE IS STILL BEING DEVELOPED HTTP://TACOMASPRINGS.HOME.COMCAST.NET EMAIL OR CALL, I CAN SEND OUT THE WHOLE CD, I HAVE MORE THAN 50 PHOTOS TOTAL, ALL TAKEN AT 3.1MEGPIXEL. [email protected] THANK YOU. SEAN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10032855August 14, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT, SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY
FAULTY SPEEDOMETER. FRONT END SUSPENSION FAULTY,LEAF SPRING NOISE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10028491July 17, 2003
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DRIVERS SEATBELT NOT WORKING.SEATBELT MECHANISM BROKEN.DEALER CLAIMS $150.00 TO REPAIR.I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND DEFECTIVE PART THAT DEALER SHOULD ADDRESS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10026961July 10, 2003
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER BECAUSE FRONT LEFT TIRE WOBBLED WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER STATED THAT FRAME RAIL WOULD BE REPLACED PER RECALL #96V129000. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10026914July 9, 2003
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, WHEELS
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED FRONT LEFT WHEEL WAS CAVED INWARD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE'S FRAME RAIL WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10014454April 16, 2003
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED CAUSING THE BELT TO BE LOOSE AND TO GET CAUGHT OUTSIDE THE DOOR. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10014455April 16, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER
TOP OF THE SHOCK ABSORBER MOUNT DETACHED FROM THE FRAME BECAUSE OF METAL FAILURE. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10009746March 4, 2003
TIRES
WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING THE REAR RIGHT TIRE BLEW OUT. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10005194February 3, 2003
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:LEAF
REAR LEAF SPRING ON PASSENGER SIDE (# 2 LEAF) HAS CRACKED, LEADING TO UNPREDICTABLE REAR SUSPESION BEHAVIOR OVER BUMPS. THIS IS A WIDELY KNOWN PROBLEM. TOYOTA IS AWARE THAT THERE IS A HIGH FAILURE RATE ON TACOMA LEAF SPRINGS, AS ARE ALL PARTS AND SERVICE PERSONNEL THAT I HAVE SPOKEN TO. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR FOR A KNOWN PROBLEM, TOYOTA SHOULD BE PROVIDING ASSISTANCE/RECALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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