2005 Toyota Tacoma Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Tacoma years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 32 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 10 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 707 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Toyota Tacoma. That ranks 2nd out of 32 Tacoma model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is structure (260 complaints, 37%), typically at around 109,450 miles. Complaints mention 47 crashes, 4 fires, 16 injuries. There are 10 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 707owner complaints
- 10safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 47complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2005 Toyota Tacoma problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure problems | 260 | 37% | 109,450 | “frame rust” (13%) | — |
| Suspension problems | 137 | 19% | 102,000 | “leaf springs” (15%) | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control problems | 93 | 13% | 58,000 | “floor mat” (17%) | — |
| Steering problems | 61 | 9% | 100,200 | “steering shaft” (25%) | — |
| Power Train problems | 57 | 8% | 26,600 | “rear end” (11%) | — |
| Air Bags | 46 | 7% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 42 | 6% | 119,500 | — | — |
| Tires | 25 | 4% | 3,750 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 20 | 3% | 94,573 | — | — |
| Engine | 18 | 3% | 151,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 15 | 2% | 14,035 | — | — |
| Visibility | 15 | 2% | 49,442 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 14 | 2% | 33,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 9 | 1% | 68,100 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 7 | 1% | 85,107 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 6 | 1% | 99,845 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 6 | 1% | 174,500 | — | — |
| Equipment | 5 | 1% | 53,250 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 5 | 1% | 140,500 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 5 | 1% | 110,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 0% | 2,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 0% | 55,925 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 0% | 134,073 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 2 | 0% | 6,558 | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 0% | 235 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 0% | 6,000 | — | — |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 0% | 5,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2005 Toyota Tacoma recalls (10)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Suspension:rear:springs:leaf spring assembly:leaf
Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 Toyota Tacoma Pre-Runner and 4x4 vehicles manufactured September 14, 2009, to October 11, 2010. In the affected vehicles, one of the leaf springs may fracture due to stress or corrosion. While being driven, the broken leaf could move out of position and contact surrounding components including the fuel tank, possibly puncturing the tank and causing a fuel leak.
Risk: If the fuel tank leaks fuel from being punctured, there is an increased risk of a fire.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners and dealers will install new rear leaf spring assemblies. The recall began on January 29, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
Seat belts
Problem: Toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Tacoma Access Cab vehicles manufactured September 14, 2004, through March 29, 2010; and model year 2011 Tacoma Access Cab vehicles manufactured July 1, 2010, through September 7, 2011. If the access doors are repeatedly and forcefully closed, the screws that attach the seat belt pre-tensioner to the seat belt retractor can loosen over time. If the screws loosen completely, the seat belt pre-tensioner and the retractor spring cover could detach from the seat belt retractor.
Risk: If the seat belt pre-tensioner detaches from the seat belt assembly, the seat belt pre-tensioner will not perform as designed, increasing the risk of injury in a severe crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat belt assemblies. Based on the inspection, the seat belt assembly will be replaced or new pre-tensioner screws will be installed with thread-locking sealant and a retractor spring cover with stopper ribs to prevent loosening of the screws. These services will be provided at no cost to the owner. The recall began during February 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Air bags:frontal
Problem: Toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 tacoma vehicles, manufactured from september 14, 2004, through august 29, 2008. Over time, steering wheel vibration may damage the spiral cable assembly (clockspring) that powers the driverâs air bag module. If damage occurs, the air bag warning lamp will illuminate and the air bag may become deactivated.
Risk: In the event of a crash, the driverâs side air bag may not deploy, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the spiral cable assembly, free of charge. An interim letter is expected to be mailed to owners during april 2012. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Equipment:other:labels
Problem: Gulf states toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold between september 1, 2005 and june 2, 2008 without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
Risk: This does not meet the standard requirements.
Fix: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. Dealers will also correct the owner's manual. The safety recall began on may 27, 2010. Owners may contact gulf states toyota at 713-580-3300.
Equipment:other:labels
Problem: Southeast toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 passenger vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
Risk: A driver may overload a vehicle which may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. The safety recall began on may 27, 2010. Owners may contact southeast toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
Vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal
Problem: Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2010 passenger vehicles. The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat.
Risk: A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota filed an amended defect report on november 25, 2009, stating that dealers will modify the accelerator pedal and, on certain vehicles, alter the shape of the floor surface under the pedal. These changes address the risk of pedal entrapment due to interference with the floor mat. Redesigned accelerator pedals will become available beginning in april 2010 and dealers will replace any modified pedal with the new pedal if desired. Also, dealers will replace any genuine toyota or lexus all-weather floor mats with redesigned all-weather mats, or repurchase the previous mats from owners who do not want the new ones. Additionally, software modifications will be installed on camry, avalon and lexus es 350, is 350 and is 250 models that will ensure that the brake overrides the accelerator in the event both brake and accelerator pedals are applied. Toyota will begin mailing letters to owners on december 31, 2009. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331, lexus at 1-800-255-3987.
Equipment:other:labels
Problem: Toyota is recalling 27,080 model year 2005 through 2010 passenger cars built from september 1, 2005 to may 4, 2009. These vehicles were not equipped with load carrying capacity modification labels which fails to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims."
Risk: Incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels could result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners and provide them with a new, accurate label to be installed over the inaccurate label free of charge. The safety recall began on august 18, 2009. Owners may contact toyota at 1-888-270-9371.
Air bags
Problem: On certain vehicles, due to improper assembly of the air bag inflator, which is used in the side air bag, the curtain shield air bag, and the knee air bag assembly, some inflators were produced with an insufficient amount of the heating agents necessary for proper air bag deployment. In this condition, the expansion force of the gas may be insufficient to properly inflate the air bag when the srs system is activated during a crash.
Risk: This may increase the risk of injury to the occupant in the involved seating position in the event of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the specific srs air bag. The recall began on april 6, 2006. Owners may contact toyota at 1-888-270-9371, scion at 1-866-548-1851, or lexus at 1-800-255-3987.
Air bags
Problem: On certain regular cab pickup trucks equipped with a bench seat, the seat position and seat belt buckle sensor connector pins are incorrectly positioned due to a wire harness manufacturing process error.
Risk: In this condition, the seat position and seat belt buckle sensor may not function as designed, affecting the adaptive air bag deployment, which if the vehicle is involved in a crash, could result in improper occupant restraint.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the seat position and seat belt fastening condition sensor connector. An additional sub-wire harness will be installed to correct the connector pin manufacturing error, if necessary. The recall began on july 25, 2005. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-431-4331.
Parking brake
Problem: On certain pickup trucks equipped with an automatic transmission, there is a possibility that the parking brake pedal cable lock nut may not have been tightened to the proper torque specification. In this condition, the lock nut may loosen and come off, which will reduce the effectiveness of the parking brake.
Risk: This condition could allow the vehicle to roll if the transmission is not placed into the "park" position and the vehicle is parked on a slope, thus raising the possibility of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten the parking brake pedal cable lock nut to the proper torque specification free of charge. The recall began on march 3, 2005. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
I discovered frame perforation rust, for which Toyota sent letters offering to repair or compensate. I have moved to Florida and the letters didn't forward. So I notified Toyota and they said they would not do anything to help. There was a prior class-action lawsuit about this, which prompted…
The frame had rust a lot,had one spot was repaired,still have some need fix
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2005 Toyota Tacoma. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale through OfferUp. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 139,900. It was later discovered that the mileage on the Title was 339,740.
Corrocion en el chasis, el motor se encuentra inclinado
The frame is rusting out substantially. The dealer advised me not to drive because the frame could fail at anytime. I have been driving around unaware of the problem. I could have been killed if the framed failed on the highway. There was no warning light. The Vehicle has been into the dealer and…
Other Toyota Tacoma years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Tacoma | 10 | 0 |
| 2025 Tacoma | 106 | 5 |
| 2024 Tacoma | 152 | 5 |
| 2023 Tacoma | 54 | 4 |
| 2022 Tacoma | 59 | 3 |
| 2021 Tacoma | 81 | 0 |
| 2020 Tacoma | 90 | 1 |
| 2019 Tacoma | 219 | 4 |
| 2018 Tacoma | 209 | 3 |
| 2017 Tacoma | 242 | 5 |
| 2016 Tacoma | 323 | 4 |
| 2015 Tacoma | 101 | 4 |
| 2014 Tacoma | 93 | 4 |
| 2013 Tacoma | 125 | 6 |
| 2012 Tacoma | 295 | 7 |
| 2011 Tacoma | 186 | 9 |
| 2010 Tacoma | 294 | 13 |
| 2009 Tacoma | 519 | 13 |
| 2008 Tacoma | 447 | 11 |
| 2007 Tacoma | 541 | 10 |
| 2006 Tacoma | 782 | 11 |
| 2005 | 707 | 10 |
| 2004 Tacoma | 414 | 3 |
| 2003 Tacoma | 360 | 3 |
| 2002 Tacoma | 333 | 3 |
| 2001 Tacoma | 396 | 4 |
| 2000 Tacoma | 211 | 0 |
| 1999 Tacoma | 249 | 0 |
| 1998 Tacoma | 300 | 1 |
| 1997 Tacoma | 131 | 0 |
| 1996 Tacoma | 253 | 1 |
| 1995 Tacoma | 177 | 2 |
See all Toyota Tacoma problems by year, every Toyota model, or the Toyota VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Toyota Tacoma?
Owners most often report structure, suspension, vehicle speed control problems. The top one, structure, accounts for 260 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2005 Toyota Tacoma?
Yes, 10 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2005 Toyota Tacoma a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Tacoma model years, the 2005 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.