There are 13 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2004 Toyota Tacomain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
ABS ACTUATOR ASSY FELL OFF THE VEHICLE, IT WAS MOUNTED ON RIGHT REAR AXLE HOUSING, AND BANGED AROUND VEHICLE AND GROUND. VEHICLE APPEARS TO BE OK AND ASSY IS HELD IN PLACE BY WIRE. IS IT SAFE TO DRIVE? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS DRIVING 20 MPH AND COMPLETING A RIGHT TURN WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL ABNORMALLY WENT DOWN TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT TWO BRAKES LINES WERE FRACTURED AND WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE MECHANIC THEN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL FOR FRAME CORROSION, AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO CONFIRM FRAME CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 12/4/13*CN
LEVER ASSEMBLY AND BRAKE DRUM FOR REAL WHEEL EMERGENCY BRAKES RUSTED TO THE POINT THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS INOPERABLE (SEIZED). CONDITION HAS CAUSED REAR BRAKE TO BE PARTIALLY ENGAGED WHETHER PARKING BRAKE IS PULLED OR NOT. THIS WEARS OUT THE REAR BRAKE PADS VERY FAST, AND MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON AN INCLINE. WILL NOT PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING DOWN HILL, NOR WILL IT STOP THE VEHICLE DURING AN EMERGENCY APPLICATION OF THE BRAKE. IT IS NO LONGER FUNCTIONING AS AN EMERGENCY BRAKE. *TR
2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BRAKE LINE RUPTURE. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE THE BRAKE LINE UNDER WARRANTY, BECAUSE THE FRAME CAUSED THE BRAKE LINE TO RUPTURE. TOYOTA INFORMED THE CONSUMER, A RECALL WAS ISSUED IN 2010, WHERE THE FRAME WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SPRAYED AND TREATED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. *JB
AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES IN A HEAVY, WET SNOW, SHIFTER ON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COULD NOT BE MOVED PAST REVERSE INTO PARK. PARKING BRAKE COULD NOT BE PULLED. BLOCKAGE OF BOTH COMPONENTS FELT QUITE SOLID. BECAUSE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE PUT INTO PARK, IGNITION COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF AND KEY REMOVED. VEHICLE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN LEFT ON A SLOPE WITHOUT A CHOCK BLOCK. AFTER SNOW FELL OUT/MELTED ALL SYSTEMS RETURNED TO NORMAL OPERATION. *TR
2004 TRD TACOMA TRUCK BRAKES NOT GOOD I HAVE PROBLEM WITH BRAKES SINCE I PURCHASE TRUCK. *TR
PARKING BRAKE SEIZED AT WHEEL HUB. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN SHAKING AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FELT ROUGH AND WAS VIBRATING. THE CONTACT HEARD METAL RUBBING AGAINST METAL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND A BRAKE INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ROTORS WERE WARPED AND THE REAR BRAKES FAILED BECAUSE THEY WERE IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED. THE CONTACT LATER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TOYOTA AND THEY COULD NOT MAKE ANY REPAIRS BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE CONTACT INFORMED TOYOTA THAT THE REPAIR WAS PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE HAS RECURRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,500. UPDATED 01-11-08. *KB UPDATED 12/12/07
DECEMBER 16, 2006 - CLEAR SUNNY DAY, GREAT ROAD CONDITIONS. I WAS 40 FEET BEHIND A VEHICLE GOING 35 MPH WHEN A SUV SLAMMED ON BRAKES. MY 2004 TOYOTA PRERUNNER BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR AND MY TRUCK WOULD NOT STOP. AFTER HITTING THE SUV AND COMING TO A STOP, I RELEASED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE AND THE PEDAL WENT BACK TO IT'S NORMAL POSITION. *NM
#1. 2004 TACOMA DBL CAB TRD: I'M ON MY 3RD SET OF ROTORS AND DRUMS AT JUST 40,000 MILES. EACH SET OF ROTORS WARPED AT JUST OVER 10,000 MILES CAUSING THE EXPECTED PULSING AND BOUNCING. I'M EXPECTING THE 3RD SET TO DO THE SAME. #2. SINCE ABOUT 10,000 MILES, I HAVE EXPERIENCED A "THUMPING" WITH A CORRESPONDING JOLT OF THE GEAR SHIFT UPON FINISHING A BREAKING CYCLE. THIS ALSO HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY WHEN RELEASING THE FOOT BRAKE. SOMETIMES IT IS QUITE LOUD AND VIOLENT. I AM AWARE THAT ALL THE LATE MODEL AUTOMATICS DO THIS. THE FACTORY HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE THEIR "FIX" WAS TO DRILL A HOLE IN THE TWO-PIECE DRIVE SHAFT TO "VENT" THE TRAPPED AIR. THIS VERY TEMPORARILY SOLVED THE PROBLEM. AGAIN TODAY, THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THE "THUMP" AND TOLD ME THAT THIS IS "THE WAY THE TRUCK IS SUPPOSED TO OPERATE" AND THAT I SHOULD "CHANGE MY BRAKING HABITS". ON A 15 MINUTE TEST DRIVE IT PROBABLY DOESN'T SEEM TOO BAD. BUT I HAVE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ALL THE TIME AND IT IS VERY ANNOYING (AND THIS WAS NOT HAPPENING WHEN I TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE BEFORE I PURCHASED IT). PERHAPS THIS IS NOT A "SAFETY" ISSUE, BUT IT IS INSULTING TO BE TOLD THAT THIS IS "NORMAL". THEY MUST THINK I'M AN IDIOT OR SOMETHING. JUST BECAUSE ALL THE LATE MODEL TACOMAS DO IT, DOES NOT MAKE IT RIGHT! IT'S SO ARROGANT FOR THEM TO EXPECT US TO LIVE WITH THIS DEFECT IN DESIGN. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THIS SAME PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE SOMETIMES VIOLENT SHIFTS ESPECIALLY FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. #3. THERE IS ALSO A VIBRATION THAT COMES UP THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL AT ABOUT 40 MILES PER HOUR. IT IS THE FREQUENCY OF THE DRIVE SHAFT, NOT THE TIRES. I CAN ALWAYS TELL WHEN I'M AT 40 MPH WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT THE SPEEDOMETER. *JB
PURCHASED NEW 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA ON 1/24/05. AT 1,577.8 MILES, RIGHT REAR BRAKE DRUM AND WHEEL COVERED WITH GEAR OIL. REPAIRED AT TOYOTA OF GREENFIELD, MA. 01302, PHONE 413-772-0231 2/17/05. BEGAN LEAKING AGAIN ON 2/21/05, AT 1844.6 MILES. RETURNED TO GREENFIELD ON 2/28/05 AT 2284 MILES. CONTACTED DEALER AGAIN ON 4/8/05 AT 67345.9 MILES BRAKE DRUM AND TIRE STILL COVERED WITH OIL. DEALER SAID KEEP DRIVING IT AND THE LEAK WILL GO AWAY. CONTACTED TOYOTA CONSUMER SERVICE ON 4/14/05 CASE #[XXX]. RECEIVED NO FOLLOW UP CORRESPONDENCE FORM FABIOLA. VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LEAK GEAR OIL AND HANDLE POORLY WHEN BRAKING. CONTACTED NEW DEALER(TOYOTA OF COLCHESTER, CT.) ON 5/27/05. VEHICLE REPAIRED ON 6/2/05 AT 8,188 MILES. CONTACTED DEALER AGAIN ON 6/29/05 AT 9085.1 MILES. VEHICLES WAS PICKED UP ON 7/11/05. TRIES ROTATED ON VEHICLE ON 9/26/05 AT 17,266.4 MILES. FOUND OIL ON BRAKE SHOES AND INSIDE OF BRAKE DRUM SEVERELY GLAZED. NEW CASE FILED ON 7/28/05 CASE # [XXX] WITH SALVADORE. I AM STILL DRIVING A VEHICLE WITH THE INTEGRITY OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS COMPROMISED. AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED A REASONABLE RESOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM FROM TOYOTA MOTOR COMPANY. IS IT A COMMON PRACTICE FOR AN AUTO MAKER TO LET A CONSUMER KNOWINGLY DRIVE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. UNFORTUNATELY I AM STILL PAYING ON A BRAND NEW VEHICLE THAT I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING. THE REGIONAL FIELD SERVICE TECHNICIAN, JOE LACEFIELD FROM TOYOTA MOTOR COMPANY HAS BEEN UNAVAILABLE BY PHONE FOR THE LAST WEEK 1-973-464-0938. I WOULD LIKE MY MONEY RETURNED FOR THIS VEHICLE IN FULL. I FEEL THAT I HAVE BEEN MORE THAN PATIENT IN TRYING TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER WITH TOYOTA MOTOR COMPANY. V.I.N. # [XXX]. *JB UPDATED 07/18/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
CONSUMER EXPERIENCED HESITATION WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT AND WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE BRAKE PEDAL SUNK TO THE FLOOR. SHE THEN HAD VEHICLE SERVICED, AND WAS TOLD THAT WHAT SHE WAS EXPERIENCING WAS NORMAL.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, IN INCLEMENT WEATHER THE BRAKES FAILED. THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP COMPLETELY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. THIS INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED BY THE CONSUMERS DAUGHTER. *JB *ER
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026