2005 Toyota Tacoma Power Train

The differential drive housing failed due to corrosion resulting in the differential oil leaking out at a significant rate and in loss of lubrication of the differential gears. The condition was detected before any significant loss of material condition or function but could have lead to a loss of vehicle control if the differential had failed. The local Toyota Dealer has not reviewed the condition as of yet. A review of several Tacoma internet forum sights finds similar corrosion failures described (oil leaking from differential housing). There is no monitoring/warning indicator for the oil level condition in the differential housing in this vehicle.

SQUIRK-LIKE SOUND AT THE BEGINNING OF A TRIP, SPECIFICALLY WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHES 5 MPH. THIS NOISE PREVAILS AS LONG AS THE SPEED IS INCREASED, SPECIFICALLY ALONG THE RANGE OF 5 TO 15 MPH. FROM 16 MPH IT STARTS A VIBRATION ALONG THE ENTIRE VEHICLE BODY, WHICH AUGMENTS AS LONG AS THE SPEED IS INCREASED. THESE SYMPTOMS APPEARED FOR FIRST TIME 5 YEARS AGO, APPROXIMATELY. ON THAT FIRST EVENT THE PROPELLER SHAFT SPIDER ANT THEIR BEARINGS WERE REPLACED BY THE TECHNICIAN WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT. NOWADAYS I JUST SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER TOYOTA AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER FOR PROPER DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. IT IS NECESSARY TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS AUTOMOTIVE UNIT PRESENTED SYMPTOMS OF VIBRATION AT CRUISE SPEED (55 MPH), SINCE THE VERY FIRST TIME IT WAS DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY, FOR THE YEAR OF 2005. WHEN THAT OCCURRED, THIS DRIVER BROUGHT THE UNIT TO THE DEALER. THE RESPONSE WAS THAT THE VIBRATION DESCRIBED IS "NORMAL". THIS STRANGE "SHAKING" AT CRUISE SPEED HAS NOT DISAPPEARED. IT THINK IT IS A DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING DEFECT OF THE PROPELLER SHAFTS AND THEIR JOINTS, WHICH CAUSE A DYSFUNCTIONAL PROPELLER SHAFT RUNOUT (GREATER THAN 0.6MM [0.024 IN.]). OTHER TACOMA 2005 OWNERS HAVE LET ME KNOW THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME SITUATION IN THEIR VEHICLES. THIS COULD REPRESENT A POTENTIAL SAFETY RISK FOR ALL VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.

2005 TOYOTA TACOMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING, GEAR SHIFTER PROBLEMS AND STALLING ISSUES. *LD *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS SOFT. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL TURN SPRING WAS DEFECTIVE. AS A RESULT, THE CLUTCH PEDAL CAUSED THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER ROD TO BEND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER ROD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT OFFER ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

MY TRUCK HAS BEEN AT [XXX] FOR 2 MONTHS TO BE WORKED ON AND I FEEL THAT THIS IS NOT RIGHT I COUNT ON MY TRUCK. WE HAD TO [XXX] AND WE COULDN'T COUNT ON THEM EITHER THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT OF ONE LEFT US WAKING AND WE TRADE IT IN ON OTHER ONE BECAUSE IT WAS GONE OUT AGAIN SO THE NEW ONE WE JUST LET GO BACK BECAUSE THE SAME THING WAS HAPPEN TO IT REALLY DID MESSED UP OUR CREDIT I KNOW YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT ANY OF THIS BUT I WOULD LIKE MY TRUCK SOON AND I WON'T BUY NO MORE TOYOTA AND WON'T TELL ANYONE ELSE TO EITHER THANK YOU AS IF YOU CARE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CLUTCH FAILED TO SHIFT AND CAUSED AN ABNORMAL ODOR. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CLUTCH, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A LOUD NOISE WAS EXHIBITED FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE TRANSMISSION BELL HOUSE, WHICH WAS MADE OF ALUMINUM AND CAUSING THE ABNORMAL NOISE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION BELL HOUSE SEVERAL TIMES UNDER THE WARRANTY BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE BELL HOUSE CONTINUED TO EXHIBIT THE LOUD NOISE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

THIS IS THE 3RD OR 4TH TIME MY REAR END IN MY 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA HAS BLOWN. EVERYTIME I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA AND IT REACHES THREE COMPLAINTS OR REPAIRS THEY DENY THE CLAIM SO IT DOESN'T GO AGAINST THEIR INCIDENTS FOR RECALLS. THE LAST REAR END WENT IN APPROX 4000 MILES AGO FROM ROHRICH TOYOTA. SOMEONE REALLY SHOULD INVESTIGATE THE PRACTICES THAT TOYOTA AND THEIR DEALERSHIPS HAVE. I HAVE 77000 MILES AND AN EXTENDER WARRANTY 10 YEAR 100000 WARRANTY THE OEM JUST RAN OUT BUT I'M STILL WITHIN MY MILEAGE AND AGE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT ANY RATE OF SPEED IN FOURTH GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD INTERMITTENTLY SWITCH INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARRANT. WHEN PLACED BACK INTO FOURTH GEAR, THE VEHICLE WOULD FUNCTION AS NORMAL UNTIL THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR. THE CONTACT STATED HE WOULD EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE AT LEAST ONCE EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL AND WOULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE AND WAS NO LONGER OPERATING IT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000.

MY WIFE AND I BOUGHT A "CERTIFIED USED" 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA LAST YEAR. AUTO 4X4 EXT CAB TRD WITH 42K... GREAT TRUCK BUT WE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE THAT I'VE HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT. AFTER STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT, SEVERAL SECONDS LATER IT WANTS TO LUNGE FORWARD. NOT EVERY TIME BUT PROBABLY 1 OUT OF 5 STOPS. AS ONE OWNER PUT IT, IT FEELS AS THOUGH AS SOMEONE IS TRYING TO PUSH YOU WITH THEIR CAR. NO, ITS NOT THE FLOOR MATS OR ONE FOOT ON BOTH PEDALS. SO FAR IT HASN'T JUMPED FORWARD AND HIT ANYONE BUT I HAVE READ THAT IT'S HAPPENED.. PLAN ON TAKING IT IN TO THE DEALER SO THEY CAN GIVE ME THE RUN AROUND... *TR

MY 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA USED TO LUNGE FORWARD AND ACCELERATE WHILE STOPPED. IT HAPPENED OVER THE SEVERAL YEARS I OWNED IT. I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER AND THEY IGNORED ME. I WOULD ALWAYS MAKE SURE I HAD THE BRAKE DEPRESSED HARD WHILE STOPPED. *TR

MY SON WAS DRIVING HIS 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA WHEN SUDDENLY HE HEARD AND FELT A SUDDEN LOUD NOISE LIKE A GUN SHOT. HE LOST ALL POWER IN HIS TRUCK. HE WAS ABLE TO GET HIS TRUCK OFF THE INTERSTATE. HE DISCOVERED HIS DRIVE SHAFT HAD FALLEN OUT! IT IS A MIRACLE HE WAS NOT KILLED! IT IS ONLY BY GOD'S GRACE THAT WHEN THE FRONT U-BOLT BROKE, THE DRIVE SHAFT BROKE INTO TWO PIECES. THE REAR PIECE CAUGHT ON THE REAR AXLE. WE ARE PLEASED HE WAS NOT HURT, BUT IS THIS SAME PROBLEM TOYOTA HAS WITH ITS 2010 TOYOTA TACOMA? PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. *TR UPDATED 09/23/10 * BF THE DRIVESHAFT HAD TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED IVOQ 09/24/10

2005 TOYOTA TACOMA AUTOMATIC LURCHES FORWARD AT STOP AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. WIFE COMPLAINED THAT SOMETIMES IT FELT LIKE SHE HAD BEEN HIT IN REAR END. I HAVE NOTICED THE SAME WHILE DRIVING HER TRUCK. SHE SAYS IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR A LONG TIME. WITH ALL THE REPORTS ON THIS PROBLEM, SEEMS LIKE TOYOTA WOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. *TR

TRUCK LURCHES FORWARD AFTER COMPLETE STOP. *TR

MY 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA ENGINE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE PEDAL MOVED TO FLOOR AND STAYED THERE. I IMMEDIATELY PUSHED IN THE CLUTCH. I CHECKED TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS NO INTERFERENCE FROM THE RUBBER MAT AND PUMPED THE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES WHILE COASTING. AFTER ABOUT FIVE SECONDS, THE ENGINE DROPPED FROM REDLINE AND RESUMED NORMAL IDLE. IN AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A HIGHLY DANGEROUS CONDITION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE COMING FROM THE WHEELS. THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED INTO PARK IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS, BUT THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY OPERATING PROPERLY. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000. SEE ALSO 10254167. DSY

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA 4.0 V6 LURCHES WHILE STOPPED AND TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE. TRANSMISSION ALSO SHUDDERS BETWEEN SHIFTS. *TR

MY 2005 TACOMA HAS HAD A CLUTCH SQUEAL SINCE IT WAS BRAND NEW. TOYOTA HAS REPLACED 2 CLUTCHES AFTER 2 RELEASE BEARING FAILURES IN LESS THEN 1 YEARS TIME. AFTER THE SECOND CLUTCH THE SQUEAL CAME BACK WITHIN 3,000 MILES. THE DEALER LUBED THE SLAVE CYLINDER / CLUTCH FORK INTERSECTION POINT. AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS FROM 48 HRS TO 1 MONTH INTERVALS THEY LUBED IT NUMEROUS TIMES. FED UP I INFORMED THEM I WOULD NOT BE COMING IN CONSTANTLY TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION LUBED. THEY REPLACED THE SLAVE CYLINDER AND CLUTCH FORK. WITHIN 48 HRS THE SQUEAL WAS BACK. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE IN FOR A TOYOTA FIELD TECH TO LOOK AT THE REPLACED THE CLUTCH RETURN SPRING. WITHIN 24 HOURS THE SQUEAL WAS BACK. DURING ALL THE INCIDENTS I CONTACTED TOYOTA TO KEEP THEM INFORMED OF THE ISSUES. THE LATEST CALL RESULTED IN ESCALATION AS I HAVE REQUESTED REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION AS THERE IS APPARENTLY A DEFECT IN THE CASTING OF THE TRANSMISSION OR AN INTERNAL ISSUE. TOYOTA CALLED ME BACK TO SAY THEY WOULD WORK OUT A PLAN WITH MY DEALER TO FIX THE VEHICLE. (THIS IS AFTER 13 TRIPS TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BETWEEN REPAIRS AND LUBE TRIPS.) I WAS INFORMED I WOULD BE CALLED BACK NO LATER THEN THURSDAY NOV 14TH. AS OF THIS POINT THERE HAS BEEN NO CONTACT AND I'M TAKING LEGAL ACTIONS. *TR

2005 TACOMA, TRD SPORT PKG, 6 SPEED MANUAL BEHIND A V6. AT ABOUT 27K THE CLUTCH PEDAL STARTED MAKING THIS HORRENDOUS SQUEAK. THE DEALER PERFORMED A TSB TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY. SQUEAK WAS GONE FOR ABOUT 6K MILES BUT THE PEDAL STICKS. SINCE THAT FIRST REPLACEMENT OF THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY, THE DEALER GREASES IT EVERY 6-8K MILES BECAUSE THE SQUEAK KEEPS RETURNING AND THE PEDAL STILL STICKS! THEY DID REPLACE THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY A SECOND TIME HOWEVER NOW THE PEDAL FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO FALL OFF AND IT STILL STICKS. THE LAST STRAW WAS WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS "EXCESSIVE USE OF THE PEDAL, THE TRUCK WAS NOT MADE TO DRIVE IN TRAFFIC". WHAT THE HECK WAS IT MADE FOR?? I DRIVE THE HIGHWAY EVERYDAY TO WORK AND YES, I OCCASIONALLY GET CAUGHT IN TRAFFIC DUE TO AN ACCIDENT, BUT THAT MIGHT HAPPEN ONCE EVERY OTHER WEEK! TOYOTA CORPORATE WAS NO HELP, THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO WORK WITH THE DEALER BECAUSE I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE DEALER DOESN'T RETURN PHONE CALLS AND I AM STUCK WITH A TRUCK THAT HAS A BAD CLUTCH PEDAL! *TR

ALMOST DAILY MY 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA DOUBLE CAB TRUCK LURCHES FORWARD DURING DECELERATION AND ALSO AT A COMPLETE STOP. A FEW TIMES IT HAS LURCHED FORWARD A FOOT OR MORE WHILE IDLING AT A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT. *JB UPDATED 10/16/07 *TR

UPON COMING TO A STOP (MOST OF THE TIME...PERHAPS MORE THEN 50%), THE VEHICLE WILL 'LURCH' FORWARD SLIGHTLY...EVEN WHEN THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED. THIS WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER A YEAR AGO (AND IS ON FILE WITH THEM). I WAS TOLD THAT THIS CONDITION WAS 'NORMAL'. NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN BY THE DEALER TO CORRECT OR OTHERWISE STOP THIS CONDITION. IT HAS NOT BEEN SO BAD THAT I COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE (JUST PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL HARDER). STILL, IF NOT PAYING ATTENTION, A COLLISION MIGHT READILY OCCUR IN STOPPED TRAFFIC. *JB

LATE SHIFTING, SHUDDERING, LURCHING AT IDLE. *TR

1) 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA "LURCH" WHILE SLOWING OR STOPPED. I HAVE NOTICED IT WITH OR WITHOUT A/C OR DEFROST ON. GENERALLY, I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, AND A FEW SECONDS LATER, IT FEELS AS THOUGH THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD SLIGHTLY. 2) WHILE IT HAS NOT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, IT IS SOMEWHAT DISCONCERTING. 3) NO REPAIRS OR REPLACEMENT PARTS HAVE BEEN EFFECTED. I'VE GUESSED IT IS A TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFT, AND THE RESULTING INCREASED TORQUE AT THE REAR WHEELS RESULTS IN THE LURCH. THE MORE FIRMLY THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE LESS NOTICEABLE THE PROBLEM. *JB

WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP FOR SEVERAL SECONDS TO A MINUTE WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE , E.G. AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE WILL SURGE FORWARD AS IF THE GAS PEDAL HAS BEEN MOMENTARILY DEPRESSED.*AK

THIS IS A FOLLOW UP TO A PREVIOUS COMPLAINT REGARDING DIFFICULTY SHIFTING PARTICULARLY FROM 1ST TO 2ND. AFTER SENDING THREE CERTIFIED LETTERS TO TOYOTA (THE LAST SENT TO THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE) I FINALLY, MORE THAN 6 MONTHS LATER, RECEIVED A WRITTEN RESPONSE. PERHAPS BECAUSE OF THE REASONS I CITED FOR MY FAILED MEDIATION ATTEMPT (IN PARTICULAR BEING GIVEN BAD ADVICE, WHICH, AT THE TIME, I NAIVELY ACCEPTED, BY THE TOYOTA FACTORY TRAINED SPECIALIST ON HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE MEDIATION) I WAS GRANTED A SECOND ATTEMPT AT MEDIATION. THE TRANSMISSION CONTINUES TO BEHAVE IN THE FASHION I PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED. I SIMPLY CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY IT IS "NORMAL" FOR THE GEARS TO INTERMITTENTLY CLASH (AND THE COLDER IT IS, GRIND) WHEN SHIFTING. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING 5 SPEEDS FOR MORE THAN 2 DECADES. *JB