2008 Toyota Tacoma VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
ONGOING TOYOTA ACCELERATOR SURGE. THIS CANNOT BE A FLOOR MAT PROBLEM UNLESS THE FLOOR MATS ARE ALIVE. I HAVE EXPERIENCED PERIODIC SURGES AFTER I HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY STOPPED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, LIKE AT A STOP LIGHT. VEHICLE WILL MOVE FORWARD BUT SO FAR THE ACCELERATOR HASN'T STUCK CAUSING A CRASH. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT INTERMITTENTLY HE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED VEHICLE ACCELERATION. HE HAD TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO THE NEUTRAL GEAR TO DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 16,200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 16,900.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA TACOMA . WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PASS A VEHICLE AT 55 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK. THE VEHICLE THEN ACCELERATED TO 100 MPH. AFTER REPEATED BRAKE APPLICATION HE WAS ABLE TO DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. AFTER TWO DAYS OF INSPECTION, THE TECHNICIANS COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 23000. UPDATED 12/9/09 *CN UPDATED 12/10/09.*JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE SPEED INCREASED TO 80 MPH UNEXPECTEDLY. SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH BOTH FEET, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF A GRAVEL ROAD AND PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV AND SHE HAD TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE TO MAKE IT STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN APRIL OF 2008 AND THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE DEALER INFORMED HER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THEM AT HER EXPENSE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FLOOR MATS CAUSED THE ACCELERATION, ALTHOUGH THEY WERE NOT IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT DOES NOT WANT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,140. UPDATED 03/13/09. *JB
2008 TOYOTA TACOMA TRD OFF-ROAD LARGE, SUDDEN, UNEXPECTED INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS WHILE STOPPED AT A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT. I HAD JUST COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A RED LIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO ROAR. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, I WAS NOT ABLE TO KEEP THE TRUCK FROM MOVING FORWARD BY APPLYING ADDITIONAL BRAKING PRESSURE. A MAN WHO WAS ABOUT TO CROSS THE STREET IN FRONT OF THE TRUCK HEARD THE NOISE AND JUMPED BACK ONTO THE CURB TO AVOID BEING HIT. THE TRUCK PROCEEDED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND APPROX. ANOTHER 100 FEET BEFORE THE RPMS RETURNED TO NORMAL AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE THERE WAS NO CROSS TRAFFIC AT THE TIME THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED. APPROX MILEAGE IS 10K. PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING: 1 - MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, NOT THE GAS PEDAL, AND I DO NOT DRIVE USING BOTH FEET, AND MY SHOE SIZE IS 8. 2 - THE FLOOR MAT WAS LYING FLAT ON THE FLOOR WHEN THIS WAS HAPPENED. 3 - I AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE SLIGHT INCREASE IN RPMS THAT HAPPENS WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING CYCLES, AND THIS WAS SEVERAL ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE BEYOND THAT. THIS IS THE 5TH TOYOTA PICKUP I HAVE OWNED IN THE PAST 12 YEARS, AND THE ONLY ONE TO HAVE THIS KIND OF THIS ISSUE. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE DESIGN OF THESES TRUCKS AND IT CAUSES AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN IT OCCURS. I WAS WELL AWARE OF THE COMPLAINTS YOU HAVE RECEIVED FROM OTHERS FOR THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM, LONG BEFORE EXPERIENCING IT MYSELF. *TR
I WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN I FELT THE BRAKE "GIVE" AND THEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. NO AMOUNT OF PUSHING ON THE BRAKE WOULD STOP THE ENGINE. THE TIRES WERE SMOKING AND SQUEALING AND THE VEHICLE WAS LURCHING. ONLY SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE STOPPED THE RACING ENGINE. THE FLOOR MAT WAS NOT INVOLVED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEUTRAL, THE ENGINE REVVED HIGHLY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT INTO PARK, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. HE SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, BUT THE ENGINE STILL REVVED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE TIRES SQUEALED. HE WAS FINALLY ABLE TO SHIFT BACK INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN INTO PARK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONLY ONCE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,053 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 8,500.
DRIVING DOWNHILL @45MPH AND LET OFF THE GAS BUT IT ACCELERATED EVEN MORE, PUT BRAKE ON AND STILL DIDN'T SLOW DOWN, ONCE DOWN THE HILL IT FINALLY KICKED INTO GEAR.. IT DOES THIS REGULARLY, ALMOST DAILY. SEEMS TO NOT KICK INTO GEAR, ESPECIALLY 3RD AND 4TH GEARS.*TR
I HAD TO GO GET DOGFOOD SO DROVE TO STORE 2 MILES AWAY,UPON RETURNING HOME PULLED INTO DRIVEWAY TO PARK IN FRONT OF GARAGE WERE I HAVE PARKED FOR 14 YEARS. AS I APPLIED THE BRAKE THE TRUCK ACCELERATED FORWARD HITTING THE GARAGE. IT HAPPENED WITHIN SECONDS AND I APPLIED THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD.TOOK TRUCK TO TOYOTA TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG,SO IT WAS OFF TO THE TOYOTA BODY SHOP FOR REPAIRS TO THE SUM OF $3300. THIS IS MY FORTH TOYOTA TACOMA AND I LOVE THESE TRUCKS BUT NOW I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT THE NEXT TIME SOMEONE COULD GET HURT OR KILLED. *TR
THIS HAS HAPPENED ON FOUR (4 ) OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TWO ( 2 ) I WAS NOT SURE THAT IT WAS DRIVER ERROR, I AM NOW POSITIVE THAT WAS NOT THE CASE. APPROACHING A RED LIGHT I HAVE REMOVED MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR. AS I GET CLOSER TO THE INTERSECTION I APPLIED THE BRAKE, MY VEHICLE ACCELERATED. I WAS STOPPED AND MY REAR TIRES WERE SPINNING ( THE PAVEMENT LOOKED DAMP ) I SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL .THE TACHOMETER WENT TO FOUR THOUSAND (4000). I PUMPED THE ACCELERATOR A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THE ENGINE RETURNED TO NORMAL OPERATIONS. I AM WAITING FOR MY DAY OFF TO RETURN THE VEHICLE FOR SERVICE ASSUMING THEY CAN DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM? *TR 2/22/10 2009 *DT UPDATED 02/24/10. *LJ UPDATED 03/01/10 UPDATED 08/18/10
I WAS COMING UP TO A TWO WAY STOP MY FOOT WAS OFF THE ACCELERATOR AT ABOUT 12 MILES AN HOUR WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO ACCELERATE I STARTED TO BRAKE BUT ENGINE WAS REVVING SO HIGH IT PUSHED MY TRUCK INTO THE PATH OF A SEMI BEFORE I GOT THE TRUCK PUT INTO NEUTRAL LUCKILY NO CAR WAS COMING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION SO THE SEMI DRIVER WENT INTO THE OTHER LANE AND AVOIDED A BAD ACCIDENT WHICH MIGHT HAVE KILLED ME. CALLED THE DEALER SAID BRING IT IN RIGHT A WAY,WILL UP DATE WITH RESULTS LATER. *TR
I PURCHASED A NEW 2008 TOYOTA TACOMA IN SEPTEMBER 2008. THE VEHICLE HAD RIGHT AT 3000 MILES WHEN THE MALFUNCTION OCCURRED. ON DECEMBER 19TH, 2008 I WAS ON THE WAY TO WORK WHEN MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND LOST CONTROL, CAUSING ME TO ROLLOVER. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL ACCELERATING AFTER THE ROLLOVER AND I HAD TO JERK THE GEAR SHIFT INTO PARK TO GET IT TO STOP. AT THAT TIME THE VEHICLE MADE A GRINDING NOISE AND BEGAN TO SMOKE. *TR
WAS IN LINE AT"STARBUCKS" DRIVE THROUGH WINDOW HAD SUDDEN ACCELERATION EVENTS 2 TIMES IN A ROW. ACCELERATION WAS AT HIGH RPM AND LEFT RUBBER BURN MARKS ON "STARBUCKS" DRIVEWAY. I STEPPED ON BRAKE FULLY FOR BOTH EVENTS. I STOPPED THE ENGINE WITH IGNITION KEY FOR BOTH ACCELERATION EVENTS. THE THIRD TIME I STARTED THE ENGINE IT RETURNED TO NORMAL SLOW RPM. WENT TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR. THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE THAT HAPPENING. SAID THEY COULD LOOK AT THE TRUCK BUT IF IT DID NOT HAPPEN FOR THEM I WOULD BE CHARGED FOR THEIR TIME. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA TACOMA. ON MAY 28, 2008, WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT 2 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UP AN EMBANKMENT. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AFTER SEVEN FEET. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN WITH THE DEALER SINCE MAY OF 2008, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. AS A RESULT, THEY WILL NOT REPLACE ANY PARTS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WILL SEND AN ENGINEER TO THE DEALER IN APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. IN THE INTERIM, THE CONTACT MUST EITHER PAY FOR THE RENTAL VEHICLE THE DEALER HAS PROVIDED OR DRIVE HIS OWN VEHICLE. HE STATED THAT HE WILL NOT DRIVE HIS VEHICLE BECAUSE HE MAY NOT BE AS LUCKY WHEN THE NEXT FAILURE OCCURS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 500.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, IT ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. THE VEHICLE DROVE THROUGH THE WALL OF HER GARAGE AND INTO HER GUEST BATHROOM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT CURRENTLY REMAINS. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,100.
I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 TOYOTA TACOMA HOME FROM WORK. I WAS ABOUT 15 MINUTES FROM HOME WHEN MY TRUCK IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATED TO 70-80 MPH (UNINTENTIONALLY!). I LIVE IN A VERY MOUNTAINOUS REGION; IT WAS VERY HARD TO KEEP MY TRUCK UNDER CONTROL IN THE CURVES. I WAS PUSHING THE BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY IN, BUT IT WASN'T SLOWING MY TRUCK DOWN. I BEGAN GOING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN PRAYING THE WHOLE TIME...THERE IS A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH 2 GAS STATIONS AT THE INTERSECTION. FORTUNATELY THERE WEREN'T ANY CARS IN FRONT OF ME AND THE LIGHT WAS GREEN. I SHIFTED GEARS (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) DOWN ALL THE WAY TO 2ND. MY TRUCK WASN'T SLOWING. I WAS THINKING THE ENTIRE TIME THAT I WAS GOING TO HIT SOMEONE AND THERE WASN'T ANYTHING THAT I COULD DO ABOUT IT. NOT A GOOD FEELING TO SAY THE LEAST. I FINALLY GOT MY TRUCK STOPPED RIGHT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. A LADY CAME RUNNING OUT FROM A BUILDING THAT WORKS FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUTION TO MAKE SURE I WAS OKAY. SHE SAID THAT SHE SAW SMOKE AND THOUGHT THAT MY TRUCK MIGHT BE ON FIRE. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED MY PARENTS. MY DAD STARTED TO DRIVE MY TRUCK. I WAS DRIVING BEHIND MY DAD AND IMMEDIATELY SAW MY DAD TAKE OFF IN MY TRUCK...WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON! I WAS TERRIFIED THAT MY DAD WAS GOING TO WRECK. MY DAD WAS ABLE TO TURN IT OFF AND GET IT OFF THE MAIN ROAD. WE CALLED MILTON MARTIN TOYOTA AND THEY HAD A TOW TRUCK PICK IT UP THE NEXT DAY. THEY KEPT MY TRUCK FOR 5 DAYS AND GAVE ME A RENTAL CAR. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THEY PUT 50 MILES ON MY TRUCK AND IT DIDN'T DO ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. THEY SAID THAT I NEEDED TO PICK MY TRUCK UP AND RETURN THE RENTAL CAR! THERE IS NO WAY I WOULD DRIVE IT AGAIN OR KNOWINGLY LET SOMEONE ELSE DRIVE IT WHEN IT WILL DO THE SAME THING WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT! WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLES LIVES HERE. PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS ISSUE SO LIVES AREN'T LOST! SO CURRENTLY I AM WITHOUT A VEHICLE AND MY 2008 TACOMA THAT HAS 13, 400 MILES ON IT IS SITTING ON MILTON MARTIN TOYOTA'S LOT. *TR
ON 01/04/2008 I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT IN TRAFFIC. I WAS STOPPED APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET FROM THE REAR BUMPER OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. WHILE STOPPED MY VEHICLE, A 2008 TOYOTA TACOMA DOUBLE CAB BEGAN TO ACCELERATE VIOLENTLY. I PROCEEDED TO PUT BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE AND IT RAMMED INTO THE STOPPED VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. MY 2008 TOYOTA TACOMA CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET. THE ACCELERATION WAS VIOLENT AND THE TRUCK WAS "FISHTAILING" FROM SIDE TO SIDE DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT WAS PUSHED UP AGAINST ANOTHER VEHICLE AND I HAD BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES. THE TRUCK EVENTUALLY SHUT OFF BUT NOT BEFORE I RAMMED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, THE IMPACT WAS SO SEVERE I BENT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH MY CHEST. I SUFFERED INJURIES TO MY CHEST, NECK AND SHOULDER. INTERNET RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT MY EXPERIENCE IS NOT AN ISOLATED ONE WITH THIS MODEL TRUCK, TOYOTA TACOMA. *TR
Trend Over Time
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Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 2008 Toyota Tacoma has 67 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL complaints on file. 24 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.