2005 Toyota Tacoma: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2005 Toyota Tacoma: 10 recalls, 707 owner complaints and up to 21 mpg combined.
Recalls
10 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Parking brake Vehicle recall #05V050000 · 2005 · 22,228 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The 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.
Airbags Vehicle recall #05V302000 · 2005 · 11,592 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The 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.
Airbags Vehicle recall #06V096000 · 2006 · 133 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: This May increase the risk of injury to the occupant in the involved seating position in the event of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the specific SRS air bag. The recall began on April 6, 2006.
Equipment Vehicle recall #09V223000 · 2009 · 27,080 vehicles
What's wrong: 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."
Why it matters: Incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels could result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
The 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.
Speed control / throttle Vehicle recall #09V388000 · 2009 · 4,445,056 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The 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…
Equipment Vehicle recall #10V035000 · 2010 · 271,417 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: This does not meet the standard requirements.
The 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.
Equipment Vehicle recall #10V036000 · 2010 · 153,418 vehicles
What's wrong: 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
Why it matters: A driver May overload a vehicle which May increase the risk of a crash.
The 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.
Airbags Vehicle recall #12V092000 · 2012 · 495,470 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: In the event of a crash, the driverâs side air bag May not deploy, increasing the risk of personal injury.
The 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.
Seat belts Vehicle recall #13V337000 · 2013 · 342,451 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The 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.…
Suspension Vehicle recall #14V604000 · 2014 · 710,711 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: If the fuel tank leaks fuel from being punctured, there is an increased risk of a fire.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners and dealers will install new rear leaf spring assemblies. The recall began on January 29, 2016.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 4 mention a fire, 16 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Body & structure (260): the most common themes are rust / corrosion (183), noise or vibration (17).
- Suspension (137): the most common themes are rust / corrosion (51), noise or vibration (22).
- Speed control / throttle (93): the most common themes are sudden acceleration (27).
- Steering (61): the most common themes are steering problems (56).
The 2005 Toyota Tacoma has 707 owner complaints, ranking #2 of 32 Tacoma model years for complaints (2.7× the average Tacoma year). Complaints peaked in 2014 (108 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 8 years old, at a median of 82,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2004 (414 complaints, 3 recalls), 2006 (782 complaints, 11 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.7 L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 18 | 24 | 21 | Regular |
| 2.7 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 18 | 25 | 20 | Regular |
| 4.0 L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 | 21 | 18 | Regular |
| 2.7 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 17 | 21 | 18 | Regular |
| 4.0 L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 16 | 20 | 17 | Regular |
| 4.0 L 6-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 14 | 19 | 16 | Regular |
| 4.0 L 6-cyl | Manual 6-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 14 | 18 | 16 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2005 Toyota Tacoma.
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FAQ
Does the 2005 Toyota Tacoma have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 10 vehicle recalls for the 2005 Toyota Tacoma. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2005 Toyota Tacoma problems?
Owners have filed 707 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are body & structure (260), suspension (137), speed control / throttle (93).
What gas mileage does the 2005 Toyota Tacoma get?
EPA ratings run up to 21 mpg combined (2.7 L, Automatic 4-spd), across 7 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2005 Toyota Tacoma repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.