2004 Toyota Tacoma Reliability
The 2004 Toyota Tacoma has 415 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about body structure and suspension. Compared with nearby Tacoma model years (2002–2006), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Tacoma's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
415
NHTSA owner complaints
5
Recall campaigns
27
Complaints citing a crash
3
Complaints citing a fire
2004 Toyota Tacoma complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2004 model year, filed between 2003 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Body structure | 203 | 49% |
| Suspension | 85 | 20% |
| Unknown or other | 32 | 8% |
| Speed control / throttle | 30 | 7% |
| Steering | 29 | 7% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 22 | 5% |
| Service brakes | 22 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 17 | 4% |
2004 Toyota Tacoma recalls
5 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2004 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04V214000 | May 5, 2004 | Seat belts — front | Certain pickup trucks fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 209, 'seat belt assemblies.' the driver's side seat belt has incorrect markings. |
| 05V225000 | May 17, 2005 | Suspension — front / control arm / lower ball joint | On certain sport utility vehicles, due to a manufacturing issue in the front suspension lower ball joint, there is a possibility that the surface of the ball of the joint may have been scratched. The ball joint may eventually experience excessive wear and… |
| 06E026000 | Mar 23, 2006 | Exterior lighting | Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform to federal motor vehicle… |
| 06E065000 | Jul 17, 2006 | Exterior lighting | Certain aj motorsport combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above listed passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108,… |
| 12V542000 | Nov 23, 2012 | Tires — temporary/emergency spare tire | Toyota is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2004 Tacoma light trucks manufactured from August 28, 2000, through August 27, 2004, and originally sold, or currently registered, in the following cold climate states with high road salt usage: Connecticut,… |
How the 2004 compares with nearby Tacoma years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Tacoma analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 360 | 5 | Body structure | Caution |
| 2003 | 372 | 5 | Body structure | Caution |
| 2004 (this page) | 415 | 5 | Body structure | Avoid |
| 2005 | 707 | 10 | Body structure | Avoid |
| 2006 | 782 | 11 | Body structure | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2004 Toyota Tacoma
- Body: look under the car for rust or damaged subframe and rocker areas, and check panel gaps for signs of repair.
- Suspension: listen for clunks over bumps, look for leaking struts and uneven tire wear.
- Throttle and speed control: check for surging, hesitation or a reduced-power warning, and test cruise control.
- Steering: check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering and clunks over bumps; power-steering faults show up at low speed.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 5 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2004 Toyota Tacoma can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2004 Toyota Tacoma reliability FAQ
Is the 2004 Toyota Tacoma reliable?
The 2004 Toyota Tacoma has 415 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about body structure and suspension. Compared with nearby Tacoma model years (2002–2006), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Tacoma's typical year.
What are the most common 2004 Toyota Tacoma problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2004 Toyota Tacoma are body structure (203), suspension (85), unknown or other (32), speed control / throttle (30). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2004 Toyota Tacoma have recalls?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2004 Toyota Tacoma, including 04V214000 (seat belts — front) and 05V225000 (suspension — front / control arm / lower ball joint). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2004 Toyota Tacoma compare with the 2003 and 2005 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2003 has 372 complaints and 5 recalls (caution); the 2005 has 707 complaints and 10 recalls (avoid). The 2004 has 415 complaints and 5 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2004 Toyota Tacoma?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Toyota Tacoma research
Other Toyota Tacoma model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2004 Tacoma, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.