10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
27 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 2
Average Mileage:
29,990 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Toyota Tacoma engine problems

engine problem

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2008 Toyota Tacoma Owner Comments (Page 3 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #38

Nov 082007

Tacoma

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Purchased a 2008 Toyota Tacoma truck in October of 2007. One month later I had an acceleration issue while picking up my son. I was unable to brake the truck to a complete stop. Causing me crush my mother-in-law garage door and the front of my new pickup. In all I was without a vehicle for one week while having the repairs completed, and my insurance premium went up forcing me to find a better rate through another insurance company. My mother in law had to have repairs to her garage after being compensated from my insurance company. I pressed the brake down as hard as I could and yet the truck continue moving forward.

- Stewartsville, MO, USA

problem #37

Jan 062010

Tacoma

  • 19,419 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Tacoma purchased brand new less than a year ago. She stated the driver was traveling at speeds of less than 20 mph approaching a parking garage when he released his foot from the accelerator pedal in an attempt to brake. The pedal became stuck in position causing the vehicle to accelerate at speeds of up to 70 mph. The contact attempted to depress the brakes, to no avail. He then reached down and forced the accelerator pedal back into the idle position by yanking it with tremendous force. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where they advised the vehicle was operating as it was designed and that although the floor mats were installed correctly, they should be removed. The contact did not feel this would remedy the fact that the accelerator pedal became stuck in the open throttle position without any interference from the floor mats. There were no repairs made to the vehicle to date. The failure and current mileages were approximatley 19,419. The VIN was not available.

- Chipeko Canyon, CA, USA

problem #36

Aug 092009

Tacoma

  • 26,700 miles
Inching into a parking space in a parking garage...throttle seemed to open all the way suddenly and with only three feet left to the wall the truck hit at full throttle doing $5,246 dollars in damage. Front grill; hood; front rt fender;front rt door; radiator; headlight all replaced. Have reported to Toyota corporate and told to take to dealership. Took to dealer originally and was told no recall on Tacoma. Have had two throttle sticks after while on freeway. Both only lasting 5 seconds or so.

- Panorama City, CA, USA

problem #35

Jul 072009

Tacoma

  • 18,700 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Gas pedal got stuck on my Toyota Tacoma when passing. Reported to Toyota dealership 7/17/09

- Kaaawa, HI, USA

problem #34

Dec 222008

Tacoma 6-cyl

  • 5,000 miles
On 08/24/08, my husband and I purchased a 2008 Toyota Tacoma truck. On 12/22/2008, he was coming to a stop at a traffic light behind another vehicle. Suddenly, without warning, the engine seemed to engage at full throttle. His right foot was not on the gas pedal, but on the brake pedal as it should be while waiting for the light to change to green. Startled, he put both feet on the brake pedal as the acceleration of the engine seemed to overtake the ability to brake. The truck lurched forward and hit the car in front which stopped the momentum and killed the engine. The acceleration and power of the engine was so great that this all happened in about 3-5 seconds. When he restarted the engine, everything seemed to be fine as the trucks computer seemed to reset itself. He reported this to Toyota and asked that the truck be checked out. When we went to pick up the truck at hooman Toyota, where a factory tech came to inspect it, he was told that the braking system was fine and acceleration system (pedal linkage) was fine as well. He was even told that the floor mat was unhooked and probably got stuck on top of the accelerator pedal. The floor mats were not unhooked when we dropped off the truck. My husband tried the floor mat on top of the pedal while stepping on the brake and the RPM did not go up much at all, certainly not enough to overpower the braking system as the tech suggested. We believe there was a computer malfunction and not a mechanical malfunction which was that the tech checked out. The case manager was informed of this before and after the inspection. After the recall notice on tv in August, we removed the floor mats from the truck, a second incident occurred 10/19/09 (with no floor mats) which did not result in an accident. We, again, brought the truck into the dealer and it was, once again, cleared to drive with no issues. There is clearly a huge problem with the vehicle and we are scared to drive it. Please help!

- Long Beach, CA, USA

problem #33

Jan 302010

Tacoma 4WD

  • 19,000 miles
On Feb. 30,2010 I and 2 passengers were riding around in my 2008 Toyota Tacoma pick-up truck in 4 wheel drive. There was snow on the ground and we were out checking out the neighborhood. We drove about 2 miles, visited two restaurants looking for my boat mechanic. When arriving at second restaurant, I was pulling into a parking space traveling approx. 5mph when I discovered the truck wasn't stopping or slowing, I stood on the brake and it kept pulling! we went straight into the wall of the restaurant. I cut truck off, gathered myself, cut truck on and backed out of the wall. My front seat passenger said wow, I saw you pressing the brake pedal hard, but the truck just kept going, what's up with that? I told him I did everything I could, it just kept pulling like it had a mind of it's own! so I shut off engine again, the manager of the restaurant came out and asked if we were all ok. I told him we were not injured and I was sorry for the wall. I went inside and called the police and my insurance company. I explained in both reports that the accelerator kept going even with the brake fully applied. Insurance company told me to take it to the body shop for repairs, I am waiting to get it back, but no one has advised me about the acceleration problem. I don't want this to occur again, someone could be killed or injured. I feel wronged by this incident, I take exceptional care of my vehicles, and this was my retirement truck. Now it has lost my trust, as well as lost resale value because it is now a wrecked vehicle, all this through no fault of my own! Toyota should replace my truck with a new one without defaults such as this, I paid cash for my truck, 28K as well as buying my wife a Toyota Solara convertible. I have placed alot of money and confidence in this company.

- Alexandria, VA, USA

problem #32

Jan 312010

Tacoma

  • 50,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was a passenger in my friend's 2008 Tacoma truck on 1/31/10. We were travelling from culpepper, va. To charlottesville when we pulled into a gas station and mcdonalds. As we pulled in the gas station we made a right hand turn and then a left hand turn pulling into the parking spot at normal parking speed(~ 5mph). As the driver put on the brake to stop it felt like the ABS adjusted to the slick surface and slid a little. This is when the front wheels locked up and the engine revved and the back tires started to spin very fast. At this point the truck climbed the concrete parking barrier, crossed the side walk, revved faster while the driver had his foot on the brake and put the truck in park. It proceeded to climb over a 2ft wall, crossed the bushes and crashed into the mcdonalds store front. This happened so fast and it seemed that the acceleration was stuck and the engine was revving and the back tires were spinning and pushing the truck forward. There were 3 of us in the truck and witnesses in the mcdonalds.

- Palmyra, VA, USA

problem #31

Jan 312010

Tacoma

  • 49,300 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while he was driving 5 mph into a parking space the engine revved excessively and the vehicle accelerated and crashed into the front of a restaurant. There were no injuries. A police report, case#2010-001110 was filed by the madison county sheriff department. The Toyota manufacturer stated that there was nothing wrong with the contact's vehicle and to have it towed to the dealer for inspection. The failure mileage was 49,300.

- Fredericksburg, VA, USA

problem #30

Oct 252008

Tacoma

  • 1,000 miles
I have a 2008 Toyota Tacoma that I bought new in summer of 2008. I have had the accelerator pedal fail to return to the idle position on two occasions. On both occasions I was coming to a stop when the incident occurred and was able to stop the vehicle with the brakes but the vehicle surged ahead several feet before stopping. I did report this to the dealer but was told they could find no problem with the accelerator pedal.

- Elk, WA, USA

problem #29

Jan 152010

Tacoma

  • 5,050 miles
This is a follow - up complaint. Stuck accelerator - again. Even after removing the floor mat. Has happened on average 2- 3 times a month. Car dealer does not know of a fix, , they can not replicate the situation that causes the malfunction. This problem is still ongoing and is my only means of transportation to work. An accident waiting to happen.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #28

Nov 052008

Tacoma

  • 100 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Toyota Tacoma (2008) accelerates while stopped and while driving, requiring to catch the vehicle with additional pressure to brakes to stop vehicle. In contact with the local dealer, told this was normal. This has occurred numerous times and is excused by Toyota as normal. Date indicated below is estimated first incident.

- Tallahassee, FL, USA

problem #27

Jan 102008

Tacoma

  • 39,000 miles
I was driving my 2008 Toyota Tacoma westbound on fm 1960 East of huffman Texas when I accelerated to pass a slower vehicle and the gas pedal stuck to the floor. After reaching a speed over 90 mph and closer to 100mph I began braking and moved to neutral and then began to slow. Being a two way, 2 lanes (total) highway I am fortunate there were no westbound cars or cars im my same direction. My wife and family friend were very upset as well because for 15 seconds we could not stop. I immediately removed the floor mat believing that was the cause.

- Kingwood, TX, USA

problem #26

Nov 152008

Tacoma

  • 12,266 miles
Our 2008 Toyota Tacoma prerunner experienced uncontrolled acceleration on 1/15/2008. We filed the event with NHTSA (refer to ODI 10248942, NHTSA action number DP08001 for all detail). That petition was denied. Note that, in NHTSA's response, there is a significant error in the vehicle year (the vehicle is 2008). The problem we experienced on 11/15/2008 has not repeated as of this date, but we are certain that we are still exposed to high risk of recurrence. In view of recent developments with Toyota (multiple recalls, etc), we request that NHTSA reconsider our case, and approve the petition, because a significant problem does in fact exist. Thank you.

- Comfort, TX, USA

problem #25

Jan 262010

Tacoma 6-cyl

  • 25,000 miles
Toyota Tacoma 2008 please study this accident. It may relate to the gas pedal, so let Toyota know to recall this model too so to prevent an another fatal accident like my brother had. Upadat 9/19/2011

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #24

Dec 202009

Tacoma

  • 33,500 miles
2008 Toyota Tacoma upon slowing and applying brake, vehicle suddenly accelerated and brake could not stop it. The tires were spinning and vehicle was vibrating, tires were smoking. It stopped racing when ignition was turned off.

- Douglass, TX, USA

problem #23

Dec 292009

Tacoma

  • 1,425 miles
Unintended acceleration in a 2008 Toyota Tacoma.

- Roseville, CA, USA

problem #22

Dec 042009

Tacoma

  • 30,700 miles
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.

- Dublin, OH, USA

problem #21

Oct 192009

Tacoma

  • 25,000 miles
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.

- Lago Vista, TX, USA

problem #20

Nov 252009

Tacoma

  • 16,037 miles
While driving N from denver on I-25 on 11-25-2009, speed limit of 75mph, I had the cruise control operating set at a speed of 75-77 mph. There was no feet on either gas or brake pedal. Not until I found the Tacoma truck cruising at a speed above 90mph did I realize something was wrong w/the truck. I used the brake pedal and disengaged the cruise control and the vehicle came under my control. After re-setting the cruise control to 75 +/- mph, to test the issue, it occurred again. I chose to complete the trip w/O cruise control w/ diligent oversite.

- Loveland, CO, USA

problem #19

Dec 222007

Tacoma

  • 100 miles
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.

- Omaha, NE, USA

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