The 2005 Toyota Tacoma has 9 recalls, the most serious being a rear leaf spring that can fracture and puncture the fuel tank, creating a fire risk.
The broken spring can shift out of position and repeatedly strike the fuel tank until it breaches, allowing fuel to leak near potential ignition sources. This applies to Pre-Runner and 4x4 configurations.
Several recalls involve the driver's airbag. Steering wheel vibration over time can damage the clockspring, the coiled electrical connector that links the steering column to the airbag module, causing the airbag warning light to come on and leaving the driver without airbag protection in a crash. On regular cab trucks with a bench seat, incorrectly positioned wiring connector pins in the seat position and seatbelt buckle sensor can interfere with how the adaptive airbag system deploys, again raising the risk of injury in a crash.
The parking brake is covered by two recalls that describe the same underlying problem: a lock nut on the parking brake cable may not have been tightened properly and can work loose over time, reducing or eliminating parking brake holding force. On automatic transmission models, if the transmission is not placed in Park on a slope, the vehicle can roll freely.
On Access Cab models, the seatbelt pretensioner in the front seats can loosen at its attachment point due to the repeated force of the access doors slamming shut. If the pretensioner separates from the retractor assembly, it cannot tighten the belt in a crash or sudden stop, reducing the restraint system's ability to protect the
At a glance
What can fail
A rear leaf spring may crack from stress or corrosion. If it breaks while driving, the fractured piece could shift and puncture the fuel tank, causing a fuel leak.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the rear leaf spring assembly with a new one.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
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At a glance
What can fail
Rear leaf springs can crack from stress and corrosion. A broken leaf can shift and repeatedly hit the fuel tank, potentially puncturing it and causing a fuel leak.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the rear leaf spring assemblies with improved versions.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Repeated forceful closing of the access doors can loosen the screws securing the seat belt pre-tensioner to the retractor. If screws fully loosen, the pre-tensioner and retractor spring cover may detach.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the seat belt assembly and either replace it or install new pre-tensioner screws with thread-locking sealant and a modified spring cover to prevent loosening.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
On Access Cab vehicles, repeated forceful closing of access doors can loosen fasteners in the front seat belt assemblies. Loose fasteners may cause seat belts to fail in restraining occupants during a crash or sudden stop.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the fasteners or entire seat belt assemblies as needed to secure the connections.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Electrical wiring in the steering wheel assembly can become damaged, preventing the driver's airbag from deploying properly during a crash and triggering the airbag warning light on the dashboard.
What the fix does
The dealer will replace the spiral cable assembly in the steering wheel.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Steering wheel vibration can damage the spiral cable assembly (clockspring) that controls the driver's air bag. When damaged, the air bag warning light comes on and the air bag may stop working.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the spiral cable assembly at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
On certain regular cab pickup trucks with bench seats, connector pins for the seat position and seat belt buckle sensor are misaligned due to a manufacturing error in the wire harness.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the sensor connector and install an additional sub-wire harness to correct the pin misalignment if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The parking brake cable lock nut may not be tightened enough. Over time, it can loosen or fall off, causing too much play in the parking brake pedal and reducing braking power.
What the fix does
Dealers will tighten the parking brake lock nut to the correct tension.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The lock nut securing the parking brake pedal cable may not be tightened properly, causing it to loosen and fall off, which reduces parking brake effectiveness.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and tighten the parking brake pedal cable lock nut to the correct specification at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
