2004 Toyota Tacoma Steering Problems
- 18
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 18 stored complaint records:
- 1 indicate a crash
- 0 indicate injury
- 0 indicate fire
What owners report
- rack pinion · 9 records
- power steering · 6 records
- steering wheel · 4 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 30–60k mi | 7 |
| 100–150k mi | 3 |
| 60–100k mi | 2 |
| 150–400k mi | 2 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Body · Steering
We are the second owners of a 2004 tacoma, purchased 4 years ago. It currently has 104,000 miles on it. The underside is rusted out! We just got the list of things to fix this morning (rusty muffler and steering components needing replacement) and are devastated. My husband was told he could lose control of steering at any moment if we don't make the repairs of $4000+. The steering is very loose and not steady. I…
ODI 10990960
Service Brakes · Steering · Structure
Letter from congressman tonko on behalf of constituent re 2004 toyota tacoma recall. *ld the consumer stated the vehicle could not be inspected due to frame rust. The consumer was not notified of all recalls. The last recall expired; therefore, the consumer was ineligible for assistance.
ODI 10990428
Steering · Suspension · Wheels
When driving home from having the truck serviced, the front drivers wheel broke and crashed into a curb. After taking it to toyota and calling there help desk, theye confirmed it had a lower and upper ball joint failure. At this time toyota will not honor this recall and will not provide any assistance with the repairs.
Crash reported
ODI 10825346
Steering · Suspension · Underbody Shields
My 2004 tacoma has ~127,500 miles and has been subject to frame corrosion and spare tire retainer corrosion recalls. My dealer recently advised that the left rear leaf spring is broken which is resulting in an unpredictable response when driving, especially in 4wd in snowy weather. This lack of steering control is a safety issue. I believe this fracture is directly linked to the corrosion issues in the tacoma frame…
ODI 10702436
Steering · Suspension · Underbody Shields
I have a 2004 toyota tacoma pickup truck. This has had a very bad for a year. The other day the mount for the right rear broke and the front end of the rear spring was rusted away from the frame. This is the same problem my 1996 toyota pickup had. That one the bought back and i now have this one. The rest of the truck is pretty good. The rack and pinion steering also rusted away and started to leak fluid. This leak…
ODI 10566097
Steering
Loose steering. Lots of play in the wheel, had to have the steering rack bushings replaced at 48k miles because the rack would just move around and the truck was uncontrollable. After replacing the rack, sway bar bushings, and struts @ 48000 mile with no offroad driving the steering is still extremely loose. Is you hit a bump while in a curve on the freeway you feel like you are just along for the ride with almost…
ODI 10714789
Steering
Loose steering on 2004 toyota tacoma 4x4. Isolated looseness to upper steering shaft spline connection. Tack welded spline to fix play in steering shaft. My steering had gotten progressively worse so after a lot of examination i found what appears to be the problem. I would like toyota to come out with a redesigned steering column. I have taken vehicle to the dealer about this with no resolution from them. *tr
ODI 10389770
Steering · Suspension · Wheels
On january 19, 2011 at approximately 7:15 am, i was driving approximately 15 mph on a dirt road, came around an approximate 90 degree right hand turn heading down hill, slid on mud or ice and hit a rut. After all wheels had passed through the rut the vehicle drove up and over a small rise (bump) in the road. After coming over the rise, the right front of the vehicle dove into the dirt and the truck came to an abrupt…
ODI 10451817
Steering
My 2004 tacoma has very low mileage (around 64,000 miles). The steering wheel feels very loose and has alot of abnormal play. Driving down the road, the steering wheel shakes, vibrates, and rattles around all the time and becomes really bad on rough roads. When there is a slight bump in the road, turning a corner, being blown around in a little wind, or trying to avoid other cars, the trucks steering is so loose…
ODI 10350699
Steering
Steering wheel shakes violently when driving over bumps in road, feels like driver could loose control of vehicle,or steering component could fall off. *tr
ODI 10345020
Steering
I own a 2004 toyota tacoma, all factory standard, very clean, with about 80,000 miles on it. The steering wheel has a very noticeable amount of play in it (about 0.5 to 1" at the rim). The play causes rattling on rough roads, and reduced control on smooth highways. The source of the problem has been narrowed down to the steering shaft. I just researched the issue on line and found a large number of mentions of that…
ODI 10332475
Steering
COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING. *TR
ODI 10282308
Steering
1) power steering fluid began to leak from area of rack and pinion. 2) toyota dealer mis-diagnosed problem as leaking seals in rack and pinion. 3) leak occurred in metal power steering line (routed too close to steering gear) , where friction from pinch bolt in steering gear has worn a hole in metal power steering line. 4) this causes all fluid to leak from power steering system. 5) 2004 tacoma sr-5 xtra cab, 2.4…
ODI 10255520
Steering
I have a 2004 completely stock toyota tacoma that has never been off road with 36000 miles on it. The steering column upper shaft at the slip joint below the tilt ball joint has become loose. There is play in the steering now causing control of the truck to become less and less precise. I am not the only one with this problem as many people have complained about it on many different toyota tacoma forums. People have…
ODI 10272953
Steering
2004 toyota tacoma x-tra cab, 4cyl. With a/t developed power steering leak at 51k. The dealer diagnosed the problem as bad seals in the rack and pinion. When i replaced the rack and pinion, i discovered that a pinch bolt in the steering column had rubbed a hole in the metal power steering feed line going to the rack and pinion. This issue was brought to the dealers attention but the dealer refused to acknowledge the…
ODI 10272727
Steering
Power rack and pinion system failure, bad seals in unit, unit replaced under warranty, failed again, at 10k miles on january 14, 2014. *tr
ODI 10560101
Steering
2004 tacoma rack and pinion system was replaced twice per the suggestion of the mechanic. Mechanic informed consumer that the steering rod was also broken. Although this part was broken the dealer returned the vehicle back to the consumer because they didn't have the part available to repair it. The dealer said there was no danger in driving the vehicle with a steering broken rod. *ts *nm
ODI 10154130
Steering
Dt*: the contact stated the rack and pinion steering has been replaced twice due to cracks. The vehicle has been taken to a service dealer who determined that there was a faulty bushing. After the second repair, there was a lot of play in the steering, causing reduced control. The steering rod also failed. Updated 04/11/06. *jb
ODI 10152408