Electrical System Problems of Toyota Tacoma - part 1

1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? the multimedia head unit / apple carplay system is malfunctioning. The screen randomly disconnects, goes black, and frequently fails to connect to iphones. The system displays “retry,” and at times apple carplay will only reconnect through bluetooth settings instead of normal wired/wireless operation. Both vehicles are available for inspection upon request. 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? the failure creates a safety hazard because the screen disconnects or goes black while driving, causing sudden loss of navigation, phone functions, and display information. This forces the driver to look down, attempt to reconnect the phone, or search through bluetooth menus while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of distraction and a potential collision. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? no. I have already taken both of my new-generation Tacomas to Toyota for inspection. The dealership was unable to reproduce the malfunction, even though the issue happens repeatedly during normal driving. The problem occurs on multiple iphones, confirming it is not phone-specific. 4. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? the multimedia system has only been inspected by Toyota, but no police, insurance, or manufacturer inspection beyond the dealership has taken place. The issue remains ongoing and can be inspected at any time. 5. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? yes. The multimedia screen will: show “retry” when attempting to connect disconnect mid-drive without warning go completely black switch to bluetooth-only connection fail to recognize iphones during startup these symptoms occur randomly, across different days, and on multiple iphones.

See all problems of the 2024 Toyota Tacoma 🔎.

My 2025 Toyota Tacoma has an ongoing issue where apple carplay frequently disconnects or fails to connect altogether. This happens both at startup and randomly while driving. The problem occurs across multiple iphones, different cables, and even after ensuring that both the phone and the truck’s software are updated.

See all problems of the 2025 Toyota Tacoma 🔎.

Heated seat stopped working after smelling a slight burning smell. I investigate and found discolored and burnt electrical connections on the heated seat wires. This happened on the driver's seat. I'm worried the same thing could happen on the passenger side.

See all problems of the 2021 Toyota Tacoma 🔎.

The multimedia head unit and apple carplay system are malfunctioning. The screen randomly disconnects, goes black, and often fails to connect to iphones. It shows “retry,” and sometimes apple carplay will only reconnect through the bluetooth settings instead of normal wired or wireless carplay. Both of my new-generation Tacomas are available for inspection upon request. This issue creates a safety risk because the screen disconnects or goes black while driving, causing loss of navigation, hands-free calling, and vehicle information. This forces me to look down or try reconnecting the phone while the vehicle is in motion, which increases the risk of distraction and a possible accident. I have taken both of my Tacomas to Toyota for inspection, but the dealer was unable to reproduce the problem. The issue happens repeatedly during normal driving and occurs on multiple iphones, so it is not a phone-specific issue. The vehicles have only been inspected by Toyota at the dealership level. No inspections have been done by the manufacturer, police, or insurance. The problem is ongoing and the vehicles are available for inspection at any time. The symptoms include the screen showing “retry,” disconnecting without warning, going completely black, switching to bluetooth-only connection, and failing to recognize iphones at startup. These issues appear randomly on different days and with multiple iphones. No other vehicle warning lights were present.

Water leaked through the third brake light assembly into the cab roof, soaking the ceiling, seats, and carpet. This caused extensive mold growth and electrical corrosion near the control modules. The affected systems include the third brake light seal, cab roof, interior materials, and ecm (documentation attached). The truck remains at the dealer and is available for inspection upon request. The entire interior is contaminated with mold, creating a serious health hazard, and the vehicle cannot be safely driven or occupied. The leak also damaged electrical components, posing a risk of malfunction or short-circuit while operating the vehicle, and it is currently undrivable due to this damage. The problem was confirmed by Toyota of clermont, which inspected the truck, documented the damage, and provided a written estimate exceeding $8,000 for repairs (copy attached). The vehicle was at the dealership while the manufacturer’s limited service campaign 21td03—issued to address this same defect—was still active, but the required inspection and seal repair were not performed. The failure of Toyota of clermont to perform the mandated remedy under campaign 21td03 while the vehicle was in its possession resulted in a serious safety hazard. The entire interior of the cab—including the seats, ceiling, and carpet—is covered in mold, and the vehicle is undrivable due to water intrusion and electrical damage. There were no warning lamps or error messages before the failure, only a strong musty smell inside the cab shortly before the leak became visible. Toyota motor north America was notified but declined responsibility. This case represents a potential noncompliance with federal defect-remedy obligations under the national traffic and motor vehicle safety act (49 u. S. C. § 30120) and should be investigated as such.

See all problems of the 2019 Toyota Tacoma 🔎.

The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Tacoma. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 25v595000 (electrical system); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

My 2025 Toyota Tacoma sr5 has an ongoing issue where apple carplay frequently disconnects or fails to connect altogether. This happens both at startup and randomly while driving. The problem occurs across multiple iphones, different cables, and even after ensuring that both the phone and the truck’s software are updated. Many other 4th-generation Tacoma owners (2024–2025) are reporting the same issue online — carplay will drop connection, the system freezes, or carplay will not appear as an available input for long periods. Because carplay is a key part of the hands-free system for navigation, calls, and messaging, these disconnections cause drivers to interact manually with their phones, which creates a potential safety hazard. Toyota dealerships acknowledge the problem but currently have no permanent fix. It appears to be a system-wide defect in the audio multimedia 6. 0 system used in the new Tacomas. I’m submitting this report so NHTSA can investigate and, if appropriate, prompt Toyota to issue a software or hardware recall to address the defect.

The master cylinder is leaking brake fluid into the cab and is dripping behind the brake pedal. There is brake fluid in the wiring harness that goes to the brake switch as well. This is a known fire hazard from other vehicle manufacturers.

See all problems of the 2018 Toyota Tacoma 🔎.

Clock spring has failed. I've lost all steering wheel button controls as well as cruise control. Air bag light has now come on. I am afraid that if I get into a wreck, the airbag will not deploy. This seems to be a common issue with this select year for this Tacoma.

See all problems of the 2017 Toyota Tacoma 🔎.

Loss of brakes.

See all problems of the 2008 Toyota Tacoma 🔎.

I am reporting a persistent and unsafe issue with the factory-installed entune infotainment system in my 2016 Toyota Tacoma. While driving — whether locally or on the highway — the system frequently freezes, becomes unresponsive, or abruptly resets itself, often multiple times per drive. This directly affects my ability to safely use the navigation, backup camera, and audio controls while in motion. The system’s crashes divert my attention from the road, especially when I’m relying on navigation and it either stops functioning or forces me to interact with the screen to regain control. These interruptions increase the risk of distracted driving and could easily contribute to an accident. I have attempted to install the software update provided on Toyota’s official website, but the update is older than the version already installed on my vehicle (0101a0), so the system blocks the update. There is no way for a consumer to reinstall or flash the current version, and any potential resolution is only available at a dealership for a fee, effectively putting the fix behind a paywall. Toyota has not issued a recall or service bulletin for this issue, despite dozens of reports from other owners on Tacoma and prius forums describing the same crash behavior and software version conflicts. This is a significant safety concern, especially when the infotainment system is used for navigation during high-speed or complex driving conditions. The inability to maintain consistent functionality puts drivers and others on the road at risk. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this widespread issue and press Toyota to issue a free repair or software patch for all affected vehicles. Symptoms: •frequent infotainment restarts while driving •frozen or unresponsive touchscreen •glitched navigation system and lost gps routing •driver distraction due to repeated system failure.

See all problems of the 2016 Toyota Tacoma 🔎.

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being serviced, the contact was informed that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced due to an oil leak. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the speedometer gauge failed to function as intended. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the instrument panel had a factory defect. The vehicle was repaired. In addition, the contact was informed that the rear axle needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the rack and pinion recently failed. The contact stated that the vehicle veered to the right and the left independently while driving with an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired after the most recent failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

See all problems of the 2023 Toyota Tacoma 🔎.

On June 20, 2025, my 2023 Toyota Tacoma (VIN [xxx] ed a sudden loss of effective braking during normal driving conditions (dry roadway, clear weather). The vehicle was being driven by my adult son. While slowing for a turn, the instrument cluster displayed a pre-collision system (pcs) malfunction warning and a vehicle stability control (vsc) warning. The driver applied the brake pedal continuously, but the vehicle did no decelerate as expected. Abs did not activate, and braking effectiveness was insufficient. During braking, the driver experienced reduced steering responsiveness. In order to avoid entering a busy roadway without adequate braking capability, the driver applied maximum steering input, fully loading the left side of the steering wheel with as much force as possible in an attempt to redirect the vehicle. Any reduction in speed occurred primarily due to the change in direction and tire to road friction, not effective braking. The vehicle was towed to a Toyota dealership. Dealer intake records document a pcs warning and no brakes upon arrival. Event data recorder (edr/cdr) data shows continuous brake pedal application for approximately 5 seconds prior to the event, accelerator at 0%, and brake system hydraulic pressure reaching approximately 12. 14 mpa (maximum recorded). Despite this, the vehicle did not stop as expected. No frontal crash pulse recorded. Toyota motor north America later denied responsibility, asserting incorrect vehicle speed and stating that a carfax report indicated prior front-end damage. The carfax vehicle history report, dealer purchase disclosures, and service records show no reported accidents or damage. Toyota declined to provide brake system ecu logs (abs/vsc/brake control modules). This incident raises concerns regarding a potential safety defect involving electronically controlled braking and its interaction with pcs stability control systems. Supporting documentation available. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5.

Blower fan had been cutting off. Only running intermittent on high. Took to Toyota dealer June 2025. Was told it was a cabin air filter clogged. Paid for replacement and clean out of system. Continued to not work. Called a mechanic and asked for a diagnostic. Was told it was a “known issue” with Toyota Tacomas. Had been a recall in later years. I ordered the blower motor resistor and wiring harness from Toyota parts department. It was on back order due to the issue being widespread. July 2025 parts came in. Returned truck to the shop. The techichian replaced the motor blower resistor and the new wiring harness. However, he cut the burnt wires off and spliced the new wires into old wires back to the motor. Aug 2025 motor has stopped working again. Back to the Toyota shop. The truck needs a new blower motor. The labor will be 1200. Plus the labor I’ve already paid for three other shop visits plus parts. The motor blower is on back order till mid September. The motor has been let unplugged due to “risk of fire”. But I’ve been given the vehicle again to drive. It has had a risk of fire since June. The wires have been overheating and smelling. This should have been a recall in 2011. Just as it was in the later Toyota Tacoma. Pleas investigate.

See all problems of the 2011 Toyota Tacoma 🔎.

My check engine light came on when I was traveling in oregon. I didn't notice any major changes in my vehicle's performance. Drove it all the way back to colorado without issues. It went off and came back on several times. I replaced the cabin air filter, engine air filter and put fuel injector cleaner in the vehicle. Finally I took it in to the Toyota dealership to get an oil change and then the check engine light came back on. I paid for them to do a diagnostic test and they stated they were almost certain it was the 2nd fuel injector running rich. Brought it back a week later for the repair. Fyi. . . I was still getting 20 mpg in fuel and I wasn't noticing anything major in performance. They replaced the fuel injector and then the check engine light came back on with a different code. They are now running "another" more expensive diagnostic test and I still don't have my truck. They are saying it could be the 2nd cylinder or the engine and claiming it has 150,000 miles so I should expect these issues (and conveniently my warranty has run out).

Truck has 33,xxx miles. Was driving and the fuel gauge needle dropped to e. Dash screen stated 225 miles till empty please refuel. I tried turning it on and off, no change. Filled the gas tank numerous times, no change. Needle remains on e with warning message to please refuel. Mechanic checked and there are no codes or cels.

The owner and operator of the vehicle, stated that they were driving the vehicle on the interstate when they noticed white smoke and ashes emanating from the steering column. They pulled into the parking lot to investigate and opened the hood to see no smoke or fire. When they returned to the passenger compartment, the smoke turned black in color, and they observed fire emanating from the steering column. I am the lead fire investigator on this incident for the edmond fire department. The electrical components in the area observed with fire contained electrical arc sites and melting. No other accidental heat sources were present, and natural causes and human involvement were ruled out as well. Incident number is [xxx] in edmond, ok. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Wire connection on passenger side, under carpet. It is to the heater temperature control. The heater only works on high until you hit a bump or move the connector then it will start working until you bump it again. It is available for inspection upon request. A certified mechanic told me, it could potentially cause a fire by shorting out. I have two other friends with the same issue on their Toyota Tacoma's. .

I have a new 2024 Toyota Tacoma that I purchased December 2024. My dashboard lit up the morning of Thursday, April 17. Drive start warning on the dashboard and a secondary breaking malfunction warning I contacted my local Toyota dealer and informed him that my vehicle is giving me warnings and I only have 13,000 miles on the vehicle. I took the vehicle and they told me that it was the fuel pump they replaced the fuel pump return the vehicle to me, and before I could leave the parking lot both codes on the dashboard shut up again and the vehicle would not move. I am writing this report to document what is going on with the vehicle. I believe that it is a lemon and there’s something majorly wrong with it. I brought the vehicle brand new in December and again it’s only has 13,000 miles on it right now.

Brake booster failure. When pressing and holding onto brake, it makes a buzzing/clicking noise. Just like the Toyota prius brake booster recall/failure. Toyota claimed to be normal.

I had 8022 miles on my Tacoma , Toyota employee of almost a decade , drove like normal no adds , one morning drove to a conference and was on the road no more than 20 min and then I see the bed of my truck on fire , im on the interstate so I pull over quickly and call 911 and then it just burnt up and gone. Now a year later and Toyota refuses to assist with anything saying they cant find out despite the insurance companies ruling me out and fowl play out. I feel strongly Toyota has an obligation to make this right.

I am reporting a safety issue with my 2024 Toyota Tacoma regarding recall 25v595 / 25ta08 (blank instrument cluster display). Multiple authorized dealers have refused to perform the repair, claiming that parts are unavailable. This defect prevents me from obtaining commercial insurance and fully utilizing the vehicle for my business needs, as a non-functional speedometer is a major safety hazard. This situation is significantly impacting my work and safe operation of the vehicle.

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The contact was able to jumpstart the vehicle. The contact became aware that the battery terminal was corroded. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the battery was replaced, and the repair was partially covered; however, the failure persisted. Additionally, the contact stated while driving at various speeds, the infotainment system turned off and on independently. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle shuddered, and the engine made an abnormal sound. The check engine warning light and several other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was determined that the battery needed to be replaced, and the contact was informed that the repair would be partially covered. The contact stated that the battery failure had caused further electrical damages to the vehicle and was concerned that the battery replacement would not correct the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

See all problems of the 2020 Toyota Tacoma 🔎.

Vehicle fuel pump went out without any notice and fuel gauge and cluster not showing any data on the instrument cluster. Vehicle loss power and would not go over 40mph on the freeway take over 5 minutes to reach 60 mph per hour. Always serviced at the Toyota dealer and they won't help to fix the problem since its over 49k. They won't even look at emissions problem even it under warranty for 8 year/ 80k per emission warranty for ecu.

Started my truck up to go to the store started driving and all of a sudden it acted like it was running out of fuel check engine light came on and a ! symbol came to barely make it back home it sat for three weeks and had to have it towed to dealer they diagnostic on it and said it was a fuel pump problem the thing is there's a recall on this same vehicle but not mine $1400 is what they want to fix there problem my truck should on the recall.

The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that the gas cap failed to close securely and was loose. Additionally, the contact received notifications of NHTSA campaign numbers: 25v058000 (service brakes, hydraulic) and 25v595000 (electrical system); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the instrument panel was blank at start-up. The contact also stated that the infotainment system screen was blank intermittently while driving, which required the driver to pull over to the side of the road to turn off and restart the vehicle. The dealer was contacted several times for the recall repairs, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure by voicemail message. The failure mileage was approximately 80.

All the windows make a rattling noise when they're rolled halfway down when hitting bumps.

Gas gauge is showing the incorrect amount of fuel left. I filled up for gas 3 days ago, my commute is very short so I know I didn't burn through that much gas in 3 days. I was in between 3/4ths and full with 229 dte before leaving. Got to my destination and I now had a full tank of gas and 246 dte. I reset the gauge per the manual and it now shows 3/4ths with 176 dte. Many people with tundra's have had the same issue. Some say its due to filling up the tank past 3/4ths and parking on an incline. I would really hate to get stranded or run out of fuel driving around town. It has not been brought to the dealer yet I'm waiting to get an oil change. No warning messages or any kind and this is the first time happening at around 830 miles.

When vehicle is driven at 85 mph (cruise control set) speedometer jolts. Speed must be reduced to 84 to resolve issue.

I bought a 2024 Tacoma trd off road premium package through mas ( military auto source ). I picked the vehicle up from the bremerhaven port in germany on 08 July 2024 it was missing the back bed charging adapter box but mas said they would cover the cost in writing to fix no big deal and I drove it back to weiden germany. Today 09 July 2024 I lost the ability to shift into 2nd, 4th, and 6th gear. There is only 2 of these vehicles in the country of germany right now. The vehicle has approximately 735 km on it. It probably would have happen early had I been shifting more but the majority of my first in it was on the autobaun in 6th gear going roughly 130 km most of the way with no down shifting or ciry driving. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by a Toyota tech due to the vehicle not being produced in germany but it doesnt take a genius to look up the issue your having and see the exact thing from multiple other Toyota owners. Toyota would be best to buy this vehicle back and reach out to me. VIN [xxx] below is the customer care email I requested be sent with my reference number and case number. Reach out to me upper mangment. Hi ×××× ××××××, we appreciate you taking the time to contact the Toyota brand engagement center. We are dedicated to providing superior service. Your case is filed at our headquarters office under your name and file [xxx]. If you require further assistance, please send us a message by adding a comment here, or give us a call at 800-331-4331. Case managers are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a. M. – 8:00 p. M. Et. Thanks! - xxxxxx Toyota brand engagement center hq 469-292-4000 information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Rodents ate through eleven soy base coated wires. These wires just so happen to go to the fob, my air conditioning, and one headlight. This is obviously a safety issue. I contacted Toyota and filed my concerns. They told me that there is nothing they could do. I at the least would like a reasonable explanation why they engineered food into their electrical system. Thanks for listening.

Seat heating module for my driver seat has melted and is further irrepairable without buying the entire harness to fix the issue. There are multiple reports of this happening across forums.

Driving at approximately 55 mph and dash lights started flickering, radio went off, reset to 530 (am radio). Vehicle started sputtering and slowing down in traffic and completely shut down. Lost all power and coasted to side of road. I had no or little control of vehicle. I have "connected services" that was to warn me about mechanical and electrical failures and no warning of this happening. This enrollment was to give me "services designed to help keep you safe, secure and in control of your Tacoma from almost anywhere". "brand engagement center" not concerned of the incident. Apparently two and half year old battery failed. Replaced by myself.

Wiring harness on the vehicle is being completely replaced due to "rodent damage" according to the dealer. I am not an automotive engineer but if compromised wiring finally fails while driving I suspect a number of systems could be affected. There was no indication of this problem during vehicle operations. My insurance company agreed to pay for this about $7200. I have owned the vehicle for ten months.

Bearing failure inside heater blower motor causing fan motor to burn out and filling the cabin with toxic electrical smoke.