2008 Toyota Tacoma: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2008 Toyota Tacoma: 11 recalls, 446 owner complaints and up to 22 mpg combined.
Recalls
11 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Equipment Vehicle recall #09V223000 · 2009 · 27,080 vehicles
What's wrong: These vehicles were not equipped with load carrying capacity modification labels which fails to conform with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims."
Why it matters: Incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels could result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners and provide them with a new, accurate label to be installed over the inaccurate label free of charge. The safety recall began on August 18, 2009.
Speed control / throttle Vehicle recall #09V388000 · 2009 · 4,445,056 vehicles
What's wrong: The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat.
Why it matters: A stuck open accelerator pedal May result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
The fix: Toyota filed an amended defect report on November 25, 2009, stating that dealers will modify the accelerator pedal and, on certain vehicles, alter the shape of the floor surface under the pedal. These changes address the risk of pedal entrapment due to interference with the floor mat. Redesigned…
Equipment Vehicle recall #10V035000 · 2010 · 271,417 vehicles
What's wrong: 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold between September 1, 2005 and June 2, 2008 without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
Why it matters: This does not meet the standard requirements.
The fix: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. Dealers will also correct the owner's manual. The safety recall began on May 27, 2010.
Equipment Vehicle recall #10V036000 · 2010 · 153,418 vehicles
What's wrong: 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
Why it matters: A driver May overload a vehicle which May increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. The safety recall began on May 27, 2010.
Tires Vehicle recall #11V148000 · 2011 · 22,000 vehicles
What's wrong: 138, "tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)." when factory-installed wheels and tires were replaced with Toyota authorized accessory wheels and lt tires prior to first sale, the tire pressure monitoring systems were not re-calibrated correctly and therefore do not start illuminating the low tire pressure warning telltale at the required minimum activation pressure.
Why it matters: Failure to warn of tire deflations is a non-compliance with fmvss 138 and could lead to tire failure increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: For the land cruiser, sequoia, tacoma and tundra vehicles, the dealer will re-calibrate the tire pressure monitoring system on affected vehicles and install an updated tire and loading information label at no charge. For the fj cruiser vehicles, the TPMS cannot be reset so the electronic control…
Airbags Vehicle recall #12V092000 · 2012 · 495,470 vehicles
What's wrong: Over time, steering wheel vibration May damage the spiral cable assembly (clockspring) that powers the driverâs air bag module. If damage occurs, the air bag warning lamp will illuminate and the air bag May become deactivated.
Why it matters: In the event of a crash, the driverâs side air bag May not deploy, increasing the risk of personal injury.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the spiral cable assembly, free of charge. An interim letter is expected to be mailed to owners during April 2012.
Seat belts Vehicle recall #13V337000 · 2013 · 342,451 vehicles
What's wrong: If the access doors are repeatedly and forcefully closed, the screws that attach the seat belt pre-tensioner to the seat belt retractor can loosen over time. If the screws loosen completely, the seat belt pre-tensioner and the retractor spring cover could detach from the seat belt retractor.
Why it matters: If the seat belt pre-tensioner detaches from the seat belt assembly, the seat belt pre-tensioner will not perform as designed, increasing the risk of injury in a severe crash.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat belt assemblies. Based on the inspection, the seat belt assembly will be replaced or new pre-tensioner screws will be installed with thread-locking sealant and a retractor spring cover with stopper ribs to prevent loosening of the screws.…
Equipment Vehicle recall #14V475000 · 2014 · 20,000 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected vehicles May list incorrect spare tire size and/or cold tire inflation information on the tire placard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims for passenger cars."
Why it matters: If the spare tire is inflated to the incorrect pressure provided on the placard, tire failure May occur while it is being driven on, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: For the involved vehicles, overlay stickers to correct the tire placard will either be mailed to owners or provided to dealers for placement over the incorrect information on the placard. The recall is expected to begin in September 2014.
Suspension Vehicle recall #14V604000 · 2014 · 710,711 vehicles
What's wrong: In the affected vehicles, one of the leaf springs May fracture due to stress or corrosion. While being driven, the broken leaf could move out of position and contact surrounding components including the fuel tank, possibly puncturing the tank and causing a fuel leak.
Why it matters: If the fuel tank leaks fuel from being punctured, there is an increased risk of a fire.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners and dealers will install new rear leaf spring assemblies. The recall began on January 29, 2016.
Seats Vehicle recall #14V743000 · 2014 · 3,233 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected vehicles May experience compression of the seat cushion which May damage the seat heater wiring.
Why it matters: Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
The fix: Set will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in January 2015.
Seats Vehicle recall #16V396000 · 2016 · 7,749 vehicles
What's wrong: The electrical wiring in the seat heaters May be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
Why it matters: If damaged, the copper strand heating element May short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Set will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 6 mention a fire, 27 injuries and 4 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Suspension (124): the most common themes are rust / corrosion (29), noise or vibration (20).
- Speed control / throttle (85): the most common themes are sudden acceleration (20).
- Body & structure (77): the most common themes are rust / corrosion (59), noise or vibration (5).
- Other / unknown (43): the most common themes are rust / corrosion (23), stalls / loses power (4).
The 2008 Toyota Tacoma has 446 owner complaints, ranking #5 of 32 Tacoma model years for complaints (1.7× the average Tacoma year). Complaints peaked in 2015 (67 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 6 years old, at a median of 56,755 miles. Neighboring years: 2007 (541 complaints, 10 recalls), 2009 (519 complaints, 13 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.7 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 20 | 25 | 22 | Regular |
| 2.7 L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 19 | 25 | 21 | Regular |
| 2.7 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 17 | 22 | 19 | Regular |
| 4.0 L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 | 20 | 18 | Regular |
| 4.0 L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 16 | 20 | 18 | Regular |
| 4.0 L 6-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 | 19 | 17 | Regular |
| 4.0 L 6-cyl | Manual 6-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 15 | 18 | 16 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2008 Toyota Tacoma.
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FAQ
Does the 2008 Toyota Tacoma have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 11 vehicle recalls for the 2008 Toyota Tacoma. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2008 Toyota Tacoma problems?
Owners have filed 446 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are suspension (124), speed control / throttle (85), body & structure (77).
What gas mileage does the 2008 Toyota Tacoma get?
EPA ratings run up to 22 mpg combined (2.7 L, Manual 5-spd), across 7 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2008 Toyota Tacoma repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.