2004 Toyota Tacoma: check engine light

12 of the 415 complaints about the 2004 Toyota Tacoma describe check engine light.

owner complaints: 12
of this car's complaints: 3%
typical mileage: 67,000
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 10 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Check engine light by model year

2026
1
2025
1
2024
8
2023
1
2022
3
2021
3
2020
7
2019
12
2018
14
2017
7
2016
11
2015
5
2014
5
2013
2
2012
96
2010
2
2009
2
2008
3
2007
4
2006
4
2005
3
2004
12
2003
17
2002
1
2001
4
2000
2
1995
1

What owners say

Filed Jun 15, 2023 · Brakes, Fuel system · MD

2011- check engine light was illuminated. Toyota dealership attempted repairs 11 times but could not find a cause. They replaced 7 different sensors, replaced gas cap, charcoal filter.. still could not get light to go off. refused to continue servicing same issue with no fault. Since 2011, I have had to run diagnostics on a regular basis to ensure there are no other mechanical issues. 2022- gas tank fell off of truck while driving. The straps snapped off due to rust and tank fell to the ground. This issue could have caused GREAT bodily injury or DEATH. 2023-lost brakes while driving. TOTAL brake failure. local mechanic stated it was a proportioning valve failure. The housing for it was rusted through and cannot be removed safely. After multiple days of research, a replacement could not be located. Even contacting Toyota, part is unavailable so vehicle CANNOT be fixed. Total brake failure could have led to GREAT bodily injury or DEATH. ONGOING-- vehicle frame is extremely rusted. bumper has fallen off, spare tire fell off, brush guard rusted and fell off. The frame under cab near bed of truck is rusted through. gas tank straps rusted through and tank fell off. You can literally push fingers/hand through the flaking metal. ALL previous recalls were completed including undercoating but the rust has gotten so bad the vehicle is not safe to drive.

Filed Oct 9, 2015 · Electrical · 148,000 miles · CO

2004 toyota tacoma v6 3.4l 5vz-fe with automatic transmission. Toyota originally equipped this vehicle with a throttle by wire system. The vehicle unexpectedly does not respond to accelerator pedal position. Toyota on board diagnostic system does not detect fault thus does not log any error codes or illuminate check engine light. Occurrence rate and duration of events is intermittent and inconsistent. Velocity of the vehicle rapidly decreases unexpectedly and momentarily as if foot was temporarily removed from the accelerator pedal. Vehicle also unexpectedly and momentarily does not respond when accelerator pedal is depressed to begin moving or suddenly decreases speed when accelerating. This is a potential hazard in situations such as cruising in traffic, clearing an intersection, crossing railroad tracks, etc... Occurrence rate and duration of problem seems to be worsening over time or with increased ambient temperatures.

Filed Jan 27, 2015 · Acceleration, Electrical · 137,000 miles · AZ

While driving the vehicle loses pedal response due to the throttle control motor shutting down and the check engine light coming on. The engine either shuts down completely or the becomes very jerky and cannot sustain an idle. Incidents began to occur around 95,000 miles odo but stopped for several years after a mechanic worked on the vehicle and said the throttle position sensor was out of alignment. More recently the truck has again been experiencing the same problem as before: loss of pedal response, and in addition it now shuts the engine down and the gauges shoot up to the top of the charts and tick unresponsively until the key is removed from the ignition. This has occurred multiple times now in traffic and along the roadway where the truck becomes unresponsive and is difficult to drive safely off of the roadway.

Filed Jan 5, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 115,000 miles · CA

I was driving at a normal speed on the highway. The gas pedal became unresponsive. I had to push the pedal all the way to the floor in order to get up to speed. The check engine light came on and the transmission had trouble switching between gears. This problem occurred intermittently and continues to happen. The code that has come up is to replace the throttle body, which I have two separate times, but again the new replacement part is quoted at $1000.

Filed Oct 27, 2014 · Engine · 12,000 miles · HI

While driving on the freeway about 55mph my truck stalled on me twice doe a second. Also pulling out of my drive I had a hesitation in acceleration and almost got hit from a oncoming vehicle. They are no check engine light that comes on. Took it to a mechanic and they couldn't fin a issue.

Filed Sep 2, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · 45,000 miles · FL

Filed Jul 25, 2014 · Acceleration · 98,000 miles · AZ

Filed Mar 19, 2013 · Body, Engine · 40,000 miles · NH

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota tacoma. The contact stated that he received a manufacturer's recall for the frame. After having the repairs completed, he noticed that the frame was separating from the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken back to the dealer for further inspection. The manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000. The current mileage was approximately 70,000. *tr updated 6/17/13 *cn the consumer stated the 02 sensor was replaced three times, the catalytic converter was also replaced three times. The shroud that covered the gas tank, rotted and fell of the truck, and the check engine light illuminated several times. Updated 06/25/13

Filed May 29, 2010 · Acceleration · 120,000 miles · AZ

Vehicle suddenly loses engine power. Sometimes happens at cruising speed, sometimes happens with a slight depressing of the accelerator (when making turns, at risk of getting struck when making left turns). Dealers have tried to fix several times and usually cannot duplicate the intermittent problem (no check engine codes). Abundance of reports online of similar problems. Often reported as throttle body problems. How can a common problem be impossible for theoretically well trained dealer employees to diagnose? If it is a routine problem, why isn't there a recall, or at least a service bulletin?

Filed Jan 2, 2010 · Engine · 67,000 miles · WA

My 2004 toyota tacoma has an intermittent problem with a loss of power, I.e. When I step on the accelerator, it fails to respond for a brief period of time. It is a problem when pulling out into traffic, as the loss of power has LED to several near collisions. The vehicle has been to the dealer twice to diagnose the problem, without a clear cause, according to the dealer. Research through an independent service shop points to a problem with the accelerator pedal position sensor. Research on toyota tacoma forums online also seem to support this. The only viable fix seems to be to replace the entire throttle body, since the sensors are not available separately. This cost is over $1200, as opposed to a $70 sensor. The problem is intermittent, and can happen many times a day, or be absent for weeks at a time. Three times it has resulted in a check engine light, with a tps fault recorded (the tps and apps are read as a unit by the ecu). The problem has not yet been adequately addressed.

Filed Jan 1, 2006 · Acceleration · 15,000 miles · AL

I have a 2004 toyota tacoma 4x4 with a 3.4 liter v6. I have already filed 1 complaint butt in frustration will try this again. The electronic throttle bodies that come on 2003 and 2004 toyota tacomas are flawed and need to be investigated and recalled due to safety concerns. The problem is that the accelerator position sensors on these throttle bodies are going out, causing the accelerator to become useless unless depressed greater than 60%. I have all most been in 2 accidents while pulling out into traffic and having this occur. When the sensor fails the throttle valve closes leaving the person driving the vehicle without enough acceleration to get out of the way of on coming traffic. In vehicles with manual transmission it is especially dangerous when on an incline (very difficult not to role backwards and hit something behind you). Also, no check engine light has came on when this has occurred. I have read hundreds of letters on the internet from people having the same problem. Is it going to take someone getting killed or a healthy law suit to make toyota take action?

Filed Jan 1, 2006 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 15,000 miles · AL

2004 toyota tacoma 4x4 with 3.4l engine and manual trans. Having throttle body issues. The accelerator position sensor is failing causing the truck to stall for a second and then pick back up. Truck does not throw a check engine code when this occurs, so dealer has informed me on different occasions that nothing is wrong. I was almost ran over the other day trying to pull out into traffic when the throttle body failed. This is a safety concern and toyota needs to address it immediately!!!!!!!! What's it going to take, someone getting seriously injured or a healthy low suit for toyota to take action?