2004 Toyota Tacoma SR5 3.4 liter V6 from North America

Summary:

Quality with the price of poor fuel economy

Faults:

Cruise hardly ever sets on 1st try, usually works on 2nd or 3rd.

1 of the speakers makes a crackly sound.

15 mpg is the best I can get! : (

Seat belts tighten against you while driving and will not relax unless you unhook them.

I've taken the truck back to the dealer 3 times & they tell me nothing is wrong concerning the above mentioned problems.

General Comments:

Truck has a terribly rough ride when towing a trailer.

The fuel mileage is absolutely pathetic.

Whether I drive like a teen or like an old man the fuel mileage is stuck on 15 mpg.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 13th October, 2005

8th Dec 2006, 12:54

Your truck really should be getting better fuel mileage. It ought to get a lot better than 15 highway. I have a 3.0 V-6 Ranger and I just returned from a trip. I got 24mpg on the highway with it. You truck is lighter and should get about the same. Also, the belts tightening is not normal, and indicates a bad tensioner on the return system. I'd try taking the truck to an independent garage. Dealers never want to fix these kinds of things, and sometimes it saves headaches to just bite the bullet and pay someone to fix it right. Ford dealers virtually never get anything right, and my friends who own Toyotas say the same about their dealerships. Lots of luck. You've got a good truck and it definitely ought to get over 20 on the highway I'd think.

8th Dec 2006, 16:05

The newer toyotas are not known for their great gas mileage. A lot of people I have heard of cannot get over 17 or 18 mpg.

10th Dec 2006, 05:48

Unfortunately for me, as an avid Toyota driver, this is true. Is anybody at Toyota listening? The trucks are still the best, but what happened to the gas mileage? It seems to me that the "truck" models all the way up to '94 got better mileage than this, 4 and 6 cylinder. Keep the trucks and the motors small and tight. I have parked my '98 Tacoma next to my uncle's '06 Tacoma, and his looks like a full size truck. I like mine better, as do most people. Shrink them back down and keep them simple.

2004 Toyota Tacoma Base 2.4L from North America

Summary:

This truck is excellent basic transportation

Faults:

No faults thus far.

General Comments:

This truck is a great commuter vehicle. It averages 25 mpg in city driving.

The interior is plenty roomy for someone who isn't especially tall. Passengers over 6 feet have found it cramped.

Turning radius is excellent-I've never had difficulty parking in small parking lots or garages.

Fuel economy varies greatly on long trips, depending on speed. I get 30-31 mpg at 60 mph, but 23 mpg at a steady 75 mph.

Power is more than adequate. The truck can climb mountain passes at 75 mph in fourth gear.

Load carrying capacity is fine for a compact truck. I've carried 700 pounds numerous times, and that's not enough to cause the engine or brakes to labor.

The clutch is touchy, meaning it engages over a very small portion of pedal travel. It took me a while to get used to it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 11th September, 2005

2004 Toyota Tacoma SR5 2 w/d extra cab 2.4L from North America

Summary:

Below fair and less than reliable

Faults:

I bought this vehicle new and after nine moths and 11, 650 miles the brake warning light would go on when the brake was applied. The owner manual said to take the vehicle to the Toyota dealer as soon as possible. I immediately took the vehicle. The service department later let me know the brake fluid was low and they had added more to correct the problem. I asked for a reason why it was low, but was simply told the vehicle used up what it needed. I have a 1986 and 1990 Toyota pick up I bought used a few years ago and they never have required adding more brake fluid between 3,000 mile oil changes. This cost me $38 and a half day of down time. I didn't appreciate having to pay for this because in my opinion this is not a normal or routine service call. I'm concerned something might be wrong with the braking system such as the booster because this has never happened to me with a new vehicle or a used vehicle, and I have owned six new vehicles, all G.M. All I can do is hope for the best and I'll make sure to ask the dealer when I have routine oil changes done if there are any recalls?

General Comments:

Sometimes when a recall is issued it can take two or more years. I experienced this with my 1996 Buick Regal. It took G.M. four plus years to issue a recall for the steering repair I paid for.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 18th May, 2005

31st Aug 2005, 11:52

You should check all fluids before going to your dealer. Also check your warranty to see if the fluids are covered.

I would also suggest to look for stains in your usual parking space. This might help pinpoint a possible leak.

I also had a Buick Regal (1993, 4-wheel disc brakes) and this car had really bad brakes. The fluid would come dark within a few months and frequently needed topping up.

If you want to be sure about your truck's brakes, have your fluid replaced and the lines properly bled.

All cars should have this done every few years.

View 6 more comments