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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
36,938 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Toyota Tacoma brakes problems

brakes problem

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2008 Toyota Tacoma Owner Comments

problem #8

Nov 212023

Tacoma

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The brakes completely failed on the vehicle. When inspected the main brake line was found damaged due to the frame of the car being totally corroded and shifting of the mechanical structure. If I were not quick in getting the emergency brake applied, we would have had an uncontrolled crash in traffic and could have potentially been killed. There were no warnings or lights that came on in the vehicle prior to the complete brake failure. The car is currently at a local repair shop and can be inspected if necessary. The frame corrosion was so bad on this car that the repair shop was not comfortable even putting it on a lift as they felt the car frame would break.

- Springboro, OH, USA

problem #7

Apr 262017

Tacoma

  • 40,000 miles
I have owned a 08 Tacoma for about 4 years now, and have noticed a possible problem with the Toyota ABS system. If when braking you hit a bump, pot hole, object, etc the ABS system does not know exactly how to react and increases braking distance. I live in Louisiana and our roads are not the best. I have noticed several times that I will be braking to avoid hitting something/someone, hit a bump, and my braking action is reduced until the system regains itself. You can hear the ABS system respond each time this occurs and can notice that your vehicle isn't stopping. Like I stated before I've owned this truck for 4 years and have noticed this the entire time. I recently have had a few times to where the truck has not wanted to stop and I have almost hit someone because I started braking, hit a bump, and the system did not know how to react. This is a potentially dangerous situation that I would like fixed. I'm a loyal Toyota owner (have 4) and just want this issue addressed so that I don't have to worry about braking and hitting bumps. My vehicle was checked out my Toyota and everything was good with them. I contact Toyota about this issue and they stated that if the dealership says there's no problem, then there's no problem, but I could have problem fixed and they may reimburse me in the future. I've spoken with other owners and they have the same problems with similar years and models including 4runner. The ABS system doesn't react like I feel it should when the tire's dynamic changes due to either a dump and/or going from hard surface to a soft surface such as dirt, if the brakes are applied before and through the change in dynamic. I have a particular bump in the road right before a turn that every time I hit it while braking to make the turn my ABS pump surges, steering wheel vibrates, and braking is very limited until system regains itself.

- Pineville, LA, USA

problem #6

Dec 192008

Tacoma

  • 2,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while driving at a 55 mph, the brake pedal was depressed, however, the front passenger side wheel locked. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the master cylinder needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to multiple independent mechanics where it was diagnosed that that the ABS brakes needed to be replaced and to a dealer who stated that the master cylinder needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken back to an independent mechanic who replaced the master cylinder. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 2,000.

- Grampian, PA, USA

problem #5

May 072015

Tacoma

  • 152,504 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I used an inclined drive way, for a bay door, to pull into so I could turn around and park. When I applied the brakes my ABS engaged and started whining. I lost control of braking and my truck wasn't stopping. I thought I was going to hit the closed door. Thankfully the inclined drive way slowed me down before hitting the door!!! this isn't the first issue I have had with my breaks not working properly or with my ABS whining. Last summer I had an issue going down a bumpy hill up in the mountains. I was driving very slowly down the really bumpy hill and my ABS was whining like crazy, I wasn't even applying the brakes. When I needed to apply the breaks it felt as if they weren't working properly and stoping wasn't going to be easy. My ABS whines when I hit a bump, speed bump, pot hole, railroad tracks, and so on. Basically if I hit any type of unflat surface my ABS whines majority of the time and I'm not even using the breaks. I talked to the dealer a while ago and they said my ABS is whining because my truck is lifted. My last truck, different make, was lifted the same distance and I never had any issues with it. I have had the Toyota for over 2 years now.

- Spanaway, WA, USA

problem #4

Mar 032015

Tacoma 6-cyl

  • 71,000 miles
Driver hit brakes to slow down for approaching stop sign. Brake pedal would not go down. He tried 3 times to make the brake go down. To keep from hitting the car in front of him, he ran off the road into a ditch. Truck was totaled.

- Natchez, MS, USA

problem #3

Feb 252009

Tacoma 6-cyl

  • 7,000 miles
Was coming to a stop at a stop light and the truck surge when the brakes were applied and hit the car in front of me. Truck surge two to three times after that. Toyota fix the surge issue and at the same time created another safety problem / defect. Now when I step on the gas petal to much or give the truck to much gas at one time the truck thinks it is surging and the truck will shut down. In the last couple month I have had three close call from this defect / problem. The technician at the Toyota dealer ship (hilo Hawaii) told me not to punch the gas or step on the gas to hard or the truck will shut down (he was right). I express my concern this was another safety issue, he replied this was Toyota solution to the surge problem. I only drive my truck when needed and don't allow any passenger in fear of having another accident. Please help.

- Cathedral City, CA, USA

problem #2

Oct 222008

Tacoma 6-cyl

  • 18,000 miles
When applying brakes on my 2008 Toyota Tacoma extended cab 4X4 to come to a stop, the brake pedal goes down almost to the floor, about 2 inched from the floor. This has happened since the vehicle was new. At about 18000 miles I reported the issue to the dealership and they checked the vehicle brakes and stated the pedal movement was normal. I had the front breaks replaced at 47000 miles and the problem persist. The excessive brake pedal movement happens every time I attempt to stop. I am going to take the vehicle back to the dealership once again.

- Bel Air, MD, USA

problem #1

Aug 202008

Tacoma 6-cyl

  • 5,000 miles
I have a 2008 Toyota Tacoma. The way the brake and gas pedals are configured I frequently hit the gas pedal along with the brake pedal. The brake pedal when depressed goes almost to the floor. The pedals are so close together that the gas pedal is sometimes caught by the edge of my shoe while braking causing the engine to race. This especially happens when backing up and my body is contorted to see out the rear windshield. But it also happens occasionally when driving forward and attempting to stop. I do not feel safe in this vehicle and had numerous close calls almost running into cars or object in front of me. I have referred the problem to the dealer. They say they have no remedy for the problem. I was referred to Toyota corporate national headquarters phone # 1-800-331-4331 and had an investigation case open, case number 1307222061. After the inspection of my vehicle they said that my truck is operating as designed. I still feel that there is a potential for an accident. Another side note is that whenever I brought my truck in to the dealer just about this problem they wouldn't charge for the inspection or brake adjustments and so no paperwork was written up of my complaints which has happen two or three times. So you probably won't see much of any history about this issue. I don't know if this was by design to not have a paper record to avoid recalls or having customer complaints documented. I have also mentioned this to the service department on numerous occasions during routine service visits but it was never really written up. I have read on the internet that other Tacoma owners have had the same problem. The last incident that I had a month ago I almost went of a cliff because my foot caught on the gas pedal while braking. It's a poor design to have the brake pedal go below the level of the gas pedal at any time when they are so close to each other.

- Veneta, OR, USA

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