Problems · by component
2008 Toyota Tacoma electrical system problems
27 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Toyota Tacoma cite electrical system, 6% of all 450 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
27
6% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the electrical system
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Odometer Fraud. The contact was previously interested in a 2008 Toyota Tacoma. The contact discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy before the purchase was made, and the vehicle was not purchased. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 114,000. It was later discovered, upon checking with the local DMV, that the mileage was 196,000.”
“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. .”
“First notices that volume control on steering wheel and temp and directional display stopped working about a year ago. Now air bag light stays on when car is started and alarm for seat belts quit working.”
“The airbag light first came on about 60 days ago, the first time I tried to use the cruise control after light was first noticed the cruise control did not work. My concern is that as long as the light is on the airbag(s) may or may not deploy. This airbag light has stayed on constantly since first appeared, the cruise control will work intermittently. The component has not been inspected but there is a recall, 12V092000:Air Bag Clockspring Replacement, that addresses this exact concern but appears my VIN is not included. This is obviously a problem on other VIN ranges because mine suffers from this and it is obvious Toyota is aware there is a problem but it just hasn't had enough complaints with my VIN range, likely because there are not as many on the road as the vehicle is 14 years old. I am concerned for my family's safety as well as my own if the airbag fails to deploy because of an accident.”
“RUNAWAY VEHICLE REPORTED FRIDAY, 04/24/2020. HAPPENED AGAIN FRIDAY 05/01/2020, AND TODAY 05/04/2020. SIX TIMES NOW I HAVE REPORTED. FRIDAY AND TODAY I WAS BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. STARTED UP, HAD FOOT ON BRAKE, PUT IN REVERSE, AND THROTTLE WENT WIDE OPEN. TURNED SWITCH OFF, PUT IN PARK, AND STARTED UP. ALL OK.THOUGHT A/C COMPRESSOR MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH ELECTRONICS, BUT A/C WAS OFF ON 05/01/20. I HAVE A ELECTRO / MECHANICS TECH DEGREE AND HAVE WORKED IN APPLIANCE SHOP OVER 15 YEARS. WORKED IN VEHICLE SHOPS OVER 25 YEARS. CURRENTLY SCHOOL BUS PARTS SPECIALIST FOR GWINNETT BOE. I KNOW FROM INTERNET THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT NOBODY WANTS TO FIX. I HAVE WRITTEN TO SENATOR, CONGRESSMAN, TOYOTA CORP AMERICA. THEY WANT TO BLAME PROBLEM ON FLOOR MATS. AT TIMES I DID NOT HAVE ANY MATS IN. LAST TWO TIME I HAD WEATHER TECH CUSTOM FIT HARD PLASTIC MATS IN VEHICLE. I CAN'T SELL AS-IS, AS I DO NOT WANT ANYONE TO GET KILLED IN IT.SO AS A TAX PAYING AMERICAN, I AM STUCK WITH WHAT EVERYONE KNOWS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT HAS KILLED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE AND NO ONE CARES. MY WIFE HAS INFO ON REPORT FROM ELECTRONIC ENGINEER FIRM THAT WON CASES IN COURT. I TOLD…”
“FORTH TIME. SAME SITUATION. WHILE CREEPING ALONG IN DRIVE, WITH FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL, A/C COMPRESSOR CLICKED ON, ENGINE RPM'S REVVED SLIGHTLY, THEN THROTTLE WENT FULL FORCE. TIRES STARTED SPINNING; BRAKES WOULD NOT HOLD. HAD TO TURN IGNITION SWITCH OFF. TURN BACK ON AND ALL OK. GOVERNMENT KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH 2002-2011 TOYOTA'S, AND HAVE FINED THEM HEAVILY. THERE NEEDS TO BE A BRAKE OVERRIDE SYSTEM INSTALLED ON ELECTRONIC THROTTLE SO THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN. VERY DANGEROUS. AND IT DID NOT INVOLVE THE FLOOR MAT AS ONE WAS NOT IN VEHICLE.”
Showing 6 of 27 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.