2004 Toyota Tacoma

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What changed

Electronic brake-force distribution standard, stability control offered on V6 trucks, and Active TRAC on 4WD V6 trucks.¹

Transmissions: 5-speed manual^3,1, 4-speed automatic^4,1
Drivetrains: 2WD^2,1, 4WD^2,1
Trims: Base^3,4, SR5^2,4,5, Limited^4,5, PreRunner (1998–2004)^4,1, S-Runner (2001–2004)^5,1
Packages: TRD Off-Road Package^4,1,6, TRD supercharger⁵

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Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check.

Worn lower ball joints All years

What to check: Check the front lower ball joints for play, look for uneven tire wear, and ask whether they were replaced. On a 2001–2004 truck, ask a dealer whether recall 05V225000 was done.

FLEX says lower ball joint failures are especially common on 1st gen trucks. Two TacomaWorld members call them a weak point of every 1st gen year, and one says theirs failed about 20,000 miles after he bought the truck. Two Edmunds owners of a 1997 and a 1999 say they replaced ball joints.

Sources ^8,9,10,7
3.4L V6 timing belt All years

What to check: Ask for proof of when the timing belt and water pump were last changed.

A TacomaWorld member says in two threads that the 3.4's timing belt has to be changed every 90,000 miles. Three others in a thread on 2003–2004 trucks say to confirm the belt was done once past 100,000 miles, or at about 150,000.

Sources ^11,12,9

04V214000 2004
Driver seat belts with wrong markings. None reached customers.¹³
05V225000 2001–2004
Front lower ball joints may wear loose and separate.^14,15,16,13
12V542000 2001–2004
The spare tire carrier's lift plate can rust and break, so the spare can drop.^14,15,16,13

Checked against NHTSA records on 21 October 2026.

Reputation: what owners and the press report

Sought after: The 2004 2004 One source so far

FLEX Automotive, a dealer, calls the 2004 the classic to seek, for the 3.4L V6 and its simple design with few electronics.⁸

Every warning and recall for this generation, with a box to tick.