NHTSA Complaint #10838517 — 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA

THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN THE TRUCK INSTANTLY BEGAN DECELERATING EVEN THOUGH I HAD THE ACCELERATOR DEPRESSED. THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED AFTER TURNING THE TRUCK OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN. THE PROBLEM RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE STOPPED AND WHILE DRIVING OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT MONTH. I WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED AS A RESULT OF THIS FAILURE. UPON READING, AND INSPECTION BY A MECHANIC I WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE THROTTLE SENSOR HAD FAILED, AND THE ENTIRE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS A RESULT. UPON RESEARCHING THIS I DID DISCOVER THAT THIS IS THE CASE THE '03-'04 TACOMA (I HAVE AN 04), FOR WHICH A THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR IS NOT AVAILABLE, AT LEAST IN THE U.S. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT WITH '03-'04 TACOMA TRUCKS. REPLACING THE ENTIRE THROTTLE ASSEMBLY IS AN OBNOXIOUS AND EXPENSIVE CONSEQUENCE FOR A FAULTY ELECTRONIC PART THAT PUTS VEHICLE OWNERS' LIVES AT RISK. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER!