NHTSA Complaint #11701723 — 2024 TOYOTA TACOMA

The vehicle is a 2024 Toyota Tacoma SR5 that was later traded for a 2025 Tacoma SR5 due to a serious safety defect involving the rear brake lines. The problem is the same one described in Toyota’s recall: the rear brake hoses can be damaged by debris, resulting in brake fluid loss and potential brake failure. The safety risk was significant. The vehicle was used to transport a young child, and because the brake lines could fail without warning, the truck could not be safely operated for daily driving. Multiple franchised Toyota dealerships confirmed that they had no remedy parts available for several months and that the repair could not be performed. This left the vehicle without a functional safety repair for an extended period. The manufacturer’s public statements indicated that a fix existed, but dealerships consistently stated the opposite. No alternate transportation, loaner vehicle, or temporary replacement was provided during this period. The defect was not reproducible by driving because of the risk involved, but the safety issue was acknowledged by dealerships who stated that the recall was active and unresolved. The vehicle was effectively unusable for normal safe operation. No warning lights appeared on the dashboard; the hazard is related to the physical brake line design and exposure to debris rather than an electronic sensor. The vehicle was inspected by multiple Toyota dealerships, all of whom confirmed that no repair could be performed at the time. The component was not replaced, repaired, or made safe before the vehicle was traded out of due to the unresolved safety defect. The situation caused substantial safety concerns and financial hardship and appears to reflect a wider problem in remedy availability for this recall.