Radio Comes On By Itself?

While driving the 30 minutes from where I was to home just now, the radio came on by itself multiple times. If I had to guess, it probably came on 20 to 25 times, sometimes within seconds after turning it off after it came on, it would just come right back on. This is a recent occurrence that just started in the last week or so, but nothing like today.

I turn the radio on maybe once every other month. I just don’t listen to the radio or CD player while I’m driving. Below is a photo of the radio so that we know what kind of radio I’m talking about. This is a 2011 Tacoma Access Cab with about 53k miles. I bought it brand new and this photo is from when it was new.

 

Have you done any electrical work lately, or changed a lightbulb of any kind, without disconnecting the battery first?

Have you tried a battery reset?

 

No to all of that. I don’t touch anything to do with wiring. I’ll have a shop do that if I need any wiring done. You mean disconnect the battery?

 

I don’t have steering wheel controls, so I don’t know?
But does the radio come on if you press any of the buttons on the steering wheel?
Like the volume buttons?

If so, maybe it’s in the spiral cable of the steering wheel?

 

I Never use those buttons in the steering wheel, hence I never looked at or tried them. It's like those buttons are not even there. I'm an old fart. Steering wheels are for steering.

 

Yep disconnect the battery. Negative first and then positive, check the terminals and connectors for corrosion. Apply some dielectric grease to the terminals before reconnecting in the opposite order, but leave the connectors off for at least 15 minutes.

 

Ok, thank you. I’ll try that tomorrow if we get a break in this weather. I don’t have anyplace to work on it inside.

 

My money on steering wheel radio controls. A sticky button or maybe something up with the wiring harness between them and radio.

 

Do a web search common problem on 2009-2011.

 

Mine does that goofy crap occasionally too.

Those radios are just garbage.

Mine thinks it’s trying to load CDs, volume doesn’t work correctly up or down, or turns on by itself.

Maybe I’ll replace it someday. The radio, not the truck.

 

Those vintage OE head units were notorious for turning off by themselves, but I've never heard of them turning on. My guess is a bad head unit. If you don't want to replace it then just turn the volume all the way down.

 

My guess is possibly bumping a steering wheel button? Do some experimenting.

My steering wheel looks the same but I’ve replaced the head unit with an aftermarket.

 

What song does the radio play? It doesn't put voices in your head about running down the "shitters," does it?

 

Sorry, had to do it

 

damn @Tacospike beat me to the Ghost....

 

Mouse did some rewiring for you.