Looking for a 2nd Gen Tacoma/Most Common Problems?

You won't regret getting one. I drove mine bone stock for 5 yrs then got "tired" of it. Got a few upgrades and I'm good for another 5.

 

Yeah, I think they fixed it sometime in 06... there was a part number update IIRC.
Edit:

 

Yep, then you won't have the 2nd generation low end to compare it to. Therefore you will love the 3rd generation a lot better, more refined and a better truck.

 

You gave that truck away, new owner will take it and trade it in. Dealer will give him a new truck for next to nothing, just for the testament of how reliable Tacomas are.

 

I test drove a 3rd gen, much nicer interior and more aesthetic look all around. It's not that different from the 2nd gen though. The cab layout is essentially the same. I felt as though I would be trading for a truck that I wouldn't like any better than my 2nd gen... I do love my 2nd gen btw. Can't go wrong with either. For what a used Tacoma costs you're about better off with a new one.

 

Third gens are really nice. Different budgets though. If you have 30-35k+ a third gen is a nice modern truck to get OP. If you have 25k or less 2nd gen is your truck. Just know that these trucks last a while and are very customizable regardless of generation. You won't be replacing them due to maintenance issues like a lot of cars out in the market.

 

I have had seals replaced on the oil pan, transmission pan, as well as front transmission seal .... 4.0 ... all before 31,000 on my '14 OffRoad

 

I've got 170k on my 08 and the biggest issues to date have been: 1) direction/ temp display was broken when I bought it (common problem). 2) Stereo started to work only intermittently, I replaced it with something with bluetooth compatibility which I would have done anyway. 3) Had a u-joint fail several thousand miles after I swapped the stock tires for 33's. 4) The steering pump has been noisy for the last 30-40k miles, I'll probably replace it soon. All in all I highly recommend the 2nd gen pickup. There are 3 in my family alone all with over 100k miles. Zero engine/ transmission/ differential problems.

 

I had a FJ with the Automatic transmission. I bought the Tacoma V6 with a 6 speed manual. I hate it, I wish it was an automatic because the transmission is really notchy to shift even with a short shifter. It seems that more people complain about problems with the Manual transmission then the automatic.

 

I think a gen II is still a better choice. At least the problems are well known, and there are aftermarket fixes for most of them. Some of these fixes will cost you though. I don't know of a better option either. That's why I still have mine. It seems like the middle years, like 09 to 11 were probably the best.

I do have a problem with the fact that Toyota did so little about known problems on a truck that was essentially unchanged for 10 years. That says they have no loyalty to us, so I have none to them. The chirping TOB issue is a good example. I have way too much money in my truck to make it right, to ever sell it. No way I would ever buy a new one. I would buy used and spend the money you save to fix things that Toyota did not.

 

Mine hurts my wallet

 

2012's have a fix already. Hewitt Bypass kit and you should be good.

 

If you live in a snow part of the country you're gonna have snow build up in the front end which causes the steering to wobble. My Toyota dealer says it's not a big problem just wash off the snow! WTF? I think it's a problem with a lot of Toyota models.

 

Totally.

 

No intermittent wipers (base models only, easily fixed; I put intermittent wipers in mine)
Weak stereo in all but the Limited model (in my opinion; Again, easily fixed)
Frame rust/rot for sure
Bed panels/rear fenders easily dented
No side airbags in 2008 or older models
Like the one member said, resisting the urge to customize any generation of Tacoma once your get your hands on one is a big problem.

 

I had a 2013 DCLB Limited, and there were two small problems. While in park, there would be spirts of vibration. The other, the windows would rattle around the weather stripping. I tried so many things plus took it to the dealership and nothing worked.

 

My 2010 regular cab 2WD vibrates at idle. I just hit 71K today so unfortunately I'm thinking it's just the result of my truck getting older. The engine runs just as smooth as ever, and it doesn't idle rough. When it's in park, it doesn't vibrate at all...

It's when I'm in traffic, in drive, with my foot on the brake...

 

Agreed

I'm sort of new here, but after I got my 13 TRDOR I found this site. From what I've read, 13 to 15 models seem to be the better choice, I'm quite happy with my 13, just a lot of getting used to after driving a Silverado Z71 for 17yrs.

 

4-zone central air at a synagogue!

I'd never been to a Jewish service before and kind of wanted to go. My best friend (also has AS) is Jewish, and he gladly brought me along.

I am as much an HVAC nerd as I am a truck nerd, and of course I took this picture on the way into the temple. All four A/C units are from 1997, and my friend had his bar mitzvah in the summer of 2002, so these are the very same units that somebody forgot to turn on during the ceremony. My friend in his own words was "too busy becoming a man to notice" and his dad, while filming the bar mitzvah on his camcorder, had to go over and switch on the thermostat.

Later on got permission from his rabbi (same awesome woman who bar mitzvah'd my friend back in 2002), let me make a video of them too (though on a different day):


Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh-BIR92fp0