Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Toyota Tacoma owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I was slowly turning into my driveway when there was a sudden acceleration of the gas pedal. My truck shot like a bullet (about 40-45 feet) into the corner of my house and deck. The force of the impact sheared a 6x6 deck corner post, knocked the garage small entry door completely loose from it's frame, and did extensive damage to a solid brick wall, as well as damage to the inside of garage. Luckily, I did still have my seat belt fastened; however, the air bag did not deploy. I filed a claim with Toyota, they sent an inspector, and now have denied that there was any malfunction. I am 100% sure that the acceleration was not "driver's error" and that there is a safety issue here and Toyota should be held accountable. The body damage to my truck has been repaired, but I will be getting rid of it. …
I was pulling into a parking spot in front of a building. I was going approx. 1-3 MPH due to the lot being wet & had my foot on the brake. When I was almost to the concrete curb, the truck suddenly accelerated, jumped the curb and hit the building. I still had my foot on the brake & shifted into neutral. The engine was revving full throttle, so I turned off the engine. Before moving, I checked to make sure nothing was touching the accelerator, which was the case. The airbags didn't deploy but that was because of the angle at which I hit the building. I then restarted the engine an backed off the building.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Toyota Tacoma. While driving 5 MPH and pulling into a parking space, the vehicle accelerated and the vehicle crashed into a store. When the vehicle accelerated, it burned rubber and left marks at the scene. There were no injuries and a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was not yet diagnosed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 146,000. Updated 05/18/16
I was approaching a red;ight in phoenix, a truck was in front of me I applied the brake and the accelerator amped up. The guy I rearended said he saw mer crow hopping as my truck was doing this. I had my foot firmly pressed on the brake as hard as I could. I only stopped when I rear ended him. I was on a city street in phoenix.
On the day of December 10, 2009 I was arriving home from work as I always do. I was preparing to park my 2005 Toyota Tacoma truck in front of the garage as I always do. As I began to back up the engine roared causing the truck to plunge backward into the garage door and house. I was unable to stop the vehicle even while having my foot on the brake. However this was not the first time this had happened. The first time was at a traffic light. As I stopped at the light, with a car in front of me, with my foot on the brake the engine roared and the tires screeched causing the truck to accelerate . Fortunately I was able to put the truck in neutral allowing me to avoid slamming into the car. The second time I was taking my wife to her oncologist appointment for a chemotherapy treatment. …
Drove about 12 miles from my home to my doctors office, and was attempting to pull into a parking space. I had to back up a few feet to get a better angle to enter the parking space. When shifting from reverse into drive, with my foot on the brake, the pickup suddenly accelerated to its maximum RPM. I hit a car in the parking space next to where I was attempting to park, and with my foot on the brake pushed the car out of the parking lot. I was able to finally get the gear shift into park, and the engine was still at maximum RPM. I turned the ignition switch off and called the police. The police noted that skid marks indicated the brake was applied throughout the event and declared the vehicle unsafe to drive and ordered it impounded. It was hauled to a body shop for about $1700 in bumper replacement cost and then hauled to a nearby Toyota dealer for inspection. …
In June 2013 I was approaching an interstate entrance ramp. As I slowed down (foot on the brake) to make the right turn onto the ramp, the vehicle suddenly accelerated, causing the rear end to "fish tail" around, jumping the curb on the right side of the ramp and sending the vehicle down the embankment. I was able to get the vehicle to stop before hitting the fence at the bottom of the hill. Since this first incident in June 2013, the vehicle has had three more incidents in June, July and August of 2014. The last incident in August occurred as I was pulling into a parking spot. Again, I was slowing down (foot on the brake) when the vehicle suddenly accelerated causing me to strike the parked vehicle in front of me. The incidents in June and July 2014 were also similar parking lot incidents with no other vehicles around. …
May 30, I was pulling into a parking space at kiewit middle school with my Tacoma. While I was approximately 5-10 feet from the car in front the engine begin racing. My foot was not on the accelerator, it was firmly on the brake. The engine continued revving and the brakes final gave and I hit the car ahead. As it is I damaged the front of my Tacoma, as well as the rear of car ahead of me. I am sure if there were not a vehicle ahead at such a close distance great damage and injury would have been incurred. I do not feel that currently the vehicle is safe to drive, I contacted Toyota, national -- they told me that it was OK and to take it home. I felt so strongly that the vehicle was not safe that I immediately traded it in for a Nissan -- if you need more information of would like to speak with others that saw what happened please let me know. …
2nd time a gas pedal stuck on my 2005 Toyota Tacoma truck leading to a 2nd collision with property damage to my truck & the car in front of me. Coming up to a red light with plenty of room to stop on a flat rd. There where skid marks from my truck and I had both feet on the brake and the engine increased inspeed. The dealer still does not have the parts to repair this problem even after my first accident in June of last year and again in July of this year. Toyota said they would turn it over to there legal dept. And the truck was to be inspected by a engineering firm from the west. The inspection firm was in a hurry to inspect the truck and called in July now they won't return my calls. This firm was hired by Toyota. Also during the repair it was found that the air bag had shorted out and did not deploy. …
Tl contact owns a 2005 Toyota Tacoma. While driving 35 MPH, the contact attempted to accelerate, but the vehicle would not stop even though the accelerator pedal was not being depressed. The pedal was not stuck in the accelerating position. The contact attempted to use the regular brakes and emergency brake to stop the vehicle, but it continued to accelerate. He struck another vehicle, which caused the contact's vehicle to slow down into the median. The contact was able to jump out of the vehicle, which was still accelerating. When she jumped out, she injured her left knee, and right arm and hand. The driver in the other vehicle was not injured. The contact did not notice any difference in the vehicle prior to the crash. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to her insurance company. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. …
Related recalls
Vehicle speed control › Accelerator pedal
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2010 passenger vehicles. The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat.
Remedy: Toyota filed an amended defect report on November 25, 2009, stating that dealers will modify the accelerator pedal and, on certain vehicles, alter the shape of the floor surface under the pedal.
Acceleration complaints in other Tacoma years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2005 Toyota Tacoma?
NHTSA has 93 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2005 Toyota Tacoma, 13% of the model year's 707 complaints. The component named most often is accelerator pedal (9 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Toyota Tacoma acceleration problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 09V-388 (accelerator pedal, Oct 5, 2009). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2005 Toyota Tacoma acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 58,000 miles, and 19% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 31 crashes, 0 fires and 8 injuries to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.