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 2008 Toyota Tacoma owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated while coming to a complete stop, the brake pedal was depressed and the vehicle accelerated independently. As a result, the contact crashed into another vehicle. A police report was filed and no injuries were sustained. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 09V388000 (vehicle speed control). In 2015, the unexpected acceleration recurred. The dealer had an inspector diagnose the vehicle, who was unable to locate a problem. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 30,000. Updated 4/29/15 updated 11/10/2015
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Toyota Tacoma. While driving 5 MPH, the vehicle accelerated without warning. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to slow down and caused the contact to crash into two trees. The air bags deployed. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries that required medial attention. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 32,000. Updated 2/4/16
Runaway vehicle reported Friday, 04/24/2020. Happened again Friday 05/01/2020, and today 05/04/2020. Six times now I have reported. Friday and today I was backing out of driveway. Started up, had foot on brake, put in reverse, and throttle went wide open. Turned switch off, put in park, and started up. All OK.thought A/C compressor might have something to do with electronics, but A/C was off on 05/01/20. I have a electro / mechanics tech degree and have worked in appliance shop over 15 years. Worked in vehicle shops over 25 years. Currently school bus parts specialist for gwinnett boe. I know from internet this is a common problem that nobody wants to fix. I have written to senator, congressman, Toyota corp America. They want to blame problem on floor mats. At times I did not have any mats in. Last two time I had weather tech custom fit hard plastic mats in vehicle. …
I was a passenger in my friend's 2008 Tacoma truck on 1/31/10. We were travelling from culpepper ,va. To charlottesville when we pulled into a gas station and mcdonalds. As we pulled in the gas station we made a right hand turn and then a left hand turn pulling into the parking spot at normal parking speed(~ 5mph) . As the driver put on the brake to stop it felt like the ABS adjusted to the slick surface and slid a little. This is when the front wheels locked up and the engine revved and the back tires started to spin very fast. At this point the truck climbed the concrete parking barrier, crossed the side walk, revved faster while the driver had his foot on the brake and put the truck in park. It proceeded to climb over a 2ft wall, crossed the bushes and crashed into the mcdonalds store front. …
My Toyota Tacoma will suddenly accelerate from a dead stop. I was stopped at a stop sign and the engine sped up; I had both feet on the brakes, back wheels spinning. I put it into neutral and it went back to normal. Another time I was backing into a parking space and it did it again, in reverse! Again, neutral stopped it. This has happened 3 times and I'm afraid I'm going to kill myself or someone else! No, I did not have a foot on the accelerator and the brake! This happens after I've had the cruise control on, then turned it off. And again, it happens from a dead stop. I have a complaint number from Toyota. The dealer did diagnostics and couldn't find anything wrong. So Toyota will do nothing. I am contacting you to make public what we are experiencing with my Tacoma in case of a horrific accident. Toyota needs to stand behind what they sell. …
I was driving in downtown hilo going approximately 10 to 15 MPH. There was a truck ahead of me starting to stop for a red light. I also started to brake when suddenly the Tacoma started to surge. I pressed down on the brake with all my might but the truck would not stop. I then pumped the brakes in desperation. I hit the truck in front of me slightly. The same thing happened once before a few months back but fortunately there was no other vehicle involved. I searched the internet and have found other owners of the Toyota Tacoma have had this same identical problem. This happened on Saturday, today is Monday and I was planning on taking it to the Toyota dealership, but from reading what others wrote Toyota will not find or remedy the problem or even acknowledge that there is a problem. So I don't even know if I should bother. …
On 01/04/2008 I was stopped at a red light in traffic. I was stopped approximately 10 feet from the rear bumper of the vehicle in front of me. While stopped my vehicle, a 2008 Toyota Tacoma double cab began to accelerate violently. I proceeded to put both feet on the brake pedal in an attempt to stop the vehicle. I could not stop the vehicle and it rammed into the stopped vehicle in front of me. My 2008 Toyota Tacoma continued to accelerate for approximately 10 feet. The acceleration was violent and the truck was "fishtailing" from side to side due to the fact that it was pushed up against another vehicle and I had both feet on the brakes. The truck eventually shut off but not before I rammed the car in front of me, the impact was so severe I bent the steering wheel with my chest. I suffered injuries to my chest, neck and shoulder. …
On 02/06/10 I experienced an unintended acceleration problem with my 2008 Toyota Tacoma x. I was in my drive way an putting my truck in the garage when it accelerated unexpectedly and struck the foundation of my home. A claim was initiated with my insurance company (nationwide) and with Toyota. I contacted Toyota and was given a claim number. On talkin to the Toyota representative a statement of events was given and I was told the case would be passed on to another department. Only once did Toyota return my call. As notified after my last contact (03/11/10) the claim is with the legal department and no one has picked up the claim in the 3 weeks. The truck has been repaired thru nationwide and the dealership, but no one can tell me if the vehicle is safe to drive. The dealership has stated that Toyota needs to inspect the truck and nationwide has also requested an inspection. …
Was coming to a stop at a stop light and the truck surge when the brakes were applied and hit the car in front of me. Truck surge two to three times after that. Toyota fix the surge issue and at the same time created another safety problem / defect. Now when I step on the gas petal to much or give the truck to much gas at one time the truck thinks it is surging and the truck will shut down . In the last couple month I have had three close call from this defect / problem. The technician at the Toyota dealer ship (hilo hawaii) told me not to punch the gas or step on the gas to hard or the truck will shut down (he was right). I express my concern this was another safety issue, he replied this was Toyota solution to the surge problem. I only drive my truck when needed and don't allow any passenger in fear of having another accident. Please help.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Toyota Tacoma. While driving approximately 2 MPH into a parking space, the contact engaged the brake pedal and unexpectedly the vehicle accelerated, and crashed into a building. The front seat passenger sustained neck injury. There was no police report filed of the incident. The vehicle body damage repair cost was $5,500. In addition, the metal siding of the building was damaged. The contact received a recall notification after the acceleration failure. The recall was under NHTSA campaign id number 09V388000 (vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a specialist transported the vehicle to a dealer for investigation and they were unable to determine the cause of failure. The vehicle was not repaired for the body damage. The failure mileage was 29,121.
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 2008 Toyota Tacoma?
NHTSA has 85 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2008 Toyota Tacoma, 19% of the model year's 449 complaints. The component named most often is accelerator pedal (7 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 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 2008 Toyota Tacoma acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 19,000 miles, and 56% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 29 crashes, 1 fire and 6 injuries and 2 deaths 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.