Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives 2005 tacoma ?'s

SO I just helped my son close the deal on a 2005 ext. cab 4WD tacoma. We're pretty big toyota fans, me with 06 tundra and son #2 with a 4runner.
I'd like to hear from any taco owners of the same vintage, just looking for input/advice on what my son should expect.
Thanks

I had one, front wheel bearing shiet the bed on me at about 50,000 miles (unusual) and the AC compressor went at 39,000.

My son has a 2006 ext cab V6 with 6 speed. Front engine seal at 85K, Leaf springs replaced as part of a recall. Seat belt adjusters replaced, both front wheel bearings at 104k. Checked for rust perforation.

my wife has an '05 as her daily driver....she likes it...

bought it with 7K miles on it 10 yrs ago...now has 133K or so

lost a RF wheel bearing at 90K...?? surprised me...truck otherwise has

been good...not a powerhouse at all...maybe 18-19 mpg...4.0 V6..

oil change is a breeze...filter on top of motor..I would want the

manual tranny if mine...I drive a '98 Taco V6...has 225K on it...

I have a 2005. Worst automatic transmission. EVER. Third gear might as well not be there. Truly awful.

My V6 autos were constantly hunting for gears. What was frightening is they are sealed and the dealer(s) I spoke to had done very few oil changes because it was so time consuming.

So my Son's 2006 TrD Pro extended cab V6 6spd now has universal joints that have to be replaced as well as a broken latch on the Passenger side 1/2 door , it has all of 104,760 miles on it and has been serviced every 5k . I had a toyota corolla in the 70's which was the biggest POS they ever made and evidently the DNA was used on these trucks. It's going up for sale . Enough is Enough

I had a 2006 dbl cab V6 auto TRD. I got a great trade-in value when I traded for a 2012 in the same configuration. The 2006 had more than 132,000 miles when I traded with regular services, one new set of shocks and struts, two new sets of tires and deer collision repairs. Many of those miles were up around you in the Arrowhead.

Randy,

My 05 accumulated 130K miles with nothing but routine maintenance until I totaled it on a bull moose. Great trucks especially when I compare to previous brands I've owned.

Running an 03 Taco and 05 4Runner now and considering a new Taco 4dr.

I like my 11 model, but would prefer it had the 6spd manual. The auto is programmed for fuel economy and shifts too early in the upper gears, which lugs the motor. I'm constantly bumping in and out of overdrive manually, using the shift lever. Overdrive isn't needed until 55mph or so.

Had an 05 dbl Cab, had to replace both front wheel bearings at 80,000. Had to do the resistor re-solder on the temp-compass display. No other problems, traded it in on a 14 at 165,000 front wheel bearing making a little noise again.
Remarkable trade -in value.

Fixed the driveshaft spider gear and bearing today. The right front wheel bearing is not great but serviceable, will replace when it gets noisy. I told my son we can sell it or just keep it and fix it . Probably cheaper just keeping it and fixing as needed. On the other hand my brother has had numerous 1980's tacomas thru 2003 and never an issue until they were well near 200k.

Randy, I've got a 2007 Crew Cab 4.0L V6 with the 6 speed manual. I've put about 5k on it and it's been great, but time will tell. I've got high expectations, and will put some money into a few upgraded parts soon. I think your son will be pretty happy with that truck!

Tanner

I've got a 2005 Tacoma Access cab 4x4, with 258,000 on it. I've replace both wheel bearings, the serpentine belt, and the front differntial ATD switch. That's it.

I plan on driving it till it quits.

The first "Tacoma's" came out in 95. They were referred to as 95.5 Tacoma's. I had 2 '96 Tacoma's. The first one puked at 26,000 miles. They didn't have parts to fix it, and took 3 months to get me into a new truck. That's Toyota for you.

Toyota's pick-ups are (in general) extremely reliable pickups. For example, my buddy bought one new in '98 and he still has it. It still has its original brakes and he's never had to do any major repairs to it.

On 2nd Tacoma here. The first one I sold with 275K mile son it. Presently I own a 2004 which now has 135K on it. Bought it with 2400 miles on it.

No troubles,but I found out this year,every 100k,you should replace water pump, belts, and hoses. They even sell everything as a kit.

If the water pump bearing fails it can put the water pump at an off angle with fan taking out the radiator. If it locks up,you screw a lot of , valving ,etc, messing up the engine pretty bad. I don't know all the ins and outs of it exactly,but my cost to have it done at a local shop was about $400.

On my older Tacoma,the water pump went and it cost me a new fan, radiator and pump.

Thanks for everybody's input, I'm sure my son will be very happy with his new rig. My plow truck, a 93' with 239,000 miles on it is till going strong despite being rolled and worked pretty hard.

My wife has an 06 access cab 4x4 auto. Only changed tires, battery, and headlights in 86,000 miles. No problems at all. We are probably going to sell it soon- she wants a bigger truck. I would love a Tundra, but the mileage is terrible compared to other full size trucks. We had a Sequoia and only averaged around 15 mpg with the 5.7.