Tacoma Failure

[Romer]

I picked up my Tacoma and there were all kinds of error codes before I even drove away. P0705 which is the Range sensor code or Neutral Saftey switch which is what they just replaced. They had me leave it again because they couldnt get to it today

My guess it isnt installed correctly or it needed to be calibrated. They should have verified it before they gave it to me.

I read another owner has a similar problem and their dealer in Florida escalated it to Toyota Technical team even though they couldn't reproduce the failure. They first replaced the battery under warranty and then the starter when it failed again. Looks like it has been working since that was posted a year ago. I brought that up to my Dealer (Autonation) who said we don't do that unless we have a failure.

He told me the Tech said I should drive it more as that is probaly the issue due to low miles I have on the truck. That makes no sense.

Likely will also replace the Starter and would rather not do that on my own dime

Does anyone have a contact at Toyota with an email I can reach out to on this issue? So far I have spent over $500 on replacing the battery and the Neutral Safety switch because of this failure that has left me stranded twice on a vehicle still under warranty

@bvb @jps8460 @cruiseroutfit ?

 

[jps8460]

I picked up my Tacoma and there were all kinds of error codes before I even drove away. P0705 which is the Range sensor code or Neutral Saftey switch which is what they just replaced. They had me leave it again because they couldnt get to it today

My guess it isnt installed correctly or it needed to be calibrated. They should have verified it before they gave it to me.

I read another owner has a similar problem and their dealer in Florida escalated it to Toyota Technical team even though they couldn't reproduce the failure. They first replaced the battery under warranty and then the starter when it failed again. Looks like it has been working since that was posted a year ago. I brought that up to my Dealer (Autonation) who said we don't do that unless we have a failure.

He told me the Tech said I should drive it more as that is probaly the issue due to low miles I have on the truck. That makes no sense.

Likely will also replace the Starter and would rather not do that on my own dime

Does anyone have a contact at Toyota with an email I can reach out to on this issue? So far I have spent over $500 on replacing the battery and the Neutral Safety switch because of this failure that has left me stranded twice on a vehicle still under warranty

@bvb @jps8460 @cruiseroutfit ?

So sorry to hear your having these issues. The Toyota dealership experiences can be hit or miss. Since they are decoupled from corporate, the first thing I’d try is going to another dealer. I personally have not had a recommendable experience with any of the front range dealerships I’ve used. That includes Stevinson West, Mountain States, and Lexus of Greenwood Village.

I have had very good experiences with Western Slope and Montrose.

I unfortunately don’t have a contact that would be helpful in this situation as we don’t work with these departments.

 

[Romer]

Thanks Jackson

Here is a summary of my issue (most is a repeat). Trying to get my documentation all lined up

This failure has occurred twice, first in Dec 19, 2025 and again on Sept 23rd 2026. What happens both times after driving someplace for 20 minutes and coming back to the truck after an hour, the truck does not start. Everything comes on, but there is no crank to the starter, no dash error codes and nothing else amiss except no crank, no clicking, no sound at all I can tell from the starter. I tried starting it with a NOCO Battery and no joy

In Dec, after 3 hours of trying to start, it suddenly started right up with no issues

I ran tests at home:

• Alternator voltage is good
• Battery Voltage was 12.6V
• No error codes

I read some of the new Panasonic Batteries had bad intermittent cells which could have caused this

On Dec 20,2025 I took it to the dealer and they couldn’t find anything wrong. Battery tested fine. I know sometimes a bad intermittent cell will test fine, so I had them replace the battery at my expense. I needed to do something so I wouldn’t be stranded. I thought that had fixed the issue

Failed again on 9/22/2026

I drove 20 miles to take my wife for her cancer treatment. Afterwards we tried to leave at 11AM and the truck wouldn’t start. I checked the Battery cables (Tight), I checked the voltage (12.6V), I tried to jump it with my NOCO Battery Booster and no joy

• No codes
• No error lights
• Everything else worked
• It recognized the key FOB
• It said “press brake pedal and press start” and when I did that, the message went away
• I could see the Brake lights come on, so it would not be the Brake Sensor switch that enables the start

I called AAA and they came out to test and try to jump the battery. They said the battery was good and jumping did not do anything. At this point I sent my wife home in an Uber

Since I was on the 2nd floor of a Parking Garage with low clearance, I was told it would be a 6 hour wait for a tow truck. I tried to start it at least twice an hour

The Tow truck driver came and said he couldn’t get into the garage due to clearance. So I used my winch to pull/push the Tacoma down two levels of the garage to where to tow truck driver could get me. I had the truck “On” (no engine) to use the brakes. This discharged the battery, it was fine before when AAA did a Battery test. The battery was not discharged until I had to use the winch.

The Tow truck driver took me to AutoNation Toyota and I verified it was still failing.

When the dealer looked at it the next morning, it started right up and they could not recreate the failure

The tech sent me a video saying I was concerned about the battery and it was discharged but still good. I am not concerned about the battery and I explained using the winch is why it was discharged. They failed to include that in the service write-up as to why the battery was low even though I asked them to.

Reading through the factory service manuals I see the following potential causes defined by Toyota:

• Starter Relay
• Starter (likely solenoid)
• Neutral Safety Switch. I did find a few videos saying this is a problem on some of the newer trucks

The dealer was not able to recreate it. I understand being an engineer its extremely difficult to troubleshoot something that isn't failing. The technician thought it was the low battery, but that is due to winching to get myself out of the parking garage

I had asked them to contact Toyota Technical support to help resolve this issue and they said they wouldn’t do that unless there was a failure.

I don’t want to get stranded a 3rd time, so I asked them what it would cost to replace the Neutral Safety switch and the starter. They wanted $750 for the starter install and said the part was $360. Toyota list is $249 and I can order it online from that same dealer and pick it up for $249, but it costs $360 through service and if I walk up to the parts counter??

I asked them to replace the Neutral Safety switch and I would look at other places to do the Starter.

I came to pickup the truck on 9/25/2026 and when I got in lots of dash lights came on with a error message to see dealer engine operation issue. The Service advisor ran a code reader and came up with P0705, which is a transmission range sensor circuit malfunction, typically due a problem with the Neutral safety switch. That is the part they replaced and likely an issue with the install.

 

[DanInDenver]

I’d suggest going broader with your story. Mud, Facebook and Reddit. You have a well documented and rational approach to the analysis of the issue. Maybe a little press will get the attention of Toyota. May also help with crowd sourcing the solution.
With Ai searches it’s much easier to find things now.

 

[Romer]

I’d suggest going broader with your story. Mud, Facebook and Reddit. You have a well documented and rational approach to the analysis of the issue. Maybe a little press will get the attention of Toyota. May also help with crowd sourcing the solution.
With Ai searches it’s much easier to find things now.

Good suggestion Dan. I will see what they come up with in the morning before posting

 

[Romer]

My truck was ready. Apparently the first technician didn't adjust the new switch. He sent a video saying everything was good with the switch that was installed BY A DIFFERENT TECHNICIAN

 

[Romer]

My faith in Toyota is restored I called the Brand Engagement number and they sent authorization to the dealer to replace the starter and reimburse me for the Neutral Safety Switch and Battery

They said the dealer should have this by Monday and to expect a call from them

 

[RayRay27]

I picked up my Tacoma and there were all kinds of error codes before I even drove away. P0705 which is the Range sensor code or Neutral Saftey switch which is what they just replaced. They had me leave it again because they couldnt get to it today

My guess it isnt installed correctly or it needed to be calibrated. They should have verified it before they gave it to me.

I read another owner has a similar problem and their dealer in Florida escalated it to Toyota Technical team even though they couldn't reproduce the failure. They first replaced the battery under warranty and then the starter when it failed again. Looks like it has been working since that was posted a year ago. I brought that up to my Dealer (Autonation) who said we don't do that unless we have a failure.

He told me the Tech said I should drive it more as that is probaly the issue due to low miles I have on the truck. That makes no sense.

Likely will also replace the Starter and would rather not do that on my own dime

Does anyone have a contact at Toyota with an email I can reach out to on this issue? So far I have spent over $500 on replacing the battery and the Neutral Safety switch because of this failure that has left me stranded twice on a vehicle still under warranty

@bvb @jps8460 @cruiseroutfit ?

Call Toyota Brand Engagement 800-331-4331. It's a long arduous process. Ive had to do it several times with my Tundra. Just file a case and tell them all your issues. They may contact the dealership directly and ask what the problems are. They may also tell you just to keep taking it to the dealership like they did to me. Hopefully you get a better response then I did.

 

[Romer]

Call Toyota Brand Engagement 800-331-4331. It's a long arduous process. Ive had to do it several times with my Tundra. Just file a case and tell them all your issues. They may contact the dealership directly and ask what the problems are. They may also tell you just to keep taking it to the dealership like they did to me. Hopefully you get a better response then I did.

thanks Ray- Read the post above yours

 

[RayRay27]

You expect me to read all of the responses in the thread. C'mon man.