Toyota Tacoma Problems — All Years, Common Issues & Reliability

Year-by-year breakdown of safety recalls, NHTSA owner complaints, reported deaths, injuries, crashes, and worst problem areas. Updated daily from federal databases.

124
Total Recalls
5356
Total Complaints
463
Total Crashes
305
Reported Injuries
13
Reported Deaths
2006
Worst Year
2026
Best Year
0
Poor
Overall Reliability Score (0–100)
Accelerating +443%
Complaint Trend
239 last 24mo vs 44 prior 24mo

Recent Safety Incidents — Last 5 Model Years

2
Fires Reported
23
Crashes Reported
1
Death Reported
51
Injuries Reported

Own a Toyota Tacoma? Check your specific VIN for a full history report.

Toyota Tacoma — Year-by-Year Problem Comparison

YearVerdictRecallsComplaintsCrashesInjuriesDeathsTop Issue
2026BestExcellent2Electrical SystemFull report →
2025Excellent3228Power TrainFull report →
2024Good18531Power TrainFull report →
2023Good23845Power TrainFull report →
2022Excellent13355Unknown Or OtherFull report →
2021Good5512152Unknown Or OtherFull report →
2020Good16244Fuel/Propulsion SystemFull report →
2019Good315813Fuel/Propulsion SystemFull report →
2018Good214261Service BrakesFull report →
2017Good21491111Power TrainFull report →
2016Caution22012Power TrainFull report →
2015Good3741811Unknown Or OtherFull report →
2014Good35011Service BrakesFull report →
2013Good5665Power TrainFull report →
2012Caution720883EngineFull report →
2011Good811789SuspensionFull report →
2010Caution1019295SuspensionFull report →
2009Caution10302142SuspensionFull report →
2008Avoid1028640172SuspensionFull report →
2007Avoid834535172SuspensionFull report →
2006WorstAvoid94813913StructureFull report →
2005Avoid8431223StructureFull report →
2004Caution32801716StructureFull report →
2003Caution22613020StructureFull report →
2002Caution32193226StructureFull report →
2001Caution426831253StructureFull report →
2000Good3140159StructureFull report →
1999Caution31582931StructureFull report →
1998Caution316627161StructureFull report →
1997Good27573SuspensionFull report →
1996Caution316715122SuspensionFull report →
1995Good311313111SuspensionFull report →

32 model years shown. Crashes, injuries, and deaths from NHTSA complaint filings. Click any year for full details.

Most Common Toyota Tacoma Problems

Structure
1123
Suspension
812
Power Train
469
Vehicle Speed Control
390
Unknown Or Other
348
Air Bags
282
Steering
214
Engine
213
Service Brakes
203
Electrical System
201
Fuel/Propulsion System
157
Exterior Lighting
131

Based on 5,356 owner complaints filed with NHTSA across all model years.

Recent Safety Recalls — Toyota Tacoma (20222026)

#22V3100002022
06/05/2022
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain 2022 4Runner, Tacoma, Highlander, and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The load carrying capacity modification labels may not be permanent and can fade, becoming illegible. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Remedy: GST will notify owners by mail, including a replacement load carrying capacity modification label for their vehicle and detailed replacement instructions, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 30, 2022. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 22R1.

#22V5200002022
21/07/2022
CHILD SEAT:VEHICLE LATCH ANCHOR

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Tacoma vehicles. One or more of the individual welds in the upper child seat anchors may be insufficient. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage System."

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the upper child seat anchors and reweld the child seat anchors, as necessary. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 02, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 22TB09/ 22TA09.

#24V1520002022
27/02/2024
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturer (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Tacoma vehicles. The axle shaft sub-assembly may separate from the axle housing due to debris causing improperly secured fasteners.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear axle assembly, tighten the axle retaining nuts as necessary, and repair or replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 17, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB05 and 24TA05.

#25V5950002024
11/09/2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Toyota Venza, 2023-2025 RAV4 Prime, RAV4, Highlander, GR Corolla, Crown, 2024-2025 Lexus TX, LS, Toyota Tacoma, Grand Highlander, and 2025 Lexus RX, Toyota Crown Signia, Camry, RAV 4 Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and 4 Runner vehicles. Due to an error in the instrument panel software at vehicle startup, the instrument panel may fail to display vehicle speed, brake system, and tire pressure warning lights.

Remedy: Dealers will update the instrument panel software over-the-air (OTA) for non-PHEV vehicles, free of charge. For PHEV vehicles, dealers will inspect the instrument panel assembly, and either replace it, or update the software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 5, 2025. Additional letters will be sent, anticipated in May 2026. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB08 and 25TA08. Lexus' numbers for this recall are 25LB05 and 25LA05.

#25V6560002025
01/10/2025
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2025 Tacoma and Tacoma Hybrid vehicles. The front driveshaft constant-velocity (CV) joint may deform and break.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace both front driveshaft assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed November 14, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in late May 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB11 and 25TA11.

#23V4800002023
12/07/2023
STEERING:COLUMN

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Corolla, Corolla Cross, Corolla Cross Hybrid, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Tacoma, 2023 Lexus RX350, RX350 Hybrid, RX500 Hybrid, 2023-2024 Lexus NX250, NX350, and NX350 Hybrid vehicles. An electrical connection inside the steering column's spiral cable assembly may be insufficiently welded, causing the connection to separate and deactivate the driver's air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the spiral cable assembly, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 8, 2023. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TA08. Lexus' number for this recall is 23LA02.

#25V0400002023
29/01/2025
STEERING:COLUMN

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Cross, Corolla Cross Hybrid, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Tacoma, Lexus RX350, 2023-2024 NX250, and NX350 vehicles that may have been incorrectly repaired under previous NHTSA recall number 23V-480. An electrical connection inside the steering column's spiral cable assembly may be insufficiently welded, causing the connection to separate and deactivate the driver's air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the spiral cable assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 17, 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 25TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 25LA02.

#24V5480002024
23/07/2024
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain Toyota 2023 GR Supra, 2024 4 Runner, Corolla, Grand Highlander, Grand Highlander Hybrid, Land Cruiser Hybrid, Tacoma, Tacoma Hybrid, 2023-2024 BZ4X, Corolla Cross Hybrid, GR Corolla, GR86, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius Prime, Sequoia Hybrid, Tundra, Tundra Hybrid, Venza Hybrid, 2023-2025 Crown, and 2025 Camry Hybrid vehicles equipped with GST accessories. The load carrying capacity modification label may display inaccurate added weight values. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Remedy: GST will mail new labels to owners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 16, 2024. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 24R2.

#25V0580002024
06/02/2025
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Tacoma 4-wheel drive vehicles. The rear brake hoses can be damaged if mud and dirt builds up inside the rear wheels. This can result in a brake fluid leak.

Remedy: Dealers will replace both rear brake hoses, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed August 1, 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB04 and 25TA04.

#26V1790002024
24/03/2026
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Toyota Tundra, Tacoma Hybrid, Tacoma, RAV4 Hybrid, Land Cruiser Hybrid, Lexus GX550, 2024-2026 Tundra Hybrid, 2025 Sequoia Hybrid, Crown Signia, Grand Highlander, Lexus TX500 Hybrid, Lexus NX350 Hybrid, 2025-2026 Grand Highlander Hybrid, and Lexus TX350 vehicles. The load carrying capacity modification label may display inaccurate added weight values. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Remedy: Dealers will replace the load carrying capacity modification label, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed in late Q2 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 26LB04, 26LA04, 26TB07, and 26TA07.

Showing 10 recalls from 20222026 model years. See the full year-specific pages for older recalls.

Recent Owner Complaints

Direct reports filed with NHTSA by Toyota Tacoma owners — 20222026 model years.

Steering /Suspension04/24/2026

*Steering system - tie rod / steering nut lock was loose and discover after alignment service * Loose tie rod nut created a potential safety risk because it involves a steering component related to vehicle control. This could have put me, my passengers, and others drivers at risk if the condition had worsened while driving. *No, the condition has not yet been confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. I noticed abnormal steering/handling, inspected the vehicle myself, and discovered a loose tie rod nut. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. *No the vehicle I available upon request *No

Structure04/23/2026

Driver's side interior door handle mechanism broke during normal usage at 8 months/6,300 miles. Breakage occured within the door panel, leaving a non-functioning handle. After breakage, the door cannot be opened from the inside of the vehicle and the occupant cannot easily exit the vehicle.

Structure04/22/2026

Known manufacturing defect which results in paint flaking off and exposing bare metal to the body. This will eventually result in corrosion and structurally compromise the safety of occupants inside the cabin. This is a known defect which the manufacturer has set an arbitrary cut-off for production date despite the issue ongoing beyond the limit of their recall dates.

Seats04/22/2026

Less than 5000 miles - seat popping and cracking noise. If you look it up online, a lot of the 4th Gen Tacomas are doing this but when you take it to a dealership they say that is normal. It feels like the seat will break and moves around alot but Toyota will not acknowledge the issue at the dealership and has no fix. Seems unsafe.

Air Bags /Unknown Or OtherCRASH04/21/2026

Air Bags (Driver and Passenger Curtain Airbags) no other airbags deployed. Been in repair since 3/8/26. Currently 4/21/26. Insurance already sent Body Shop money. Parts on National Backorder and Manufacturer Switch has not been determined yet by Toyota. Truck will not be released back to me until the repair is completed per email. I need adequate transportation provided to continue going to and from work. My insurance has maxed its coverage and cannot extend. I should not be out of pocket more than I already am while waiting on a part that is not in my control. Accident: I hydroplaned and ended in a ditch after going over a T-Intersection. Air bags went off and vehicle was drivable after. Submitted a claim to insurance and here we are.

Power Train04/20/2026

The contact owns a 2025 Toyota Tacoma. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V656000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it remained since October 2025, while the contact drove a rental vehicle. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

Service Brakes04/19/2026

Vehicle Information Vehicle: 2024 Toyota Tacoma VIN: [XXX] ate: January 26, 2025 Repair Completed: October 1, 2025 Safety Complaint Description Beginning on or about February 5, 2025, my 2024 Toyota Tacoma developed a serious braking-related safety issue that substantially affected the safe operation of the vehicle. When I brought the vehicle to the dealership, I reported braking concerns and was advised by dealership personnel that the vehicle may not be safe to drive due to concerns that the rear brakes might not function properly under certain conditions. I was specifically told by dealership staff that they would not recommend driving the vehicle due to safety risks. Despite this warning, I was forced to continue operating the vehicle because no repair remedy was available at that time and no equivalent loaner vehicle or safe alternative transportation was provided. Over the course of several months, I repeatedly contacted the dealership regarding the issue. Each time, I was told that no repair remedy was available and that nothing could be done until Toyota released a repair solution. I was also advised that my only option was to leave the vehicle at the dealership indefinitely, which was not practical because the vehicle was my only means of transportation. As a result, I was forced to continue driving a vehicle that had been identified as unsafe. The defect remained unresolved for approximately eight months. During this time, I experienced significant safety concerns and loss of reliable vehicle use. Because of the prolonged delay in repair and lack of alternative transportation, I was ultimately forced to purchase another vehicle in order to maintain necessary transportation. The braking-related condition was not permanently corrected until approximately October 1, 2025. This situation created significant safety concerns because I was forced to operate a vehicle that dealership personnel advised may not be safe to drive, yet INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Power Train04/18/2026

Coolant bypass duct leaking at just 52,000 miles. Part is made of plastic and is a very common problem.

Service Brakes04/14/2026

After having Toyota Tacoma rear brake hose recall performed at Steven Toyota Harrisonburg Va I have very poor braking! This is a huge safety concern for my family and myself. Toyota is not taking this matter seriously. I was told “bring it in and let the tech have another wack at it”. No get a master tech on this problem immediately! I had reservations about having this recall performed by Toyota because in Toyotas pursuit to fix a problem they always make it worse. This has been our family’s experience over the course of many years. I have reported this issues to Toyota corporate and they are oblivious to our families safety concerns. They are more concerned about their protocol.

Seats04/09/2026

The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver’s seat became inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the driver’s seat hydraulic function failed to operate properly, causing the contact to adjust the seat several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on several occasions; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer informed the contact that the failure could be due to an inadvertent engagement of the lever on the driver’s seat. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,645.

Forward Collision AvoidanceCRASH04/05/2026

My 2025 Toyota Tacoma engaged the emergency braking/pre-collision system system while my vehicle was going under 10 mph on a steep road in winter conditions. My vehicle was completely under control before the system engaged and there was no risk of a collision with any vehicles in front of me. The emergency braking system engaged and rendered my vehicle completely out of control. I tried desperately to pump the brakes in hopes I could regain control of the vehicle, but the brakes were fully locked. Had the brakes dis-engaged, I could have easily avoided the collision. The car not only did not decelerate, it accelerated down the hill while the brakes were locked for several seconds. My vehicle eventually slid into another vehicle that had been parked on the side of the road. From doing extensive research I believe a perfect storm of events caused this malfunction. Previously on this day, several inches of snow had fallen. The road had not been plowed and cars were parked on the side of the road. There was also a curve in the road near my vehicle's collision where the other vehicle was parked. My windshield was also still defrosting in the uppermost section near the rear view mirror. It is also possible the radar block on the front of the vehicle had snow or ice on it. It was also actively snowing. From what I have read, any of the above factors can cause a malfunction in the emergency braking pre-collision system. I had never been in an accident in over 20 years of driving and my vehicle did the least safe maneuver it could have in the given situation. There is no circumstance where one would purposefully slam the brakes on a snowy/icy down hill road if they know how to drive in the snow (even if you were going under 10mph as I was). At the most basic level of failure, I can't imagine this system should ever engage if going as slow as I was. Also, the system is designed to decelerate (was accelerating) and I was pumping brakes in effort to disengage

Power Train /Engine04/04/2026

On Sunday March 22, 2025 at around 1340, I was leaving my house and driving on a small incline and noticed my vehicle had a jerk when down shifting. This happened four times while traveling up hill. I have not yet had any repeat issues since this date.

284 total complaints retrieved from NHTSA for 20222026. For older model years, see individual year pages.

Tacoma Years to Avoid

2006 Tacoma
481 complaints · 9 recalls · 39 crashes
Details →
2005 Tacoma
431 complaints · 8 recalls · 22 crashes
Details →
2007 Tacoma
345 complaints · 8 recalls · 35 crashes · 2 deaths
Details →

Ranked by combined complaints, recalls, crashes, injuries, and deaths.

Best Tacoma Years to Buy

2026 Tacoma
2 complaints · 0 recalls
Details →

Years with fewest complaints and recalls.

Toyota Tacoma Problems by Year

Frequently Asked Questions — Toyota Tacoma Reliability

What year Tacoma has the most problems?

Based on NHTSA data, the 2006 Toyota Tacoma had the highest combined complaint and recall count — 481 complaints and 9 safety recalls. See the full 2006 report for specific defects.

Is the Toyota Tacoma reliable?

The Toyota Tacoma has accumulated 5,356 owner-filed complaints and 124 safety recalls across all model years in NHTSA's database. There have been 13 reported deaths associated with complaints. The 2026 model year shows the fewest reported issues. Always run a VIN check before purchasing any used Tacoma.

What are the most common Tacoma problems?

The most frequently cited problem areas are: Structure (1123 reports), Suspension (812 reports), Power Train (469 reports), Vehicle Speed Control (390 reports). Based on NHTSA complaints across all model years.

How do I check if my Tacoma has an open recall?

Use the vehicle's 17-character VIN at VinCheckEngine.com. Our free VIN report pulls the latest NHTSA recall data along with auction history, odometer records, and 30+ intelligence signals.

Check a Specific Toyota Tacoma VIN

Model-level data shows what can go wrong. A VIN-specific report shows what has gone wrong with a particular vehicle — including auction history, odometer discrepancies, open recalls, accident records, and 30+ intelligence signals.

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