VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE
Toyota 862013–2021
Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.
Best Years to Buy a Toyota 86
Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.
Toyota 86 Years to Avoid
4 recalls · 89 complaints
Top issue: ENGINE
1 recall · 8 complaints
Top issue: ENGINE
1 recall · 5 complaints
Top issue: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Toyota 86 — Year-by-Year Comparison
Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Reliability | Value | Buyer Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 100 | 88 | 96 | Excellent |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 100 | 87 | 95 | Excellent |
| 2019 | 1 | 5 | — | — | 90 | 83 | 88 | Excellent |
| 2018 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 95 | 77 | 89 | Excellent |
| 2017 | 1 | 3 | — | — | 92 | 70 | 84 | Excellent |
| 2016 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 94 | 63 | 83 | Excellent |
| 2015 | 1 | 8 | — | — | 87 | 56 | 76 | Good |
| 2014 | 1 | 2 | — | — | 93 | 50 | 78 | Excellent |
| 2013 | 4 | 89 | — | — | 50 | 45 | 48 | Avoid |
Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.
Known Toyota 86 Problems
Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.
Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.
Shopping by Era
How each generation of the 86 compares — best year within each era shown.
2018–Present
Modern safety tech, refreshed platforms, updated powertrains. Higher purchase price but lower reliability risk. Best pick in this era: 2021 (Buyer Score 96).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year 86 to buy?+
The 2018 Toyota 86 scores highest on our Buyer Score (89/100) — combining a reliability score of 95/100 with a value score of 77/100. It has 1 recall and 0 NHTSA complaints on record.
Which 86 years have the most problems?+
The 2013, 2015, 2019 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2013 86 leads with 4 recalls and 89 owner complaints.
What is the Buyer Score?+
The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.
What are the most common 86 problems?+
The most frequently reported Toyota 86 issues involve: ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.
Deep-Dive Research
A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.