3TMLB5JN3TM2112252026 TOYOTA Tacoma
2026 TOYOTA Tacoma was analyzed across NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, crash test data, and public auction records. 5 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA — review the complaint section for the most common failure patterns.
Executive Summary
2026 TOYOTA Tacoma
2026 TOYOTA Tacoma was analyzed across NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, crash test data, and public auction records. 5 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA — review the complaint section for the most common failure patterns.
- Complaint rate is accelerating — issues appear to be getting worse, not better
5 owner complaints filed — top areas: Engine/Powertrain (40%), Other (20%), Visibility (20%).
Title Brand Check
Mined from auction damage fields and listing titles — not a DMV title history pull
No auction records available. Title brand status could not be verified — request title history from seller or state DMV.
Vehicle Specifications
Decoded from NHTSA vPIC database
- Make
- TOYOTA
- Model
- Tacoma
- Year
- 2026
- Trim / Series
- 45 Series
- Body Style
- Pickup
- Vehicle Type
- TRUCK
- Drive Type
- 4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4
- Fuel Type
- Gasoline
- Engine
- 4-cyl 2.4L 278 hp
- Transmission
- Automatic
- Manufacturer
- TOYOTA MOTOR MFG DE BAJA CALIFORNIA S DE RL DE CV
- Assembly
- TIJUANA, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO
- GVWR
- Class 2E: 6,001 - 7,000 lb (2,722 - 3,175 kg)
Assembly Plant Quality
Plant: TIJUANA, BAJA CALIFORNIA
No specific quality data available for this plant. No documented recall or complaint concentrations on record.
Safety Intelligence
Composite analysis from NHTSA recall, complaint, and crash data
✓ No high-risk recall components found
Driver Assistance Features
ADAS equipment data from NHTSA vPIC database
NHTSA Safety Recalls
CLEARComplaint Intelligence
5 complaints analyzed across 4 system categories
⚠ Complaint rate is accelerating — issue may be getting worse
Owner Complaints
5 safety complaints filed with NHTSA
The rear bumper of my recently purchased vehicle is physically misaligned and structurally deformed. Dealership service personnel initially acknowledged the defect and ordered repair parts, but later refused to fix it, claiming it is 'within factory specification.' This structural misalignment directly impacts the orientation of the vehicle's rear safety sensors, blind-spot monitors, and cross-traffic radar systems. A misaligned bumper housing can cause these driver-assistance systems to miscalculate distances, fail to detect hazards, or trigger false emergency braking, creating an immediate collision and safety hazard.
The contact owns a 2026 TOYOTA Tacoma. The contact stated while driving the vehicle at an undisclosed speed, the AC went out. The vehicle was driven to a dealer where it was diagnosed to have a rock damage at the AC condenser. The contact stated that it is located in front of the grill which has no protection or cover on the condenser, allowing the issue to occurred again. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 12,000.
While attempting to cross 3 lanes of oncoming traffic from a standstill the vehicle lost all power and barely moved 2 feet, irrespective my efforts of stabbing at the throttle, and almost got us killed. Fortunately I slammed on the brakes and barely missed being hit head on. No warning lamps or codes popped up. This is now the 3rd such incident in the 2 months we have owned this vehicle.
I have a 2026 Toyota Tacoma 850 miles on it. I had a problem at about 200 miles that the transmition started to shutter or vibrate as it was slowing down around 26 miles an hour to 10 not exactly that every time but close and as it slowed down it had this distinct vibration or shutter under 5 miles an hour it shifted and it smoothed out. I took it Toyota to my dealer their response was that it was a" normal characteristic of the vehicle" my issue is I don't think a normal characteristic of the vehicle is necessarily an intended way the transmission was supposed to work. I would like to know if The manufacture intended this to operate like that or is it a defect If it's a defect then it could cause at lease major repairs or even an accident.
My 2026 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro (VIN [XXX] , delivered 02/28/2026, purchased from Delaney Toyota, DuBois PA) has exhibited a recurring Smart Key and door lock malfunction beginning at approximately 250 miles and continuing through at least 1,814 miles as of March 18, 2026. Symptoms observed: Doors locking autonomously without any input while occupants are entering or exiting the vehicle System falsely detecting the key fob as being inside the vehicle when it is in the owner's pocket outside, causing the truck to refuse to lock Touch-lock refusal at the door handle Random single beeps while the vehicle is parked and locked with no corresponding lock movement Dashboard warning "Key Not Detected" with audible alert while vehicle was in motion (March 18, 2026, approximately 11:06 AM) Dashboard warning "Key Not Detected" with audible alert while attempting to start the vehicle (March 18, 2026, approximately 2:30 PM) Safety concern: On March 18, 2026, a Toyota Brand Engagement Center case manager (case #XXX) confirmed on a recorded call that if the vehicle loses key fob detection while driving and is subsequently shut off, there is a possibility it will not restart even if the owner holds the fob directly to the start button. This creates a real stranding risk on public roads. Additional facts: This defect has never generated a diagnostic trouble code across multiple service visits A full-day diagnostic on March 9, 2026 (RO #XXX) produced no fault codes Immediately after that diagnostic, the vehicle autonomously locked out two Delaney Toyota employees on dealership property — witnessed by the dealership's General Sales Manager and a Product Specialist The identical defect appeared on a prior vehicle, a 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro (VIN [XXX] ), which was traded in February 2026 with the defect unresolved after three service visits Toyota Corporate case #XXX is currently open INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Legal & Regulatory Actions
Known class action lawsuits, settlements, and manufacturer extended warranty programs
5-Year Total Cost of Ownership
Estimated based on EPA fuel data, risk-adjusted maintenance, and depreciation
Estimated 5-year cost of ownership: $32,744 (~$546/mo). Repair risk buffer is standard due to vehicle risk profile.
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Tailored for the 2026 TOYOTA Tacoma — specific failure modes your mechanic must check, not a generic list
Recall Probability Forecast
Estimated likelihood of a new recall in the next 18 months based on NHTSA signals
20% estimated recall probability — some indicators present but not alarming.
- ▸Accelerating complaint rate — increasing pressure on NHTSA to act
Maintenance Schedule
OEM-specified service intervals for this vehicle
Maintenance intervals vary significantly by make, model, year, engine, and driving conditions. Always follow the manufacturer's official schedule — not generic industry estimates.
Tip: Request the seller's service records and compare against the manufacturer schedule. Missing intervals are a negotiation point.
Auction History
Public sale records from Copart, IAAI, and auction aggregators
Searching Public Auction Records
Checking Copart, IAAI, BidFax, and other sources for 3TMLB5JN3TM211225. Results appear automatically when found.
Insurance Cost Estimate
Estimated annual premiums based on vehicle profile, theft data, and NHTSA safety ratings
Based on 2024 national avg ($2,011/yr full coverage). Individual rates vary by driver, location & insurer. Always compare 3+ quotes.
Market & Background Signals
Theft risk, fleet history, dealer patterns, and emissions compliance
TOYOTA Tacoma has a moderately elevated theft risk (1.8× average).
Manufacturer NHTSA Penalty History
Federal fines issued for recall delays and safety violations
TOYOTA has been fined $1217M+ by NHTSA. Most recently in 2014: Criminal settlement — concealed unintended acceleration defects for years before recall.
State-Specific Legal Protections
What consumer laws apply to this vehicle purchase in your state
Select your state to see what consumer protection laws, lemon law coverage, and title disclosure requirements apply to this vehicle purchase.
Complete Data Table
All decoded fields in a single flattened view
Vehicle Identity
| VIN | 3TMLB5JN3TM211225 |
| Model Year | 2026 |
| Make | TOYOTA |
| Model | Tacoma |
| Series | 45 Series |
| Vehicle Type | TRUCK |
Body & Configuration
| Body Style | Pickup |
| Seat Rows | 5 |
| Drive Type | 4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline |
| Transmission | Automatic |
Engine
| Engine Cylinders | 4 |
| Displacement (L) | 2.4 |
| Horsepower | 278 |
Manufacturer
| Manufacturer | TOYOTA MOTOR MFG DE BAJA CALIFORNIA S DE RL DE CV |
| Assembly City | TIJUANA |
| Assembly Country | MEXICO |
VIN Structure
| WMI (Chars 1–3) | 3TM |
| Check Digit (Char 9) | 3 |
| Model Year Code (Char 10) | T |
| Plant Code (Char 11) | M |
| Sequence (Chars 12–17) | 211225 |
Safety Data
| NHTSA Recall Count | 0 |
| NHTSA Complaint Count | 5 |
VIN Structure Decode
ISO 3779 character-by-character breakdown of this Vehicle Identification Number
Disclaimer: Data sourced from NHTSA public APIs and scraped auction listings. For informational purposes only. Not a substitute for a paid vehicle history report. Retrieved: 8/1/2026, 3:49:58 AM.