Toyota Tacoma years to avoid (and the best years)
2,600 NHTSA owner complaints and 41 recalls across 16 model years, 2010 to 2025. Built from NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, generated October 26, 2026.
Compared with: Chevrolet Colorado, Ford Ranger, Nissan Frontier, Toyota 4Runner, Toyota Tundra
- 2,600complaints
- 41recalls
- 144reported crashes
- 37reported fires
- 143reported injuries
- 4reported deaths
Which Toyota Tacoma years should you avoid?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the Toyota Tacoma years to avoid are 2016, 2012 and 2010. The typical Toyota Tacoma year has 136 complaints on file.
- 2016: 323 complaints, 2.4 times the typical year. Most complaints name the transmission and drivetrain (42% of complaints) and the engine (15% of complaints).
- 2012: 295 complaints, 2.2 times the typical year. Most complaints name the engine (42% of complaints) and the fuel system (18% of complaints).
- 2010: 293 complaints, 2.1 times the typical year. Most complaints name the suspension (32% of complaints) and the speed control (12% of complaints).
What are the best Toyota Tacoma years?
The Toyota Tacoma years with the fewest complaints on file are the 2023 (54), 2020 (87) and 2013 (125). Model years after 2023 are left out: they have not been on the road long enough to compare.
NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so these are complaint counts, not a rate per car on the road. A year that sold more cars collects more complaints, and older years have had longer to collect them.
Every model year
| Year | Complaints | vs typical year | Recalls | Crashes | Injuries | Our read | Most reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 96 | 0.7× | 5 | 4 | 6 | Some concerns to check | Body and structure |
| 2024 | 148 | 1.1× | 5 | 5 | 33 | Few red flags | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2023 | 54 | 0.4× | 4 | 5 | 5 | Few red flags | Electrical system |
| 2022 | 58 | 0.4× | 3 | 11 | 10 | Some concerns to check | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2021 | 80 | 0.6× | 0 | 9 | 15 | Some concerns to check | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2020 | 87 | 0.6× | 1 | 6 | 7 | Few red flags | Fuel system |
| 2019 | 218 | 1.6× | 4 | 11 | 6 | Some concerns to check | Fuel system |
| 2018 | 204 | 1.5× | 3 | 7 | 2 | Few red flags | Fuel system |
| 2017 | 239 | 1.8× | 5 | 12 | 9 | Some concerns to check | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2016 | 323 | 2.4× | 4 | 4 | 1 | Approach with caution | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2015 | 101 | 0.7× | 4 | 15 | 11 | Some concerns to check | Body and structure |
| 2014 | 93 | 0.7× | 4 | 10 | 8 | Some concerns to check | Body and structure |
| 2013 | 125 | 0.9× | 6 | 11 | 8 | Few red flags | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2012 | 295 | 2.2× | 7 | 16 | 6 | Approach with caution | Engine |
| 2011 | 186 | 1.4× | 9 | 8 | 7 | Some concerns to check | Suspension |
| 2010 | 293 | 2.1× | 13 | 10 | 9 | Approach with caution | Suspension |
Most reported problem areas
Share of the 1,009 complaints sorted by system, all years together.
- Engine & powertrain253 (25%)
- Steering, suspension & tires221 (22%)
- Structure & body158 (16%)
- Electrical & infotainment119 (12%)
- Brakes104 (10%)
Recalls (41)
Suspension · 26V514000 · Aug 2026 · model years 2024, 2025
An oil reservoir that detaches can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 26V179000 · Mar 2026 · model years 2024, 2025
A vehicle with an incorrect maximum capacity weight value may be overloaded, which can increase the risk of a crash.
Transmission · 25V656000 · Oct 2025 · model year 2025
A broken driveshaft can impair steering. Vehicles with full-time 4WD may experience a vehicle rollaway while parked without the parking brake applied. Both scenarios increase the risk of a crash.
Electrical system · 25V595000 · Sep 2025 · model years 2024, 2025
An instrument panel display that does not show critical information can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Brakes · 25V058000 · Feb 2025 · model years 2024, 2025
A brake fluid leak can reduce braking ability and increase the risk of a crash.
Steering · 25V040000 · Jan 2025 · model year 2023
A deactivated driver's air bag will not deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Safety · 24V548000 · Jul 2024 · model year 2024
A vehicle with an incorrect maximum capacity weight value may be overloaded, which can increase the risk of a crash.
Transmission · 24V152000 · Feb 2024 · model years 2022, 2023
Axle shaft separation can cause a loss of vehicle stability and brake performance, increasing the risk of a crash.
Steering · 23V480000 · Jul 2023 · model year 2023
A deactivated driver's air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Safety · 22V520000 · Jul 2022 · model years 2022, 2023
An insufficient weld may prevent the child seat from being anchored properly, allowing the seat to move during a sudden stop or crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Safety · 22V310000 · May 2022 · model year 2022
An illegible label may allow the vehicle to be overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fuel system · 20V682000 · Nov 2020 · model years 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fuel system · 20V012000 · Jan 2020 · model years 2018, 2019
If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 19V244000 · Mar 2019 · model year 2019
If the driver cannot read the label, they may unknowingly overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Brakes · 18V888000 · Dec 2018 · model years 2018, 2019
Reduced brake performance can lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Brakes · 18V211000 · Apr 2018 · model year 2017
A sudden loss of braking assist can increase the risk of a crash.
Safety · 17V831000 · Dec 2017 · model year 2017
An incorrect load information label can result in the operator overloading the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
Structure · 17V425000 · Jul 2017 · model years 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
If the hood scoop detaches, it may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 17V356000 · Jun 2017 · model years 2016, 2017
An engine stall may increase the risk of a crash.
Transmission · 17V285000 · Apr 2017 · model years 2016, 2017
If the vehicle is operated with an insufficient amount of oil in the rear differential, the differential may seize and cause a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 16V396000 · Jun 2016 · model years 2010, 2011
If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Airbags · 15V656000 · Oct 2015 · model year 2016
The incorrect bolts may loosen over time and affect the performance of the driver's knee air bag, increasing the risk of driver injury during a crash that necessitates deployment of the air bags.
Tires · 15V099000 · Feb 2015 · model year 2015
Improperly inflated tires may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
Safety · 14V828000 · Dec 2014 · model years 2014, 2015
Accessories that detach from a vehicle may result in a vehicle crash and/or personal injury.
Safety · 14V743000 · Nov 2014 · model years 2010, 2011
Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
Safety · 14V663000 · Oct 2014 · model year 2015
An incorrect label may result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
Suspension · 14V604000 · Sep 2014 · model years 2010, 2011
If the fuel tank leaks fuel from being punctured, there is an increased risk of a fire.
Safety · 14V475000 · Aug 2014 · model years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
If the spare tire is inflated to the incorrect pressure provided on the placard, tire failure may occur while it is being driven on, increasing the risk of a crash.
Airbags · 14V168000 · Apr 2014 · model year 2010
If the FFC is damaged, connectivity to the driver's air bag module could be lost and the air bag deactivated. The failure of the driver's air bag to deploy in the event of a crash that typically necessitates deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver.
Brakes · 14V054000 · Feb 2014 · model years 2012, 2013
If this occurs, these systems could become inoperative, reducing the directional control assistance, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 13V557000 · Nov 2013 · model years 2013, 2014
If the valve springs break, the engine could fail and stall while the vehicle is being driven, increasing the risk of a crash.
Tires · 13V494000 · Oct 2013 · model years 2012, 2013
If the spare tire/wheel is installed on the vehicle using the lug nuts from another wheel, damage to the wheel could result and may eventually lead to a loose wheel, increasing the risk of a crash.
Seat belts · 13V337000 · Aug 2013 · model years 2010, 2011
If the seat belt pre-tensioner detaches from the seat belt assembly, the seat belt pre-tensioner will not perform as designed, increasing the risk of injury in a severe crash.
Safety · 13V123000 · Apr 2013 · model years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which may result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage.
Airbags · 13V014000 · Jan 2013 · model years 2010, 2011, 2012
If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.
Safety · 12V158000 · Apr 2012 · model year 2012
AN INCORRECT PLACARD COULD LEAD TO IMPROPER SPARE TIRE USE OR REPLACEMENT WHICH COULD RESULT IN A TIRE FAILURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Tires · 11V148000 · Mar 2011 · model years 2010, 2011
FAILURE TO WARN OF TIRE DEFLATIONS IS A NON-COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 138 AND COULD LEAD TO TIRE FAILURE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Transmission · 10V042000 · Feb 2010 · model year 2010
THIS MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Safety · 10V035000 · Feb 2010 · model year 2010
THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.
Safety · 10V036000 · Feb 2010 · model year 2010
A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Safety · 09V388000 · Oct 2009 · model year 2010
A STUCK OPEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN VERY HIGH VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.