Toyota Tacoma problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 8 model years (2018–2025), NHTSA has logged 965 owner complaints and 15 safety recalls for the Toyota Tacoma. That averages 27.2 complaints per year on the road — fewer complaints than typical (index 0.67 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Midsize pickups segment it ranks #5 of 5 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest); the segment average is 20.0.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
The trend is flat. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models are within 8% of the 2018 and 2019 models (71 early complaints per model year versus 86).
The 2025 model year has the highest rate (57.6 complaints per year) and the 2022 model year the lowest (12.3). Model years 2024 and 2025 run at least 50% above this model's average of 27.2 complaints per year on the road across its tracked model years. Model years 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 run at least 40% below this model's average of 27.2 complaints per year on the road.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Transmission / powertrain (17.2% of complaints), followed by Brakes (15.4%) and Fuel system (14.0%). 64 complaints (6.6%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 84 injuries and 2 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 230 complaints versus 174 in the previous 12 months — up 32%. The 2025 model year generated the most recent reports (82). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 19 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 15 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2025 (4). 1 NHTSA investigation has covered this model; the latest is “Electrical overstress” (engineering analysis, opened 2019-04-19, closed 2024-09-19).
Every other tracked model among Midsize pickups has fewer complaints per year, including Nissan Frontier, Ford Ranger, Chevrolet Colorado and Jeep Gladiator.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 209 | 23.8 | 0.59 | 24 | 3 | Fuel system | View › |
| 2019 | 218 | 28.0 | 0.69 | 17 | 4 | Fuel system | View › |
| 2020 | 89 | 13.1 | 0.32 | 15 | 1 | Fuel system | View › |
| 2021 | 81 | 14.0 | 0.35 | 20 | 0 | Engine | View › |
| 2022 Fewest complaints | 59 | 12.3 | 0.3 | 12 | 3 | Body & structure | View › |
| 2023 | 54 | 14.3 | 0.35 | 16 | 4 | Electrical | View › |
| 2024 ▲50%+ | 152 | 54.5 | 1.35 | 44 | 5 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2025 ▲50%+ | 103 | 57.6 | 1.43 | 82 | 5 | Body & structure | View › |
▲50%+ = 50%+ above this model's average yearly rate. 1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 230 · Previous 12 months: 174 Rising
Problem areas
Transmission / powertrain ›
166 · 17.2% · 1.47 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Brakes ›
149 · 15.4% · 2.56 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Fuel system ›
135 · 14.0% · 3.23 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Engine ›
109 · 11.3% · 0.51 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Body & structure ›
107 · 11.1% · 1.22 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Electrical ›
83 · 8.6% · 0.55 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Unspecified or other ›
72 · 7.5% · 0.83 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Airbags & seat belts ›
42 · 4.4% · 1.15 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Steering
30 · 3.1% · 0.49 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Driver-assist systems
26 · 2.7% · 0.47 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Wheels, tires & suspension
24 · 2.5% · 0.99 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Other
20 · 2.1% · 1.12 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Lighting
2 · 0.2% · 0.13 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 19 months
What owners report
car passed and the vehicles breaks were pressed with the foot pedal to allow the other car to pass quickly but they did not work and the vehicle went off the road
Driver side doors won’t open. Truck locks you in. It has 25k miles on it and Toyota dealer says they can’t get the parts to make my truck safe.
I have been having issues with an intermittent rain smell in my vehicle for the past few months not realizing the smell was due to water intrusion in the cabin of my truck. I own a 2018 Toyota Tacoma.
Occasionally Center cluster on start up is black it has gotten more frequent. No odometer, No cruise control, no digital speedometer. The truck has 12,000 miles on it now today October 13,2026. Selling dealer out of town has no knowledge of issue.
Engine developed a loud knock while under normal driving conditions at 61,000 miles. Oil was changed every 5k miles since new.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Midsize pickups
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nissan Frontier | 316 | 8.7 | 0.21 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 15 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 2 | Ford Ranger | 713 | 18.8 | 0.47 | Improving | Rising | 41 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 3 | Chevrolet Colorado | 857 | 21.2 | 0.53 | Worsening | Rising | 9 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 4 | Jeep Gladiator | 994 | 25.9 | 0.64 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 18 | Steering |
| 5 | Toyota Tacoma | 965 | 27.2 | 0.67 | Stable | Rising | 15 | Transmission / powertrain |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 15
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 0
- Over-the-air fix: 0
Safety recalls: 2018 (3) · 2019 (4) · 2020 (1) · 2021 (0) · 2022 (3) · 2023 (4) · 2024 (5) · 2025 (5)
Investigations
- Electrical overstress Closed
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicle…