Toyota Tacoma Problems by Year
NHTSA has 8,453 owner complaints and 56 safety recalls on file for the Toyota Tacoma, across 32 model years (1995–2026). The 2006 model year has the most complaints (782). The most reported problem area overall is structure.
Toyota Tacoma years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Tacoma year: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2006 Tacoma: 782 complaints, 11 recalls
- 2005 Tacoma: 707 complaints, 10 recalls
- 2007 Tacoma: 541 complaints, 10 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2026 Tacoma: 9 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2023 Tacoma: 54 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2022 Tacoma: 59 complaints, 3 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Toyota Tacoma problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structure problems | 2,204 | 31 | 52 |
| Suspension problems | 1,533 | 30 | 53 |
| Power Train problems | 939 | 32 | 23 |
| Vehicle Speed Control problems | 779 | 31 | 208 |
| Air Bags problems | 556 | 31 | 280 |
| Steering problems | 475 | 31 | 36 |
| Electrical System problems | 433 | 32 | 16 |
| Engine problems | 432 | 31 | 9 |
| Service Brakes problems | 392 | 29 | 52 |
| Fuel/propulsion System problems | 308 | 29 | 8 |
| Tires problems | 259 | 28 | 10 |
| Exterior Lighting problems | 253 | 25 | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 226 | 26 | 45 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 171 | 23 | 5 |
| Seat Belts problems | 153 | 29 | 20 |
| Wheels problems | 146 | 28 | 19 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline problems | 121 | 23 | 4 |
| Seats | 84 | 24 | 6 |
| Visibility | 71 | 23 | 1 |
| Visibility/wiper | 59 | 19 | 1 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 58 | 11 | 14 |
| Equipment | 54 | 21 | 3 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 52 | 16 | 4 |
| Parking Brake | 24 | 13 | 2 |
| Lane Departure | 20 | 10 | 3 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 18 | 14 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 14 | 9 | 4 |
| Back Over Prevention | 12 | 8 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 12 | 7 | 5 |
| Fuel System, Other | 7 | 5 | 1 |
| Traction Control System | 7 | 5 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Carry Handle, Shell, Base | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Trailer Hitches | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Toyota Tacoma problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2024: power train (55)
- 2019: fuel/propulsion system (55) · service brakes (53)
- 2017: power train (68)
- 2016: power train (136)
- 2012: engine (122) · fuel/propulsion system (52)
- 2011: suspension (60)
- 2010: suspension (95)
- 2009: suspension (119) · exterior lighting (105) · power train (75) · vehicle speed control (59) · structure (54)
- 2008: suspension (124) · vehicle speed control (85) · structure (78)
- 2007: suspension (118) · structure (109) · vehicle speed control (108) · power train (68) · steering (54)
- 2006: structure (242) · suspension (154) · vehicle speed control (147) · air bags (76) · power train (56)
- 2005: structure (260) · suspension (137) · vehicle speed control (93) · steering (61) · power train (57)
- 2004: structure (203) · suspension (84)
- 2003: structure (181) · suspension (66)
- 2002: structure (180) · suspension (82)
- 2001: structure (228) · suspension (81)
- 2000: structure (78) · suspension (52)
- 1999: structure (102)
- 1998: structure (98)
- 1996: suspension (87) · structure (64)
- 1995: suspension (90)
All Toyota Tacoma model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Tacoma | 9 | 0 | 4★ | Engine | |
| 2025 Tacoma | 103 | 5 | — | Structure | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2024 Tacoma | 152 | 5 | — | Power Train | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2023 Tacoma | 54 | 4 | 4★ | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2022 Tacoma | 59 | 3 | 4★ | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2021 Tacoma | 81 | 0 | 4★ | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2020 Tacoma | 89 | 1 | 4★ | Fuel/propulsion System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2019 Tacoma | 218 | 4 | 4★ | Fuel/propulsion System | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2018 Tacoma | 209 | 3 | 4★ | Service Brakes | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2017 Tacoma | 242 | 5 | 4★ | Power Train | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2016 Tacoma | 323 | 4 | 4★ | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
| 2015 Tacoma | 101 | 4 | 4★ | Unknown or Other | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2014 Tacoma | 93 | 4 | 4★ | Structure | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2013 Tacoma | 125 | 6 | 4★ | Power Train | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2012 Tacoma | 295 | 7 | 4★ | Engine | More complaints than other years |
| 2011 Tacoma | 186 | 9 | 4★ | Suspension | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2010 Tacoma | 294 | 13 | — | Suspension | More complaints than other years |
| 2009 Tacoma | 519 | 13 | — | Suspension | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2008 Tacoma | 447 | 11 | — | Suspension | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2007 Tacoma | 541 | 10 | — | Suspension | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2006 Tacoma | 782 | 11 | — | Structure | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2005 Tacoma | 707 | 10 | — | Structure | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2004 Tacoma | 414 | 3 | — | Structure | More complaints than other years |
| 2003 Tacoma | 360 | 3 | — | Structure | More complaints than other years |
| 2002 Tacoma | 333 | 3 | — | Structure | More complaints than other years |
| 2001 Tacoma | 396 | 4 | — | Structure | More complaints than other years |
| 2000 Tacoma | 211 | 0 | — | Structure | About as many complaints as other years |
| 1999 Tacoma | 249 | 0 | — | Structure | About as many complaints as other years |
| 1998 Tacoma | 300 | 1 | — | Structure | More complaints than other years |
| 1997 Tacoma | 131 | 0 | — | Structure | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 1996 Tacoma | 253 | 1 | — | Suspension | About as many complaints as other years |
| 1995 Tacoma | 177 | 2 | — | Suspension | Fewer complaints than other years |
More from Toyota: all Toyota models · Toyota VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Toyota Tacoma years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2005 (707), 2006 (782), 2007 (541), 2008 (447), 2009 (519) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Tacoma year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Toyota Tacoma?
Structure, with 2,204 complaints across 31 model years.
How many recalls does the Toyota Tacoma have?
56 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.