Toyota Tacoma Engine Problems
Owners have filed 432 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the Toyota Tacoma across 31 model years. The 2012 model year has the most (122). The words owners use most often: “secondary air” (18% of reports).
- 432engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 9mention a crash
- 6mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $2,700typical repair cost reported by owners
- 36%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Secondary air: mentioned in 79 of 432 complaints (18%)
- Limp mode: mentioned in 57 of 432 complaints (13%)
- Trac off: mentioned in 38 of 432 complaints (9%)
- P2440 P2442: mentioned in 33 of 432 complaints (8%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the Toyota Tacoma at $2,700, and half of them between $2,250 and $3,550.
Based on 40 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2013–2025), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 304 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 432 complaints, 9 mention a crash, 9 a fire, 6 an injury.
Toyota Tacoma engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Tacoma | 3 | 33% | — |
| 2025 Tacoma | 3 | 3% | 19,600 |
| 2024 Tacoma | 6 | 4% | 23,000 |
| 2023 Tacoma | 8 | 15% | 2,000 |
| 2022 Tacoma | 7 | 12% | 26,000 |
| 2021 Tacoma | 12 | 15% | 20 |
| 2020 Tacoma | 14 | 16% | 2,527 |
| 2019 Tacoma | 28 | 13% | 11,000 |
| 2018 Tacoma | 26 | 12% | 14,500 |
| 2017 Tacoma | 36 | 15% | 9,375 |
| 2016 Tacoma | 47 | 15% | 20,000 |
| 2015 Tacoma | 12 | 12% | 12,400 |
| 2014 Tacoma | 6 | 6% | 78,500 |
| 2013 Tacoma | 7 | 6% | 30,000 |
| 2012 Tacoma | 122 | 41% | 60,100 |
| 2011 Tacoma | 3 | 2% | 7,706 |
| 2010 Tacoma | 6 | 2% | 41,750 |
| 2009 Tacoma | 8 | 2% | 45,125 |
| 2008 Tacoma | 8 | 2% | 86,000 |
| 2007 Tacoma | 8 | 1% | 81,000 |
| 2006 Tacoma | 18 | 2% | 102,500 |
| 2005 Tacoma | 18 | 3% | 151,000 |
| 2004 Tacoma | 11 | 3% | 115,000 |
| 2003 Tacoma | 5 | 1% | 200,000 |
| 2002 Tacoma | 3 | 1% | 129,000 |
| 2001 Tacoma | 2 | 1% | 228,296 |
| 2000 Tacoma | 1 | 0% | 220,000 |
| 1999 Tacoma | 1 | 0% | 7,500 |
| 1998 Tacoma | 1 | 0% | — |
| 1997 Tacoma | 1 | 1% | — |
| 1995 Tacoma | 1 | 1% | 200,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Engine
Model years: 2016, 2017
Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Tacoma vehicles equipped with a six-cylinder engine. The affected vehicles have a crank position sensor that may malfunction, potentially resulting in an engine stall.
Risk: An engine stall may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the crank position sensor with an improved design, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is H0H.
Engine
Model years: 2013, 2014
Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Tacoma vehicles manufactured July 1, 2013, through October 11, 2013. The engines of the affected vehicles contain valve springs that may break over time.
Risk: If the valve springs break, the engine could fail and stall while the vehicle is being driven, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the valve springs, free of charge. The recall began on November 27, 2013. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
2026 Toyota Tacoma (i-FORCE 2.4L turbo, 8-speed automatic), purchased new, 2,051 miles. On the morning of XXX, I noticed a delay when the transmission shifted gears and shortly after while driving on the highway at approximately 55â57 mph, multiple warnings appeared at once: Check Engine…
Engine developed a loud knock while under normal driving conditions at 61,000 miles. Oil was changed every 5k miles since new. Dealer says my oil rings on piston skirt have failed and heavy scoring on cylinder #5 Replaced short block under my aftermarket warranty. Toyota refused to cover it because…
On [XXX], my 2026 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter experienced an abrupt loss of power while passing a semi-truck on [XXX] in northern British Columbia, Canada. It was raining sufficiently to require windshield wipers but not at full speed. As I accelerated to pass a semi-truck in rain and road spray, the…
2018 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD Double Cab, 3.5L V6 (2GR-FKS). At about 87,000 miles the check engine light came on with code P11EC, Cylinder 1 Air-Fuel Ratio Imbalance (Port). Cylinder 1 failed compression. Leakdown and coolant tests had passed earlier; borescope did not show heavy scoring. The Toyota…
The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle shuddered, stalled, and there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle returned to normal operation. The failure occurred…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Toyota Tacomas have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 432 owner complaints about engine for the Toyota Tacoma. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Toyota Tacoma engine?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the Toyota Tacoma?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,700 (half paid between $2,250 and $3,550), from 40 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the Toyota Tacoma?
The most frequent phrase is “secondary air”, in 79 of 432 complaints, followed by “limp mode” (57).
Other Toyota Tacoma problems
- Structure problems (2,204)
- Suspension problems (1,533)
- Power Train problems (939)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (779)
- Air Bags problems (556)
- Steering problems (475)
- Electrical System problems (433)
- Service Brakes problems (392)
See all Toyota Tacoma problems.