Toyota Tacoma Exterior Lighting Problems
Owners have filed 253 complaints with NHTSA about exterior lighting problems on the Toyota Tacoma across 25 model years. The 2009 model year has the most (105). The words owners use most often: “daytime running” (32% of reports).
- 253exterior lighting complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $1,050typical repair cost reported by owners
- 41%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.
- Daytime running: mentioned in 82 of 253 complaints (32%)
- Turn signal: mentioned in 30 of 253 complaints (12%)
- Melted cracked: mentioned in 19 of 253 complaints (8%)
- Plastic lens: mentioned in 15 of 253 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical exterior lighting repair on the Toyota Tacoma at $1,050, and half of them between $720 and $1,300.
Based on 9 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2011–2022), 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 exterior lighting problems happen?
Based on 186 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 253 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 32 a fire.
Toyota Tacoma exterior lighting complaints by model year
| Model year | Exterior Lighting complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Tacoma | 2 | 4% | — |
| 2020 Tacoma | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2019 Tacoma | 1 | 0% | 5,000 |
| 2018 Tacoma | 2 | 1% | 383,565 |
| 2017 Tacoma | 8 | 3% | 21,700 |
| 2016 Tacoma | 17 | 5% | 60,000 |
| 2015 Tacoma | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2013 Tacoma | 3 | 2% | 35,320 |
| 2012 Tacoma | 3 | 1% | 10,000 |
| 2011 Tacoma | 32 | 17% | 55,650 |
| 2010 Tacoma | 25 | 9% | 53,483 |
| 2009 Tacoma | 105 | 20% | 45,000 |
| 2008 Tacoma | 15 | 3% | 77,927 |
| 2007 Tacoma | 10 | 2% | 44,000 |
| 2006 Tacoma | 4 | 1% | 54,568 |
| 2005 Tacoma | 3 | 0% | 2,000 |
| 2004 Tacoma | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2003 Tacoma | 2 | 1% | 100,000 |
| 2002 Tacoma | 1 | 0% | 149,000 |
| 2000 Tacoma | 4 | 2% | 94,481 |
| 1999 Tacoma | 2 | 1% | — |
| 1998 Tacoma | 6 | 2% | — |
| 1997 Tacoma | 1 | 1% | — |
| 1996 Tacoma | 1 | 0% | — |
| 1995 Tacoma | 3 | 2% | 144,297 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists exterior lighting for the Toyota Tacoma. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Headlight tabs break causing housing to rub against body and crack. Additionally it makes headlights move which necessitates constant readjustment.
On Tuesday, April 14, 2026 I was looking for something in my rear seat and noticed the seat was damp. I couldn't figure out the cause so I goggled it and found out that Toyota had a limited service campaign called LSC21TD03 on my 2017 Tacoma because of the third brake light having a gasket issue…
Third break light has started to leak inside the cab of vehicle. Causing a wet musty smell, possibly mold, and staining.
Some of the interior door light switches don't light @ night. I can probably take the door panel off & fix it... (buy bulbs)...? Door hinge on the gas cap breaks way to easily. Could fly off & hit someone\thing... Clunking sound coming from the rear end & I can't find where it's coming from... Gas…
Wiring harness on the vehicle is being completely replaced due to "rodent damage" according to the dealer. I am not an automotive engineer but if compromised wiring finally fails while driving I suspect a number of systems could be affected. There was no indication of this problem during vehicle…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Toyota Tacomas have exterior lighting problems?
No. NHTSA has 253 owner complaints about exterior lighting 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 exterior lighting?
No recall currently lists exterior lighting for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix exterior lighting problems on the Toyota Tacoma?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,050 (half paid between $720 and $1,300), from 9 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about exterior lighting problems on the Toyota Tacoma?
The most frequent phrase is “daytime running”, in 82 of 253 complaints, followed by “turn signal” (30).
Other Toyota Tacoma problems
- Structure problems (2,204)
- Suspension problems (1,533)
- Power Train problems (941)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (779)
- Air Bags problems (556)
- Steering problems (476)
- Electrical System problems (434)
- Engine problems (433)
See all Toyota Tacoma problems.