2020 Toyota Tacoma problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
48% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2020 Toyota Tacoma are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 61% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 6 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 45%).
Does the 2020 Toyota Tacoma have fuel system problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 39 of 81 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Toyota Tacoma concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (48%), and the largest group is filed under fuel/propulsion system (21). For comparison, the 2019 scores 50% and the 2021 scores 38%. On a test drive, check for hard starts, stalling, hesitation, a fuel smell or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
The rest of the picture on the 2020 Toyota Tacoma
- What the repair costs. Typical fuel system repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Every owner quote, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 39 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2020 Toyota Tacoma?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2020 Toyota Tacoma involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 1 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 4Runner, 2019-2020 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2017-2019 Highlander, 2018-2020 Camry, 2020 Corolla, 2018-2019 Land Cruiser, 2017-2020 Tacoma, 2019-2020 RAV4, 2019-2020 Sequoia, 2017-2020 Sienna, 2019-2020 Tundra, 2018-2020 Lexus ES350, 2017 Lexus GS200t, 2017-2019 Lexus GS350, 2019 Lexus GS300, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500h, 2019-2020…
Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were available starting January 21, 2021.…
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 17, 2026.
Checking one particular 2020 Toyota Tacoma? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2020 Toyota Tacoma have fuel system problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 39 of 81 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Toyota Tacoma concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (48%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the fuel system and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2020 Toyota Tacoma?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2020 Toyota Tacoma involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 1 in total: 20V682000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Toyota Tacoma years are better?
Among the Toyota Tacoma years we track, the 2011 (11%), the 2010 (17%) and the 2015 (23%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2020 (48%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.
Should I buy a 2020 Toyota Tacoma?
That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2020 Toyota Tacoma has an elevated fuel system complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing fuel system work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the fuel system. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.