Toyota Tacoma: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Toyota Tacoma problems by model year, from 2,360 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2012 (65%, 184 drivetrain complaints), 2016 (58%, 174 drivetrain complaints) and 2017 (52%, 113 drivetrain complaints). 9 of the 14 Toyota Tacoma years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 1 of them is at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
Best years on this measure: 2011 (11%), 2010 (17%) and 2015 (23%). A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2011 (11%) to 2012 (65%), up 54 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2012 drew the most drivetrain complaints (184 of 893 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Toyota Tacoma year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Tacoma | no elevated signal | 17% | 42 | 294 | 13/14 | 13 |
| 2011 Tacoma | no elevated signal | 11% | 15 | 186 | 14/14 | 9 |
| 2012 Tacoma | very high | 65% | 184 | 295 | 1/14 | 7 |
| 2013 Tacoma | no elevated signal | 29% | 33 | 125 | 10/14 | 6 |
| 2014 Tacoma | no elevated signal | 26% | 22 | 93 | 11/14 | 4 |
| 2015 Tacoma | no elevated signal | 23% | 20 | 101 | 12/14 | 4 |
| 2016 Tacoma | high | 58% | 174 | 323 | 2/14 | 4 |
| 2017 Tacoma | high | 52% | 113 | 239 | 3/14 | 5 |
| 2018 Tacoma | high | 42% | 83 | 206 | 6/14 | 3 |
| 2019 Tacoma | high | 50% | 106 | 218 | 4/14 | 4 |
| 2020 Tacoma | high | 48% | 39 | 87 | 5/14 | 1 |
| 2021 Tacoma | elevated | 38% | 28 | 80 | 7/14 | 0 |
| 2022 Tacoma | elevated | 33% | 17 | 59 | 9/14 | 3 |
| 2023 Tacoma | elevated | 38% | 17 | 54 | 8/14 | 4 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Toyota Tacoma years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Toyota Tacoma engine recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns on the Toyota Tacoma involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 35 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2010 | 10V042000 | power train: driveline: driveshaft | 2010 |
| Nov 2013 | 13V557000 | engine | 2013–2014 |
| Apr 2017 | 17V285000 | power train: driveline: differential unit | 2016–2017 |
| Jun 2017 | 17V356000 | engine | 2016–2017 |
| Jan 2020 | 20V012000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2018–2019 |
| Nov 2020 | 20V682000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2017–2020 |
| Feb 2024 | 24V152000 | power train: axle assembly | 2022–2023 |
28 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2009 | 09V388000 | vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal | 2010 |
| Feb 2010 | 10V035000 | equipment: other: labels | 2010 |
| Feb 2010 | 10V036000 | equipment: other: labels | 2010 |
| Mar 2011 | 11V148000 | tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems | 2010–2011 |
| Apr 2012 | 12V158000 | equipment: other: labels | 2012 |
| Jan 2013 | 13V014000 | air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive | 2010–2012 |
| Apr 2013 | 13V123000 | equipment: other: labels | 2010–2013 |
| Aug 2013 | 13V337000 | seat belts | 2010–2011 |
| Oct 2013 | 13V494000 | tires: temporary/emergency spare tire | 2012–2013 |
| Feb 2014 | 14V054000 | service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module | 2012–2013 |
| Apr 2014 | 14V168000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2010 |
| Aug 2014 | 14V475000 | equipment: other: labels | 2010–2014 |
| Sep 2014 | 14V604000 | suspension: rear: springs: leaf spring assembly: leaf | 2010–2011 |
| Oct 2014 | 14V663000 | equipment: other: labels | 2015 |
| Nov 2014 | 14V743000 | seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler | 2010–2011 |
| Dec 2014 | 14V828000 | equipment | 2014–2015 |
| Feb 2015 | 15V099000 | tires | 2015 |
| Oct 2015 | 15V656000 | air bags: knee bolster | 2016 |
| Jun 2016 | 16V396000 | seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler | 2010–2011 |
| Jul 2017 | 17V425000 | structure: body: hood: hinge and attachments | 2011–2016 |
| Dec 2017 | 17V831000 | equipment: other: labels | 2017 |
| Apr 2018 | 18V211000 | service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum | 2017 |
| Dec 2018 | 18V888000 | service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder | 2018–2019 |
| Mar 2019 | 19V244000 | equipment: other: labels | 2019 |
| May 2022 | 22V310000 | equipment: other: labels | 2022 |
| Jul 2022 | 22V520000 | child seat: vehicle latch anchor | 2022–2023 |
| Jul 2023 | 23V480000 | steering: column | 2023 |
| Jan 2025 | 25V040000 | steering: column | 2023 |
What the free pages leave out on the Toyota Tacoma
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Toyota Tacoma
What are the worst years for the Toyota Tacoma?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Toyota Tacoma years are the 2012 (65% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2016 (58% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2017 (52% of relevant complaints, high). 9 of 14 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Toyota Tacoma?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Toyota Tacoma years are the 2011 (11%), the 2010 (17%) and the 2015 (23%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Toyota Tacoma have transmission problems?
In some years. Across the 14 scored years, 893 of 2,141 relevant NHTSA complaints (42%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is power train. The years with an elevated share are 2012, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Is the Toyota Tacoma reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 9 of 14 Toyota Tacoma years we score have an elevated complaint share and 5 do not. Pooled across those years, 42% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Toyota Tacoma?
Yes. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Toyota Tacoma years we track, out of 35 in total: 20V012000 (Jan 2020, 2018–2019), 20V682000 (Nov 2020, 2017–2020), 24V152000 (Feb 2024, 2022–2023), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.