2011 Toyota TACOMA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
186 owner complaints analyzed
9 distinct recall campaigns
65,141 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 130 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 55 of 186 complaints (29.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 30 | 16.1% |
| Braking behavior | 18 | 9.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 2.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 2.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 2.2% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 55 |
| Exterior Lighting | 30 |
| Electrical System | 20 |
| Steering | 17 |
| Air Bags | 14 |
| Service Brakes | 10 |
| Structure:Body | 10 |
| Unknown Or Other | 10 |
Suspension: 55; Exterior Lighting: 30; Electrical System: 20; Steering: 17; Air Bags: 14; Service Brakes: 10; Structure:Body: 10; Unknown Or Other: 10
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 24 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 25 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 27 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 27 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 20 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 24; 25,000 to 49,999: 25; 50,000 to 74,999: 27; 75,000 to 99,999: 27; 100,000 to 149,999: 20; 150,000 and above: 7
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (27). 56 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 11 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 13 |
| 2015 | 20 |
| 2016 | 19 |
| 2017 | 33 |
| 2018 | 23 |
| 2019 | 15 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 7 |
2011: 11; 2012: 6; 2013: 7; 2014: 13; 2015: 20; 2016: 19; 2017: 33; 2018: 23; 2019: 15; 2020: 10; 2021: 5; 2022: 5; 2023: 3; 2024: 4; 2025: 5; 2026: 7
Pattern summary
Suspension leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 30 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 18 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10395901 · 2011-04-14 (April 14, 2011)
2011 TOYOTA TACOMA - BRAKES ARE VERY INCONSISTENT. ONE TIME THEY WORK JUST AS INTENDED AND THE NEXT TIME YOU DEPRESS THE PEDAL, YOU FEEL PRESSURE TRYING TO PUSH THE PEDAL BACK TO YOU AND THE BRAKING IS ENHANCED TO THE POINT THAT YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE GOING TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. TOYOTA SAYS THAT IS THE NATURE OF THE BRAKES. IF THIS IS THE CASE TOYOTA HAS A REAL PROBLEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10395901 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10429247 · 2011-10-09 (October 9, 2011)
ON 10/1/2011 WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON DRY PAVEMENT, SLIGHT CURVE, PU BEEP IN DASH AS IT WENT INTO ONCOMING LANE TO LEFT QUICK, I HIT BRAKES "CLUNK" TOOK BOTH HANDS TO PULL TO RIGHT AND OFF THE ROAD. FELT LIKE POWER STEERING WENT OR LOST A WHEEL. WOULD OF HIT SOMEONE HEAD ON IF WAS MEETING A CAR OR TRUCK. NO CELL SERVICE, SO DECIDED TO SLOWLY TURN AROUND, AND TRY TO GET HOME==1 MI. OR LESS. PARKED. CALLED DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TOWED, BUT IF THEY FIND NOTHING I HAVE TO PAY. I DROVE UP TUES., THEY SAID NOTHING WRONG. PROBABLY LEVEL…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10429247 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10839028 · 2016-02-29 (February 29, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FAN STOPPED WORKING. THE CONTACT ALSO SMELLED AN ABNORMAL BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CHECKED BEHIND THE FIREWALL AND THE WIRING HARNESS AND WIRING WERE BURNED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS WERE MELTING ALONG WITH THE FIXTURES AND WIRES IN THE BACK OF THE BULB. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT'S DIAGNOSIS WAS CONFIRMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10839028 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10946419 · 2017-01-19 (January 19, 2017)
HORN STOPPED WORKING AT APPROXIMATELY 48,000 MILES. AFTER TROUBLESHOOTING THE PROBLEM, I DISCOVERED THAT THE ISSUE WAS RELATED TO THE SPIRAL CABLE. ABOUT 2 MONTHS AFTER THE HORN STOPPED WORKING, THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLLED PHONE FUNCTION BEGAN AUTO-ACTIVATING INTERMITTENTLY WITH THE WORDS "TALKING" APPEARING ON THE RADIO DISPLAY (THIS FUNCTION IS ALSO RELATED TO THE SPIRAL CABLE). I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG MAY SOON BECOME INOPERABLE IF THE AIR BAG ELECTRICAL CONTACTS ON THE SPIRAL CABLE FAIL. WHILE MY VEHICLE VIN WAS NOT INCLUD…
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10946419 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10630045 · 2014-09-02 (September 2, 2014)
MY TRUCK RECENTLY STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS TURNING ON. I NOTICED IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS HALF-FULL OR JUST BELOW HALF. THE TRUCK FINALLY STARTS AFTER 4 OR 5 ATTEMPTS AND RUNS FINE FOR THE MOST PART. SOMETIMES WHEN I AM DRIVING IT KICKS A LITTLE, LIKE IT LOSES A LITTLE BIT OF POWER BUT QUICKLY REGAINS IT. WHEN THE TANK IS FULL IT STARTS WITH NO PROBLEMS. I HAVE BEEN READING ONLINE THAT IT IS MORE THAN LIKELY FUEL RELATED, SPECIFICALLY THE FUEL PUMP. THE TRUCK IS JUST A LITTLE OVER 40K MILES AND ACCORDING TO TOYOTA, THE FUEL PUMP, IF…
Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10630045 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10723500 · 2015-06-04 (June 4, 2015)
TOYOTA HAS A RECALL ON 2005 TO 2011 TACOMA'S FOR REAR LEAF SPRINGS RUSTING OUT AND BREAKING. WHEN I CHECKED WITH THEM THEY SAID MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. HOW CAN THAT BE. I HAVE A 2011 TACOMA AND MY REAR LEAF SPRINGS ARE RUSTED AND NOW HAVE BROKEN. ONLY 51000 MILES ON THE TRUCK. WHAT DOES MY VIN NUMBER HAVE TO DO WITH WHAT THE ACTUAL PROBLEM IS. THEY HAVE STATED THAT THESE VEHICLES HAVE A PROBLEM WITH RUST AND BREAKAGE OF REAR LEAF SPRINGS THAT COULD CAUSE THE BROKEN PIECE OF SPRING HITTING THE GAS TANK. I FEEL BECAUSE MY TRUCK …
Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10723500 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10455577 · 2012-04-17 (April 17, 2012)
INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. WHEN COMING TO A STOP, A HARSH BUMP/LUNGE IS FELT IN THE TRANSMISSION. AT TIMES TO THE POINT WHERE I FEEL AS THOUGH, I HAVE BEEN BUMPED FROM A VEHICLE FROM BEHIND. IF THE BRAKE IS NOT FIRMLY PRESSED, THE VEHICLE WILL MOVE FORWARD. HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS IS NORMAL AND OK. HAVE BEEN TOLD A TSB EXISTS FOR THE PROBLEM. HAVE HAD THE ECU MEMORY CLEARED TO TRY TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10455577 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10492701 · 2013-01-16 (January 16, 2013)
2011 TOYOTA TACOMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND SECURITY SYSTEM IN VEHICLE. . *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ONE DAY AS SHE WAS LEAVING WORK, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. IT SEEMED AS THOUGH THE VEHICLE DIDN'T RECOGNIZE THE KEY AND SHE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AT JUMP STARTING IT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE WITH THE SECURITY SYSTEM, WHICH HAD BEEN INSTALLED AND HAD NOT BEEN REMOVED COMPLETELY. SHE ALSO STATED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY, PARTICUL…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10492701 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10424042 · 2011-09-07 (September 7, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL AFTER ACCELERATING FROM STOPS. AFTER STALLING, THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART ON ITS OWN AND RESUME AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 900.
Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10424042 at NHTSA ↗